Great Ayton railway station
Encyclopedia
Great Ayton railway station serves the village of Great Ayton
in the county of North Yorkshire
, England. It is located on the Esk Valley Line
and is operated by Northern Rail
who provide all of the station's passenger services.
built a short line to link (on their route between Picton and ) with on the Middlesbrough and Guisborough Railway
(a subsidiary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway
). This link line opened on 1 June 1864 but was used at first only for mineral trains. Passenger trains along the route began four years later, and a station at Great Ayton was opened on 1 April 1868.
, Whitby Town
and Middlesbrough
but only the latter two destinations are in use currently. Next to Great Ayton station is the village garage and towing service. The station had, until 1934, a full station building complete with booking office and waiting room, this however was demolished to save costs. From the start of the May 2010 timetable Northern Rail
will be operating a service to and from Newcastle
on a Sunday morning (and return in the evening) for holiday makers going to and from Whitby
. The station has only one platform which is usually served by Northern Rail
stopping services - these are usually composed of Class 156
Diesel Multiple Unit
s (although Class 142
"Pacers" can also appear on occasions). Four services each way are scheduled to call on weekdays & Saturdays and five each way on Sundays from mid-May until early September only.
The Esk Valley line is the only rail connection to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
and occasionally one can view locomotives going to and from the railway, information about moves can be obtained from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
.
The best place to view trains at Great Ayton
station is on the road bridge which overlooks the station.
Further information about station facilities can be obtained from Northern Rail.
Great Ayton
Great Ayton is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire on the edge of the North York Moors in England. The name Great Ayton is thought to derive from Ea-tun, tun meaning farm and 'ea' meaning river. It has a population of 4,570....
in the county of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England. It is located on the Esk Valley Line
Esk Valley Line
The Esk Valley Line is the railway line from Middlesbrough to Whitby in North Yorkshire, England. The route follows the course of the River Esk for much of its eastern half....
and is operated by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
who provide all of the station's passenger services.
History
The North Eastern RailwayNorth Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
built a short line to link (on their route between Picton and ) with on the Middlesbrough and Guisborough Railway
Middlesbrough and Guisborough Railway
The Middlesbrough & Guisborough Railway was a railway line serving the towns of Middlesbrough and Guisborough as well as areas of the Eston Hills in North Yorkshire from 1853 through to 1964.-The Beginning:...
(a subsidiary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway
Stockton and Darlington Railway
The Stockton and Darlington Railway , which opened in 1825, was the world's first publicly subscribed passenger railway. It was 26 miles long, and was built in north-eastern England between Witton Park and Stockton-on-Tees via Darlington, and connected to several collieries near Shildon...
). This link line opened on 1 June 1864 but was used at first only for mineral trains. Passenger trains along the route began four years later, and a station at Great Ayton was opened on 1 April 1868.
Description
The station is on the single track rail line between and and there are only a few trains per day. Until the mid 1980s the station had a goods shunting yard etc. which later served as the village coal merchants. Trains until the 1950s used to run from the station to StokesleyStokesley
Stokesley is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Leven. Stokesley is located about two miles south of the boundary of the borough of Middlesbrough and ten miles south of Middlesbrough town centre. Stokesley is located...
, Whitby Town
Whitby railway station
Whitby railway station serves the town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, England. It is the terminus of the Esk Valley Line, connecting with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Grosmont, and provides mainline running for NYMR trains during the summer months...
and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
but only the latter two destinations are in use currently. Next to Great Ayton station is the village garage and towing service. The station had, until 1934, a full station building complete with booking office and waiting room, this however was demolished to save costs. From the start of the May 2010 timetable Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
will be operating a service to and from Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
on a Sunday morning (and return in the evening) for holiday makers going to and from Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
. The station has only one platform which is usually served by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
stopping services - these are usually composed of Class 156
British Rail Class 156
The British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train . 114 of these units were built from 1987 to 1989 by Metro-Cammell at its Washwood Heath Works in Birmingham...
Diesel Multiple Unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s (although Class 142
British Rail Class 142
The British Rail Class 142 is a class of Pacer diesel multiple units used in the United Kingdom. 96 units were built by BREL in Derby between 1985 and 1987. They were a development of the earlier Class 141 which were introduced in 1984....
"Pacers" can also appear on occasions). Four services each way are scheduled to call on weekdays & Saturdays and five each way on Sundays from mid-May until early September only.
The Esk Valley line is the only rail connection to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, England. First opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, the railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby. The line...
and occasionally one can view locomotives going to and from the railway, information about moves can be obtained from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, England. First opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, the railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby. The line...
.
The best place to view trains at Great Ayton
Great Ayton
Great Ayton is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire on the edge of the North York Moors in England. The name Great Ayton is thought to derive from Ea-tun, tun meaning farm and 'ea' meaning river. It has a population of 4,570....
station is on the road bridge which overlooks the station.
Further information about station facilities can be obtained from Northern Rail.