York to Scarborough Line
Encyclopedia
The York to Scarborough Line runs between the city of York
, England, and the town of Scarborough. Towns and villages served along the way are Malton
, Norton-on-Derwent
and Seamer
.
's York and North Midland Railway
and opened on 7 July 1845. The line was constructed remarkably quickly by the standards of the time, taking just one year and three days to complete the 42-mile route. This feat was possible because the Y&NMR decided against the more costly and time-consuming option of building a tunnel through the Howardian Hills south of Malton
. Instead the chosen route meanders with the River Derwent
for around four miles, creating a slower but more scenically pleasant experience for passengers
The new railway included a 6-mile branch from Rillington
to Pickering
that connected with the horse-worked Whitby and Pickering Railway
which the Y&NMR immediately proceeded to take over and upgrade for steam traction.
Most of the intermediate stations on the line were closed to passengers in September 1930 as the number of excursion and holiday trains going straight through to Scarborough during that period meant that the line was too busy to accommodate local services. The closed stations retained their goods facilities and were maintained for occasional passenger use by excursion trains until the 1960s.
There are currently plans to re-open the stations at Haxby
and Strensall
due to the growth of population in those areas. In January 2009 funding to re-open Haxby station was confirmed but the Strensall plan has yet to come to fruition.
Rolling stock on this line has consisted almost entirely of Class 185
DMUs since early 2007.
East Midlands Trains
also run occasional summer services.
Scarborough also sees summer specials from York, hauled by the Flying Scotsman
. However, as the Flying Scotsman is not due to be released from its overhaul until 2011, the seaside specials have been known to be hauled by any other available steam locomotives at York such as 60009 'Union of South Africa'.
There is also talk of reinstating the pre-1965 link to Pickering
in order to connect the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
to the national network from its southern end, Allowing trains from Malton and beyond to reach Whitby
. Such a move has been considered but does not seem likely for the foreseeable future.
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, England, and the town of Scarborough. Towns and villages served along the way are Malton
Malton, North Yorkshire
Malton is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The town is the location of the offices of Ryedale District Council and has a population of around 4,000 people....
, Norton-on-Derwent
Norton-on-Derwent
Norton-on-Derwent, commonly referred to as 'Norton', is a town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. Norton borders the market town of Malton, and is divided by the River Derwent...
and Seamer
Seamer, Scarborough
Seamer is a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England.According to the 2001 UK census, Seamer parish had a population of 3,774....
.
History
The line was built by George HudsonGeorge Hudson
George Hudson , English railway financier, known as "The Railway King", was born, the fifth son of a farmer, in Howsham, in the parish of Scrayingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, north of Stamford Bridge, east of York. He is buried in Scrayingham...
's York and North Midland Railway
York and North Midland Railway
The York and North Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom which opened in 1839, connecting York, with the Leeds and Selby Railway and in 1840 with the North Midland Railway at Normanton near Leeds.-Origins:...
and opened on 7 July 1845. The line was constructed remarkably quickly by the standards of the time, taking just one year and three days to complete the 42-mile route. This feat was possible because the Y&NMR decided against the more costly and time-consuming option of building a tunnel through the Howardian Hills south of Malton
Malton, North Yorkshire
Malton is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The town is the location of the offices of Ryedale District Council and has a population of around 4,000 people....
. Instead the chosen route meanders with the River Derwent
River Derwent, Yorkshire
The Derwent is a river in Yorkshire in the north of England. It is used for water abstraction, leisure and sporting activities and effluent disposal as well as being of significant importance as the site of several nature reserves...
for around four miles, creating a slower but more scenically pleasant experience for passengers
The new railway included a 6-mile branch from Rillington
Rillington railway station
Rillington railway station was a railway station serving the village of Rillington on the York to Scarborough Line. It was also the junction station for the line to Whitby and was opened on 5 July 1845 by the York and North Midland Railway. It closed to normal passenger traffic on 22 September...
to Pickering
Pickering, North Yorkshire
Pickering is an ancient market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of the county of North Yorkshire, England, on the border of the North York Moors National Park. It sits at the foot of the Moors, overlooking the Vale of Pickering to the south...
that connected with the horse-worked Whitby and Pickering Railway
Whitby and Pickering Railway
The Whitby and Pickering Railway was built as the culmination of attempts to halt the gradual decline of the port of Whitby on the east coast of the United Kingdom...
which the Y&NMR immediately proceeded to take over and upgrade for steam traction.
Most of the intermediate stations on the line were closed to passengers in September 1930 as the number of excursion and holiday trains going straight through to Scarborough during that period meant that the line was too busy to accommodate local services. The closed stations retained their goods facilities and were maintained for occasional passenger use by excursion trains until the 1960s.
There are currently plans to re-open the stations at Haxby
Haxby railway station
Haxby railway station was a minor railway station serving the village of Haxby on the York to Scarborough Line and was opened on 5 July 1845 by the York and North Midland Railway. It closed on 22 September 1930.-Reopening:...
and Strensall
Strensall
Strensall is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England, on the River Foss north of York and north-east of Haxby. Prior to 1996 it had been part of the Ryedale district. It covers an area of 2,908 acres....
due to the growth of population in those areas. In January 2009 funding to re-open Haxby station was confirmed but the Strensall plan has yet to come to fruition.
Services
Services operated along this line are run by TransPennine Express. Services are roughly hourly. This is part of the North TransPennine route.Rolling stock on this line has consisted almost entirely of Class 185
British Rail Class 185
The Class 185 Pennine Desiro is a diesel multiple-unit passenger train of the Desiro type built by Siemens in Germany for the British train operating company First TransPennine Express.51 units were acquired, representing an investment of £250 million....
DMUs since early 2007.
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
also run occasional summer services.
Scarborough also sees summer specials from York, hauled by the Flying Scotsman
LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman
The LNER Class A3 Pacific locomotive No. 4472 Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway at Doncaster Works to a design of H.N. Gresley...
. However, as the Flying Scotsman is not due to be released from its overhaul until 2011, the seaside specials have been known to be hauled by any other available steam locomotives at York such as 60009 'Union of South Africa'.
There is also talk of reinstating the pre-1965 link to Pickering
Pickering, North Yorkshire
Pickering is an ancient market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of the county of North Yorkshire, England, on the border of the North York Moors National Park. It sits at the foot of the Moors, overlooking the Vale of Pickering to the south...
in order to connect 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...
to the national network from its southern end, Allowing trains from Malton and beyond to reach 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...
. Such a move has been considered but does not seem likely for the foreseeable future.