Hull and Hornsea Railway
Encyclopedia
The Hull and Hornsea Railway was a branch line
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, England, which connected the city of Kingston upon Hull
with the east coast seaside holiday resort of Hornsea
.
during the period of George Hudson
's Chairmanship. This line of 10.5 miles (16.9 km) was to link Beverley (on the Hull to Bridlington line) to Hornsea via a junction near Arram railway station
north of Beverley. This line was to terminate at a site near Hornsea Mere
. The proposal was not progressed and did not go before Parliament.
A second proposal, this time from Hull to Hornsea, was promoted by Hornsea resident and Hull timber merchant, Joseph Armytage Wade. The line was to both provide transportation to and from the agricultural region of Holderness, and to promote Hornsea as a seaside resort. This proposal was successful and an Act of Parliament passed in 1862 allowing its construction. The line was to be 13 miles (20.9 km) in length for which the act allowed the raising of £70,000 in shares and £23,000 in loans.
The first sod was ceremonially cut, by Mr Wade using a silver spade and ornate wheelbarrow, on 8 October 1862.
The terminus was originally to be at Hornsea Bridge, but the plans were changed and a decision was made to extend right to the seafront. This proved costly, as the land on which the extension ran was boggy, requiring extensive piles to support the line. Consequently the cost of construction increased from £68,000 to £122,000.
east of Cleveland Street (now Stoneferry Road) just to the east of the Victoria Dock Branch Line. The line then ran generally east and north towards Hornsea.
The line was officially opened on 28 March 1864, with the first train departing Wilmington railway station
at 12:00 noon. A chord connecting the Victoria Dock Branch Line to Wilmington (via Wilmington junction) was opened on 1 June 1864; from then on trains could travel from Hornsea to Paragon station.
All though the expected traffic materialised the cost overruns of the construction left the company in debt, attempts to raise further funds by share issue had failed; the line merged with the North Eastern Railway
on 16 July 1866.
In 1914 there were 14 trains a day between Hull and Hornsea, including a non-stop 'express' for business commuters at 8.50 am (to Hull) and 5.18 pm (to Hornsea). Two trains ran on Sundays. At this time a typical goods locomotive on the line was the Class J type 0-6-0, passenger trains where also worked by 0-6-0 tender locomotives as well as ex-GCR Class 9N
s and ex-Great Northern Railway
4-4-2 locomotives during the L.N.E.R
period.
The service remained at a similar level of intensity until the 1950s, excluding reductions in frequency during the first and second world wars. By the 1950s Diesel multiple units had been introduced on the line.
Closure of the line came as a direct result of the Beeching Report. The last passenger train ran on 19 October 1964. Goods traffic continued to use the line as far as Hornsea Bridge
until 3 May 1965.
(part of the Trans Pennine Trail
); many of the station buildings remain in the rural areas outside Hull. The line can also still be seen on preserved tile maps on LNER stations such as on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
.
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, England, which connected the city of Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
with the east coast seaside holiday resort of Hornsea
Hornsea
Hornsea is a small seaside resort, town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England at the eastern end of the Trans Pennine Trail.-Overview:According to the 2001 UK Census, Hornsea parish had a population of 8,243....
.
Early proposals and construction
The earliest proposal for a railway line to Hornsea was made by the York and North Midland RailwayYork 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:...
during the period of George Hudson
George 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 Chairmanship. This line of 10.5 miles (16.9 km) was to link Beverley (on the Hull to Bridlington line) to Hornsea via a junction near Arram railway station
Arram railway station
Arram railway station serves the small village of Arram in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Yorkshire Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services...
north of Beverley. This line was to terminate at a site near Hornsea Mere
Hornsea Mere
Hornsea Mere is generally described as the largest natural freshwater lake in Yorkshireand lies to the west of Hornsea in the East Riding. It covers an area of , is long, ¾ mile at its widest point and at its deepest point....
. The proposal was not progressed and did not go before Parliament.
A second proposal, this time from Hull to Hornsea, was promoted by Hornsea resident and Hull timber merchant, Joseph Armytage Wade. The line was to both provide transportation to and from the agricultural region of Holderness, and to promote Hornsea as a seaside resort. This proposal was successful and an Act of Parliament passed in 1862 allowing its construction. The line was to be 13 miles (20.9 km) in length for which the act allowed the raising of £70,000 in shares and £23,000 in loans.
The first sod was ceremonially cut, by Mr Wade using a silver spade and ornate wheelbarrow, on 8 October 1862.
The terminus was originally to be at Hornsea Bridge, but the plans were changed and a decision was made to extend right to the seafront. This proved costly, as the land on which the extension ran was boggy, requiring extensive piles to support the line. Consequently the cost of construction increased from £68,000 to £122,000.
Route and operation
The line began in Hull at Wilmington railway stationWilmington railway station
Wilmington railway station is a disused railway station in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was the Hull terminus station of the Hull and Hornsea Railway....
east of Cleveland Street (now Stoneferry Road) just to the east of the Victoria Dock Branch Line. The line then ran generally east and north towards Hornsea.
The line was officially opened on 28 March 1864, with the first train departing Wilmington railway station
Wilmington railway station
Wilmington railway station is a disused railway station in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was the Hull terminus station of the Hull and Hornsea Railway....
at 12:00 noon. A chord connecting the Victoria Dock Branch Line to Wilmington (via Wilmington junction) was opened on 1 June 1864; from then on trains could travel from Hornsea to Paragon station.
All though the expected traffic materialised the cost overruns of the construction left the company in debt, attempts to raise further funds by share issue had failed; the line merged with the North Eastern Railway
North 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...
on 16 July 1866.
In 1914 there were 14 trains a day between Hull and Hornsea, including a non-stop 'express' for business commuters at 8.50 am (to Hull) and 5.18 pm (to Hornsea). Two trains ran on Sundays. At this time a typical goods locomotive on the line was the Class J type 0-6-0, passenger trains where also worked by 0-6-0 tender locomotives as well as ex-GCR Class 9N
GCR Class 9N
The Great Central Railway Class 9N, classified A5 by the LNER, was a class of 4-6-2 tank locomotives designed by John G. Robinson for suburban passenger services. They were fitted with superheaters, piston valves and Stephenson valve gear....
s and ex-Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
4-4-2 locomotives during the L.N.E.R
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
period.
The service remained at a similar level of intensity until the 1950s, excluding reductions in frequency during the first and second world wars. By the 1950s Diesel multiple units had been introduced on the line.
Closure of the line came as a direct result of the Beeching Report. The last passenger train ran on 19 October 1964. Goods traffic continued to use the line as far as Hornsea Bridge
Hornsea Bridge railway station
Hornsea Bridge railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the seaside town of Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.It opened on 28 March 1864, and closed following the Beeching Report on 19 October 1964....
until 3 May 1965.
Stations
| Stations on the line from Hull to Hornsea | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station | Opened | Closed | Notes / Map reference | Current status |
| Wilmington Wilmington railway station Wilmington railway station is a disused railway station in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was the Hull terminus station of the Hull and Hornsea Railway.... |
1864 | 1964 | Replaced by new station in 1912 on the Victoria Dock Branch Line west of the original. 53.7596°N 0.3300°W |
Demolished. The booking office remains as a cafe. |
| Sutton Sutton-on-Hull railway station Sutton-on-Hull railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the village of Sutton-on-Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.... |
Renamed Sutton-on-Hull in 1874. 53.781900°N 0.307200°W |
Demolished. Station master's house is a private residence | ||
| Swine Swine railway station Swine railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the village of Swine in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.It opened on 28 March 1864, and closed following the Beeching Report on 19 October 1964.-External links:*... |
Staggered platforms either side of a level crossing. 53.804200°N 0.265100°W |
Station building is a private residence | ||
| Skirlaugh Skirlaugh railway station Skirlaugh railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the village of Skirlaugh in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.It opened on 28 March 1864, and closed on 6 May 1957.-External links:*... |
1957 | 53.820900°N 0.249500°W | Demolished, platforms remain | |
| Ellerby Ellerby railway station Ellerby railway station refers to either of two disused stations on the Hull and Hornsea Railway. They served the village of Old Ellerby in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.... |
1902 1959 |
The station was a 'market station' opening only on Tuesdays. After closing to passengers in 1902 it was referred to as Ellerby siding. Renamed again to Weelerby West Siding* in 1923 53.829000°N 0.236300°W |
The station is a private residence. Platforms remain. | |
| Marton / Burton Constable Burton Constable railway station Burton Constable railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the villages of Marton and Burton Constable in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.... / Ellerby |
1964 | Renamed to Burton Constable on 1 August 1864, then to Ellerby* in 1922. 53.838000°N 0.226100°W |
Station building still extant | |
| Whitedale Whitedale railway station Whitedale railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and was used principally by the residents of Rise Hall in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The name "Whitedale" was that of a nearby farm.... |
53.851500°N 0.218800°W | Station, platforms and goods yard still extant. | ||
| Hatfield / Sigglesthorne Sigglesthorne railway station Sigglesthorne railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the villages of Great Hatfield and Little Hatfield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.It opened on 28 March 1864, and was originally named "Hatfield"... |
Staggered platforms on either side of a road crossing. Renamed Sigglesthorne* in 1874. 53.870200°N 0.206800°W |
Station house is a private residence. | ||
| Goxhill / Wassand Wassand railway station Wassand railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the villages of Wassand and Goxhill in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.... |
1953 / 1960 | A 'market day' station; services only 1 day per week. Renamed Wassand* in 1904. Closed to passengers in 1953, completely in 1960. 53.883000°N 0.193800°W |
Station building is a private residence | |
| Hornsea Bridge Hornsea Bridge railway station Hornsea Bridge railway station was a station on the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the seaside town of Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.It opened on 28 March 1864, and closed following the Beeching Report on 19 October 1964.... |
1964 | Also contained the goods facilities for the town, north of the station. 53.904090°N 0.171200°W |
Demolished | |
| Hornsea / Hornsea Town Hornsea Town railway station Hornsea Town railway station was the terminus of the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and served the seaside town of Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.It opened on 28 March 1864, and was originally named just "Hornsea"... |
The terminus of the Hull and Hornsea Railway, the building had a station canopy on cast iron columns. Renamed Hornsea Town in 1950. 53.911200°N 0.163300°W |
Restored and converted to housing in 1987 after dereliction. Grade II listed building. | ||
| * Stations were renamed to avoid confusion with similarly named stations on the same railway companies network - typically this occurred on expansion and on mergers | ||||
The line post closure
Almost the entire route today can be followed as a public footpath known as the Hornsea Rail TrailHornsea Rail Trail
Hornsea Rail Trail is a public footpath and cycleway which follows the route of the old Hull and Hornsea Railway in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.-Coordinates: -External links:*...
(part of the Trans Pennine Trail
Trans Pennine Trail
The Trans Pennine Trail is a long distance path running from coast to coast across northern England entirely on surfaced paths and using only gentle gradients ....
); many of the station buildings remain in the rural areas outside Hull. The line can also still be seen on preserved tile maps on LNER stations such as on 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...
.
Images
External links
- Hull and Hornsea railway Historical images, timetables, tickets and other publisher material, via www.hornseyoldandnew.co.uk