WHITBY

From West Cliff station, the line led south to the Esk Valley, crossed by the massive Larpool  Viaduct.

It's even more impressive close up. No trains run over it these days.

From the viaduct, the gas works alongside the River Esk.

As we arrive at Whitby Town, we pass the loco shed, seen in NER times.

One of the LNER's Sentinel railcars, "New Fly", passes by.

Now it's 1979 and a resfurbished DMU sits in Whitby station, before the track layout was simplified.

By 1987, Pacers had taken over and just one bit of track remained.

These days, steam and diesel trains from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway use the other platform.

45428 departs for Pickering.

More steam now - a steam bus for tourists.

United was the main bus operator.

Now Arriva run most of the services.

A firm trading as Town & Country ran open-top and "Park & Ride" services for a while.

A more unusual bus, a Leyland National, bringing the Midland Bank to you!

Let's have a look at Whitby Harbour now.

There's still some commercial traffic.

The harbour is crossed by this swing bridge.

The mouth of the Esk/harbour entrance.

The crumbling coast to the north.

Into the town.....an old view of Skinner Street.

Built to serve the railway, the Station Inn.

In the station itself, a micropub, the Waiting Room.

Up a hill, the Little Angel, brewing its own beer.

By the swing bridge, the Dolphin.

Before crossing the Esk, we reach the Ship Inn.

Over the river, the Board Inn.

Finally, my favourite, the Black Horse.

Right, that's us done for today, all we have to do is get to the abbey, up on that hill.

There's 199 steps to climb! (Creative Commons License).

See you in the next post.






 

A SHORT ONE TO GET US TO WHITBY

I last left you in Lealholm. Now we're heading across country to the coast and, looking across the valley above Staithes, we can see the remains of the viaduct that once carried the coastal railway and the potash mine at Boulby.

Here is Staithes station, in NER days, high above the village by the sea.

The Captain Cook Inn was built to serve the station.

Now we're descending into the village itself.

Staithes around 1900.

The Old Bridge in Staithes.

Staithes in July 2005.

More views of the harbour and landing area.

The Cod & Lobster serves the villagers and many tourists.

Back up to the railway and we soon reach Hinderwell station.

The Brown Cow in Hinderwell is worth a visit.

Onwards to Runswick Bay - the village seen from the beach.

It's 1952 and a very young John Law is seen on the beach at Runswick Bay.

Next stop, Sandsend station, NER.

Sandsend station and the railway dominated the village and the valley was crossed by a metal viaduct.

We terminate today's journey at Whitby West Cliff station, seen here in NER times.

LNER 693 is seen in West Cliff station in 1935 (Photo by HC Casserley).

Next time, we'll take a good look at the town of Whitby. Meanwhile, a reminder that you can follow the route here.

UP ON 'T MOORS

 Doing an "about turn", we head east now to Kildale on the Whitby to Middlesbrough railway line, the station being built by the North Eastern Railway.

Following the railway inland, we soon come to Battersby, photographed by Ben Brooksbank in 1961.

Middlesbrough to Whitby trains are obliged to reverse at Battersby these days.

Not far from Battersby was another NER station, called Ingleby.

From Ingleby Greenhow (the village's full name), an incline took trains up and down onto the North York Moors.

At the top of Ingleby Incline.

From here, the line took a winding route across the moors, heading for the Rosedale area mines. Here's LNER 1860 at Blowath Crossing.

The hub of the Rosedale network was at Blakey Junction.

It could certainly snow up here. This is 1917, after the line had been blocked for five weeks.

The Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge has also been known to have been cut off by snow. This is a postcard from the pub itself.

Here's the Lion Inn in more clement weather. 

A Leven Valley Optare Solo passes by.

A view across Rosedale, with its industrial remains, in 2006.

On the other side of the valley, near Sled-Shoe, a freight working in LNER times.

The Rosedale workings at the height of activity.

The LNER depot at Rosedale.

School Row, Rosedale. Life must have been hard up here!

Back down to the Esk Valley now and we remeet the railway to Whitby at Castleton station, NER.

I once found some unusual sheep in Castleton. I've no idea what breed this is.

Castleton has a couple of decent pubs. Here's the Downe Arms.

There's also the Eskdale Inn.

The next pub is the Duke of Wellington at Danby.

Danby station on the Esk Valley line, in NER and BR days.

The next station along the line, towards Whitby, is Lealholm.

Lealholm village, from the south in 1912.

Let's finish this post in the Board Inn in Lealholm.

Next time, we'll be back on the coast. Don't forget, you can find the route here. If you like, you can start from the beginning.