NER v H&BR

I left you at North Ferriby and now we head west along the former NER line to Melton Halt, an unadvertised stop serving a large cement works. One platform has gone, but another survived in 2005, long after closure of the halt and its industry.

The ex NER signal box was still in situ in 2005.

Next we come to Brough, the station once consisting of four platforms.

Here's the station in 1961 (Ben Brooksbank).

Brough West signal box, circa 1972. It closed soon after.

Brough East reached the 21st Century.

A BRCW DMU departs, early 1970s.

The station in 2011, now just two platforms, but still busy.

Transpeninne serves Brough station, but the 170 units have gone.

Just outside Brough station was the Buccaneer pub, named after a 'plane built by the Blackburn aircraft factory in Brough. Sadly, the pub's future is uncertain at the time of writing.

We now leave the flat NER route behind and head north into the Yorkshire Wolds, where we meet the H&BR at Little Weighton station.

Here's a view of the H&BR under construction around 1882, with Little Weighton cutting being dug.

Further along was the long Drewton Tunnel. An LNER O4 enters.

Two 1930s views of Weedley Tunnel and signal box.

At Weedley West, in Drewton Dale, construction continues prior to the opening of the H&BR in 1885.

Having passed through the worst of the hills, the H&BR soon reached South Cave station.

One of the H&BR's famous domeless 4-4-0 passenger locos steams through South Cave, heading for Sheffield.

They must have heard we were coming, as more beer is being delivered to the Fox & Coney in South Cave village, a mile from the railway station.

We'll spend the night here. Back soon. Don't forget, you can follow progress here.

WE FINALLY SAY GOODBYE TO HULL

As the title suggests, we're about to take our leave of the city of Hull, but not before calling in at the Corporation's Cottingham Road depot. Two visits; 1962 and 1987.

 

On now to the commuter town of Cottingham, with a station on the NER Hull to Beverley (and beyond) route.

LNER 4629 calls with a northbound local.

The station, still open, 2011.

Cottingham's 'main drag' is called Hall Gate.

Looking t'other way, towards the church.

They must have heard we were coming! Sadly, no! It's Cottingham Day 2015 (Photo by Dom Fellowes, Creative Commons License).

The first pub we arrive at, the Railway, is now permanently closed.

Fortunately the Blue Bell and the King William IV are still well and truly in business.

There's even a new micropub......a good one!

From Cottingham, we head vaguely southwest to Willerby & Kirk Ella station on the Hull & Barnsley Railway.

Passenger traffic ceased in 1955, while some residual freight lasted until 1964. A mile or so towards the northwest was Eppleworth. No station here, but there was a goods loop and a viaduct. In LNER days, an O4 2-8-0 is in charge of a freight. Note the signals, of both H&BR and NER design.

Rather than follow the H&BR (we'll return later), we head directly down to the banks of the Humber and arrive at Ferriby (strictly speaking, North Ferriby). At the station, LNER 819 passes through with a freight.

In 2005, unit 156489 is about to pass through, heading west.

Here's a view of the station, reduced from four tracks to three.

From North Ferriby there are fine views of the Humber Bridge.

The next post will see us skirting the Humber, then it's off to the Caves.

HALFWAY TO SPRING BANK

 Like all good blogs, this post starts with a pub. That's the good news, but less welcome is the fact that this Bass Charrington house is no longer with us. It's the Halfway House, on Spring Bank West. I believe it's been replaced by a new pub.

Now to a suburban railway station in Hull, Botanic Gardens. Served by trains to Hornsea and Withernsea, it was built by the NER and closed in 1964.

The railway was crossed on the level by Hull's trams beside Botanic Gardens station. Two photos here showing trams and the semaphore signals that controlled them - look closely.

A more modern Hull tram negotiates the level crossing.

Botanic Gardens was also the location of one of Hull's loco sheds. A couple of photos here from LNER days.

In BR times, Botanic Gardens was converted to house diesels, mainly DMUs, but a few locos were based there too.

Not far away, Boothferry Park, once the home of Hull FC (until they moved to the new stadium). It's 1980 and a bus rally is being held there. Here are a couple of attendees, both from East Yorkshire MS.

Now we have a pair of West Riding buses arriving. The former H&BR crosses above.

A short distance to the north was the hub of the Hull & Barnsley Railway, Springhead, with its marshalling yards, loco sheds and workshops. Here's two photos from H&BR days.

Moving forward in time into the LNER period, a pair of rebuilt ex H&BR 4-4-0 passenger locos, seen at Springhead.

More locos at Springhead, LNER.

Inside the workshop.

An ex GNR 4-4-2T on the stopping service to South Howden passes Springhead.

A road called Spring Bank is nearby and we see a pair of trams here forming special services.

We started this post in a pub, let's end it with one. The Spring Bank Tavern. I'm not sure what the future holds for this former Hull Brewery pub.

The next post will find us visiting Cottingham, then heading further inland.