Rail fans go back to the future

[Steve]

Four decades ago the historic Beverley to York railway line closed.

MUFFLED up in heavy coats Enid Greenwood and her family waited to see the last train pull in for the last time into Market Weighton's station. It was a bitterly cold night with snow on the platform, but the train was packed with enthusiasts enjoying the steam engine ride for the last time.
"A local nursery gave a wreath that was hung on the wall of the station", recalls Mrs Greenwood.
"I think everybody was sad. It was the passing of an era."
Her sisters had used the train to travel to the City Hospital in York, where they worked as physiotherapists, and a lot of boys from the town used it to go to Pocklington School.
And she remembers going clothes shopping in Hull – although her mother called a halt on that because of the terrifying wartime raids. But despite its use to many people who lived along the line, silence descended on the tracks 40 years ago, yesterday as it became another victim of Dr Beeching's cuts.
The station was pulled down and bungalows built in their place. The track has become the Hudson Way, now a popular route with walkers.
Those calling for the reopening of the line between Beverley and York are using the 40th anniversary to rally support for their campaign.
North Yorks Moors Railway is organising a trip down memory lane with a special event at the Quality Hotel, Hull, at 7pm tomorrow and members of the Minsters' Rail Campaign will be donning costumes worn by station staff on the day of closure at Market Weighton's late night shopping event on December 5.
And this week a new website – minstersrail.org.uk – is being launched with a new campaign slogan: "Minsters' Rail Campaign – There's a lot Riding on it."
A report out earlier this year by consultancy Carl Bro estimated up to 800,000 passengers would use the route if trains ran every half hour.
The study identifies a 34-mile double track route largely following the old line and said just two houses would have to come down.
While it would stick to the old trackbed for most of the way, an alternative route would have to be found at Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and York because of development since the 1960s.
It would entail new stations at Market Weighton, Pocklington and Stamford Bridge, as well as a viaduct over the River Derwent at the village. Objections from landowners could spark a public inquiry.
East Riding Council has spelled out its support for the project, which campaigners hope will now be completed inside 12 years.
Officials are talking to other councils and statutory bodies about the project as part of the emerging local development plan.
Chairman of the campaign George McManus said they expected opposition from landowners, but expected this to be outweighed by the "massive level of public support" for the line. If approved the next step will be to get planning protection for the route.
He said: "Once we have full planning protection for the route we can start thinking about the practicalities, about finance and lobbying Government for a Bill to be passed to get a line."
At present 95 per cent of the former track is under crops or open countryside. Five per cent has been built on.