Cawood, Wistow and Selby Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Cawood, Wistow and Selby Light Railway (CW&SLR) was a light railway
in Yorkshire, England.
through Cawood
and Wistow
. Further acts were applied for including an extension to Selby, a junction line to the Hull and Barnsley Railway
at Drax
. Neither the extensions, nor the original line were built.
In the 1890s the North Eastern Railway
bought the company, and applied for permission to build a light railway along similar but reduced lines. The act was obtained in 1896. Construction began on 11 July 1896, with a rail connection near Selby built in September of the same year to allow construction materials to be brought. The five miles of single track line opened on 16 February 1898, Selby was served by a single platform halt at Brayton Gates station next to Brayton Gates junction (The NER did not allow through running to Selby station
).
, separate from the main Selby railway station. The company only had one locomotive, an 0-6-0 Manning Wardle
, named Cawood.
In 1900 the company was absorbed by the NER. From 1904 through running to Selby began and Brayton Gates station closed. Under NER and LNER ownership petrol-electric railcars were used for the passenger trains, later railbuses.
The passenger service ended in 1929. The line closed on 2 May 1960.
Light Railways Act 1896
The Light Railways Act 1896 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Before the Act each new railway line built in the country required a specific Act of Parliament to be obtained by the company that wished to construct it, which greatly added to the cost...
in Yorkshire, England.
History
An act of Parliament in 1879 allowed the construction of the Church Fenton, Cawood and Wistow Railway from a junction at Church FentonChurch Fenton
Church Fenton is a village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. The village is home to many commuters and is served by a railway station; Church Fenton railway station. Neighbouring villages include Cawood and Ulleskelf. It is about from Tadcaster and from...
through Cawood
Cawood
Cawood is a large village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England that is notable as the finding-place of the Cawood sword....
and Wistow
Wistow, North Yorkshire
Wistow is a small village and civil parish just north of Selby, North Yorkshire, England. Until 2004 Wistow had a small colliery.-External links:*...
. Further acts were applied for including an extension to Selby, a junction line to the Hull and Barnsley Railway
Hull and Barnsley Railway
The Hull Barnsley & West Riding Junction Railway and Dock Company was opened on 20 July 1885. It had a total projected length of 66 miles but never reached Barnsley, stopping a few miles short at Stairfoot. The name was changed to The Hull and Barnsley Railway in 1905...
at Drax
Drax
Drax is a large coal-fired power station in North Yorkshire, England, capable of co-firing biomass and petcoke. It is situated near the River Ouse between Selby and Goole, and its name comes from the nearby village of Drax...
. Neither the extensions, nor the original line were built.
In the 1890s 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...
bought the company, and applied for permission to build a light railway along similar but reduced lines. The act was obtained in 1896. Construction began on 11 July 1896, with a rail connection near Selby built in September of the same year to allow construction materials to be brought. The five miles of single track line opened on 16 February 1898, Selby was served by a single platform halt at Brayton Gates station next to Brayton Gates junction (The NER did not allow through running to Selby station
Selby railway station
Selby railway station serves the town of Selby in North Yorkshire, England. The station is on the Hull-York Line south of York, Leeds-Hull Line east of Leeds and west of Hull....
).
Operation
The railway had a terminus next to the Leeds and Selby lineLeeds and Selby Railway
The Leeds and Selby Railway was an early British railway company and first mainline railway in Yorkshire. It was opened in 1834.The company was absorbed by the York and North Midland Railway and the line remained in use through the subsequent NER, LNER, BR and post-privatisation periods.As of 2010...
, separate from the main Selby railway station. The company only had one locomotive, an 0-6-0 Manning Wardle
Manning Wardle
Manning Wardle was a steam locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.- Precursor companies :The city of Leeds was one of the earliest centres of locomotive building; Matthew Murray built the first commercially successful steam locomotive, Salamanca, in Holbeck, Leeds,...
, named Cawood.
In 1900 the company was absorbed by the NER. From 1904 through running to Selby began and Brayton Gates station closed. Under NER and LNER ownership petrol-electric railcars were used for the passenger trains, later railbuses.
The passenger service ended in 1929. The line closed on 2 May 1960.
Post closure
Cawood station has been demolished, Wistow station remains as a private residence. As of 2010 less than half the trackbed remains visible as field boundaries.External links
- The Cawood, Wistow & Selby Light Railway Model railway of the line, philsworkbench.blogspot.com