Derwent Valley Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Derwent Valley Light Railway (DVLR) (also known as The Blackberry Line) was a privately-owned standard-gauge railway running from Layerthorpe
on the outskirts of York
to Cliffe Common
near Selby
in North Yorkshire
, England
. It opened in 1913, and closed in sections between 1965 and 1981. Between 1977 and 1979, passenger steam trains operated between Layerthorpe and Dunnington
— the entire length of track at that time. In 1993 a small section was re-opened as part of the Yorkshire Museum of Farming
at Murton
.
The line gained its nickname of The Blackberry Line in the days when it used to transport blackberries
to markets in Yorkshire and London.
to Cliffe Common, was opened on October 29, 1912, with the remainder of the line opening on July 19, 1913. Although it was constructed primarily as a freight line, passenger trains were introduced from 1913, and during World War I
it was used as a diversionary route by the North Eastern Railway
between York and Selby. Passenger services ended in 1926, though freight traffic prospered through World War II
.
In 1923, most British railway companies were grouped
into 4 large companies, with the nearby North Eastern Railway becoming part of the London and North Eastern Railway
. However, the DVLR remained independent, and continued to do so even after nationalisation
in 1948.
In 1964, British Rail
ways closed the Selby to Driffield Line
, meaning that the junction at Cliffe Common became redundant. With the connection to Selby now gone, the DVLR was left isolated at its southern end. The line was subsequently run from the Layerthorpe end but traffic generated by the southern section of the track was light so the decision was taken to close the line between Wheldrake and Cliffe Common in 1965. The section between Wheldrake and Elvington followed in 1968. Elvington was closed in 1973, leaving only approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) of track between Layerthorpe and Dunnington
on the outskirts of York.
0-6-0
T locomotive number 69023 Joem (now preserved at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
) operating the services. By 1979, there were not enough passengers to justify continuing and the service ceased. The railway continued to carry occasional freight trains to Dunnington until 1981 when the grain driers at Dunnington closed and the last major source of freight for the line was gone. On top of that the railway was in desperate need a major overhaul with the majority of the rails and buildings still being the 1913 originals. However, the owners decided that the lack of demand for freight failed to justify any plan of action other than to close the line down. The last train ran on September 27, 1981.
. When this closed, the society members relocated to the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, and started to rebuild approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km) of track towards York, including the section under the York by-pass. A new station was constructed using the original station buildings from Wheldrake, and the railway re-opened in 1993.
The line now runs a mixture of 6 diesel
and 1 steam
locomotive
on Sundays and bank holidays.
The track-bed from Layerthorpe to Osbaldwick, along with part of the former Foss Islands Branch Line in York, has been converted to a foot and cycle path
.
Whilst future extension of the line towards Osbaldwick may be possible, as of 2011 there are still no formal plans for this.
Layerthorpe
Layerthorpe is a former village and latterly industrial district to the north-east of the centre of the city of York, North Yorkshire, England. It is just outside the city walls of York.- Origin of the name :...
on the outskirts of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to Cliffe Common
Cliffe, Selby
Cliffe is a small village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the A63 trunk road from Selby to Hull and the railway line which also goes to and from those destinations. The railway was opened in 1863 and there was a station at Cliffe although it was named...
near Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It opened in 1913, and closed in sections between 1965 and 1981. Between 1977 and 1979, passenger steam trains operated between Layerthorpe and Dunnington
Dunnington
Dunnington is a village and civil parish in the City of York unitary authority and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England, approximately east of York. It has an older centre, part of which is a conservation area....
— the entire length of track at that time. In 1993 a small section was re-opened as part of the Yorkshire Museum of Farming
Yorkshire Museum of Farming
The Yorkshire Museum of Farming is located in Murton Park near York in England. It is housed on a grass field site of approximately , and is the only museum in the district specifically dedicated to the subject of farming. In the autumn of 2010, the museum was awarded full accreditation status by...
at Murton
Murton, York
Murton is a small village and a civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England that is located on the outskirts of York...
.
The line gained its nickname of The Blackberry Line in the days when it used to transport blackberries
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
to markets in Yorkshire and London.
History
The south end of the railway, from WheldrakeWheldrake
Wheldrake is a village and civil parish located south-east of York. Administratively it is in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England....
to Cliffe Common, was opened on October 29, 1912, with the remainder of the line opening on July 19, 1913. Although it was constructed primarily as a freight line, passenger trains were introduced from 1913, and during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
it was used as a diversionary route by 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...
between York and Selby. Passenger services ended in 1926, though freight traffic prospered through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1923, most British railway companies were grouped
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
into 4 large companies, with the nearby North Eastern Railway becoming part of the London and North Eastern Railway
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...
. However, the DVLR remained independent, and continued to do so even after nationalisation
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
in 1948.
In 1964, British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways closed the Selby to Driffield Line
Selby to Driffield Line
The Selby to Driffield Line formed part of a railway which connected the East Coast Main Line and the Yorkshire Coast Line. It crossed largely flat terrain and the Yorkshire Wolds and serviced the towns of Selby, Market Weighton, and Driffield...
, meaning that the junction at Cliffe Common became redundant. With the connection to Selby now gone, the DVLR was left isolated at its southern end. The line was subsequently run from the Layerthorpe end but traffic generated by the southern section of the track was light so the decision was taken to close the line between Wheldrake and Cliffe Common in 1965. The section between Wheldrake and Elvington followed in 1968. Elvington was closed in 1973, leaving only approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) of track between Layerthorpe and Dunnington
Dunnington
Dunnington is a village and civil parish in the City of York unitary authority and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England, approximately east of York. It has an older centre, part of which is a conservation area....
on the outskirts of York.
Final years
In 1976, the owners of the railway decided to operate steam trains between Layerthorpe and Dunnington, which was the entire length of the line at that time. A regular summer service started in 1977, with J72NER Class E1
The North Eastern Railway Class E1, classified as Class J72 by the London and North Eastern Railway is a class of small 0-6-0T steam locomotives designed by Wilson Worsdell for shunting. They had inside cylinders and Stephenson valve gear....
0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
T locomotive number 69023 Joem (now preserved at 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...
) operating the services. By 1979, there were not enough passengers to justify continuing and the service ceased. The railway continued to carry occasional freight trains to Dunnington until 1981 when the grain driers at Dunnington closed and the last major source of freight for the line was gone. On top of that the railway was in desperate need a major overhaul with the majority of the rails and buildings still being the 1913 originals. However, the owners decided that the lack of demand for freight failed to justify any plan of action other than to close the line down. The last train ran on September 27, 1981.
Route
The original railway was 16 miles (25.7 km) long, and served the following places:- Layerthorpe
- OsbaldwickOsbaldwickOsbaldwick is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It has been in existence since at least the 11th century, and is now a conservation area. It is the burial place of the nun Mary Ward....
- Murton Lane
- Dunnington Halt
- Dunnington (for Kexby)
- ElvingtonElvington, City of YorkElvington is a village and civil parish situated approximately south-east of York, England, on the B1228 York-Howden road. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,212...
- Wheldrake
- Cottingwith
- ThorganbyThorganby, North YorkshireThorganby is a small village and civil parish in the Selbydistrict of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated next to the village of Wheldrake.-External links:*...
- SkipwithSkipwithSkipwith is a village and civil parish in the Selby District of North Yorkshire, England. It lies about northeast of Selby Half a mile to the south-west is the traces of RAF Riccall, a training airfield that was a bomber Heavy Conversion Unit in the Second World War.- Skipwith Common :Ancient...
- Cliffe Common, which connected with the Selby to Driffield LineSelby to Driffield LineThe Selby to Driffield Line formed part of a railway which connected the East Coast Main Line and the Yorkshire Coast Line. It crossed largely flat terrain and the Yorkshire Wolds and serviced the towns of Selby, Market Weighton, and Driffield...
The line today
Until 1990, a small preservation group, the Great Yorkshire Preservation Society, was originally based at Starbeck near HarrogateHarrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
. When this closed, the society members relocated to the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, and started to rebuild approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km) of track towards York, including the section under the York by-pass. A new station was constructed using the original station buildings from Wheldrake, and the railway re-opened in 1993.
The line now runs a mixture of 6 diesel
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
and 1 steam
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
on Sundays and bank holidays.
The track-bed from Layerthorpe to Osbaldwick, along with part of the former Foss Islands Branch Line in York, has been converted to a foot and cycle path
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
.
Whilst future extension of the line towards Osbaldwick may be possible, as of 2011 there are still no formal plans for this.
Rolling stock
The following rolling stock is owned by the preservation group as of March 2010:- Steam Locomotives
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 8 built in 1955. (Under repair, boiler ticket expires in 2015)
- Diesel Locomotives
- British Rail Class 03British Rail Class 03The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
0-6-0 No. 03079 built in 1960. (Operational) - Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 No. 327964 "British Sugar York" built in 1953. (Under repair)
- Ruston & Hornsby 4wDM No. 97088 built in 1962. (Operational)
- John Fowler & Co.John Fowler & Co.thumb|right|John Fowler & Co. [[steam roller]] of 1923John Fowler & Co Engineers of Leathley Road, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England produced traction engines and ploughing implements and equipment, as well as railway equipment. Fowler also produced the Track Marshall tractor which was a...
0-4-0 No. 4100005 "Churchill" built in 1947. (Stored awaiting repair) - Ruston & Hornsby 4wDM No. 417892 "Jim" built in 1959. (Stored awaiting repairs)
- John Fowler & Co.John Fowler & Co.thumb|right|John Fowler & Co. [[steam roller]] of 1923John Fowler & Co Engineers of Leathley Road, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England produced traction engines and ploughing implements and equipment, as well as railway equipment. Fowler also produced the Track Marshall tractor which was a...
0-4-0 No. 4200022 built in 1948. (Stored awaiting restoration)
- Carriages
- North Eastern RailwayNorth 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...
4-wheel coach No. 1214/2462 built in 1890. (Stored awaiting repair) - B&W Engineering 4-wheel observation coach No. BW1000 "Sylvia" built in 2003. (Stored awaiting repair)
- Southern RailwaySouthern Railway (Great Britain)The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
4-wheel PMV Luggage Van No. S1367S built in 1939. (Operational) - British Railways Mk1 TSO No. E3805. (Operational, on long-term loan from NYMR)
- Wagons
- British Railways Standard 20-ton Brake Van No. B951144 built in 1951. (Operational)
- Metro-Cammell ZFV Dogfish Ballast Wagon No. DB993312 built in 1957. (Operational)
- British Railways 12 ton Box Van No. 775810 built in 1957. (Operational)
- London Midland and Scottish Railway Brake Van No. 295516 built in 1933. (Undergoing restoration)
- Chas Roberts Shell Mex and BP Tank Wagon No. 5081 built in 1938. (Operational)
- Coal Wagon No. B291264. (Operational)
- Great Western RailwayGreat Western RailwayThe Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
Box Van No. W95166 built in 1915. (Operational) - Great Central RailwayGreat Central RailwayThe Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
12 ton Box Van (modified) No. 539249 built in 1923. (Operational) - London and North Eastern RailwayLondon and North Eastern RailwayThe London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
20 ton Plate Wagon No. 239666 built in 1940. (Operational) - Great Central RailwayGreat Central RailwayThe Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
Bolster Wagon No. 516537 built in 1920. (Operational)