Forge Valley Line
Encyclopedia
The Forge Valley Line was a 16 mile long branch of the North Eastern Railway
between Seamer
(near Scarborough, North Yorkshire) and Pickering
. The line was intended to link Scarborough with Pickering
. It opened in 1882 and closed in 1950, with the exception of a stretch from Pickering to Thornton Dale
with remained open for quarry traffic until 1963.
The line did not pass through Forge Valley
, but the station
in the village of West Ayton
was named after it to avoid confusion with another station—Great Ayton
—already owned by the North Eastern Railway
.
. Six stations were constructed on the line, , , , , and . Both terminus stations, and were constructed berfore the opening of the line.
, Ebberston
, Snainton
, Sawdon
and Wykeham
have now been restored and there are three Camping Coaches
available for hire at Ebberston on site.
Wykeham also survives and there are plans to restore the station itself, Whilst the other stations on the line are completely restored, Forge Valley is now currently in use by North Yorkshire County Council as a road and highways depot.
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 Seamer
Seamer railway station
Seamer railway station serves the village of Seamer in North Yorkshire, England. It lies near the end of the Scarborough branch on the First TransPennine Express North TransPennine route, east of York at its junction with the northern end of the Yorkshire Coast Line...
(near Scarborough, North Yorkshire) and Pickering
Pickering railway station
Pickering railway station is the southern terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and serves the town of Pickering in North Yorkshire, England.-Whitby and Pickering Railway :...
. The line was intended to link Scarborough with Pickering
Pickering, North Yorkshire
Pickering is an ancient market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of the county of North Yorkshire, England, on the border of the North York Moors National Park. It sits at the foot of the Moors, overlooking the Vale of Pickering to the south...
. It opened in 1882 and closed in 1950, with the exception of a stretch from Pickering to Thornton Dale
Thornton Dale railway station
Thornton Dale railway station was situated on the North Eastern Railway's Pickering to Seamer branch line. It served the village of Thornton-le-Dale in North Yorkshire, England. The station opened to passenger traffic on 1 May 1882, and closed on 3 June 1950....
with remained open for quarry traffic until 1963.
The line did not pass through Forge Valley
Forge Valley
Forge Valley is a nature reserve on the East Ayton / Hackness road. The valley follows the route of the River Derwent and was formed by melting ice water at the end of the last ice age....
, but the station
Forge Valley railway station
Forge Valley railway station was situated on the North Eastern Railway's Pickering to Seamer branch line. It served the twin villages of East and West Ayton, and the local beauty spot Forge Valley...
in the village of West Ayton
West Ayton
West Ayton is a village and civil parish in the Scarboroughdistrict of North Yorkshire, England.According to the 2001 UK census, West Ayton parish had a population of 831....
was named after it to avoid confusion with another station—Great Ayton
Great Ayton railway station
Great Ayton railway station serves the village of Great Ayton in the county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Esk Valley Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all of the station's passenger services.-History:...
—already owned 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...
.
The route
The line had no gradients of note, with only a few sections steeper than 1 in 100, and was single track throughout, with a passing loop at SnaintonSnainton
Snainton is a village and civil parish in the Scarboroughdistrict of North Yorkshire, England.According to the 2001 UK census, Snainton parish had a population of 891.-Notable people:The actor Ben Kingsley was born in Snainton....
. Six stations were constructed on the line, , , , , and . Both terminus stations, and were constructed berfore the opening of the line.
Preservation
Thornton DaleThornton Dale railway station
Thornton Dale railway station was situated on the North Eastern Railway's Pickering to Seamer branch line. It served the village of Thornton-le-Dale in North Yorkshire, England. The station opened to passenger traffic on 1 May 1882, and closed on 3 June 1950....
, Ebberston
Ebberston railway station
Ebberston railway station was situated on the North Eastern Railway's Pickering to Seamer branch line. It served the villages of Allerston, Ebberston and Wilton. The station opened to passenger traffic on 1 May 1882, and closed on 3 June 1950....
, Snainton
Snainton railway station
Snainton railway station was situated on the North Eastern Railway's Pickering to Seamer branch line. It served the village of Snainton, North Yorkshire, England. The station opened to passenger traffic on 1 May 1882, and closed on 3 June 1950. Snaiton railway station has also been restored and is...
, Sawdon
Sawdon railway station
Sawdon railway station was situated on the North Eastern Railway's Pickering to Seamer branch line in North Yorkshire, England. It served the village of Brompton-by-Sawdon and to a lesser extent Sawdon itself. The station opened to passenger traffic on 1 May 1882, and closed on 3 June 1950. The...
and Wykeham
Wykeham railway station
Wykeham railway station was situated on the North Eastern Railway's Pickering to Seamer branch line. It served the villages of Wykeham and Ruston in North Yorkshire, England. The station opened to passenger traffic on 1 May 1882, and closed on 3 June 1950. there are plans to restore and reuse...
have now been restored and there are three Camping Coaches
Camping coach
Camping coaches were offered by many railway companies in the United Kingdom as accommodation for holiday makers in rural or coastal areas.The coaches were old passenger vehicles no longer suitable for use in trains, which were converted to provide basic sleeping and living space at static locations...
available for hire at Ebberston on site.
Wykeham also survives and there are plans to restore the station itself, Whilst the other stations on the line are completely restored, Forge Valley is now currently in use by North Yorkshire County Council as a road and highways depot.