Masham branch
Encyclopedia
The Masham branch was a 7+3/4 mi long North Eastern Railway
built single track branch railway line that ran between a junction on the Harrogate
to Northallerton
line at Melmerby to Masham, North Yorkshire
, via one intermediate station, Tanfield Halt.
, Wensleydale
, the branch line was authorised in 1871 and construction started in 1873. The branch line opened on 9 June 1875 and services started the following day. The line was poorly used from the start.
Passing to the London & North Eastern Railway in the 1923 grouping the line continued to suffer from light traffic apart from a period during the Second World War when the local area was used for munition storage. The line closed to passengers on 1 January 1931, and completely on 11 November 1963.
North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway could refer to:*North Eastern Railway *North Eastern Railway *North Eastern Railway *North Eastern Railway...
built single track branch railway line that ran between a junction on the Harrogate
Harrogate
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...
to Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
line at Melmerby to Masham, 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...
, via one intermediate station, Tanfield Halt.
History
After a number of abortive attempts to link the market town of MashamMasham
Masham is a small market town and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 1,235. Situated in Wensleydale on the western bank of the River Ure, the name derives from the Anglo-Saxon "Mæssa's Ham", the homestead belonging to Mæssa. The Romans had...
, Wensleydale
Wensleydale
Wensleydale is the valley of the River Ure on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire, England.Wensleydale lies in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – one of only a few valleys in the Dales not currently named after its principal river , but the older name, "Yoredale", can still be seen...
, the branch line was authorised in 1871 and construction started in 1873. The branch line opened on 9 June 1875 and services started the following day. The line was poorly used from the start.
Passing to the London & North Eastern Railway in the 1923 grouping the line continued to suffer from light traffic apart from a period during the Second World War when the local area was used for munition storage. The line closed to passengers on 1 January 1931, and completely on 11 November 1963.