History of the Harrogate to York Railway.
A history of this branch line is contained in Chapter 7 of James Rogers’ book ‘The Railways of Harrogate and District’ published by the North Eastern Railway Association in 2000, and ‘A History of Harrogate and Knaresborough’ published in 1970, written by The Harrogate W.E.A Local History Group and edited by Barnard Jennings.
A copy of the former is held by the National Railway museum archive in York. There are some interesting pictures of Goldsborough Station and other parts of the line.
A History of Harrogate and Knaresborough is held in Harrogate library.
The following is a brief resume of the Goldsborough section of the railway.
16 July 1846 Act passed to build the Knaresborough to York railway. The East & West Yorkshire
Junction Railway made the application.
Land was purchased from the Lascelles Goldsborough Estate, and from Lord Stourton’s Allerton Maulleverer Estate.
30 Oct 1846 The line from York to Hay-a-Park was completed, where a temporary station was built.
13 July 1848 Contractors took a train from Poppleton to Hay-a-Park to celebrate the opening of this stretch of the line.
30 Oct 1848 Allerton Station opened. At about this time the adjoining New Inn was closed and converted into a farmhouse, and the cockpit was levelled. (Speight). The station name was changed to ‘Hopperton Lane’ on 1st Oct 1925
1849 Goldsborough station house was built by North Eastern Railway.
18 July 1851 The Hay-a-Park to Knaresborough section of line was opened.
18 Aug 1851 The Knaresborough to Starbeck section of line was opened.
1852 The E&WYJ Rly amalgamated with the York & North Midland Railway.
1853 Regular passenger services were introduced.
1862 The Starbeck to Harrogate new station section of line was opened, thus completing the whole line from York to Harrogate.
1879 North Eastern Railway enlarged Goldsborough Station House.
12 Aug 1874 One man was killed and another injured when their cart was struck by a train on the crossing. The stationmaster was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 2 months imprisonment.
Dec 1906 A train was stranded in a snowdrift at Goldsborough station. Other trains were re-routed via Boroughbridge.
25 March 1923 King George V and Prince George arrived at Goldsborough station to attend the christening of George Lascelles, the 7th Earl of Harewood and the Queen’s cousin, at Goldsborough church. Queen Mary arrived by road, but joined her husband the King for the return to London. The ex LNWR Royal Train of 10 coaches was brought empty from York by an LNER loco newly painted black. This was exchanged at Goldsborough for two ex Midland Railway locos which were to haul the train to St Pancras via York. The Queen asked one driver if the two spotless locos were new, and why two were needed. She was informed they were not new, and that her train was a very heavy one.
1924 After visiting Goldsborough the Queen left in a royal saloon attached to an ordinary
Harrogate to York passenger train.
1942 During the Second World War a rail connected cold storage depot was opened at Goldsborough. A new signal box was opened for this on 10th November 1942.
18 Aug 1958 Diesel rail cars were introduced on the line. By 5 Jan 1959 steam was withdrawn and services became fully diesel hauled.
15 Sept 1958 Goldsborough, Hopperton, Marston Moor and Hessay stations were closed to passengers.
1962 A bridge replaced the level crossing on the A1 at Hopperton station. This was the site of the New Inn, now New Inn Farm.
1963 – 5 The platform and waiting room on the south side of the line at Goldsborough station were removed.
June 1965 Goods traffic was withdrawn from all stations on the line.
1969 A road bridge carrying the A59 replaced the level crossing at Goldsborough station.
15 Jun 1969 Stations on the line became unmanned.
Feb 1971 The signal box at Goldsborough station was closed.
1973 Between Knaresborough and Cattal, and Hammmerton and Poppleton the line was reduced to single track.
1995 A bridge was built to carry the A1(M) over the railway.
2018 The former Goldsborough Station house was sold to Flaxby Park Ltd, developers.
Those with a particular interest in the railway should also look at the parish council website where there is an excellent article about the railway.
Those with a particular interest in the railway should also look at the parish council website where there is an excellent article about the railway.
Buck White 2013