WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE
(Still under construction!)
This site is non-profit making and is dedicated to the East Yorkshire railway workers of today and yesteryear.
The above map shows the 1949 British Railways East Yorkshire, and part of the North Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire passenger networks.
My intention is not to provide an extensive history of the railways in East Yorkshire, but to give a brief overview of my local railways, past and present.
The focus is upon upon the the period following World War 2 following the nationalisation of the four main private companies (in this case the LNER), the formation of British Railways and the re-privatisation of our railway heritage.
In addition, there is a brief mention of three private railways that were situated in East Yorkshire.
_______________________________________________________
IN 1949, THERE WERE NINE PASSENGER CARRYING RAILWAY LINES OWNED BY BRITISH RAILWAY IN EAST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND:
NOW ONLY THE HULL - LEEDS, HULL - DONCASTER AND HULL - BRIDLINGTON AND SCARBOROUGH LINES REMAIN.
_______________________________________________________
Before, and Following World War 2, competition from bus services and road haulage dramatically effected the railway transport system in the UK. East Yorkshire was no exception.
The passenger service from Malton to Driffield ceased in 1950 and Hull to South Howden in 1955.
In the early 1960's, Dr Beeching was employed to re-shape the British Railway system by the Conservative Government. His findings were released in 1963. He proposed to close many lines throughout the U.K. Most of these proposals were acted upon and widespread cuts were made. His name has become synonymous with with the decimation of British Railways in East Yorkshire and the UK in general.
No short haul freight traffic remains and most of the railway infrastructure has gone.
At the present time, 2011, (and far too late) many people are critical of this short sighted political decision, road congestion and pollution being two major issues.
_______________________________________________________
Whenever the railway closures of the sixties are discussed, Dr Beeching's name is the first to be mentioned. It is my view that although he seems to have taken the blame for these savage cuts, he only did his paid job of work, he produced a report. He was paid around twice the 'going rate' to do his job as chairman of British Railways, and he did it well.
In reality , the responsibility of this tragedy lies mostly with the Conservative government of that time, (with a vested interest in road transport) who employed Dr Beeching. They were followed by 'Labour' who carried on implementing the Conservative cuts. They were assisted by the Liberal Party who said and did nothing and an apathetic public who were quite willing to be be misled by the false promise of cheap petrol and diesel fuel.
To date (2011), this decision has returned to haunt us.
_____________________________________________________
Following nationalisation in 1948, and until re-privatisation by the Conservative government in1993, British Railways belonged to the people of the UK.
I hope you enjoy this brief description (with perhaps a little political bias!) of East Yorkshire railways. If you have any comments, please contact me using the form at the end of the menu bar.
Dave Bannister
(Still under construction!)
This site is non-profit making and is dedicated to the East Yorkshire railway workers of today and yesteryear.
The above map shows the 1949 British Railways East Yorkshire, and part of the North Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire passenger networks.
My intention is not to provide an extensive history of the railways in East Yorkshire, but to give a brief overview of my local railways, past and present.
The focus is upon upon the the period following World War 2 following the nationalisation of the four main private companies (in this case the LNER), the formation of British Railways and the re-privatisation of our railway heritage.
In addition, there is a brief mention of three private railways that were situated in East Yorkshire.
_______________________________________________________
IN 1949, THERE WERE NINE PASSENGER CARRYING RAILWAY LINES OWNED BY BRITISH RAILWAY IN EAST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND:
- HULL - SELBY, LEEDS, MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL
- HULL - GOOLE, DONCASTER AND LONDON
- HULL - BRIDLINGTON AND SCARBOROUGH
- HULL - YORK (VIA MARKET WEIGHTON)
- HULL - HORNSEA
- HULL - WITHERNSEA
- HULL - SOUTH HOWDEN (EX HULL & BARNSLEY RAILWAY)
- DRIFFIELD - SELBY (VIA MARKET WEIGHTON)
- DRIFFIELD - MALTON.
NOW ONLY THE HULL - LEEDS, HULL - DONCASTER AND HULL - BRIDLINGTON AND SCARBOROUGH LINES REMAIN.
_______________________________________________________
Before, and Following World War 2, competition from bus services and road haulage dramatically effected the railway transport system in the UK. East Yorkshire was no exception.
The passenger service from Malton to Driffield ceased in 1950 and Hull to South Howden in 1955.
In the early 1960's, Dr Beeching was employed to re-shape the British Railway system by the Conservative Government. His findings were released in 1963. He proposed to close many lines throughout the U.K. Most of these proposals were acted upon and widespread cuts were made. His name has become synonymous with with the decimation of British Railways in East Yorkshire and the UK in general.
No short haul freight traffic remains and most of the railway infrastructure has gone.
At the present time, 2011, (and far too late) many people are critical of this short sighted political decision, road congestion and pollution being two major issues.
_______________________________________________________
Whenever the railway closures of the sixties are discussed, Dr Beeching's name is the first to be mentioned. It is my view that although he seems to have taken the blame for these savage cuts, he only did his paid job of work, he produced a report. He was paid around twice the 'going rate' to do his job as chairman of British Railways, and he did it well.
In reality , the responsibility of this tragedy lies mostly with the Conservative government of that time, (with a vested interest in road transport) who employed Dr Beeching. They were followed by 'Labour' who carried on implementing the Conservative cuts. They were assisted by the Liberal Party who said and did nothing and an apathetic public who were quite willing to be be misled by the false promise of cheap petrol and diesel fuel.
To date (2011), this decision has returned to haunt us.
_____________________________________________________
Following nationalisation in 1948, and until re-privatisation by the Conservative government in1993, British Railways belonged to the people of the UK.
I hope you enjoy this brief description (with perhaps a little political bias!) of East Yorkshire railways. If you have any comments, please contact me using the form at the end of the menu bar.
Dave Bannister