Wondering And Wandering At Whitby 4

From Cliff Top To River Bank

The challenge, then, was to get a train which might have started its run in Middlesbrough to the north, then from West Cliff station (YELLOW blob) down a steep hill into Whitby ("Town") station (BLUE ditto) on the banks of he River Esk.

Having done that, there might be a need to get said train back up the hill and across the River Esk to continue southbound to Scarborough. And in case you wondered, there were trains that did just that ...

... but usually the "services" ran in two halves. In the above extract, the 0910 from Whitby starts at "Town" and runs via West Cliff to Middlesbrough. But look at the 0812 from Scarborough which runs to Whitby but via West Cliff.

Hmmm?

The line to Scarborough crossed the Esk Valley on the spectacular Larpool viaduct ...

... now a spectacular footpath ...

... seen above looking north.

Not far away is the equally exciting A171 viaduct offering a great improvement to through traffic ...

... compared with the route through town!

Herewith a geographical reminder ...

... followed by a look at the traditional route via Town Bridge.

It's swingin' man ...

... and narrow!

Oh, yes; the trains; fbb almost forgot; wallowing in the lyrical joys of Whitby's various bridges!

The old OS map. from Nick Catford's closed stations site ...

... shows the line of route

It is possible, just, to follow the line today, 

Leaving the station site (Station Avenue) there is one abutment on Stokesby Road ...

... where the line went over; but you have to be alert to spot it!

Next the line crosses over Stokesby Vale ...

... via more of a culvert than a bridge!

It is here, if you can spot the sign in the undergrowth ...

... where you can join the "Cinder Track" (its official name) which will take you across the Larpool Viaduct from the north. The approach is somewhat spooky!

The track, and thus the footpath, crosses under Prospect Hill (A171) ...

... which gave its name to the railway Junction below.

Here you forked left to cross the viaduct and went straight on to descend to the banks of the Esk and so to "Town" station. The picture below is looking back to that road bridge. The line to the "Town" is descending rapidly past (under!) the signal box, whilst the Larpool Viaduct tracks remain level on the right.

Note the two houses on the road bridge. Well, there they are today ...

... almost unchanged!

To conclude this steep hill blog, here is a simulation (yes, another one!) of a journey by diesel unit from Whitby "Town" to West Hill.

Of course, all of this is now closed leaving just the current line along the river bank. But what might have been?

Tune in tomorrow for a potentially crackpot railway idea and how Whitby used to give you a real lift!

 Next Whitby blog : Thurs 31 July