Station Name: KIRK SMEATON

 

[Source: Mark Dyson]

Date opened: 22.7.1885
Location: East side of Willowbridge Road
Company on opening: Hull Barnsley and West Riding Junction Railway and Dock Company
Date closed to passengers: 1.1.1932
Date closed completely: 6.4.1959
Company on closing: British Railways (North Eastern Region)
Present state: Unknown
County: Yorkshire
OS Grid Ref: SE531164
Date of visit: Not visited

Notes: After closure some excursions ran from the station to Hull Fair and Leeds football ground. These included 14.10.1933 during Hull Civic Week and 28.2.1953 to Leeds.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HULL & BARNSLEY RAILWAY
The Hull Barnsley and West Riding Junction Railway and Dock Company was formed with the backing of Hull Corporation to break the monopoly on dock and rail traffic from Hull; it included a deep water dock (Alexandra Dock) to the east of Hull. The railway never reached Barnsley itself, terminating at Cudworth (junction with the Midland Railway) some four miles short having been vigorously opposed by the NER.

It was one of the last new main lines to be built, construction cost double the estimates, due in part to difficulties in cutting and tunneling through unexpectedly hard chalk in the Yorkshire Wolds near Little Weighton.

Although it was constructed primarily for goods traffic to and from the new dock and the South Yorkshire coalfields, fine villa-style passenger stations were provided but though passenger traffic was sparse.

In 1905 the company name was shortened to the Hull and Barnsley Railway which was absorbed into the NER on 1.1.1923

The line was gradually run down from the early 1930's with all passenger services ceasing in 1955.
Today only the high level goods line around Hull and a short sections serving Drax power station remain in use.

Other web sites: For a more detailed history and maps see Hull & Barnsley Railway Stock Fund web site

To see the other stations on the Hull Barnsley & West Riding Junction Railway click on the station name: Hull Cannon Street, Beverley Road, Springhead Halt,
Willerby & Kirk Ella, Little Weighton, North Cave,
South Cave, Sandholme & South Howden

The following stations on this line are not featured, if you have information on the present state of these stations and photographs we would like to hear from you. North Eastrington and all stations west to Cudworth


Kirk Smeaton Station
Photo received from Nicholas Cox


Kirk Smeaton Station looking east in the early 20th century
Photo from John Law's Pre Grouping Railways web site


Kirk Smeaton Station forecourt in 1969
Photo by John Law from his UK & Elsewhere Photos web site



Kirk Smeaton Station looking north east in December 1984
Photo by Michael Kaye



Kirk Smeaton Station in May 2003
Photo by Alan Young

May 2003

Click on thumbnail to enlarge


 

 

 

[Source: Mark Dyson]



Last updated: Sunday, 14-Dec-2008 06:27:07 GMT
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