Boulby line

The line between {{rws|Guisborough}}, Brotton, {{rws|Skinningrove}} and {{rws|Loftus|Yorkshire}} (the Cleveland Railway), was opened between 1865 and 1867, looping north from Brotton and hugging the coast around the edge of Hunt Cliff.{{cite book |last1=North |first1=G. A. |title=Teesside's Economic Heritage |date=1975 |publisher=Cleveland County Council |page=46|oclc=611236534}}{{sfn|Bairstow|2008|pp=32, 111}} The {{convert|4.5|mi|adj=on}} section of line from Saltburn West Junction to {{rws|Brotton}} over Skelton Beck on Saltburn Viaduct was approved in 1865. It opened to goods traffic in 1872, and later to passengers in 1875, although {{rws|North Skelton}} station did not open to passengers until 1902.{{cite book |last1=Body |first1=Geoffrey |title=Railways of the Eastern Region volume 2; Northern operating area |date=1989 |publisher=Patrick Stephens |location=Wellingborough |isbn=1-85260-072-1 |page=44}}{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Chris Scott |title=The history of Saltburn |date=1983 |publisher=Seaside Books |location=Cleveland |isbn=0-9508631-0-6 |page=64}}{{cite book |last1=Hoole |first1=Ken |title=Forgotten railways, North-East England |date=1984 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-9465-3710-0 |page=63}}{{sfn|Bairstow|2008|pp=31–34}} The purpose of the Saltburn Extension line was so that ironstone trains from the Brotton and Loftus areas could have easy access to the steel and iron plants east of Middlesbrough, as the Cleveland Railway route past Guisborough and through {{rws|Nunthorpe}} required a reversal at {{rws|Middlesbrough}} station.{{sfn|Hoole|1971|p=59}} These lines had been opened by either the Middlesbrough and Guisborough Railway, or the Cleveland Railway; however, between 1863 and 1865, they came under the aegis of the North Eastern Railway.{{sfn|Hoole|1971|p=53}} The looping nature of the line around Hunt Cliff was due to the presence of mining activity on the cliff top. The line could have been engineered to go under Warsett Hill direct from Brotton to the Carlin How/Skinningrove area.{{sfn|Hoole|1971|pp=54–55}}

The opening of the Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway (WR&MU) south of Loftus from 1883, saw passenger services work from {{rws|Saltburn}} to Scarborough via Whitby West Cliff railway station.{{sfn|Williams|2019|p=140}} Services from Saltburn had to propel (reverse out) back to Saltburn West Junction to continue south.{{sfn|Bairstow|2008|p=34}} These propelling, or reversing moves, were a feature of whichever direction the passenger service trains took northwards from Loftus; they either had to reverse into Saltburn, or reverse into Guisborough whilst on their way to Middlesbrough.{{cite book |last1=Holland |first1=Julian |title=Steaming across Britain |date=2011 |publisher=AA Books |location=Basingstoke |isbn=9780749570774 |page=186}} The service from Saltburn to Loftus had started as far back as April 1875,{{sfn|Bairstow|2008|p=31}} and then, along with the opening of the Scarborough and Whitby Railway, extended along the coast line towards Scarborough.{{cite book |last1=Young |first1=Alan |title=Lost stations of North and East Ridings |date=2015 |publisher=Silver Link |location=Kettering |isbn=978-1-85794-453-2 |page=90}} However, in 1932, services to and from Scarborough were diverted away from Saltburn to terminate/start at Middlesbrough instead, and the local service from Brotton to Saltburn ceased in 1951.{{sfn|Hoole|1971|p=62}}

The Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway (WR&MU), which ran south of Loftus, closed in May 1958.{{sfn|Williams|2019|p=149}} The line was said to be unprofitable by British Rail, and also the high cost of maintaining the tunnels and the iron viaducts along the line for the next five years (£57,000 estimated ({{Inflation|UK|57,000|1957|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-3}})).{{sfn|Williams|2019|p=70}} The last passenger services along what would become the Boulby line were between {{rws|Loftus|Yorkshire}} and {{rws|Middlesbrough}} (via {{rws|Guisborough}}), and these ceased in May 1960, when the line became freight only.{{sfn|Hoole|1971|p=54}} Freight for Loftus continued until August 1963, and then the track was lifted northwards to Skinningrove Steelworks.{{sfn|Chapman|2007|p=83}} Between closure to passengers and 1969, the line from Skinningrove to Saltburn West remained double track and signalled as absolute block. In 1969, the line was singled, the signalling method changed to token signalling, and the line speed reduced to {{convert|30|mph}}.{{sfn|Chapman|2007|p=79}}

The location of potash and polyhalite under the cliffs and coast area of Whitby, led to the resurgence of part of the old WR&MU, which now forms the southern section of the Boulby Line. In 1974, {{convert|4|mi|spell=In}} of railway was re-instated between Crag Hall Junction and Boulby Mine (some {{convert|1|mi|adj=on}} north of {{rws|Staithes}} railway station).{{sfn|Williams|2019|p=5}}{{sfn|Bairstow|2008|p=97}} The Boulby line is {{convert|12|mi|5|chain}} in length, and has an engineer's line reference of SSK.{{cite book |last1=Kelman |first1=Leanne |title=Railway Track Diagrams Book 2: Eastern |date=2020 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-1-9996271-3-3 |edition=5|at=48A}}

Commodities carried on the line include steel, potash, polyhalite and rock salt. Historically, scrap metal was taken by rail from the Skinningrove works to Lackenby on Teesside, but this working ceased in 1989/1990 as the wagons were life-expired, and the investment in new wagons could not be justified.{{cite book |last1=Rhodes |first1=Michael |last2=Shannon |first2=Paul |title=The Freight Only Yearbook |date=1990 |publisher=Silver Link |location=Lancashire |isbn=0-947971-41-6 |page=43}} Oil was also carried to Boulby Mine.{{sfn|Chapman|2007|p=back cover}} The line southwards from Crag Hall Junction is owned by the same company that operates Boulby Mine.{{cite news |last1=Price |first1=Kelley |title=Business case for rail line is on the right track |work=Teesside Evening Gazette |date=15 October 2020 |page=18}} The numbers of trains plying the route varies with demand of its two freight concerns; as of 2018, just two trains of loaded potash were being despatched daily to Middlesbrough Goods terminal, and one steel train was inward-bound to Skinningrove steelworks from Middlesbrough.{{cite magazine |last1=Shannon |first1=Paul |title=Rail freight and the English seaports |magazine=Rail Magazine |date=4 July 2018 |issue=856 |page=65 |publisher=Bauer Media |location=Peterborough |issn=0953-4563}} In 2023, the Freightliner group signed a new contract with ICL to convey potash and polyhalite products from Boulby mine, which resulted in a pattern of between five and eight loaded trains per day.{{cite news |title=UK Freightliner has a fertile relationship with potash producer |url=https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2023/05/19/uk-freightliner-has-a-fertile-relationship-with-potash-producer/?gdpr=accept |access-date=13 February 2024 |work=RailFreight.com |date=19 May 2023}}

There have been proposals for the line to be reopened to passenger traffic as far south as Loftus station, even though the distance via rail is {{convert|4.5|mi}} longer between Loftus and Saltburn than by road.{{sfn|Bairstow|2008|p=99}} However, the service would not reverse into Saltburn, but carry on to {{rws|Middlesbrough}}. In January 2024, £1 million was awarded to the East Cleveland rail feasibility study to investigate opening the line.{{cite news |last1=Corrigan |first1=Naomi |title=TVCA leaders give green light to £1bn Teesside transport package |work=Teesside Evening Gazette |date=29 January 2024 |page=6|issn=1367-0603}}{{cite news |last1=Arnold |first1=Stuart |title=New plan proposes cuts to speed limits |work=Teesside Evening Gazette |date=12 August 2022 |page=2 |quote=And plans are afoot to reintroduce a passenger service along the Boulby branch line to Loftus|issn=1367-0603}} The study also tried to make use of the "Restoring Your Railway" fund, with proposed stops at Saltburn West, Skelton, Brotton, Loftus, Carlin How and Easington,{{cite magazine |last1=Jones |first1=Ben |title=Passenger trains for the Boulby Line? |magazine=The Railway Magazine |date=27 March 2020 |volume=166 |issue=1,429 |page=76 |publisher=Mortons Media |location=Horncastle |issn=0033-8923}} but their bid was unsuccessful.{{cite news |last1=Metcalfe |first1=Alex |title=Funding bid for railway in East Cleveland hits the buffers |work=Teesside Evening Gazette |date=22 June 2022 |page=5|issn=1367-0603}}

• Yorkshire Dales Railway, former passenger railway, now a freight only branch

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Bairstow |first1=Martin |title=Railways around Whitby: Scarborough – Whitby – Saltburn, Malton – Goathland – Whitby, Esk Valley, Forge Valley & Gilling lines |date=2008 |publisher=Martin Bairstow |location=Leeds |isbn=978-1-871944-34-1}}
• {{cite book|last=Chapman|first=Stephen|title=Railway Memories No. 18; Cleveland & Whitby|year=2007|publisher=Bellcode Books|location=Todmorden|isbn=9781871233186 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Hoole |first1=K. |title=Railways in Cleveland |date=1971 |publisher=Dalesman Publishing |location=Clapham |isbn=0-85206-131-5}}
• {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Michael A. |title=The Whitby – Loftus Line |date=2019 |orig-date=2012 |publisher=Oakwood Press |location=Catrine |isbn=978-0-85361-542-2 |edition=Revised}}

{{Railway lines in North East England}}

Category:Railway lines opened in 1865

Category:North Eastern Railway (United Kingdom)

Category:4 ft 8 in gauge railways

Category:Rail transport in North Yorkshire