Beechings Rambles #2 Newark to Bottesford Railway

"The Newark to Bottesford railway was open to passenger traffic between 1878 and 1955, with Cotham station opening in 1879. The line offered a route to Nottingham and Leicester and at one time trains ran directly to Northampton. The local gypsum industry helped to keep the line open for freight traffic and the occasional diverted passenger train until the 1980s and indeed the Royal Train passed through in April 1984."
"The route starts direct from Newark Northgate station, and is traffic-free all the way to the village of Cotham. It follows the trackbed of the old Newark to Bottesford railway, closed in the 1980s, and provides a welcome green corridor between the two communities as an alternative to busy roads."

National Route #64

The section I did was only a short reccy from Hawton Lane to Newark Station. Even in that short two mile route on Easter Sunday, it was surprisingly pretty, sided in two places by large ponds. The daffodils pleasantly in bloom in the March sunshine. The route was busy being used by walkers, runners, cyclists and families. Good metalled track for the part I did. 

More details of this Rail Trail can be found at: 
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/newark-to-cotham

There is also a handy PDF leaftet:
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/newark_to_cotham.pdf

Beechings Rambles #1 Beverley to Market Weighton line

Wilberforce way ~ Beverley to Market Weighton Railway

I visited this section of the old Beverley to Market Weighton railway on 22^nd March 2016 in a round about way as I’d originally taken a wrong turn out the car park, so after carrying the pushbike over a stream and scrambling up an incline I finally got “on track” so to speak. This initial venture was mainly to scope out the route for a return visit, so hopefully there’ll be more images to come.

Right, the history;

“The York to Beverley Line was a railway line between York, Market Weighton and Beverley. The line was sanctioned in 1846. The Market Weighton to Beverley Line opened in 1865. The line once was a preferred route for trains running directly between the English cities of York and Kingston upon Hull. Before closure the route Hull-Beverley-Market-Weighton-York had daily direct trains and was often referred to as the Hull-York Line. The line was recommended for closure in the 1963 Beeching report and closed in November 1965."
“Construction of the second part to Beverley was delayed for 17 years delayed in part by the downfall of George Hudson, and a less favourable financial environment following the collapse of the 1840's railway bubble; the North Eastern Railway revived and completed the scheme in the 1860s; the Market Weighton to Beverley Line opened in 1865.”
“The Hudson Way is part of the old railway line that linked York to Hull from 1865 until 1965 when it was shut under the famous Beeching Axe.”

Parking is available at Ings Road / Grange Way (Beverley) and toilets / refreshments at The Hayride just across the main road. The track as I found out on my return can be easily accessed from the car park and starts off with a metalled track which quickly turns to a mud track, slurpy in places depending on the weather. In the above photo, there was something that looked like a spring burbling under the bridge, so I was very glad I was on the bike this time so as not to get soggy feet.

Beechings Rambles ~ The Beginning

"Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching (21 April 1913 – 23 March 1985), commonly known as Dr Beeching, was chairman of British Railways and a physicist and engineer. He became a household name in Britain in the early 1960s for his report "The Reshaping of British Railways", commonly referred to as "The Beeching Report", which led to far-reaching changes in the railway network, popularly known as the Beeching Axe."

I wouldn't consider the word popular to be used in the same sentence as this Lord’s name, but generations later I suppose in a roundabout way he did us outdoor enthusiasts a favour. It was whilst walking down yet another of this Country's dismantled railway lines I was inspired to come up with this very Blog.

I'd be thinking for a while I might perhaps find out more about this notorious man I'd come to grow up with in the back of my mind of his unforgettable act that upset so many in years gone by. At the same time I found myself enjoying more and more walks and cycling on the very track beds he in essence caused to be.

So, it is with this is mind, that I’d like to share with you what I’ve lovingly nicknamed, “Beechings Rambles”. Instead of “Tales from the riverbank” it won’t be Ratty or Mole, just Barmy Bev on either two legs or two wheels from an old disused Railway line somewhere in England’s green and pleasant land in words and pictures.

So hold on tight, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride and remember NOT TO PULL THE EMERGENCY CHAIN!!! It doesn’t work anyway, very much unfortunately like the Railway Lines anymore.

(March 2016)