Beechings Rambles #4 ~ Hull to Barnsley Railway

For as long as I can remember going back to the heady days of travelling in a 'Trannie Van" across the Wolds to go Painting & Decorating with an Adult Training course back in 1988/89 I spied what turned out to be the air shafts sticking up in the middle of the field near Riplingham and it aroused my curiousity all those years ago. 

Thirty years later the patience and dogged determination bore a fruitful yoeld after my erratic scramble through ankle grabbing brambles in finally visiting the Eastern Portal of Drewton Tunnel. Despite finding the entrance barred by padlocked gate  it was still an exciting find.

Once an essential part of the Hull to Barnsley Railway network it closed to rail traffic back in 1958.

A rail system apparently born out of jealousy of the North Eastern Railway opened on 20th July 1885 by the Hull Barnsley & West Riding Junction Railway and Dock Company (HB&WRJR&DCo.) ,
"It was a poorly conceived scheme beset with early bickering and the creation of a difficult route through large chalk hills. The attendant tunnels and deep cuttings were financially crippling, returns were inadequate to ensure a secure future."

On the short mile walk from being parked at Little Weighton it was nice to see remnants of bygone days

Starting at Alexandra Dock in Hull, it stretched a length of 66 miles almost reaching Barnsley, stopping just short at Stairfoot. More information can be found on these links

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull_and_Barnsley_Railway

https://www.lner.info/co/HBR/history.php

Little evidence remains of the track bed in places given over to private land, but treasured gems can still be enjoyed if you look closely
(a small section of track)

The next image is one of my favourites of this section of track reliving the glory days of steam in Little Weighton cutting & Drewton Tunnel. Unbelievable to try and imagine this when the bizarre reality has one standing on a massive pile of quarry infill material making you look down into the tunnel entrance.

Passenger services between Hull and South Howden ended in 1955. Through freight on the same line ended in 1958, with complete closure between Little Weighton and Wrangbrook junction in 1959.

By 1970 the only parts of the line still with traffic were the Hull elevated section, and a few short sections with industrial uses.Alexandra Dock closed in the 1980s and the rail connection was removed, subsequently the dock re-opened but without a rail connection"

The above text comes from this incredibly interesting site

http://www.popflock.com/learn?s=Hull_and_Barnsley_Railway

Day 2

Well after drafting this edition of "Beeching Rambles" I decided to go back the next day as see as I couldn't ice skate owing to closure. After learning of Sugar Loaf Tunnel my curiousity was aroused and I decided to go back on a Famous Five quest in search of another tunnel (with tunnels, cake and ice skating it doesn't take much to make me happy.)

After only learning yesterday of it's existence from a friend I parked up at Beverley Clump near Riplingham and walked the shortest route via The Wolds Way. 

After looking at the map I ventured West and discovered Weetley Tunnel First (132yds) and like the Eastern Portal of Drewton Tunnel was fenced off. 

Another one down and onto Sugar Loaf Tunnel (132yds) next where I came across a lovely surprise in the form of an intact three span bridge just before the tunnel entrance. 

After an uphill scramble out the other side I decided to press on to try and discover the Western portal of the Drewton Tunnel (354yds) after a long tromp in the mud I eventually reached my goal. In a sorry state compared to it's glory days of grandeur the entrance peeked out the mud

That speck of light you can just make out is indeed the other end of the tunnel a mile away, but I wasn't about to go investigating on my own without a hard hat and no-one knowing my where abouts. 

So three tunnels later and a belly full of cake from nearby Drewton Farm Shop & Tea room.

I feel like I've learnt alot more about the Hull to Barnsley Railway now than I did and my walking boots need a good clean. 

I do hope you enjoyed the report? 

If it helps, here are the route maps from both days