The Old LNER - On My Doorstep!

Prior to 1983, Selby was on the East Coast Main Line. When the National Coal Board (NCB) began to exploit the Selby Coalfield, a diversionary route for the ECML had to be built to avoid subsidence to the railway. This diversion took the ECML away from Selby, leaving it a much quieter station.
The new route leaves the old at Temple Hirst to the south of Selby and rejoins it at Colton Junction several miles to the north of the town where the York-Leeds line meets the ECML.


The diversion, which was financed by the NCB, had major advantages to the railway in that it removed a bottleneck from the ECML by avoiding the Selby Swing Bridge over the River Ouse.
It was the first purpose built section of high-speed railway in the UK having a design speed of 125 mph and predated the first section of High Speed 1 by 20 years.


The original route north of Selby was closed and in 1989 was converted into a cycle track which now forms part of route 65 of the National Cycle Network. The section passing Barlby and Riccall was used to to build a bypass on the A19. The southern section remains in operation and is used by passenger services to Doncaster & London and goods traffic heading to the Potter Group freight terminal near the former Barlby Junction, a short distance east of the station on the Hull line.

There are two main stations along the way: Naburn and Escrick. Naburn station is today a cafe and guest house and except for the platform, is still very much intact. This includes the old goods yard which is now a building yard. Escrick on the other hand, is now purely a small car park for walkers. the carpark is currently being extended - and seems as though the old turntable will soon forfeit the extensions as the old station yard has.

Ths cycle route is a track which i have riden since i could ride a bike, but today was the first time i had photographed it; hopefully not the last!

                 Old Terrys Chocolate Factory (Derilict after company moved to Poland in 2005)

                                                                        Old Sleepers?

                       Old Mine Cutter From the Stillingfleet Coal Mine which closed in 2004

                               Remains of Turntable and goods yard of Old Escrick Station

                                                                Naburn Station Today

                                                             Naburn Station in 1929

                                           York City Centre - Foss Basin and 'Blue Bridge'