The forgotten stations of the Middlesbrough to Scarborough Railway

Teesside Crab Killer

Teesside Crab Killer

Well-known member
There are 19 forgotten stations on the former Middlesbrough to Scarborough Railway. Here's a North East Bylines article about the northernmost three - North Skelton, Brotton and Skinningrove

northeastbylines.co.uk

The forgotten stations of the Middlesbrough to Scarborough railway

A walk along a disused railway line, visiting the three northernmost abandoned stations at North Skelton, Brotton and Skinningrove
northeastbylines.co.uk northeastbylines.co.uk
 
I had a friend who had been an engine driver on the line. He told me about Robin Hoods Bay where they had to get enough steam up to take a run at the gradient round Ravenscar. They sometimes had to take a couple of goes at it.
There is actually a model of the lines coming out of Whitby that goes round local model railway displays. I asked them about this and they confirmed the gradient was a problem for the steam trains - must have added a layer of excitement to one of the most scenic lines in the country.
 
fmttmadmin said:
I had a friend who had been an engine driver on the line. He told me about Robin Hoods Bay where they had to get enough steam up to take a run at the gradient round Ravenscar. They sometimes had to take a couple of goes at it.
There is actually a model of the lines coming out of Whitby that goes round local model railway displays. I asked them about this and they confirmed the gradient was a problem for the steam trains - must have added a layer of excitement to one of the most scenic lines in the country.
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Sounds like they wouldn't even bother with the journey in winter, put ice on the line and the train would have just as many problems going down the hill as up it.
 
West Cliff Station in Whitby became a builders yard - many became car parks like at Robin Hoods Bay and Sandsend, Hawsker is a place to hire bikes from, one was a pub (Staintondale edit to Hayburnwyke).
 
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exeterboro said:
Sounds like they wouldn't even bother with the journey in winter, put ice on the line and the train would have just as many problems going down the hill as up it.
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I forgot to add the steam line was going up a gradient into a tunnel to reappear on the headland near Kettleness - it must have been quite brutal for the driver out in the elements and especially the fireman, frantically shoveling.
 
Redwurzel said:
West Cliff Station in Whitby became a builders yard - many became car parks like at Robin Hoods Bay and Sandsend, Hawsker is a place to hire bikes from, one was a pub (Staintondale).
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Much of it is now the Cinder Track walk

www.thewhitbyguide.co.uk

The Cinder Track, Whitby To Scarborough, Walking And Cycling

The Cinder Track is a route from Whitby to Scarborough. It boasts fantastic views, perfect for walking and cycling enthusiasts.
www.thewhitbyguide.co.uk www.thewhitbyguide.co.uk
 
fmttmadmin said:
I forgot to add the steam line was going up a gradient into a tunnel to reappear on the headland near Kettleness - it must have been quite brutal for the driver out in the elements and especially the fireman, frantically shoveling.
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I have walked through that tunnel a few times,anyone who has done the cleveland way path will have seen both tunnel entrances.

If I remember that tunnel was actually a reroute as the original path took it closer to the cliff edge and had to be abandond.

Half way along the tunnel was a shaft that ran towards the cliffs you could go along this and sit in peaceful isolation looking out to sea. If you know where to look from Sandsend you can see the squared shaped exit hole.
Presumably this was to help the smoke escape the main tunnel.

The last time I walked it was 20 years ago,I would not recommend it now as there was some rock falls and would assume it has got worse.
 
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There is a parkrun each Saturday at the Cinder Track, Whitby end - if anyone fancies running 3.1 miles out and back along the former track bed.
There was talk of a second Cinder Track parkrun at Scarborough - which remains as probably the biggest town in the country without a parkrun. But am running away from the subject now.
But great there are so many opportunities to walk, run and cycle sections of this lost railway line.
 
Redpete said:
I have walked through that tunnel a few times,anyone who has done the cleveland way path will have seen both tunnel entrances.

If I remember that tunnel was actually a reroute as the original path took it closer to the cliff edge and had to be abandond.

Half way along the tunnel was a shaft that ran towards the cliffs you could go along this and sit in peaceful isolation looking out to sea. If you know where to look from Sandsend you can see the squared shaped exit hole.
Presumably this was to help the smoke escape the main tunnel.

The last time I walked it was 20 years ago,I would not recommend it now as there was some rock falls and would assume it has got worse.
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I’m sure I read in a railway book that the tunnel was notorious for fumes and smoke and the train drivers and crew struggled to breathe and complained about it a lot.

Imagine that in the present times?
 
pierrequiroule said:
I'm old enough to have actually taken the line by train when I was a kid. Cycling the line from Whitby to Scarborough is fun, except after rain when the surface is filthy, but that was many years ago.
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Same for me, cycled it 2 weeks ago and the track from robinshood bay towards ravenscar was in a terrible state for about 5km. The path has eroded quite badly and off road bikers have churned up the path quite badly in places
 
Lightweight said:
Same for me, cycled it 2 weeks ago and the track from robinshood bay towards ravenscar was in a terrible state for about 5km. The path has eroded quite badly and off road bikers have churned up the path quite badly in places
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I kind of hoped it might have been sorted by now - it must be 30-40 years ago that I did it - hardly any mountain bikes then.
 
pierrequiroule said:
I kind of hoped it might have been sorted by now - it must be 30-40 years ago that I did it - hardly any mountain bikes then.
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I cycled from Teesside to Whitby onto the cinder path to Scarborough and on to Bridlington last year and the route was in great shape.
It’s more to do with electric e bikes when talking to some people in Ravenscar, also the amount of rainfall we have had has eroded some of the repair work that was carried out pre covid. It was just about passable on a gravel bike
 
Staithes station building is still there as is one at Sandsend above the Witts end cafe.
I remember getting the Scarbados train out to Hawsker as a kid and it went up to West Cliff then over the viaduct.
My grandad was a goods train driver and did that journey as well as the esk valley line many times.
 
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