The original route along the cliff face between Sandsend and Kettleness was an absolutley crazy idea so when the money ran out and the NER was persuaded to complete the line they diverted inland to avoid this by building Sandsend Tunnel. It was still the intention to have a short section running along a ledge which was the other cutting shown in the video. Then that bit partly collapsed so Kettleness Tunnel was driven as well to avoid it. I remember travelling over the line about 1956 and what an exciting journey it was with a magnificent view over Runswick Bay then looking down on the sea approaching Sandsend. And of course the view from Staithes Viaduct was magnificent. Returning in the evening was not such fun as there were no lights on in our coach and the slow journey through the tunnels was scary to a 5 year old! Simon Chapman, Cleveland Mining Heritage Society.

The forgotten west cliff station is definitely one of the best least known amazing things in Whitby, my dad took me to see it, spurned a life long interest in the history of Whitby railways

Never mind the railway, tell us all more on how we buy the wife’s rear lol. Another grey glimpse into our forgotten railway history. Thank you and keep posting

Not only interesting (as usual) but great fun. I thought I'd missed a compition to win a bum! Brightened up my otherwise dull day off work. Keep it up.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Kelvin. We decided to add a little more behind the scenes in this one!

@Mortimer50145

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, Rebecca, I'm glad you clarified that it was the jumper and not your bum we could have won ;-)

Lovely video. Breathtaking scenery. No harm done in yearning for our railway past now & again.

My house is in the background of your original Staithes viaduct photo! Within minutes of there, you can find evidence of a horsedrawn railway on the foreshore, Alum tunnel in cliffs with rails still intact, a rail Tramway and a narrow gauge ironstone railway!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant. Now thats real history.

Living in Australia , I'm learning a lot about UK geography by watching these , and Geoff's, videos. Carry On.

I live in Hinderwell and I remember the old station buildings being there as a kid. Shame they went. Interesting video!

Great video. Pity they couldn't have left this railway line alone. It would have been one of the great railway days out. Stunning scenery. Paul & Rebecca are really good at presenting these clips. Well done!

Nice bit of history with fun & lovely scenery. So sad the line & all the structures have being demolished, would have been a great heritage line. 👍👍

I love Whitby, glorious countryside round there.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

We love it too. Definitely coming back.

What a line it would have been today with the views! I can remember in 1952 with ice cream in my hand looking up at Sandsend viaduct with a train rumbling over.

Thanks for great!!!! video of our amazing lovely past railway history scenery sadly gone and presentation you both are a credit.

Wow what a salesman the original engineer was! The cost of the railway was crazy. I have read that this line closed not by Beeching but by several land slips that unhinged the track bed. Loving this series. Watching now

went on holiday there i could not work out were the railway went .now i know thanks. nice part of the country

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Always a pleasure Robert. It certainly weaved its way in and out of the coast line

great excuse to ask you to read my poem..hope you like it? "Viaductophile" I'm a chronic viaductophile, I just can't get enough of that feeling, When i see a gulf spanned with brutsl elegance, Embankment as foreplay, Enmesshed in the dance of the landscape, Created to carry the weight of the world wherever it needs to go, Passengers and freight, And post that cannot wait, So span the river, Cross the gorge, The iron works, the mine, the forge need linking to the town, And railways can't go up and down too much, you see, So now my Higher Powere is Brunel! And I dribble at the Ribblehead and swoon at Miller's Dale, Maidenhead gets me all worked up and the Forth Bridge cannot fail To drop the jaw, In deepest awe..... They just don't make 'em like that anymore! So now my browsing history is littered with bridges and tunnels and cuts, I need to put it all in perspective..... I know I'm a viaductophile ,but, If this isn't love Why does it feel so good?

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing Jimmy!

love that you're in the north east guys! I was walking around a disused line last week and will turn my photos into a little video soon, thank you guys!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds good to us James

@jamesballantyne8349

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick fab, ill see if I can edit the footage and publish soon!

Hi, this is my part of the world so I found it very interesting, the only line that now runs anywhere near the coast is the one to Boulby potash mine which at one point runs very close to the cliffs edge so is taken extremely slowly. The line is in regular use and on special occasions a passenger train is allowed to use it. There's a push locally to reopen Saltburn to Whitby line, fingers crossed for that one.

We used to camp every year at Kettleness Station with the cub scouts. They used to tell us that at midnight every night you could hear the ghostly steam whistle as the train rattles through the station and toward the tunnel

great video - missed how to win Rebecca's Bum lol. lovely part of the world

The line originally ran from saltburn to Whitby I live in the village next to loftus where the original line still runs through

We really enjoyed this one. It was nice seeing parts of Whitby again. Loved the nostalgic music in the outro!!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Gents

O wow what a lovely coast. great to be with you co's many years ago we stayed at Whitby right below the brick built viaduct. Did a lot of walking north of Whitby up to the first tunnel and of course more. So much beauty and great scenery. Please don't talk any faster or I will be missing what you say. Loved this.. more and more again please. Hope to see you along the tracks toward Robin Hoods and Scarborough.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Keith. I do waffle quickly, I'll give you that.

Nice. The Scarborough-Whitby line is the only disused railway in England that I walked parts of. So I can relate to the atmosphere of Whitby-Loftus.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Its a shame we didn't get to do that line as I had a whole script written out for Ravenscar.

@marcdebruin2425

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick True. Interesting little place that I did visit in 2018, including the nice tearoom in the Station Square. There are some good informtion signs on the former platforms that got me interested in the place and railway. Eventualy bought a book about the line.

@Mortimer50145

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick Ravenscar is very dear to my heart: my wife and I got married at the Raven Hall hotel - after I'd proposed to her at the Whalebone Arch in Whitby overlooking Whitby Abbey... and then she proposed to me in overlooking South Bay in Scarborough.

I remember both of those railways, can't have been that long after the Scarborough line had been closed as the tracks were still there.

The Whitby to Redcar disused line you drew...goes right though the North Sea in a massive curve. No wonder it's now disused! Looking forward to watching this video to see how you overcome the North Sea!

Firstly notifications all OK! Another brilliant video - love the old b/w photos which really put things into context.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Robin, and thanks for the Notification update.

Very interesting route, definitely one of the lesser known lost lines. I do love your point about Beeching. Yes he was a butcher of most of our railway closures, but lines were shut much earlier than his reign, and much later ofcourse. The Serpel report closed miles of railway which is desperately needed today.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Yup indeed so Jon

Great video as usual guys. We had booked accommodation in the area for April to do Whitby, Goathland, NYMR, Thornton le Dale etc but Corona said no, also a week in Scotland NC500, Jacobite etc lost too, so it's great to see the areas in your videos. We lost so many lines here in NI, Minister Craig following Beeching's example but even more ruthless with over half our lines closed. 😡 Where we live in Portadown would have been the Crewe of NI railways, since 60s has been just single route. Keep up the good work ! BTW If you're still struggling with wind, there are many excellent over the counter remedies available! 😂😂

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Nc500 is definitely something we are looking to do when time allows.

In some of the closed stations you can see the pride of the owners. Neat lawn covered platforms, well trimmed track beds. I think all that's missing is the station cat sitting at the end of the platform waiting for the tit bits from drivers and guards.

Thanks so much for that, really enjoyed it gosh you put up with a lot of wind hey. Love all history. Thanks so much for taking me along, please stay safe and take care

Went on holiday to this area many years ago, we didn't have much time to spend in Whitby, but we drove the road from there to Staithes as I really wanted to see the railway route and the large viaducts that were built along it. Not much survives to be honest, I remember seeing a model railway based on one of the metal viaducts on the route many years ago and one of the operators knew a lot about this railway - he said that some of the piers of at least a couple of these viaducts had started showing serious metal fatigue and this prompted the closure of the line well before the Beeching Report. I would have especially loved to have seen Staithes Viaduct, such an amazing structure.

Hi Paul and Rebecca. You Missed Loftus Viaduct; it still exists, albeit covered in shale with a concrete culvert over Kilton beck; absolutely spectacular to walk through. That would have been a great addittion to this very informative video. As a proud local to this area I really enjoyed this; thank you.

Whitby to Scarborough line closed later. Trains went up to West Cliff before changing direction over Larpool viaduct.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Ah that explains why west cliff stayed open longer

Thanks guys - that was fascinating. What a great shame that there is so very little left of the railway. It must have been an exciting journey along it.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Michael, it was a lovely day aside the wind. We definitely want to come back

Been to Whitby lots of times lovely place but I did not know about this railway line must explore in future 👍👍

Born in the 1960,s it’s amazing how much you took for granted as a child, and is now gone. Thanks for sharing the beautiful views! 🚂🛤🌊🦀🦶👀👍🏻

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Daniel

Cullen in scotland has vicuts,you can walk over disused line

Great video as usual. Fantastic views too.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks William.

Fantastic scenery, always love the information you have in you're vid's ...makes them so much more than a 'look at this vid'....I have to admit I'm not a massive train fan but find you're videos very interesting...

Love your content which is why I subbed, but the care and skill that went into this post are exceptional. Professional quality work.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Thats very kind.

Just talked to my dad - he remembers taking Scarborough to Sandsend for Cubs Camp!

Awesome!! Loved the history about each station. I love the old railways, sad most of them are forgotten. Subscribed. See you next week :)

Terrific scenery. Landscape and coastline amazing. How sad these viaducts and railway lines are gone. So interesting thank you for sharing

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Shirley

Thanks, I loved seeing the coast.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Good for the soul.

Thanks for another cracking trip shame that line closed

Lovely filming and history. Ta very much to the pair of you.

Particularly nice scenery. The seat at Staithes enclosed in a substantial windbreak says it all!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Very good point Ian!

Beautiful area and you’ve captured it well. Have been waiting for this video and it was worth waiting for. Looking forward to seeing your videos about the tunnels too.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thats Diesel. Tunnels just a week away.

@dieselbushcraft1299

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick did you manage to get to Ravenscar on your trip up that way, that was featured on the BBC Coast programme a few years ago. So many interesting places, I don’t know how you decide where to go.

Love it, thanks both 👏👏👍 So glad you've done this, hope you enjoyed this great part of the country.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

We loved it. Back again when circumstances allow

@ContenderG

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick Good Stuff👍 There's a great site which provides lots of hidden history of the area including old stations, viaducts etc www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/map/ also www.image-archive.org.uk/?cat=67

Awesome as usual - thanks!

thank you, its great to see such lovely and informative coverage of our area, I had no Idea we used to have another line to Whitby.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Three different directions it seems

well done and thank you paul and rebecca for another great interesting and fun video , :)

Guys , the line north of Staithes is now used by the Potash mine to take Potash into Teesport

Thank you... nice viewing as ever and love the little teaser in to the next video.. keep up the great work and stay safe.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mark. Editing as we type!!

Yet another informative video, look forward to next week, really entertaining, well done!

Such lovely countryside you walk all day and get to come along.thanks

Good video 🚂

Been here paul. Sansend .. walked the track bed from sansend to the tunnel.. stayed in staithes and noticed and learnt about the missing viaduct..

good bit of history shame all been demolished am all up to date with your videos now

Wow loved the video from whitby and what a pity the viaducts have disappeared that really would have been a fantastic line to travel along , you both make the walks fun aswell as being very informative about it's history, am now looking forward to your next video of the tunnel

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Paul, very kind. Tunnels were fun... same time next week!

Thank you for this! Have a great Christmas

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. And you

What is with the dislike for video content such as this people? Have you no lives to live? Excellent one again Whitewick's! Can't wait for the tunnel episode. Don't call it part 2. (lol)

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Lol. Yoube got it!... No clue why the dislikes.... we don't mind, all helps.

Captain Cook Memorial Museum is a history museum in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. The museum building, Walker's House, belonged to Captain John Walker, to whom James Cook was apprenticed in 1746. Having lodged there as an apprentice, Cook returned to visit in the winter of 1771-72 after his first voyage. BTDT via the Nth Yorks Tourist Rly. Thanks to Wikipedia.

Great video again I think it was more Ernest Marples who closed most of the railways and stations I feel he used Dr Beeching to take most of the blame for it

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed. Although the point here (and in previous output) a significant amount were closed long before Marples and Beeching came along with the nails in the coffin.

Hope your both are doing well. You both know how much I love you both.

Loving it guys ! Cheers from California

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks California

Paul. Staithes.. you can get to the other side as there is a car park on the other side. Go out of the village turn right follow the road down into the dip and up the other side and theres a right that goes down to a car park. I learnt about the viaduct in sansend if I remember rightly in the car park.. I also picked up a booklet all about that section of line from a shop in that area.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Noooooooo. We didn't see any right of way etc

@Mr80sliveon

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick yup. You can also walk down into the village at the bottom cross the river and walk up to the other side.. CAUTION. Steep paths/roads..

Fantastic video! Love your content.

wonderful

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris

been to Whitby in 2017 while holidaying in Scarbrough its awesome never seen so many fish and chip shops in whitby

Hello P&B thanks for a lovely item. Sorry to be a bit pedantic, but the pronunciation of Sandsend is Sands-end and Staithes is pronounced 'Steers' locally. I know that you like to know these things. 😁

@TheErador

3 жыл бұрын

Thank goodness for that I thought I'd gone mad! Also Redcar is pronounced as red-cuh... We lived in Marske (pronounced mask) for a few years.

I live locally and love the history of the village I live in we have heard that there is talk from the councilor and those in the rail that they are working on bringing the rail back towards this direction which would be amazing Guisbrough being one of those on the list Great video guys X🙏

@mrgonk3060

3 жыл бұрын

As the line still runs to Boulby Potash, I always think it would be great if they could run it to Staithes again

@charlottesweb7202

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrgonk3060 yes it would be great if all the little villages and town would be connected from saltburn to Whitby The grosmont line is still in use

I love it up this neck of the woods. There are some cracking hoilday lets...or was...maybe still there... in Skinningrove. Whitby needs 2 days to see everything. I didn't even know there was a line there. I so feel there's another trip at some point in 2021 :) Thanks guys

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Ian. Yup absolutely. I think that will almost certainly be on the cards for 2021.

My Grandmother was a signal woman at Loftus during the War

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Ah thats fantastic

@stevebrown6665

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick here’s a photo of her www.hastingspress.co.uk/railwaywomen/wartime/2nd/jenkins.jpg

@vespasian606

3 жыл бұрын

@@stevebrown6665 That photo is awesome. Those levers look heavy.

A beautiful part of the world; must have been a wonderful journey back in the day. Maybe worth mentioning that the line through Skinningrove, Loftus and Grinkle is still open and operational as far as the potash works at Boulby. It leaves the Middlesbrough - Saltburn line just before the terminus at Saltburn. Looking forward to seeing the tunnels.

You only had 8 chances per day to travel the line in the 1950s. The iron viaducts were the line's Achilles Heal, especially the one at Staithes. The budget for the all the bridges, viaducts and tunnels was about £66,000, but before they opened the Staithes viaduct needed something like £60,000 of remedial work after the collapse of the Tay Bridge. The line cost about £45,000 per mile by the time it opened. The viaduct at Staithes needed extra bracing, and was also fitted with a wind gauge. As mentioned if the wind produced a force of more then 28 pounds per square foot the line at to be closed to all traffic and trains had to be prevented from crossing the viaduct until it was inspected. Grinkle was renamed by the NER from Easington to stop passengers for the more important Easington in County Durham from going to the wrong station. The viaduct at 13:15 was built solely for the potash traffic from Boulby Mine and replaced the embankment that had been removed when the line to Loftus was closed. The A174 up Mill Bank had a notorious sharp bend on the way down the slope just before passing under the railway to Whitby. The remainder of the old road became the lay-by. The wooded slope you could see as you drove around the hairpin is Kilton bank under which are the remains Kilton Viaduct. It was buried by the NER as the iron stone mines in the area were causing subsidence.

We visited Staithes in the summer this year, after the first lockdown. I was curious about the viaduct there and I found a bit of info about it online. The wife wasn't that impressed at me looking for Staithes station. Its a great spot that coastline. We also visited Rosedale in the North Yorkshire Moors, and had a walk along bank top and the old Iron Works there. The line did join up with Whitby I believe. Great video, thank you.

Brilliant as usual,you guys should have been doing channel 5s walking Britain's lost railway's 👍👍

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Haha, we would love that gig!!

@3kimcarter

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick there was something missing from that program,you two 🚂🚂 happy Christmas and stay safe.🎅

Fascinating, thank you.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure!

Great video and all the scenery! How I miss the sea. Rebecca looked great. Bob Alberta

Nice to see a line I know well. We've cycled from Ravenscar to Whitby and then (on another day) Ravenscar towards Scarborough. On the Whitby day, we made the mistake of carrying on to Sandsend *cycling along the sand* which was very scenic but extremely tiring as the bike wheels dug into the sand: on the way back, by the time we were approaching the steep climb from Robin Hood's Bay to Ravenscar on the very rocky surface, I was knackered. My wife was OK: she has an electric bike. The route towards Scarborough is much easier. You can get almost all the way to Scarborough station, apart from the tunnel right at the end from the Sainsburys on Falsgrave Road to the present-day alignment of the York-Scarborough line. Scarborough station holds the record for the longest continuous wooden station bench, 139 metres long, aloing Platform 1. Staithes viaduct must have been quite a sight. Likewise the two viaducts in Sandsend really dominated the village. I can vaguely remember coming on a family holiday to Sandsend in 1967 or 68, and the viaducts had gone but there was still a brick and stone pier in the middle of East Row Beck from the more southerly of the two viaducts, and I can remember everyone climbing up onto it and jumping off into the water. All gone now. The main road has been realigned slightly and goes over the abutment to that viaduct. The northern viaduct is easier to see as you come down Lythe Bank into Sandsend past the station. Shame that the line didn't survive the *pre-Beeching* cuts because it would make a fantastic heritage line nowadays, but maintenance of the viaducts would be very expensive. Larpool Viaduct (where the Scarborough-Loftus railway crossed over the River Esk and the Whitby-Middlesborough line) is magnificent and is visible from miles around. I can remember goin there in the late 80s, parking on Larpool Lane and walking to the southern end, where at that time there was a big fence with a KEEP OUT sign. Nowadays you can walk and cycle over it, and the view from the top is stunning: up the Esk valley in one direction and to the Abbey in the other.

I've been hoping you'd visit this area. I live in Scarborough and spend a lot of time up at Sandsend. The engineering behind this line amazes me. I always try to imagine the viaducts at Sandsend. I really want to explore the tunnels at Sandsend and Kettleness. I hope you visit Ravenscar at some point. It's a shame you won't be able to stop for a tea and cake at Cloughton Station as it closed last year. It is a beautiful station.

Love the Abbey! And Oi! Captain Cook's home town!

1961 was before the Beeching Axe but not before he was chairman of the British Railways Board. Since he was appointed chairman just a couple of weeks after the station closed it's not surprising that his name was chosen for Beeching Mews.

At Loftus, you should have gone to the other side of the station building and looked at the shed

Interesting video (as always) about a little known part of England. It looks like time slows down there and the only thing missing is the local train, which must have been a great tourist draw as well. Also interesting is the Potash plant and the fact they once produced alum there.

Another brilliant video, well shot and researched, Paul and Rebecca. It's a pity that you didn't visit Whitby a few years ago when Vernon had his steam bus. It was a Sentinel wagon with a bus body. I was on it a few times. Unfortunately the council forced him out! I walked over the Larpool viaduct, amazing view. Viaducts are a thing of beauty, so many have been demolished, they wouldn't demolish a cathedral, so why not keep them?

another excellent video 👍

Kettleness Scout Site in the old station camped in it many many times beautiful location amazing inside with lots or original features !

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Its certainly being well looked after.

Many thanks for another lovely video. I have seen that line in Google Maps and wandered what it was like. I love music that you share with your videos.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, more to come this monday!

A beautiful section of railway that would've been fantastic for tourists. I love watching videos of it from before it was closed. Tbh I might go exploring this section myself, as it's only around an hour south of where I live. Might need to do a model railway based on it, with G5s and the A8s that replaced them, and the V1/V3s that replaced them, along with i think that was a J21 shown in one photo in your video, and an Ivatt 4 was definitely there (odd for the north east coast to be operated by ex-LMS locomotives, but yeah).

Interesting video as always, I'll look forward to seeing the tunnels in another video! The situation at Kettleness Tunnel reminds me of the Bray to Greystones line in Ireland.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Henry, just finished editing that!

Would've been extremely expensive fighting corrosion on those iron-bridges along the coast there! Also, long-term problems with erosion were becoming difficult to deal with, but the original goal of running railways like this close to the coast was to attract tourists from the cities to boost development near the stations!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

I do feel if the line was here today it would be a much busier place... good or bad who knows? As you suggest, cost would have been a huge factor.

really enjoyed this video, beautiful part of the country, great fish n chips in Whitby

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

We have been told we must go to Magpies!

Beautiful scenery, lots of engineering, not many population centres! Seems a strange line to want to build. Wonder where they thought the revenue would come from (normally freight). Anyway, can’t wait for the episode on the tunnels! Thanks once again.

@malcolmsmith6615

3 жыл бұрын

@@davemalham2134 Thank you. So I presume the railway carried a fair bit of mineral traffic then. Would make sense.

Always enjoy your vids. Also, think that you guys should have gotten the C5 disused railway walks gig!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Haha.... we would love that gig.

Great video, such a shame it went... We love exploring the cinder track going back towards Scarborough via beautiful Robin Hood Bay... If there was ever a line to reinstate then its this one! Looking forward to the “tunnel” vid!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers John.

Great video , thanks for sharing. Sad about the history lost to progress. Even living in the states, I know about Dr. Beeching and what he did to the railway network in Britain . A real shame.

I cycled the Scarborough - Whitby old railway path in September - great scenery but hilly and the path surface was awful almost the whole length of it - lots of rocks - I was nearly thrown off several times. The view from Larpool Viaduct and the cafe at Robin Hood's Bay were good though.