One Hull Of A Trip: Time-Lapse Train Journeys
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Paragon Station (I refuse to use that stupid "Interchange" term), is and as long as I can remember has been "the end on the line". There is no way of travelling further east by train, into furtive and fertile flat farm-lands of Holderness. And as anyone from Hull worth their "chip spice" knows, there used to be two train-lines heading out to sedentary seaside towns of Hornsea and Withernsea. The most well known in the city, being the Hornsea line which it is possible to cycle the majority of from just off the top of Duesbery Street in Hull, to the seafront of Hornsea. And is part of the Trans Pennine Trail. Both lines were closed to passengers on the 19th of October 1964, as part of The Beeching Report of 1963, that witnessed the axing of many rural railway lines across the country.
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Now don't worry, this isn't going to be some train-enthusiasts diatribe about the history of rail-travel. I don't care about gauges, rolling-stock or the difference between a flanged rail and a fish-bellied rail. But hey, before I get to the point of the article, I thought it was worth giving a brief history of the two lines. Just to give some context to what is at the bottom of the article. You can always scroll on down!
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The mid-1800s, Hull was connected to the York & North Midlands Railway system. And during this period the company was regularly surveying and proposing lines to various towns and villages on the region, which required Acts of Parliament to start construction. In 1845, the company proposed lines east of Hull, but the proposal never went before Parliament. So it was left to local entrepreneurs to get things done. In 1852, Hull businessman Anthony Bannister issued a prospectus for a line from Victoria Dock Station, to the village of Withernsea He that the small coastal village could be developed into a resort town to rival Bridlington, further up the East Yorkshire coast. Permission was granted, and by 1854 the 18 mile long line was opened.
Similarly the Hull to Hornsea line was spear-headed by Hornsea resident and Hull timber merchant, Joseph Armytage Wade. Also proposing to promote Hornsea as a seaside resort. |
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Parliamentary permissions were granted in 1862 for the Hornsea line, and construction began the October, starting at Wilmington Station, east of Cleveland Street in Hull. The line was completed in 1864, despite the problems they encountered in running the line all the way to the sea-front across the low-lying boggy land from its original terminus at Hornsea Bridge, to the final coastal station.
There that's it, done with the history bit. Apart form the couple of photos of both Hornsea and Withernsea stations below. Now for the cool stuff. There are two films in existence, both time-lapsed (or simply speeded-up) journeys between the two coastal stations and Paragon Station in Hull. The one to Hornsea from Hull people may remember, as it appeared on TV in the late 90s, on a short film season Channel 4 did called Shooting Gallery. The film followed the old Hornsea line from Hull, ingeniously passing through buildings that now stand where the line once was. The second film is a piece of vintage footage from 1957, of one of the early diesel trains travelling from Withernsea to Hull. Both films are fascinating pieces in themselves, and interesting pieces of local history. And at around 5 minutes a piece, take no time to watch each of them in turn. But I do advise, if you are on a computer you play them at the same time. It's just so much fun!
There that's it, done with the history bit. Apart form the couple of photos of both Hornsea and Withernsea stations below. Now for the cool stuff. There are two films in existence, both time-lapsed (or simply speeded-up) journeys between the two coastal stations and Paragon Station in Hull. The one to Hornsea from Hull people may remember, as it appeared on TV in the late 90s, on a short film season Channel 4 did called Shooting Gallery. The film followed the old Hornsea line from Hull, ingeniously passing through buildings that now stand where the line once was. The second film is a piece of vintage footage from 1957, of one of the early diesel trains travelling from Withernsea to Hull. Both films are fascinating pieces in themselves, and interesting pieces of local history. And at around 5 minutes a piece, take no time to watch each of them in turn. But I do advise, if you are on a computer you play them at the same time. It's just so much fun!
Hornsea Station (1910)
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Withernsea Station (circa 1950s)
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The Hull to Hornsea (1997), by Kevin Walton, which appeared on Channel 4's Shooting Gallery season of short films. And Withernsea to Hull, originally filmed in 1957 by Stan Kerman from the cab of a diesel train. Play them separately, or for a special "trip", side-by-side.
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