Esk Valley Line questions

[Gathursty]

1: When did Glasidale signal box close down?
2: Were there any more double-track/passing loop sections as at some stations, I noticed suspicious derelict platforms?
3: I can see the need for trains to reverse at Battersby as it is a short drive from Stokesley BUT has there ever been thought to add a Battersby avoiding chord so trains can go from Great Ayton to Kildale directly?

 

[Quantumspotter]

1: When did Glasidale signal box close down?
I think it closed operationally when control of the line went down to Nunthorpe.
2: Were there any more double-track/passing loop sections as at some stations, I noticed suspicious derelict platforms?
The line was double track most, if not all, of the way down to Whitby. I think it was singled in the late 1980's. I remember childhood rides to Whitby on class 101's when it was double lines.
3: I can see the need for trains to reverse at Battersby as it is a short drive from Stokesley BUT has there ever been thought to add a Battersby avoiding chord so trains can go from Great Ayton to Kildale directly?

It would be a very expensive job. As the topography of the area and local land owners would make it prohibitive in my opinion.

Hope that's help.

Kind regards.

Quantumspotter.

 

[Darandio]

I don't think that much of it actually was double track. Whitby to Sleights was doubled, then single line to Battersby with twin platform/passing loops at Glaisdale and Castleton of which the latter was removed. Battersby to Nunthorpe was then single track with double track originally from Nunthorpe to Guisborough Junction, this was subsequently removed although Nunthorpe is still a twin platform/passing loop.

The track removal was done in the mid 80's.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

The resignalling and rationalisation was done in the late 80s, although the line was single with loops before then. The service was a lot better too, generally every 2 hours. In the early 90s Regional Railways found themselves shot of rolling stock and thinned the services on quieter routes, of which Whitby was counted (conveniently ignoring summer holiday traffic - how very 60s!) The service was reduced to one 2-car unit shuttling from Middlesbrough and has been thus ever since. The fact that trains were not restored to the timetable was probably a result of the cost-reduction mentality that dogged BR in the run up to Privatisation, and of course that was preserved as the minimum service level in the Franchise Agreements. Other than crew and rolling stock (and TOC enthusiasm / local funding etc) there is no reason why Whitby could not have an improved service again.

 

[lyndhurst25]

An improved Middlesborough to Whitby train service was promised as part of the planning consent for the new Sirius Minerals potash mine. As construction work on the mine has now started, presumably this promise will be kept?

See page 4 of this document -

http://siriusminerals.com/site/flexpaper/Publications/update_january_web/update_january_web.php

 

[Harpers Tate]

It was "always" double between Whitby and Grosmont (as was the "main line" the rest of the way to Rillington - only part of which was singled to raise materials for the War Effort).

It was "always" double between Middlesbrough and Nunthorpe and originally beyond towards the former junction for Guisborough and Loftus (the name of which escapes me at the moment).

It was "always" single between that junction and Grosmont, but there were several more passing places; most stations had them. Many of the overbridges etc., were constructed wide enough for double, future-proofing.

 

[bearhugger]

1: When did Glasidale signal box close down?
2: Were there any more double-track/passing loop sections as at some stations, I noticed suspicious derelict platforms?
3: I can see the need for trains to reverse at Battersby as it is a short drive from Stokesley BUT has there ever been thought to add a Battersby avoiding chord so trains can go from Great Ayton to Kildale directly?

I assume the current issue with a chord avoiding Battersby is that Battersby is one of the token exchange points, maybe someone with more knowledge could explain if / how that could be circumvented if using an avoiding chord?