The current route of the York to Selby cycle path was part of the East Coast Main Line, until the threat of subsidence from the Selby coalfield forced the route of the railway to be changed in 1983. This railway heritage is one of four main avenues for historical research in the Railway to Greenway project. You can find out more about the history of this railway by clicking on the links below.
In the archive –
- Origins of the East Coast Mainline
- The LNER Encyclopedia
- Maps and plans of the proposed and actual rail network in the York area.
- Learn about the history of Naburn swing bridge courtesy of York RI Sailing Club.
- Some photos of the Naburn Swing Bridge – Courtesy of Naburn and Bishopthorpe Local History Groups
- Photos of Selby Bridge – a similar design – and its predecessor
- Steam to Diesel – images of rolling stock from Mallard to Royal Scot to Deltic and HST 125
- Photos of trains and infrastructure at Riccall and Escrick – courtesy of Riccall Local History Group
- Maps and plans of the proposed and actual rail network in the York area.
More historic photos and maps can be found on the page contributed by Frank Paterson – retired General Manager of the BR Eastern Region Search ‘Frank Paterson’
Also some personal memories of people who lived alongside the track when it was still in use –
- (Almost) de-railing the Royal Scot
- Siver Cross Pram
- Young Daredevils
- Friendly fire
York to Selby line I first saw the rented bungalow by the railway line back in July 1972, the day…
The Leeds and Selby Railway came into existence in March 1829. James Walker and his team surveyed a line for…
The effect that the opening of the new line had on the reduction in travel time from London to York…
Steve Masterman recounts some of the tales he learnt from his father of life at Bridge Farm, alongside the East…
Working on the railway in the days of steam can often be romanticised by enthusiasts. One gentleman who preferred not…
The NRM catalogue is held at the University of York. https://www.york.ac.uk/railway-studies/
These dramatic accounts were submitted by Cyril Pickup who worked at BOCM at Barlby, just north of Selby friom 1953…
National Railway Museum Archive Printed pamphlet entitled ‘A Short and Sure guide to Railway Speculation. A Few Plain Rules how…
These photographs are taken from Selby: The Past in Pictures: A Pictorial History: Part 2. Available from Abbots Staithe Museum…
Located at Yorkshire Film Archive Film ID: NEFA 21739 NATIONAL COAL BOARD AND A4 1960s This film by railway enthusiast…
The maps (leaflets) below show the route taken between Edinburgh and London since 1888. The train that took this route…
This collection of excellent photgraphs was made by Lindsay Walters a member of Disused Railways of Yorkshire Facebook group .…
The route of the railway owes its thanks to notorious ‘Railway King’ George Hudson of York. He promoted the York…
These items from Naburn Local History Group archive – date unknown
This is a file of the diversion at the East Coast mainline at Selby Coalfield. It is currently held at…
