REALLY SideTracked - Barton-le-Street
The Old Station House (photographed in 2021) has been extended in several different directions.
Barton le Street railway station was located on the disused Thirsk and Malton railway line which ran between the two towns.
Opened by the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway in May 1853, it was then absorbed by the North Eastern Railway. In 1923, the station became part of the London and North Eastern Railway during the Grouping. By the time the company closed the station to passengers on 1st January 1931, the passenger service had been downgraded to run between Malton and Gilling only, although the goods services continued as with the rest of the line until final closure on 10 August 1964.
The station had a single platform on the upside of the line with a 2 Storey brick built stationmaster's house which incorporated the station offices. The building was enlarged in 1863, 1875 (when a waiting room and office were added) and 1890. Barton le St. was one of five stations on the line that had a two level platform. When built the platform was very low but in 1865 the NDR settled on a standard height platform 2’ 6” above rail level. The section of platform in front of the station building remained at its original height to accommodate the existing windows which would have had their sills at platform level. The remainder of the platform was raised to the new standard height.
Barton-le-Street station, looking west in the 1960s. Note the platform has been shortened. The supports for the running in board and a platform light can be seen on the left.
Barton le St. had a small goods yard with two sidings on the upside of the line, one served served coal drops to the east of the station and the other served a cattle dock. The station also had a small timber goods warehouse at the back of the platform at the East End of the station buildings plus a weighbridge and weigh office.
Barton-le-Street Station c. 1950s. Coal drops can be seen top left, wooden warehouse to left of main station building.
Barton le St. was a very quiet station with few passengers and by 1927 it was the quietest of the Ryedale stations with only 1357 tickets being sold.
Bradshaw Timetable, July 1922
Having lost its passenger service at the end of 1930, the station remained open for freight traffic. The station saw regular passenger use until July 27th 1964 with a range of excursion trains using the station these included shopping, ramblers, football excursions, Sunday school outings to Scarborough and the usual enthusiast specials. The last ramblers excursion ran to Kirbymoorside on May 3rd 1964 and the last passenger train was one of the Sunday school excursions and the station finally closed to all traffic on August 10th 1964.
Tickets Please!
About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath taking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More Information can be found at the SideTracked Website.