Masham railway station was the terminus of the to

Masham branch Masham ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 1,205 at the 2011 census. Etymology In Wensleydale, on the western bank of the River Ure, the name derives from the An ...

line serving the town of

Masham Masham ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 1,205 at the 2011 census. Etymology In Wensleydale, on the western bank of the River Ure, the name derives from the An ...

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...

, England. It was on the eastern side of the

River Ure The River Ure in North Yorkshire, England is approximately long from its source to the point where it becomes the River Ouse. It is the principal river of Wensleydale, which is the only major dale now named after a village rather than its ...

, so as such, was actually in Burton-on-Ure. The line operated between 1875 and 1931 for passenger traffic, but was retained for minimal freight train use until 1963.

History

Masham station opened on the same day as the line did, with services commencing on 9 June 1875. The population at the time of opening was just over 3,600, but the station retained healthy outward traffic in the form of timber and livestock. The station was located on the left bank of the River Ure, away from Masham in the neighbouring parish of Burton-on-Ure rather than across the river in Masham itself. In 1901, a narrow gauge railway was built for the purposes of constructing reservoirs in

Colsterdale Colsterdale is the valley of the River Burn, a tributary of the River Ure, in the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. It gives its name to a hamlet and civil parish in the upper part of the dale, about west of Masham. The population ...

, which meant that a section of railway then went north from the station crossing the river, but it bypassed the town of Masham to the north. The station area had a single-road locomotive shed which stabled the one steam engine used on the four daily out and back workings to . After closure to passengers, the branch was normally worked by a locomotive from Starbeck Shed in

Harrogate Harrogate ( ) is a spa town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor at ...

. When Starbeck shed closed in 1959, the branch was worked by an engine from . In October 1908, an over laden train ran through the station and across the Melmerby to Masham road (now the A6108) and into the narrow gauge exchange yard just north of the road. The wagons were badly damaged, but there were no injuries or deaths. The driver had lost control on the 1-in-61 gradient into the station's goods yard. The station was closed to passengers in January 1931, but continued receiving deliveries of small amounts of goods traffic until 1963. The issue of the railway being open just to deliver coal to the stationmasters and fresh water to the crossing keeper's cottages was raised in

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

by the MP for Darlington at that time. The station buildings are now private dwellings and the goods shed has since been converted into a cafe and gallery. A blue plaque adorns the side of the good shed commemorating the

Leeds Pals The Leeds Pals were a First World War Pals battalion of Kitchener's Army raised in the West Yorkshire city of Leeds. When the battalion was taken over by the British Army it was officially named the 15th Battalion (1st Leeds), The Prince of Wal ...

, who arrived by train at Masham station in September 1914 and marched up to Colsterdale to begin their training for war.

References

Sources

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External links

Masham railway station on a navigable 1947 map
Disused railway stations in North Yorkshire Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1875 Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1963 Former North Eastern Railway (UK) stations