Harrogate to Leeds pre-Beeching

[Halish Railway]

Until 1964 there existed a route between Cross Gates and a wye junction at Wetherby, connecting to the now closed Harrogate to Church Fenton line, essentially providing three ways of getting between Leeds and Harrogate, counting the aforementioned route, the existing route and the now closed route via Otley.

My question is how many services took the route from Harrogate to Leeds via Cross Gates and how did journey times compare to the remaining route during the same period of time?

 

[RT4038]

Until 1964 there existed a route between Cross Gates and a wye junction at Wetherby, connecting to the now closed Harrogate to Church Fenton line, essentially providing three ways of getting between Leeds and Harrogate, counting the aforementioned route, the existing route and the now closed route via Otley.

My question is how many services took the route from Harrogate to Leeds via Cross Gates and how did journey times compare to the remaining route during the same period of time?

A bit difficult to compare, but in 1960 in the down direction on weekdays there were three expresses at night/early morning (taking 40-43 min) and one stopping train (taking 53 min) via Cross Gates/Wetherby. On Saturdays 4 more stopping trains taking 52-54min. On the current route the service was much more frequent, expresses taking 30 min and stopping trains 34-39 min.

There were no 'Up' expresses, and on weekdays only two stopping trains via Wetherby/Cross gates, taking 46-49min. Saturdays three more.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

After the dieselisation of Trans Pennine services in 1961 some Newcastle to Liverpool expresses were routed from Harrogate to Leeds via the Wetherby branch to avoid reversal in Leeds. They were then routed via York, rather more sensibly, after the closure of the branch.

 

[Magdalia]

My question is how many services took the route from Harrogate to Leeds via Cross Gates and how did journey times compare to the remaining route during the same period of time?

Timetable World is your friend here. It has 6 different North Eastern Region public timetables for the 1958-64 period.

After the dieselisation of Trans Pennine services in 1961 some Newcastle to Liverpool expresses were routed from Harrogate to Leeds via the Wetherby branch to avoid reversal in Leeds.

These were the 11am and 3pm from Liverpool and the 9.49am and 3.16pm from Newcastle. They did Leeds/Harrogate via Wetherby in about 40 minutes, compared with about 30 minutes via the direct route, but without the time penalty of running round or changing locos at Leeds.

In the early 1960s Wetherby had a significant amount of race traffic especially for the big meetings at Easter and Whitsun, but this was the sort of traffic that was rapidly eliminated by Beeching.

 

[SCH117X]

The line was upgraded in 1901 and from 1 October that year was used by some expresses;

the greater mileage was compensated by an easier exit from Leeds which avoided conflict with the Midland Railway

to quote Martin Bairstow in Railways through Harrogate ISBN 978-1-871944-49-5 published 2022.
The 1910 Bradshaws is referenced as showing uisng the route the 10.10am and 2.35pm from Harrogate to Kings Cross, the 10:10am being a Lucheon Car Express starting from Ripon, and three locals taking that route along with the 1.40pm and 3pm from Kings Cross plus two Liverpool-Newcastle via Stockton services.

In Railways around Harrogate Vol.1 by the same author published 1986 & 1989 (ISBN 1 8719444 00 7) the 18 July to 11 Sept 1932 timetable is shown with a 7.30am, 3.40pm and 4.05pm from Leeds New all calling at Wetherby and Spofforh only, and a 9.30am from Harrogate calling at Wetherby only. Also calling all stations a 7.15pm from Leeds and 6.50am, 1.50pm and 4.30pm from Harrogate. The 7.30am from Leeds took 45 minutes and the 7.15pm 54 minutes. From Harrogate the 6.50am took 53 minutres and the 9.30am 37 minutes. No indication is given of the services commencing or continuing outside of the timetable.

In The Railways of Harrogate and District by James Rogers (North Eastern Railway Association 2000 ISBN 1 873513 33X) it is noted that three trains from Leeds in 1959 ran non stop along the route; the 3.57pm to Ripon, 5.50pm to Thirsk and 10.50pm to Harrogate. It is stated that was as

the night shift was withdrawn from signal boxes on the Leeds-Harrogate, via Arthington, route

but if that was the case surely more trains would have been so routed and would 3.57pm have been night shift?

 

[John Webb]

......but if that was the case surely more trains would have been so routed and would 3.57pm have been night shift?

Unlikely. The usual roster for signalmen in mechanical boxes was:
6am to 2pm (Early turn)
2pm to 10pm (Late turn)
10pm to 6am (Night turn)