Pipework sculpture nr Melrosegate, York (Rowntree/Foss Island old railway) April 2017
The Foss Island Railway was a 1.5 mile branch line in York, which was built to serve the city's world famous confectionery company, Rowntree Mackintosh.
The railway, opened in 1895, branched off northward from the York-Scarborough line and curved clockwise round the city towards the immense factory. The company initially used just a single locomotive which was replaced shortly after use of the line began, by a saddle tank bought from Manchester. Two further engines were added between 1909 and 1915 as business flourished on the line.
A connection with the Derwent Valley Light Railway had been built by this time.
and in 1927 a single platform station was built close to the Rowntree plant, at Haxby Road, for workers commuting from further afield, notably Doncaster and Selby.
As business boomed to even bigger proportions, a fourth loco joined the fleet in 1943. Sadly this end up being quite short lived as diesels took over in 1959, displacing all four steam engines to the scrappers.
DMUS were used to convey the commuters and visitors to the factory while an abundance of diesel locos, notably class 31 and 45 dealt with goods.
The Derwent Valley connection closed in 1981, although the Foss Island line continued running until 1988,The line and the station were both closed and the track was lifted four years after.
The Foss Island railway today is a Sustrans cycle route, taking riders and walkers a pleasant 1.5 mile journey round the city.
The trackbed diverges from the LNER Scarborough line, a mile north east of York station. The NCN joins from Wigginton Road, and passes under several impressive bridges along its way. Features to look out for are the overgrown remains of the platform, a huge curving retaining wall, a nature reserve and a new steel bridge across the street at Huntington Road. There are also a handsome collection of sculptures and benches scattered along the route of the line, made from steel pipe that was formerly part of the factory.
Although the Rowntree line ends at Layerthorpe, the Sustrans path has since been extended - it now continues along the Derwent Valley railway for a further two miles to Metcalfe Lane, Osbaldwick, terminating alongside a recent housing development.
York Rowntree line Foss Island disused railway trackbed confectionery industry closed cycle path footpath Sustrans National Cycle Network goods 1895 closed 1988
Pipework sculpture nr Melrosegate, York (Rowntree/Foss Island old railway) April 2017
The Foss Island Railway was a 1.5 mile branch line in York, which was built to serve the city's world famous confectionery company, Rowntree Mackintosh.
The railway, opened in 1895, branched off northward from the York-Scarborough line and curved clockwise round the city towards the immense factory. The company initially used just a single locomotive which was replaced shortly after use of the line began, by a saddle tank bought from Manchester. Two further engines were added between 1909 and 1915 as business flourished on the line.
A connection with the Derwent Valley Light Railway had been built by this time.
and in 1927 a single platform station was built close to the Rowntree plant, at Haxby Road, for workers commuting from further afield, notably Doncaster and Selby.
As business boomed to even bigger proportions, a fourth loco joined the fleet in 1943. Sadly this end up being quite short lived as diesels took over in 1959, displacing all four steam engines to the scrappers.
DMUS were used to convey the commuters and visitors to the factory while an abundance of diesel locos, notably class 31 and 45 dealt with goods.
The Derwent Valley connection closed in 1981, although the Foss Island line continued running until 1988,The line and the station were both closed and the track was lifted four years after.
The Foss Island railway today is a Sustrans cycle route, taking riders and walkers a pleasant 1.5 mile journey round the city.
The trackbed diverges from the LNER Scarborough line, a mile north east of York station. The NCN joins from Wigginton Road, and passes under several impressive bridges along its way. Features to look out for are the overgrown remains of the platform, a huge curving retaining wall, a nature reserve and a new steel bridge across the street at Huntington Road. There are also a handsome collection of sculptures and benches scattered along the route of the line, made from steel pipe that was formerly part of the factory.
Although the Rowntree line ends at Layerthorpe, the Sustrans path has since been extended - it now continues along the Derwent Valley railway for a further two miles to Metcalfe Lane, Osbaldwick, terminating alongside a recent housing development.
York Rowntree line Foss Island disused railway trackbed confectionery industry closed cycle path footpath Sustrans National Cycle Network goods 1895 closed 1988