Selby railway station

Railway station in North Yorkshire, England

This article is about the railway station in England. For the Puffing Billy Railway station near Melbourne, Australia, see Selby railway station, Melbourne.

Selby

Selby station from the south, 2011

General information
Location| Selby, North Yorkshire
England
Coordinates| 53°46′59″N 1°03′48″W﻿ / ﻿53.783000°N 1.063440°W﻿ / 53.783000; -1.063440
Grid reference| SE618322
Managed by| TransPennine Express
Platforms| 3
Other information
Station code| SBY
Classification| DfT category E
History
Opened| 1834
Passengers
2018/19|  0.656 million
2019/20|  0.675 million
2020/21|  0.124 million
Interchange|  1,235
2021/22|  0.479 million
Interchange|  19,271
2022/23|  0.555 million
Interchange|  24,520

Listed Building – Grade II

Feature| Selby Railway Station building on up platform, canopies on both platforms, footbridge and benches
Designated| 14 November 1980
Reference no.| 1365807[1]
Notes

Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Selby railway station is a Grade II listed[1] station which serves the market town of Selby in North Yorkshire, England. The original terminus station was opened in 1834 for the Leeds and Selby Railway. The Hull and Selby Railway extended the line in 1840 and a new station was built, with the old station becoming a goods shed. The station was rebuilt in 1873 and 1891; the 1891 rebuilding was required due to the replacement of the swing bridge over the River Ouse at the same time.

The area around the station is a junction for a number of lines, including the former East Coast Main Line route between Doncaster and York, the Selby to Driffield Line (1848) and the Selby to Goole Line (1910). After 1983, with the opening of the Selby Diversion, Selby is no longer on the East Coast Main Line.

As of 2014, lines lead from Selby to Leeds, Hull and Doncaster. The station is managed by TransPennine Express and receives regional trains operated by Northern and TransPennine Express, as well as Hull-London services operated by Hull Trains and London North Eastern Railway.

## History[edit]

### 1834 station[edit]

See also: Leeds and Selby Railway

Original Leeds and Selby station, now warehousing (2013)

In 1834 the Leeds and Selby Railway opened, running east–west from a terminus station in Marsh Lane, Leeds to a terminus at Selby.

The line opened 22 September 1834, with only one track complete.[2] A train from Leeds set off at 6 am and arrived in Selby around 9 am, to a general celebration. When general service started the journey took about 65 minutes.[3] The main stations were not completed until a few months after the line opened; the Selby terminus at a cost of £10,300. Both tracks of the line were completed by 15 December 1834.[4]

The basic design of the station was of a large warehouse shed, 245 feet (75 m) long and 96 feet (29 m) wide on a site of around 3 acres (1.2 ha), with a wooden trussed roof of three spans (of approximately 25', 46', and 25') supported via iron brackets on 19.5-foot (5.9 m) cast-iron columns, which were hollow and acted as drainpipes, to collect rain water then stored in underground tanks. Station offices and other buildings were built adjoining the station. The train shed had six lines of track, four for freight and two for passengers.[5][6][7] Lines for coal and lime were separate, outside the shed to the east, the offices at the northwest corner. The line of rails continued through the station to a wharf on the River Ouse.[8][9] Journeys to Hull were completed by Packet boat from Selby.[2]

After construction of the new station in 1840, with the connection on the Hull and Selby Railway old station became a goods station.[10]

The rail links to the old station were removed in the 1980s. As of 2009 the station is used as warehousing by Viking Shipping Services Ltd.[11]

### 1840 station[edit]

See also: Hull and Selby Railway

In 1840, the Hull and Selby Railway was opened.[12] To cross the River Ouse, a bascule lifting bridge was installed, northwest of the old station.[n 1] At that time ships had priority over railway traffic.[13]

The Hull and Selby, and Leeds and Selby railways connected 'end on' at Selby, west of the old station; the Leeds and Selby Line diverged from its old terminus path at a junction near the crossing of Park street; the line of the railway ran a short distance west, and parallel to the track in the original station.[14] A new through station was built, and the old station became a goods station.[10]

### 1873 station[edit]

In 1871 the NER opened two new sections of track, from Shaftholme junction (4 miles north of Doncaster) to Selby Old West junction (Selby), and from Barlby junction (across the Ouse from Selby) to Chaloner's Whin junction (Dringhouses, York); these formed a new route for the East Coast Main Line.[15]

A new station was constructed from between 1870 and 1873, built by Thomas Nelson to a design from Thomas Prosser's office in the NER.[16]

### 1891 station[edit]

North end of Selby station and the swing bridge (1957)

In 1891 a new swing bridge was built downstream (east) of the original over the Ouse (see 1891 Selby swing bridge). The priority of river traffic over rail traffic was reversed on completion of the new bridge; crossings by rail were more than ten times more numerous than river craft.[17]

As a consequence of the shift in the path of the railway the old station was rebuilt. The down (west) platforms were retained and modified, whilst the up (east) platforms were moved eastwards, re-using and extending Prosser's platform roof. The architect for the remodelling and extension was the NER's William Bell.[18]

### History of rail transport at Selby[edit]

In addition to the main lines west to Leeds (Leeds & Selby, 1834), east to Hull (Hull & Selby, 1840), and north and south to York and Doncaster (York & Doncaster branch, 1871), the rail system at Selby was the location for a number of junctions to other lines, and other facilities.

A branch from the Hull line (near Barlby to Market Weighton) opened in 1848.[19] (see Selby and Market Weighton Railway) The line ran from Cliffe junction east of the Ouse south of Barlby, around a mile east of Selby.[20]

The Cawood, Wistow and Selby Light Railway (CW&SLR) was opened in 1898 linking the Leeds & Selby Railway to the village of Cawood. Until 1904 the line had a separate station, Brayton Gates, 1 mile west of Selby. The line was predominantly used for agricultural traffic but also carried passengers until 1930, its final closure taking place in 1960.

The Selby to Goole Line opened in 1910, ran via the villages of Barlow, Drax and Rawcliffe to Goole. The line closed in 1964 as a result of the Beeching report. A short section of the line was used to access a ballast tip near Barlow until 1983.

In the mid 20th century the 'Loop Line' was converted into a triangle junction by the addition of a short chord between the Selby-Doncaster and Selby-Leeds lines.[21]

In 1983 the Selby Diversion of the East Coast Main Line was opened, avoiding the area around Selby due to possible subsidence from the drift mining works of the Selby Coalfield. As a result, Selby ceased to be a through route on the ECML. The 1871 line from Selby to York was closed on 24 May 1983 and in 1989 was converted into a cycle track which now forms part of route 65 of the National Cycle Network. The line south to Temple Hirst Junction was retained – it is in regular use for both passenger & freight traffic and also serves as a diversionary route for Doncaster to Hull services if the line via Goole is closed for any reason.

#### Engine sheds and industrial branches[edit]

An engine shed was built 1870–2, in the V of the junction between the lines to Doncaster and Leeds. The shed was a standard NER design roundhouse by Prosser in a square overall shed, with 20 tracks. The shed was extended to a similar extent in 1896–8 with an adjacent square shed to a design by Bell.[22][23] In around 1900 a short "Loop Line" was built south of the station, altering the path to the Leeds line by forming a junction on the Doncaster line further south, beyond the engine sheds. The original route out of Selby to Leeds became peripheral, part of the sidings associated with the engine sheds.[23]

There was also a Canal works (dye and leather chemicals) east of the Doncaster line,[n 2] on the banks of the Selby Canal, connected by sidings from the mid 20th century.[26] Also on the Selby side of the Ouse were sidings for the gas works, and for a wood yard,[27] and for the 'Ousegate Maltings' as well as accommodation sidings for the Goods shed.[28]

Barlby signal box with BOCM mill in background (2007)

On the far bank of the Ouse there were industrial sidings: A seed mill north of the line had been established by in 1909 with a rail connection; this developed into a large mill Olympia Mills, later part Jurgens (1919),[n 3] Unilever (1929), and BOCM (1952).[29][30] (now part of BOCM Pauls, not rail connected).

Also on the far bank a Sugar Beet factory, was rail connected from the south side Hull-Selby line from the mid 20th century.[26] In 1983 the site was acquired by logistics company Potter Group,[31] and redeveloped into a 62 acres (25 ha) distribution centre including a rail freight terminal and warehousing.[32][33] Client occupiers include Cemex (Asphalt concrete, using stone from Peak Forest, Derbyshire),[34][35] and Clipper Logistics (e-commerce clothing/textile logistics).[36][37]

### Station Masters[edit]

* Edwin Storey 1866 – 1887[38]
* John Bradford Harper 1888 – 1890 (afterwards station master at York)
* Samuel Holliday 1890 – 1892[39] (afterwards station master at York)
* James Brown ca. 1894 – 1897 (afterwards station master at York)
* William Bell 1897 – 1910
* J.G. Waterhouse 1910 – 1912
* John R. Peckitt 1912 – 1924
* Walter McGregor 1924 – 1926
* G.W. Pattinson 1930 – 1932[40] (afterwards station master at York)
* T.H. Greaves 1932 – 1940[41]
* J.H. Barwick 1940 – ????
* T. Arnott 1941 – 1942 (formerly station master at Harrogate)
* E. Rains ???? – 1948
* F.E. Allen 1949 – 1951 (afterwards station master at Stratford)
* A. Stabler 1951 – 1955 (formerly station master at West Hartlepool)
* H.W. Jones ???? – 1960
* A. Ayton 1961 – ????

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (September 2017)

|

## Facilities[edit]

The station is fully staffed, with the ticket office open throughout the week from start of service until 19:45 (19:00 on Sundays). A ticket machine is also provided on both platforms. Waiting rooms are located on each platform with passenger information screens and a public address system covering the whole station to provide train running information. Step-free access to all platforms is only available during staffed hours due to the need to use a barrow crossing.[42] A refurbished footbridge to platforms 2 and 3 including passenger lifts is scheduled to open by June 2023.[43]

## Current services[edit]

Waiting canopy on platform 1

To Hull – Monday to Saturdays there are now three trains per hour to Hull. An hourly TransPennine Express service, two per hour run by Northern (one each from York and Halifax via Bradford and Leeds), plus some Hull Trains services from London King's Cross. The service from York continues beyond Hull to Bridlington.

To York – there is generally an hourly service daily north to York. A few services start/ terminate here, but most run to and from Hull or Bridlington.[44]

To Leeds – Monday to Sunday there are two trains per hour to Leeds. One Northern stopping service to Halifax via Bradford Interchange Monday to Saturday, with a Selby to Leeds stopping service on Sundays and one TransPennine Express service to Liverpool Lime Street.

To London – there are eight trains per day in total via Doncaster to London King's Cross. All London services are operated by Hull Trains except the Hull Executive, which is operated by London North Eastern Railway.[45]

Northern also runs one train each way to/from Doncaster and Sheffield, the one from there continues to Bridlington. LNER also runs an evening service between Hull and Doncaster (calling at Selby).[46]

In recent years Northern has introduced improved service levels. The current Leeds to Selby stopping service has been extended through to Hull (see above – implemented in December 2019) and the York – Hull line service is now hourly throughout the week (including Sundays).[47]

Preceding station  |  National Rail | Following station

|
|

Doncaster or
London King's Cross |  | London North Eastern Railway
East Coast Main Line/York-Doncaster branch – Hull and Selby Line
(Limited service) |  | Brough
Doncaster |  | Hull Trains
East Coast Main Line/ York-Doncaster branch – Hull and Selby Line |  | Howden

South Milford

| | TransPennine Express

North TransPennine

| |

Howden

| Northern

Selby Line

| |

Wressle

York

| | Northern

Selby Diversion

Sherburn-in-Elmet

| | Northern

Selby Line

Doncaster

| | Northern

York and Doncaster branch

| Disused railways  |
Temple Hirst |  | York and Doncaster branch (East Coast Main Line, Old route)  |  | Riccall
Terminus |  | CW&SLtR |  | Wistow
Terminus |  | Leeds and Selby Railway |  | Hambleton
Terminus |  | Selby to Goole Line |  | Barlow
Terminus |  | Selby to Driffield Line |  | Cliff Common

## Trivia[edit]

In 2009 Selby celebrated the 175th anniversary of the opening of the first Selby station.[48]

The station is mentioned in the song "Slow Train" by Flanders and Swann.

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ For details of the 1834 Ouse railway bridge at Selby see Selby swing bridge (1840)
2. ^ Former Liquorice factory, acquired by Yorkshire Dyeware and Chemical Company in 1912.[24] Disconnected from the rail network c. 1970s (OS map 1866, 1982). Closed by Clariant 2008.[25]
3. ^ See also Antoon Jurgens, Antonius Johannes Jurgens and Margarine Unie.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Historic England. "Selby Railway Station building on up platform, canopies on both platforms, footbridge and benches (1365807)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
2. ^ a b Tomlinson 1915, pp. 256–257.
3. ^ Parsons 1835, pp. 77–78.
4. ^ Tomlinson 1915, pp. 259–260.
5. ^ Tomlinson 1915, p. 259.
6. ^ Parsons 1835, pp. 82–83.
7. ^ Brees, First series, Plate 62.
8. ^ Brees, 4th series, Plate 48, legend pp.cii-cii.
9. ^ Tomlinson 1915, pp. 254, 258, 260.
10. ^ a b Hoole 1986, pp. 29–30.
11. ^ Yorkshire's First Railway Station 2009, pp. 14–15.
12. ^ Tomlinson 1915, pp. 337–338.
13. ^ Triffitt 1897, p. 207.
14. ^ Ordnance Survey. Town plans 1:1056 1848
15. ^ Tomlinson 1915, pp. 3, 644.
16. ^ Fawcett 2003, p.35; Chap.3, n.31, p.128.
17. ^ Triffitt 1897, pp. 207–8.
18. ^ Fawcett 2003, p.35, Colour Plate 4, p.34.
19. ^ Tomlinson 1915, p. 491.
20. ^ Ordnance Survey Sheet 221 1845-7; 221NE 1889–90
21. ^ Ordnance Survey. Sheet 221SE 1938, 1950
22. ^ Fawcett 2003, p.102; Fig.7.8, p.103.
23. ^ a b Ordnance Survey. Sheet 221SE 1888–90, 1905
24. ^ Whitworth, Isabella (September 2008). "An Archive and Beyond" (PDF). Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. 227: 7.
25. ^ "Jobs axed in factory closure plan". BBC News. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
26. ^ a b Ordnance Survey. Sheet 221SE 1950
27. ^ Selby's Hidden Heritage 2011, p.1, col.1, "Firstly: The Overall View".
28. ^ Selby's Hidden Heritage 2011, p.1, col.3, "Looking at things in more detail".
29. ^ Ordnance Survey Sheet 221NE 1889–90, 1905, 1938, 1950
30. ^ Brace, Harold W. (1960). History of Seed Crushing in Great Britain. p. 154.
31. ^ "Company History". www.potterlogistics.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
32. ^ Godfrey, Ron (6 June 2009). "Potter Group's freight project receives green honours". York Press. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
33. ^ "Selby Distribution Centre". www.potterlogistics.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
34. ^ Turley Associates (1 September 2011). "The Potter Group – Selby Core Strategy Examination in Public" (PDF). Selby Council. §1.2–1.7, p.1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2014.
35. ^ "CEMEX UK renews 25-year bulk contract with The Potter Group". www.multimodal.org.uk. 18 February 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
36. ^ "Clipper on track for expansion". www.thebusinessdesk.com. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
37. ^ Perry, Dominic (11 March 2009). "Potter adds Clipper Group as tenant for Selby site". www.commercialmotor.com. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
38. ^ "Obituary". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. England. 16 May 1910. Retrieved 9 September 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
39. ^ "North-Eastern Railway Appointments". Yorkshire Evening Post. England. 17 December 1892. Retrieved 9 September 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
40. ^ "York's New Stationmaster". Leeds Mercury. England. 2 May 1932. Retrieved 9 September 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
41. ^ "After over 45 years' service". Newcastle Chronicle. England. 20 July 1940. Retrieved 9 September 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
42. ^ "Selby station facilities". National Rail Enquiries. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
43. ^ "New lifts among upgrades set to take place at North Yorkshire station". Rail Advent. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
44. ^ Table 33 National Rail timetable, December 2019
45. ^ Table 26 National Rail timetable, December 2019
46. ^ "Triple Swoop for Virgin Trains". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
47. ^ "Northern Franchise Improvements". Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
48. ^ "Selby celebrates 175th anniversary of the opening of railway station". York Press. Newsquest Media Group. 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.

### Sources[edit]

* Parsons, Edward (1835). The Tourist's Companion; Or, the History of the Scenes and Places on the Route by the Railroad and Steam-Packet from Leeds and Selby to Hull. Whittaker.
* Brees, Samuel Charles. Railway practice: A collection of working plans and practical details of construction in the public works of the most celebrated engineers ...
* First Series (3 ed.). J. Williams and Co. 1847.
* First, Second, Third and Fourth Series. E.& F.N. Spon, R. Griffin & Co. 1859., scanned version lacks the illustrative plates, for Plate.48 see Selby station (Brees, 1839)
* Triffitt, J. (1897). "Swing Bridge at Selby, North Eastern Railway. (Including Appendix and Plate at Back of Volume)". Minutes of the Proceedings. Institute of Civil Engineers. 128 (1897): 207–221. doi:10.1680/imotp.1897.19404.
* Tomlinson, William Weaver (1915). The North Eastern Railway; its rise and development. Andrew Reid and Company, Newcastle; Longmans, Green and Company, London.
* Hoole, Ken (1986). A regional history of the railways of Great Britain. Vol 4, The North East (3rd ed.). David and Charles.
* Fawcett, Bill (2001). A History of North Eastern Railway Architecture. Vol. 1\. North Eastern Railway Association.
* Fawcett, Bill (2003). A History of North Eastern Railway Architecture. Vol. 2\. North eastern Railway Association.
* A brief guide to Selby Railway station Yorkshire's oldest : built 1834 (PDF). Selby District Council. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2012.
* Yorkshire's First Railway Station, a commemorative booklet. Marking the 175th anniversary of the opening of Selby station. 22nd September 1834 (PDF). Selby District Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011.
* Selby's Railway Stations. Selby Town Council. 2011. `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Selby railway station.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rail transport in Selby.

* Train times and station information for Selby railway station from National Rail
* "Rail Users Group". Selby Town Council.
* "Station Name:Selby". Disused Stations.

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