<kuid:581493:100164> Leeds-Wetherby and Beeching v1

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The Leeds to Wetherby Railway opened in 1876 as a single line. It ran from Cross Gates to the Church Fenton-Harrogate line at Wetherby. Dualled in 1902. Intermediate stations at Scholes, Thorner, Bardsey, and Collingham Bridge. Penda's Way opened in 1939.

Over much of the 20th Century, there were around 14 local trains each way between Wetherby and Leeds, with some through trains from Newcastle to Manchester and Liverpool,

And yet ... at the time of the Beeching enquiry, there was a maximum of eight passengers
on the one train a day between Church Fenton and Leeds via Wetherby, with no regular
passengers. There were a few more passengers on the Leeds to Wetherby route but the improving bus service beat the railway.

In 1963, all stations were manned. There were sixteen signal boxes and three manually
operated level crossings (requiring 35 staff in total). The number of steep gradients
required the use of banking engines.

No surprise that Beeching had a blue fit. At Wetherby Station alone, 14 staff were employed attending to the needs of only 30 passengers per day.

The Wetherby lines had a yearly operating cost of Ј57,000 compared to receipts of Ј9,000. Local freight consisted largely of house coal, which was declining.

So much for the 'real' route. My 'interpretation' is a first attempt, originally in TRS2004, now updated for TS12. There are wrinkles ... sorry, folks.

Have fun though. Run passenger services. Run a local goods service, dropping off coal wagons and picking up cattle. Keep Cross Gates Gasworks supplied with coal from Allerton Bywater.