A brief history of the H&BR
![[Map of the H&BR network]](../images/hbrsf/map.jpg "The H&BR network")
The H&BR linked the West Riding with the city of Hull and its docks.
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© H&BRSF
Origins
Opened in 1885, the Hull, Barnsley & West Riding Junction Railway was the last substantial completely new railway built in Britain.
The line was developed at a cost of almost £6m to break the monopoly of the North Eastern Railway. The scheme received considerable help from Hull Corporation, who sold 126 acres of land for the site of Alexandra Dock. The company was formed in 1879, with the full title of the Hull, Barnsley & West Riding Junction Railway & Dock Company. Royal Assent for construction of the line was received on 26 August 1880, and the first sod was cut on 15 January 1881.
![[Schematic map of the H&BR in Hull]](../images/hbrsf/map-hull.jpg "The H&BR in Hull")
Detail of the H&BR in Kingston upon Hull.
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© H&BRSF
Opening
The line opened to goods traffic on 20 July 1885, and passenger traffic on 27 July. Alexandra Dock had opened on 16 July, the deepest and most modern dock in Kingston upon Hull.
Passenger trains ran from Hull's Cannon Street station to Cudworth on the Midland Railway mainline to London. From 3 October 1905 until 1917 there was a through express service to Sheffield over the Midland Railway.
In the West Riding there were branches to Wath and Denaby, and a joint line with the Great Central Railway through Doncaster.
![[Map of the H&BR between Springhead and Willerby Square]](../images/hbrsf/springhead.jpg "Springhead to Willerby Square")
The route of the H&BR between Springhead and Willerby Square.
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© H&BRSF
In 1905 the company adopted the shorter title of the Hull and Barnsley Railway. In 1906 work began jointly with the North Eastern Railway on a new dock,and King George V Dock was opened in 1914.
Merger
The H&BR merged with the North Eastern Railway on 1 April 1922, not long before grouping on 1 January 1923 when it became part of the London & North Eastern Railway. In 1948 the line became part of British Railways.
Closure
Closure came gradually from 1932 when the Cudworth to Howden passenger service ended. South Howden lost its remaining passenger sevice from 1 August 1955. The line between Wrangbrook and Little Weighton was closed on 6 April 1959, and the Little Weighton to Springhead section saw its last goods train on 3 July 1964.
![[Plan of Willerby & Kirk Ella station]](../images/hbrsf/willerby.jpg "Willerby & Kirk Ella station")
Willerby & Kirk Ella station.
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© H&BRSF
Today
Today the only sections in use are the high level line around Kingston upon Hull, providing access to the docks and the chemical works at Saltend, and a 4.5 mile section from Hensall Junction which was reopened in 1970 to serve Drax power station.
The Stock Fund
![[Map of the H&BR between Great Gutter Lane and Eppleworth Viaduct (Five Arches)]](../images/hbrsf/greatgutter.jpg "Great Gutter Lane to Eppleworth Viaduct")
The route of the H&BR between Great Gutter Lane and Eppleworth Viaduct (also known as Five Arches), showing the Albion whiting works.
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© H&BRSF
Following the disovery that Coach 58 had survived in Hull, it was bought by the Hull & Barnsley Railway Stock Fund's founder members in 1968.
Two coal wagons were purchased from the Tyne Commissioners in 1968. Coach 40 was located in York the following year. Engineers' tool van 2 came from Hull in 1974, when it was the oldest vehicle at still work on British Rail.
Our rolling stock is now at Goathland on the North York Moors Railway.
The H&BR Stock Fund would particularly like to hear from any railwaymen who worked on or alongside the line, so that we may preserve their memories and stories for future generations.