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Blyth railway station: Difference between revisions

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Coordinates: 55°07′41″N 1°30′47″W / 55.128°N 1.513°W / 55.128; -1.513
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The Blyth, Seghill and Percy Main Railway became the Blyth and Tyne Railway in 1853 and was taken over by the [[North Eastern Railway (UK)|North Eastern Railway]] (NER) in 1874. By the 1890s the increase in goods and passenger traffic{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=60}} was such that a new station was needed. The NER originally planned to build a new station on newly reclaimed land on Bridge Street, between Union Street and Beaconsfield Street, but these were turned down after an objection from the neighbouring Thomas Knight Memorial Hospital, on the grounds of noise.{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=37}}
The Blyth, Seghill and Percy Main Railway became the Blyth and Tyne Railway in 1853 and was taken over by the [[North Eastern Railway (UK)|North Eastern Railway]] (NER) in 1874. By the 1890s the increase in goods and passenger traffic{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=60}} was such that a new station was needed. The NER originally planned to build a new station on newly reclaimed land on Bridge Street, between Union Street and Beaconsfield Street, but these were turned down after an objection from the neighbouring Thomas Knight Memorial Hospital, on the grounds of noise.{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=37}}


The NER therefore rebuilt the existing station between 1894 and 1896,<ref name=ADS>{{cite web |title=Blyth Station |work= Archaeology Data Service |publisher= [[University of York]] |url= http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/fr.cfm?rcn=NSMR03-12083&CFID=456641&CFTOKEN=39977433 |date=2003-10-18 |accessdate=2007-11-25}}</ref> at a cost of £20,000. Most of the building was by J & W Simpson of Blyth.{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=60}} Despite being next to a through line, the station was a [[Terminal station|terminus]]. It faced Turner Street and had a single island platform projecting from the rear which was half covered by a glazed apex canopy.{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=60}} Adjacent were a goods shed next to Delaval Terrace and a [[Coaling station|coaling stage]]. To the west stood South Blyth loco shed, first built in 1879 with three roads and extended to six roads in 1895,{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=55}} and a cattle dock. To the north passed the freight-only lines to the NER coaling staiths, Blyth gas works, Blyth Harbour Commission and shipyard.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ernies Northumbrian Railway Archive – cb Newsham, South Blyth Staiths, Blyth Station and back to Newsham |work= erniesphotos.fotopic.net |url= http://erniesphotos.fotopic.net/c970017.html |date=2006-05-25 |accessdate=2007-12-01}}</ref>
The NER therefore rebuilt the existing station between 1894 and 1896,<ref name=ADS>{{cite web |title=Blyth Station |work= Archaeology Data Service |publisher= [[University of York]] |url= http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/fr.cfm?rcn=NSMR03-12083&CFID=456641&CFTOKEN=39977433 |date=2003-10-18 |accessdate=2007-11-25}}</ref> at a cost of £20,000. Most of the building was by J & W Simpson of Blyth.{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=60}} Despite being next to a through line, the station was a [[Terminal station|terminus]]. It faced Turner Street and had a single island platform projecting from the rear which was half covered by a glazed apex canopy.{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=60}} Adjacent were a goods shed next to Delaval Terrace and a [[Coaling station|coaling stage]]. To the west stood South Blyth loco shed, first built in 1879 with three roads and extended to six roads in 1895,{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=55}} and a cattle dock. To the north passed the freight-only lines to the NER coaling staiths, Blyth gas works, Blyth Harbour Commission and shipyard.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ernies Northumbrian Railway Archive – cb Newsham, South Blyth Staiths, Blyth Station and back to Newsham |work=erniesphotos.fotopic.net |url=http://erniesphotos.fotopic.net/c970017.html |date=2006-05-25 |accessdate=2007-12-01 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621111715/http://erniesphotos.fotopic.net/c970017.html |archivedate=21 June 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>


The station originally had two signal boxes: Blyth Signal Box at the end of the passenger platforms and Blyth Crossing Box controlling the level crossing near the engine shed on Renwick Road (previously Alexandra Crescent). Blyth Signal Box was destroyed by a German [[parachute mine]] on the night of 25 April 1941, killing the signaller instantly.{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=62}} Thereafter only Blyth Crossing Box was used.
The station originally had two signal boxes: Blyth Signal Box at the end of the passenger platforms and Blyth Crossing Box controlling the level crossing near the engine shed on Renwick Road (previously Alexandra Crescent). Blyth Signal Box was destroyed by a German [[parachute mine]] on the night of 25 April 1941, killing the signaller instantly.{{sfn|Balmer|Smith|2004|p=62}} Thereafter only Blyth Crossing Box was used.

Revision as of 08:57, 22 July 2017

Blyth
General information
LocationNorthumberland
Managed byNorth Eastern Railway
Platforms2
History
Post-groupingLondon and North Eastern Railway
British Railways
Key dates
3 March 1847First station opened
1 May 1867Second station opened;
first station closed
1894–96Rebuilt
2 November 1964Closed
1972Demolished

Blyth railway station served Blyth, Northumberland on the Blyth Branch line[1] in Northeast England.

History

The Blyth, Seghill and Percy Main Railway opened the line to Blyth on 3 March 1847[2] and the first station was at Croft Street (now King Street).[3] On 1 May 1867 a new station was opened to replace the original station.[4] It was at the north end of Turner Street[1] (now part of Regent Street) on the site now occupied by Morrisons supermarket and the Community Hospital.

The Blyth, Seghill and Percy Main Railway became the Blyth and Tyne Railway in 1853 and was taken over by the North Eastern Railway (NER) in 1874. By the 1890s the increase in goods and passenger traffic[5] was such that a new station was needed. The NER originally planned to build a new station on newly reclaimed land on Bridge Street, between Union Street and Beaconsfield Street, but these were turned down after an objection from the neighbouring Thomas Knight Memorial Hospital, on the grounds of noise.[6]

The NER therefore rebuilt the existing station between 1894 and 1896,[7] at a cost of £20,000. Most of the building was by J & W Simpson of Blyth.[5] Despite being next to a through line, the station was a terminus. It faced Turner Street and had a single island platform projecting from the rear which was half covered by a glazed apex canopy.[5] Adjacent were a goods shed next to Delaval Terrace and a coaling stage. To the west stood South Blyth loco shed, first built in 1879 with three roads and extended to six roads in 1895,[8] and a cattle dock. To the north passed the freight-only lines to the NER coaling staiths, Blyth gas works, Blyth Harbour Commission and shipyard.[9]

The station originally had two signal boxes: Blyth Signal Box at the end of the passenger platforms and Blyth Crossing Box controlling the level crossing near the engine shed on Renwick Road (previously Alexandra Crescent). Blyth Signal Box was destroyed by a German parachute mine on the night of 25 April 1941, killing the signaller instantly.[10] Thereafter only Blyth Crossing Box was used.

Passenger services were withdrawn on 2 November 1964[4] under The Reshaping of British Railways; the station buildings stood derelict until they were demolished in 1972.[7] Today nothing remains of the station itself or associated buildings, except for the Station Master's house in Delaval Terrace which survives as a private home.

Proposals for a new railway service

By the 1990s local councils were considering the feasibility of restoring passenger services linking Ashington and Blyth with Newcastle Central.[11] The proposal would not include serving Blyth not by reopening the branch to Blyth, but by building a new station at Newsham. In 1998 the Railway Development Society (renamed Railfuture in 2000) endorsed the proposal.[11]

Denis Murphy, the Labour MP for Wansbeck, expressed support in the House of Commons in an adjournment debate in April 1999 and again in a debate in January 2007.[12]

In 2009 the Association of Train Operating Companies published a £34 million proposal to restore passenger services to the B&T line that would include reopening stations at Seaton Delaval, Bedlington, Newsham and Ashington.[13]

Northumberland County Council is currently developing plans aimed at restoring passenger services along the remaining freight-only section of the former Blyth and Tyne Railway between Benton Junction and Ashington. In June 2013 NCC announced that they had commissioned Network Rail to complete a GRIP 1 study to examine the best options for the scheme.[14] The GRIP 1 study was received by NCC in March 2014 and in June 2015 they initiated a more detailed GRIP 2 Feasibility Study at a cost of £850,000.[15]

The GRIP 2 study, which NCC received in October 2016, confirmed that the reintroduction of a frequent seven-day a week passenger service between Newcastle and Ashington was feasible and could provide economic benefits of £70 million with more than 380,000 people using the line each year by 2034.[16] The study suggested that due to redevelopment of sections of the former branch line, Blyth should be served by a new park and ride station close to the site of Bebside station.[17] If funding for the £191 million[16] scheme can be raised, it has been suggested that detailed design work could begin in October 2018 with construction commencing four months later and the first passenger services introduced in 2021.[16]

After receiving the GRIP 2 study, NCC announced that they were preceding with a GRIP 3 Study from Network Rail.[18]


References

  1. ^ a b "Blyth Photographs - Blyth, Railway Station (c.1910)". communities.northumberland.gov.uk. Northumberland County Council. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  2. ^ "Blyth & Tyne Branch". Northumbrian Railways. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  3. ^ Balmer & Smith 2004, p. 56.
  4. ^ a b "Blyth". Northumbrian Railways. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Balmer & Smith 2004, p. 60.
  6. ^ Balmer & Smith 2004, p. 37.
  7. ^ a b "Blyth Station". Archaeology Data Service. University of York. 18 October 2003. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  8. ^ Balmer & Smith 2004, p. 55.
  9. ^ "Ernies Northumbrian Railway Archive – cb Newsham, South Blyth Staiths, Blyth Station and back to Newsham". erniesphotos.fotopic.net. 25 May 2006. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Balmer & Smith 2004, p. 62.
  11. ^ a b Bevan 1998, p. 59.
  12. ^ Denis Murphy and others; et al. (10 January 2007). http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070110/halltext/70110h0010.htm. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 135WH–139WH. {{cite book}}: |chapter-url= missing title (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  13. ^ "Connecting Communities – Expanding Access to the Rail Network" (PDF). London: Association of Train Operating Companies. June 2009. p. 17. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  14. ^ "The Journal: Ashington Blyth and Tyne rail line restoration scheme gets green light". Retrieved 10 March 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  15. ^ "New Post Leader: Plans for rail line reach milestone". Retrieved 10 March 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  16. ^ a b c "Chronicle Live: Reopening of Newcastle to Ashington rail link moves one step closer". Retrieved 10 March 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  17. ^ "Ashington Blyth & Tyne GRIP 2 Study" (PDF). Retrieved 10 March 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  18. ^ "SENRUG - South East Northumberland Rail User Group: Re-open Ashington Blyth & Tyne Line". Retrieved 10 March 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

Sources

External links

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Terminus   Blyth and Tyne Railway   Newsham
Line and station closed

55°07′41″N 1°30′47″W / 55.128°N 1.513°W / 55.128; -1.513

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