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Embsay station is the operational centre of the Railway. This was the first stretch of line to be reopened in preservation
as the track had been left in situ with the aim of serving Skipton Rock Company's quarry at Embsay which never materialised.
Since then, the track layout has been altered to suit operations today. Photos will be added here shortly - see the old
Embsay station 1 and Embsay station 2 galleries.
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A very early picture postcard showing a train in Embsay station. From its appearance, it would seem to be from Midland
Railway days, featuring the company's engine and carriages. Note, too, how clean and tidy everything in shot is, as well as
how few buildings in the village there are.
(c) YDRMT collection.
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Another picture postcard of the station, this time showing the original Embsay Station signalbox. This seems to be the only
photo to include it as others from the same era just miss it off! This box lasted until 1923 when it was replaced during the
MR / LMS changeover.
(c) YDRMT collection.
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Embsay station looking towards Skipton from the signalbox on 22/05/58.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Class 3 2-6-2T No.40147 entering Embsay station on the last day of steam passenger trains, Saturday 3rd January 1959. The
train is the 1.05pm Leeds to Skipton via Ilkley. No.40147 was withdrawn in November 1962. The new diesel trains which
took over were advertised here.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Embsay station from the footbridge - 18/5/59.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Embsay station, Summer 1959, from the driveway. Note the lamp on the corner of the fence.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Embsay goods yard and signalbox from the footbridge on 18th May 1959. Hopper wagons and plough brakevan on loop waiting for
the addition of others from the quarry siding for a special ballast train to the London Midland region. The empty high goods
wagons through the goods shed are waiting to go into the quarry for loading.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Looking the other way through Embsay station's yard, from the down home signal, in Summer 1959. This was presumably taken on
the same day as the previous photos.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Embsay station with the quarry siding through the gate on the right, Summer 1959. Loaded ballast hopper wagons stand at the
gate. These have been run down to there by the quarry tractor which was a road mounted vehicle with a steel bumper for moving
wagons. All signals are Midland with the furthest ground signal being LMS. The handpoints on the right had to be held over
while a dozen or so empty hopper wagons would be fly shunted into the quarry.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Embsay station in the Summer of 1959. The signalbox is in the blue and white livery of the North Eastern Region. The loaded
ballast hopper wagons on the shed side and the three on the down siding are waiting for a special train to the London Midland
region. Note the Midland Railway cast iron trespass notices.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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B1 4-6-0 No.61014 'Oribi' passing Embsay with a Newcastle - Blackpool excursion on 26th September 1959. Comparison with the
view above will reveal that the signals have been converted from MR lower quadrants to BR upper quadrants.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Embsay station in the Winter of 1959. (Note the old Midland van body stood on upended pipes and used for storing bags of salt
for the station.) Also the double slip points followed by the single slip points. The tin shack at the bottom of the
signalbox steps was the dry bucket lavatory! The 'box is in the blue and white livery of the North Eastern region of BR.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Jubilee 4-6-0 45571 'South Africa' of 24E Blackpool shed storms through Embsay with a Blackpool to York excursion on 22/05/61.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Class B1 4-6-0 No. 61220 approaching Embsay with the Saturdays only Saltburn to Blackpool train, 13th July 1963.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Embsay station on 4th August 1964. This station was closed on 20th March 1965 (Saturday). Last train 6:41pm to Skipton. A train of
loaded ballast hopper wagons stand on the shed side road waiting to depart as a special train to Carlisle on 6th August.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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The Skipton Rock Company's private siding at Embsay with loaded ballast hoppers waiting departure, 1964.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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Class 37 diesel D.6772, later No. 37072, passing Embsay with the 7N54 Heysham to Tees Yard tank train on th 4th August 1964.
Note the brake tender next to the locomotive. Loaded ballast hopper wagons are stabled on both sides of the main line awaiting
departure on special trains to the London Midland region.
(c) F.W.Smith.
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43039 at Embsay with freight from Skipton - 4/06/1965. This was after closure to passengers, and is shunting the down
sidings, so has presumably come off the train. Any further information?
(c) Jack Smith.
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Embsay station - 4/06/65.
(c) Jack Smith.
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Embsay station, complete with L-shaped bench, and possibly closure poster alongside the advert.
(c) David Cash.
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Taken in 1966 during a 'Walk of the Line', this colour slide helps date the previous black and white view. The station
building itself was something of a gem when acquired - its state upon closure can be seen from this - not that it still
retains its lamps low-down to ease the job of the stationmaster. Originally they would have been mounted higher up on
the corners of the building - the location in which they are today.
(c) YDRMT collection.
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Embsay's yard seen from the East end, still with its full complement of signalling, and structures, although the road through
the shed has been lifted. The hope at the time was that the traffic from the quarry would continue, therefore the line was
left intact for a while after the rest was dismantled. One of the first alterations made by the preservationists was to relay
the shed road.
(c) YDRMT collection.
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A running-in board on platform 1, with Embsay crag in the background.
(c) YDRMT collection.
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