Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

Embsay Station

This page contains photographs from the area around Embsay Station. Where possible, the photographs are displayed in chronological order, earliest first. To view the photographs in full size, click on the required photo. Embsay station also houses the railway's Bookshop which is a 'must' for the avid browser.

Because there are so many photos, this page has been split into two. A link to the other page can be found below and at the bottom of the page.

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(C) YDRMT collection Inside the Goods shed at Embsay, and the first loco in preservation to run on the line, Nellie, rests. It is interesting to note how complete everything was at this point, the wooden decking is still in situ, as was the crane.
(c) YDRMT collection.
(C) Charles Boylan Spring Bank Holiday, 1975 sees Embsay Station taken from the footbridge. In the platform can be seen the two Altrincham Electric coaches, which were on loan to the railway at the time, undergoing some restoration. Also of note is the double track in the distance, shown by the lack of the west end crossover.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan Another picture from the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend, 1975, showing a train in the station, hauled by S100. The Peckett in the picture is standing in Platform 2 with the other Altrincham coach and possibly the Sentinel Ann.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) John Brown (YDRMT Collection) Another early picture of Embsay station, showing large Peckett Foleshill with a train. The loco proved to be too large for the line, and now resides in Jersey!
(c) John Brown (YDRMT Collection).
(C) Charles Boylan This picture shows work being carried out to errect the railway's first outer home signal to the east of Embsay. This was subsequently replaced by an ex-BR signal, and is numbered '20' in the signalbox.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Jim Winkley York No. 1 is seen passing the new '20', propelling the ex-NER Director's Saloon towards the Skibeden extension (hence the green flag). In the background can be seen the 8F (48151), and the remains of the crossover giving access to the top yard.
(c) Jim Winkley.
(C) Charles Boylan The East end of Embsay Station - still double track in remarkable condition. This view also shows the recently errected No. 20 signal (furthest away - see photo above) and the Altricham Electric coaches in the siding. York is seen shunting S100 (of the same class as 140), as well as Airedale.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Jim Winkley York No. 1 is seen with the NER Director's Saloon as well as the Altrincham Electric coaches approaching Embsay in a very similar view to the previous photo, still with the double track in existence.
(c) Jim Winkley.
(C) Jim Winkley York No. 1 is the focus again, but this time sharing the shot with the metre gauge Peckett loco. The two locos are seen outside the goods shed at Embsay. In the early days, thought was given to laying dual gauge track, but this never happened. The loco is now being restored elsewhere.
(c) Jim Winkley.
(C) Jim Winkley Again, York No. 1 is the loco pictured, this tim raising steam on the coal dock (formerly the cattle dock). The water column (!) can be seen behind, as well as the ex-NCB appearance of the loco. Also in the background is Primrose, probably only just after its arrival.
(c) Jim Winkley.
(C) Charles Boylan This picture was taken just to the east of Embsay Station and shows the attempted steaming of Joem. The other locomotives in the train are (I think) Primrose and York No. 1, surrounding the Altrincham Electric Coach. The goods shed and signalbox are just visible in the background. Joem was on loan to the railway at the time before moving to the NYMR. It has since paid a visit, and photographs of this can be seen later on. The date of the photograph is 16/09/75.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan A shot taken in the shed at Embsay on 16/09/75 as Joem's dome is investigated after its 'attempted' steaming.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan This photograph was taken in September of 1975, and shows 16 inch Hunslet 'Primrose No. 2' shortly after arrival from Peckfield Colliery, Micklefield. The loco's NCB number was S121, although it is referred to by either of these numbers on the railway. Currently it is out of service awaiting a full overhaul and the fitting of a new firebox, having been withdrawn in late 1999.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan January 1976 sees York No. 1 shunting Dorothy (now rebuilt as a sidetank, still requiring some work before it is ready to take on the guise of Thomas), Airedale and S100 alongside the signalbox.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan For many years the location of 48151 has been wrongly listed as Embsay, although it was actually here for a short time in the 70's. It is seen here alongside the shed before a shunting move is carried out in January 1976. It is now in full running order running on the main line under the West Coast Railway Company.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan 48151 is seen again in the top yard, sitting alongside S100, sister loco to 140. This view today would be inside the new shed - far more of a hive of activity.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan York is seen shunting 15 inch Hunslet Airedale No. 3 in the top yard at Embsay. Work is now going on here to provide the necessary sidings for the new engine shed and museum.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan 1976 sees Embsay Station home to a number of locomotives, those on view here are (l-r) York No. 1, Joem (not in working order) and 'The Bug', a very small diesel engine which may soon be rebuilt.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan Another picture of 'The Bug' here as it is involved in the P-Way team's installation of the west crossover - an essential item for the running of the railway after it had been singled, allowing trains to pass and run round at Embsay.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan Also in 1976, work was in hand to restore one of the Altrincham Electric coaches so that it could be used on the trains.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan 1977 saw the vacuum trials for York No.1, and it is seen here passsing through Embsay with a Director's saloon. Also in the station (although not in working order) is No. 22.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan South Hetton No. 69 is seen here in steam at the east end of Embsay Station under the footbridge. It is interesting to note that at this time there was still double track extending towards Bolton Abbey, but only as far as the end of the shed.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Andy Lister The passenger accommodation in Embsay Station, prior to the official reopening in 1979. It consists of an NER Director's Saloon (now based on the Tanfield Railway), an ex-Kings Cross Suburban coach - (cut up on the line after it was found to be unrepairable) and a Southern BY, currently undergoing a repaint.
(c) Andy Lister.
(C) Andy Lister The official re-opening in 1979 saw a double headed train run between Embsay and Bow Bridge Loop, hauled by No. 22 and Primrose, mirrored by the reopening to Bolton Abbey Station, which also saw these two locos on the service.
(c) Andy Lister.
(C) Andy Lister Embsay in winter, with a good cover of snow. This photograph was taken looking towards Bolton Abbey from the Skipton (west) end of Embsay station. Compare this view with some of the more recent ones further down the page to see how things have changed.
(c) Andy Lister.
(C) Andy Lister Although not of superb quality, this photo has been included as it shows an unusual working - that of a Class 31 into Embsay with some of the line's new (?!) rolling stock, from BR. Included in this consignment was the Gresley Brake third, dating from 1930, and also the ex-Southern PMV.
(c) Andy Lister.
(C) Charles Boylan 1981 sees No. 22 complete with a Gresley and a Southern BY in Embsay Station. The west end of the station now has the crossover and appropriate signalling installed. The line at this point was only operating between Embsay and Bow Bridge Loop.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan No. 69 and Slough Estates No. 5 are seen here in steam together for an event during the summer of 1981. No. 22 is also visible, in the coal dock, behind the double-armed starting signal from Platform 1.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan Wheldale is seen here leaving Embsay Station with a trial load of mixed goods wagons in 1983, having just arrived on the railway. It is an early austerity loco, and is easily distinguished by its handrails on the tank.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan The year is 1984, and there are four working engines outside Embsay's goods shed. They are (l-r) Primrose, Beatrice, Darfield and Wheldale.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan The railway's first ex-BR Mk. 1 coach is seen here, freshly oushopped in maroon and awaiting passengers in 1984. Since then, the livery for the coaches has altered to BR maroon with a yellow and black waistband and BR running numbers. However, they also carry the YDR number and the YDR crest.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Dave Outibridge Darfield No. 1 is again seen here at Embsay - this time by night, waiting to depart. The reason for the face is unknown - possibly it is a Bonfire Night working, but that is doubtful, or it could be a Santa's Special.
(c) Dave Outibridge.
(C) Charles Boylan 1986, and the footbridge has gone! It was removed for repairs to the steelwork which had been heavily corroded, and reinstated in 1988. Darfield No. 1 (now on the East Lancs Railway) is seen here departing for Skibeden with a passenger train.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Andy Lister Wheldale is seen here entering Embsay Station from Bow Bridge Loop with a mixed goods train as part of the 'Harvest of Steam' event. Not Wheldale's livery - plain maroon, into which it had just been painted, and seen before the railway embarked on a thorough overhaul which saw it finished in full lined maroon. Also worthy of note is the signal - now replaced with a Midland Railway design.
(c) Andy Lister.
(C) Andy lister Slough is seen entering Embsay, also from Bow Bridge, but doubleheading with Darfield No. 1 on a passenger train. The traditional Hudswell Clarke lines of the loco are clearly seen here, as is the superb condition of the loco - right down to the lining out.
(c) Andy Lister.
(C) Andy Lister Slough is again seen here passing the site of the footbridge at Embsay with a passenger train for Skibeden Loop, the terminus of the line at the time. The early YDR livery of the coaches is clear here - now they are all turned out in ex-BR style, but with the YDR emblem and running number.
(c) Andy Lister.
(C) Stephen Walker Two locomotives raising steam one morning at Embsay on the coal dock. This was taken quite a while ago as it shows both Slough and Beatrice in working order.
(c) Stephen Walker.
(C) Andy Lister The centenary celebrations were the highlight of 1988, and saw two visiting locomotives on the railway - Joem and Bellerophon. Here, Beatrice has a passenger train, and is waiting for the arrival of Bellorophon with the navvies train from the other direction before breaking through the ribbon.
(c) Andy Lister.
(C) Charles Boylan Joem is seen here visiting the railway from its new home on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, as part of our own centenary celebrations. In this view (taken in August 1988), Joem is about to depart from Platform 2.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Charles Boylan A little while later that day, Joem is seen passing the other service train in Embsay on its way towards Holywell Halt. Because the engine would run around the train at Skibeden and then propell the carriages to Holywell, the end doors had to be painted yellow so that they could be easily seen.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Stephen Walker Beatrice, Slough and Bellerophon are all seen at Embsay in 1988 as part of the Harvest of Steam event. The view is taken from the top of the signalbox stairs.
(c) Stephen Walker.
(C) Charles Boylan An unusual visitor to the railway is seen here, in the form of the Middleton Railway's sentinel locomotive, ex-LNER and BR. It is seen here in 1990 ready to depart from Platform 2 towards Bow Bridge Loop.
(c) Charles Boylan.
(C) Dave Hebden Airedale is seen here outside the goods shed at Embsay, having just had a new chimney put into place, before going back into storage, awaiting an overhaul. This view is not possible today, as the steelwork for the new shed complex partially obscures it.
(c) Dave Hebden.
(C) Dave Hebden Beatrice is seen leaving the station for Holywell with a train during 'Kiddies Day', hence the face. Have a look at the footbridge in the background for proof of how popular these events were! Now the Day out with Thomas have taken over, and these always prove very popular.
(c) Dave Hebden.
(C) Dave Hebden As part of the ordinary service, Wheldale, not long after the completion of its overhaul, is seen leaving Embsay for Holywell, with the 04 diesel watching from platform 2. The repairs to the footbridge have also been completed, and it now supports deflectors on the underside (then these rust away, instead of the main structure!).
(c) Dave Hebden.
(C) Dave Outibridge The Class 14 is seen having entered platform 2 with a passenger working - a rare event. Hopefully when the loco is restored to full working order it will again be able to haul trains. This was part of a trial service which saw a diesel hauled train take the second path on certain days. The other train would have been steam hauled.
(c) Dave Outibridge.

More photographs of Embsay station and the surrounding area can be found on the other page.

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