Heritage line plans to resurrect station

Enthusiasts seek funds to recreate lost building

A GROUP of railway enthusiasts are hoping to secure funding to re-open an old station as the terminus of a new heritage line.

They want to reinstate Upton and North Elmsall Station near Wakefield, which was once a stop on the Hull and Barnsley Railway and closed in 1959.

The line, which was built to transport coal to Hull’s docks, ran through what is now Upton Country Park, and the group plan to lay a single track across the original route.

They intend to apply for a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to bring the project to fruition.

A replica of the station would be built on the site of the demolished railway buildings, with part of it used as an information centre and cafe. There would also be displays about Upton Colliery, which was served by the line.

The two-and-a-half-mile track would continue through the old colliery site and through Barnsdale Tunnel, which remains in good condition despite having been disused since 1959. It would terminate just before the A1 at Barnsdale Bar.

Members also plan to lay a footpath and cycleway alongside the rails.

Upton and North Elmsall Station had lost its passenger service by 1932 and was a goods station until closure in 1959

If opened, the heritage railway would hold 1940s and World War One-themed weekends, Santa’s grotto experiences, Polar Express trips, Halloween and Easter events, Victorian weekends and driver experience days.

Keith Taylor, 43, started the group and hopes to win support from Wakefield Council, who own the land the trackbed passes through.

He believes the project would meet the main criteria for National Lottery Heritage Fund cash, as it would both restore lost history and benefit the local economy.

“I think Upton is the perfect place for a new heritage railway. The land is owned by the council, so it would be easier to negotiate a lease. At the moment, there are nearly 80 of us – we’re just a group of enthusiasts, we don’t have a lot of expertise or experience of working on the railways.

“There is a small line at the National Coal Mining Museum, but no others in the Wakefield area. It would be unique as I don’t think a heritage railway has rebuilt a replica station from scratch before.

“I’d expect it to cost several million – we’ve approached an architect for some advice, and we’re looking into what grants are available. I think after coronavirus, the Government may want to support projects that provide employment. It would restore heritage and stimulate the economy.”

The railway would be staffed mainly by volunteers covering a range of duties.