I am going to be doing a series of posts on different strands of the old disused railway lines of East Yorkshire, mainly focusing on the stations. I’ve been walking different sections of them quite recently and photographing the areas of interest. I’m not doing them in any particular order so my posts will be hopping about the place geographically.
Ironically I am going to start just outside of East Yorkshire at Burdale Tunnel.
Burdale is right on the border between East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire and is officially a part of the Rydale district. Burdale was for over 100 years one of the stops on the Malton and Driffield junction railway. The line became nonviable and was pretty much completely shut down by 1958. You can read lots of information about this on one of the disused railway line websites.
Now, I am not a railway enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination but I find the history of these local lines quite interesting. I especially enjoy looking at the remains of the old buildings and platforms. I also find myself quite intrigued by the old railway tunnels that go under the wolds. I had been meaning to go to Burdale for some time and I finally got around to it this weekend.
Let’s take a look at where it is on a map.
So my two year old companion and I set off and arrive soon after near Burdale House Farm. As I arrive I get talking to a local farmer and after a brief chat he explains that the estate owner does not like people going up onto the site of the old railway station and that i’m not allowed to go there. Fair enough. He also explains that there is nothing left of it anyway because it’s been knocked down. Never mind, straight onto the tunnel instead.
Burdale tunnel is just under a mile long, and it was the biggest project of the Malton to Driffield line. The tunnel runs from Burdale up to near Wharram Percy. It has since been bricked up and the ventilation shafts have been knocked into the tunnel and capped off. The local chap explained to me also that some breeding pairs of bats now inhabit the tunnel and a grate has been installed in the brickwork to allow their access.
Its worth mentioning that further up this dale are some fairy stones which feature in some local folk tales, but it was time that me and my companion returned home. So another time maybe.
There was also a few cottages on this dale; one called tunnel cottage and one call fairy stones cottage. The local told me that they were lovely cottages. On the way back to my car I noticed a huge amount of bricks down an embankment. This was the remains of the train station that looks to have been demolished and shoved down the slope onto the side of the dale.
Thank you and goodbye.
//irlsey
irlsey 