Cawood, Wistow and Selby Light Railway

History

An act of Parliament in 1879 allowed the construction of the Church Fenton, Cawood and Wistow Railway from a junction at Church Fenton through Cawood and Wistow. Further acts were applied for including an extension to Selby, a junction line to the Hull and Barnsley Railway at Drax. Neither the extensions, nor the original line were built.

In the 1890s the North Eastern Railway bought the company, and applied for permission to build a light railway along similar but reduced lines. The act was obtained in 1896. Construction began on 11 July 1896, with a rail connection near Selby built in September of the same year to allow construction materials to be brought. The five miles of single track line opened on 16 February 1898, Selby was served by a single platform halt at Brayton Gates station next to Brayton Gates junction (The NER did not allow through running to Selby station).

Operation

The railway had a terminus next to the Leeds and Selby Line, separate from the main Selby railway station. The company only had one locomotive, an 0-6-0 Manning Wardle, named Cawood.

In 1900 the company was absorbed by the NER. From 1904 through running to Selby began and Brayton Gates station closed. When acquired by the NER in 1901 a pair of class H2 (LNER class J79) light tank engines were used to supplement and then replace Cawood, this continued through LNER ownership until petrol-electric railcars took over for the passenger trains, later in turn replaced by railbuses.

The passenger service ended in 1929. The line closed on 2 May 1960.

Post closure

Cawood station has been demolished, Wistow station remains as a private residence. As of 2010 less than half the trackbed remains visible as field boundaries.