Market Weighton - The Railway

Welcome to Wicstun
The mediaeval town now known as
Market Weighton - The Heart of East Yorkshire
750 Years a Market Town, 1251 - 2001

Since 1965 Market Weighton has been without a rail link to Kingston upon Hull and York. Now with increasing pressure on the local roads a campaign group has been set up to lobby Councils, the Government and the Strategic Rail Authority for the re-opening of this vital link in the rail network. Called The Minsters' Rail Campaign, its aim is to achieve the re-introduction of a through rail passenger and freight service between York and Hull via Huntington, Monks Cross, Stamford Bridge, Pocklington, Market Weighton, Beverley, and Cottingham.

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Last revision : 29 March, 2010

The railway line between Market Weighton and Beverley was opened on 1st May 1865 and, sadly, closed to passenger services with the last train on 29th November 1965, following closure by Dr Beeching in that year.

For many years the railway was the most important bringer of trade to the town. The station was built in 1846 by George Hudson, the railway speculator, and had not only a flourishing refreshment room, but a W.H.Smith bookstall too.

Dining -car expresses between Kingston upon Hull and Glasgow, and Leeds and Scarborough passed through daily, and the station was well served with passenger and goods trains.

Market Weighton station had an overall roof typical of the market town stations on the York & North Midland Railway, but this was removed in 1947. Another feature was a small privately owned refreshment room which was notable for the excellent meals it served.

Even after Nationalisation - this photograph was taken in 1950 - there were still plenty of traces of North Eastern influence. The water tank, the slotted post signals with their handsome finials, the footbridge, the diagonal fencing all proclaim their NER origin 27 years after the company ceased to exist !