Middlesbrough & Whitby Railway Through Time

On 10 March 1958 British Railways announced that they intended to close the section of line between Loftus and Whitby. This coastal route noted for its spectacular views had never been a moneyspinner. In fact the impossible terrain at its southern end bankrupted the contractor to the Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway Company and it was the North Eastern Railway that finally completed the line in December 1883. Unfortunately mineral traffic declined after the first thirty years, passengers were only plentiful during the summer months and the upkeep of the viaducts and tunnels were costly, so closure was inevitable. The track was lifted but in the early 1970s was reinstated from Loftus to Boulby to serve newly opened potash mine. Continuing on past Loftus to Middlesbrough, via Skinningrove, Brotton, Saltburn by the Sea and Redcar, following the remains of the former Cleveland and Darlington and Stockton Railway Companies routes, this line is still open to passengers with Northern Rail operating a half hourly shuttle service between Saltburn and the seven intervening stations to Middlesbrough.