The Forge Valley Railway

Come with me on a journey from Pickering to Seamer, following the route of the Forge Valley Railway (or Scarborough to Pickering Railway). Marvel at the way so many stations were named after villages or places that aren't particularly near, and the fact that it doesn't even pass through Forge Valley.
To jump straight to a particular section:
00:02:22 - Outgang Crossing
00:03:21 - Westfield Crossing
00:04:21 - Broadmires Crossing
00:05:41 - Roxby Hall
00:07:41 - Thornton-le-Dale Station
00:11:46 - Bridge for field access
00:14:23 - Model village
00:14:51 - Longlands Lane Bridge
00:16:53 - Hurrell Lane Bridge
00:18:29 - Wilton Hall
00:21:34 - Wilton Carr Crossing
00:23:30 - Ebberston Station
00:28:20 - Ebberston Gatehouse
00:29:21 - Ings Lane Gatehouse
00:30:11 - Foulbridge Lane Gatehouse
00:31:41 - Snainton Station
00:35:20 - Barker's Lane Gatehouse
00:36:05 - Brompton-by-Sawdon
00:39:07 - Brompton Crossing and Sawdon Station
00:44:15 - Gallows Hill Bridge
00:49:30 - Ruston
00:54:47 - Wykeham Lane Bridge
00:57:44 - Wykeham Station
00:59:48 - Fothill Bridge
01:01:20 - West Balk Bridge
01:03:06 - Church Lane Bridge
01:04:36 - Forge Valley Station and Gatehouse
01:08:10 - Irton Waterworks and Goose Lane Crossing
01:11:07 - Seamer and Manor Garth
01:13:05 - Back to the railway (Ratten Row)
01:13:40 - Seamer Main Street Bridge
01:14:50 - Pasture Lane Gatehouse
01:16:16 - Seamer Junction
01:18:10 - Seamer Station
01:22:51 - Further information (and kaleidoscope)
See also Ian Smith's video on Forge Valley Station.
• FOUND...A HIDDEN BRIDG...
There's also a Microsoft Train Simulator simulation here:
• Video
The Forge Valley website has a lot of relevant info:
www.forgevalle...
Disused railway stations:
disused-station...
Rail Map online:
www.railmaponl...
Robin Lidster's books on Amazon UK:
www.amazon.co....

[@tominnis8353]

Unless you knew, you'd never work out there'd been a railway here. Thanks for your excellent and enlightening video with some nice humourous touches!

[@EdwinNewcomb]

Fantastic, I grew up in West Ayton to the west of Forge Valley Station and the line went down the bottom of the garden.

[@kentune38]

Very well researched and interesting video. Thank-you.

[@railwaychristina3192]

Thank you. I love the engine shed at Seamer.

[@jeepcherokeehero]

Great detailed video Richard, many thanks. As a Thornton Dale resident I was saddened that in recent times that they pulled the bridge down on Hurrell Lane, as you pointed out. It was a very large structure and in reasonable condition. I'm sure it wasn't an issue for large farm machinery. More likely they were trying to build a fracking site just south of the old railway line. I would think think that was more probable to be a contributing factor to it being pulled down!

[@williambell6038]

I think you're wonderful

[@RobertGott-c3f]

Stayed in the camping coaches at Ebberston station On two holidays Excellent use of an ex station

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

Hi Richard, that was fascinating and extremely informative. I do enjoy your Python-esque delivery!!!

[@julianlane8313]

I remember the big signal box covering the junction with the Hull line. A shame when such an impressive building was demolished.

[@BrendanC123]

Will you do a video on the Malton To Pickering railway?

[@milehighclassics]

VALLEY FORGE was a space freighter that was sent out to space with the last of the trees and forests, only to explode with a nuclear explosion by the last crew member that killed the other crew, in 1971

[@richardellingworth4484]

Yes, "Silent Running" is a much underrated movie starring Bruce Dern (Laura Dern's dad) as that last remaining crewman on the Valley Forge. The maintenance robots Huey, Dewey, and Louie were very impressive, and this was 5 years before Star Wars. It's not clear to me why the Valley Forge was so named, presumably after George Washington's winter encampment during the American Revolution and site of a battle. No idea where the forge was. All the other freighters seem to have been named after national parks, or at least after the areas of Amercia from which the plants were taken. The plants on the Valley Forge came from the Florida Keys (or so Wikipedia says). In the 18th century there was a forge in Forge Valley, North Yorkshire. It was about midway between East Ayton and Hackness. Nowhere near the railway line.

[@mickeytheviewmoo]

I noticed a lot of the station buildings did have 1st floor windows missing. Was this a result of the window tax?

[@sxis]

If you cross the road at Ebberston station heading east and go into the field on the left of the road about 200yrds in along the perimeter is whats left of an old plate layers trolley in the hedgerow

[@richardellingworth4484]

That's interesting. I completely missed that. The other thing I couldn't find is the mysterious hemp pit, a stone lined pit, dating back to when Allerston had a thriving hemp industry, making ropes for use mainly by the navy. It is mentioned here: www.ryedale.co.uk/ryedale/villages/allerston/allerston.html The page says it should be adjacent to the station, but I couldn't find it anywhere.

[@sxis]

@@richardellingworth4484 i must add that im not local being a visitor from Cumbria Richard i was staying at a nearby campsite when i spotted the trolley, but i do love railway history and tracked the forge valley line on google earth, thanks for your vids really interesting