Disused Stations: Sigglesthorne Station

Station Name: SIGGLESTHORNE

Date opened:	28.3.1864
Location:	On the north side of Sigglesthorne Road.
Company on opening:	Hull and Hornsea Railway
Date closed to passengers:	19.10.1964
Date closed completely:	19.10.1964
Company on closing:	British Railways (Eastern Region)
Present state:	The station house and station building is a private residence. Both platforms and the goods dock survive.
County:	Yorkshire
OS Grid Ref:	TA180430
Date of visit:	25.5.1975 & April 1991

Notes: The station actually served the village of Great Hatfield, and was originally named Hatfield. This was changed to Sigglesthorne from 1.10.1874 to avoid confusion with Hatfield near Doncaster. Sigglesthorne originally had a single platform on the down side but when the line was doubled a second up platform was provided on the south side of the level crossing.

The goods yard was sited opposite the platform and comprised two sidings, one running parallel with the running line and the second running up onto coal drops. The parallel siding was realigned to the east when the line was doubled. At some time other siding was also realigned to allow a dock to be built between the two sidings. Goods services were withdrawn from 11.10.1963.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HULL & HORNSEA RAILWAY
A line connecting the Hull-Scarborough branch at Arram to a site near Hornsea Mere had been proposed in 1846/7 by the York and North Midland Railway but never built due to the downfall of chairman George Hudson amidst a financial scandal.

A new line connecting Hull and Hornsea was promoted by Hornsea resident and Hull timber merchant Joseph Armytage Wade, the aim of such a line being to develop Hornsea as a fashionable Victorian seaside resort.

The first sod was turned by Wade on 8.10.1862. Problems were encountered during construction due to the nature of the local soil; there were further issues with poor workmanship and materials used by the contractors. A late change of plan saw the line extended from the proposed terminus at Hornsea Bridge to the seafront; this meant construction of an embankment which required the ground to be piled adding substantially to the already escalating construction costs.

Opened on 28.3.1864, the line ran in a fairly direct North Easterly direction from Hull, the original Hull terminus was Wilmington station, though after 1st June 1864 trains ran via the Victoria Dock branch into Hull's Paragon station. Due to lower than expected receipts and consequent financial difficulties, the Hull and Hornsea Railway merged with the North Eastern Railway on 16.7.1866.

The line was constructed as a single track but was doubled throughout in the early 1900s. Diesel railcars were introduced from 71.1957 and operated local services from that date. Centralised Traffic Control (automated signaling and level crossings) was proposed in the early 1960's, but this was overtaken by the 'Beeching Report'. Closure to passengers came on 19.10.1964, with Goods services to Hornsea Bridge continuing until 3.5.1965.

Today, the trackbed of the railway forms the 'Hornsea Rail Trail', also part of the 'Trans Pennine Trail'- the majority of station buildings still exist and the trackbed is virtually complete throughout.

Further reading 'The Lost Railways of Holderness' by Peter Price (Hutton Press)
ISBN 0 0907033 86 5. Route map drawn by Alan Young. Tickets from Michael Stewart.

To see the other stations on the Hull & Hornsea Railway click on the station name: Sutton-on-Hull, Swine, Skirlaugh, Ellerby (1st station),
Ellerby (2nd station), Whitedale, Wassand, Hornsea Bridge & Hornsea Town

Sigglesthorne station looking north-east at the down platform from the level crossing c1905. The small brick building on the right is the weigh office at the entrance to the goods yard.
Photo from John Mann collection

1891 1:2,500 OS map shows the original layout of Sigglesthorme station with a single platform on the down side. There are two sidings opposite the platform, one parallel to the running tine and the other running onto coal drops.

1921 1:2,500 OS map. The line has been doubled and a second up platform has been provided to the south of the level crossing. The siding running onto the coal drops has been realigned to accommodate a dock.

A southbound goods service is seen at Sigglesthorne station c1950s. It is on the wrong line so may be shunting.

Looking north-east from the up platform across the level crossing at Sigglesthorne station c.late 1960s. The signal box seen in the picture above has been demolished. The staggered platform are clearly seen in this view. The track can still be seen embedded in the road.
Photo from Duncan Chandler's Flickr photostream

Sigglesthorne station in May 1975; the crossing gates have been removed and the track has been removed from the road.
Copyright photo from Nigel Mundy collection

Sigglesthorne station looking north-east in October 1985; the up platform is seen on the right.
Photo by Robert Woolford

Sigglesthorne stationmaster's house and waiting room from the Hull platform, looking towards Hornsea, in April 1991.
Photo by Mark Dyson

Looking north-east from the site of the level crossing along the down platform at Sigglesthorne station
in January 2009.

Photo by Mark Dyson

Looking south-west along the down platform at Sigglesthorne station in January 2009.
Photo by Mark Dyson

The station house and buildings on the Sigglesthorne down platform in January 2009.
Photo by Mark Dyson

The Hornsea Rail Trail is diverted onto the goods dock opposite the down platform and along the access road to the goods yard. It rejoins the line on the far side of the level crossing.
Photo by Mark Dyson