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	Church Fenton to Harrogate 1848 - 1964 North Eastern Railway
Contributors:  Phill Davison The Route From junction north of Church Fenton on Leeds & Selby line to Harrogate (Brunswick station). via Sutton, Tadcaster, Newton Kyme, Thorpe Arch & Spofforth. Construction George Stephenson & the York and North Midland railway company. Opening  20th July 1848 Closure  6th January 1964 Church Fenton to Harrogate Phill Davison  The railway arrived in Harrogate in 1848 built by George Stephenson and the York and North Midland railway company. The branch line diverged from the Leeds and Selby line at Church Fenton and had stations at Sutton, Tadcaster, Newton Kyme, Thorpe Arch and Spofforth, the line then navigated the Prospect tunnel and the magnificent 31 arch Crimple viaduct were it meets the present day Leeds line. The Church Fenton to Harrogate line has the dubious honour of been the first line to fall under the Beeching axe with all stations closing in 1964. The original Harrogate station was called Brunswick and was situated next to Trinity Methodist church on Trinity Road opposite the stray.                     See Phills blog at - http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=265602590&blogID=351327703 Prospect Tunnel (03-02-08) : Phill Davison Just past Crimple viaduct we catch sight of Prospect tunnel on the Harrogate-Church Fenton line. The line has the dubious honour of been the first to close under the Beeching axe. The line was gradually run down over the years and the service was classed as 'nowt nor summat' amongst the long suffering passengers. Prospect Tunnel (03-02-08) : Phill Davison Nearly half a mile of tunnel ahead. Co-explorer added for scale. Prospect tunnel is a straight 825 yds long and is in reasonable condition apart from deep standing water throughout. The tunnel is relatively shallow at 81' below the surface and has a total of 3 air shafts. Prospect Tunnel (03-02-08) : Phill Davison Looking back towards Harrogate, Another track refuge coated in orange iron. Prospect Tunnel (03-02-08) : Phill Davison Close up detail. Prospect Tunnel (03-02-08) : Phill Davison In the middle of the tunnel we come to air shaft no 2. From the bottom of the tunnel to the top of the cappped shaft measures 81'. Prospect Tunnel (03-02-08) : Phill Davison Marker for Prospect no2 shaft. The walls are coated in soot from the steam trains. Prospect Tunnel (03-02-08) : Phill Davison Looking back towards the Harrogate direction at the end of the tunnel. The blue tint on the brickwork is caused by the daylight shining in on a long shutter capture, I like this effect achieved with this method. Prospect Tunnel (03-02-08) : Phill Davison View of the South portal and the embankement for the A658 now built over the old trackbed.              See Phills blog at - http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=265602590&blogID=351327703 Home Photos © Phill Davison