The LNER Encyclopedia

If I arrived on the London train into pre-Beeching Hull Paragon, would I have to change stations or only platforms if I wanted to travel on to Hornsea or Withernsea?

Platforms, only! (Sorry I can't be more specific; ie which platforms, but it was a long time ago).

Yes, same station - Paragon. Wasn't there a bad collision in LNER times on the approach to Hull Paragon that involved a train coming in from either Hornsea or Withernsea?
The Hull & Barnsley used a different station though.

Flamingo wrote:Yes, same station - Paragon. Wasn't there a bad collision in LNER times on the approach to Hull Paragon that involved a train coming in from either Hornsea or Withernsea?
The Hull & Barnsley used a different station though.

Spot on, Flamingo - Feb 14th 1927


http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/listin ... o&event=92

You probably would have used the platform bay which is currently part of the bus station. The canopy is still there. From Hull Paragon in the 1950s, must have been busy place with Withernsea/Hornsea lines, York via Market Weighton and even the Summer excusion traffic on the Malton / Driffield line to Whitby. Seems such a sad demise that today, more than half the destinations have been ripped up!

This is really helpful - thanks to everyone who responded. Could I ask few further questions? First, does anybody remember if changing platfroms from the Hull-London line to the Hull-Withernsea line involve having to go out of one part of the building and entering another, or did it simply involve moving within one building? Second, were both the lines to Hornsea and Withernea LNER lines? Third, when did they close? I'm really grateful for your help.

In BR days, trains to/from Hornsea & Withernsea tended to use the lower numbered platforms, as did trains heading to Beverley & beyond. Trains to the west and south (Leeds, Doncaster etc) used the higher numbered platforms. This was not a hard & fast rule but I imagine that it made sense to avoid conflict, so I would guess that this practice would date back to the opening of the station. Paragon was a large station and most of the platforms in everyday use were under the main canopy (platforms 1 to 8, I seem to recollect) but there were several other platforms ( 9 to 14?) used for excursions and storage of stock, so it is very unlikely that a London passenger changing for Withernsea would need to leave the main building.

The Withernsea line opened as the Hull & Holderness Railway in 1854 and was worked by the North Eastern Railway from 1860. The NER bought out the company in 1862 and put a link to the Victoria Dock branch in place to enable Withernsea trains to work into Paragon. The NER also bought out the HUll & Hornsea Railway. Thus both lines eventually passed into the hands of the LNER.

The line, together with the Hornsea line closed to passengers on 17th October 1964.

If you are ever in Hornsea, the station (now a block of Flats) is a pleasure of see. Its a great NER type building with a Imposing frontage. I can vaguely remember as a child seeing it in a derelict form (1980), so sad no society was formed to restore it and even try to re-open it as a heritage line..I presume back in the 80s, nobody seemed to have a vision and belief. It could have been the Swanage line mark 2. I have always been a fan of the Hornsea line and cycled it many summers evening and imagined what it would have been like with a G5 chugging on the track.
Well just have to hope the Yorkshire Wolds railway project takes off...So can Hull paragon station keep that Excusion bay free. Tornado to Fimber & Sledmere?

Thanks once again for all these helpful (and evocative) replies.

In the late fifties I was fortunate to live at 21 Park Street, with a back garden butting directly onto the approach to Paragon and with a sturdy wooden fence ideal for sitting on and spotting. (Was it always sunny in the fifties?)
Thus had a great spot to see all traffic in and out of Hull Paragon. It was interesting to see the rugby specials every Saturday (two rugby league teams of course in Hull) which brought "foreign" engines and stock. (e.g. ex LMS 12 wheel clerestory refreshment cars) that contrasted hugely with the ex LNER engines & carriages.

There was a piece on the TV yesterday Last episode of Coast, following a man tracking the route his grandfather took from Poland in the late 19th C. to Boston USA.
As part of it it explained the route followed was from North Germany to Hull by Ship then a layover in Hull with various buildings being used as Hostels and catering. Then proceeded as an escorted group to the excursion platforms at Paragon to board trains destined for Liverpool and onward shipping to Boston.
I assume the excursion platforms are thiose outside the roof to the south side of the station and now derelict sidings.
It should be available on BBC Iplayer or no doubt repeated soon.

Bryan wrote:I assume the excursion platforms are thiose outside the roof to the south side of the station and now derelict sidings.

Yes, but they later built Riverside, which allowed passengers to be taken straight of the boats onto the trains.

If you were coming from London, then you would have come via Doncaster (pre Beeching) in most cases this would terminate in platforms 6 or upwards. Hornsea/Withernsea trains generally 1 to 4 platforms. All under one roof about a 15 yard walk from barrier to barrier.

Trust me I've worked them all from Botanic.

skipness wrote:In the late fifties I was fortunate to live at 21 Park Street, with a back garden butting directly onto the approach to Paragon and with a sturdy wooden fence ideal for sitting on and spotting. (Was it always sunny in the fifties?)
Thus had a great spot to see all traffic in and out of Hull Paragon. It was interesting to see the rugby specials every Saturday (two rugby league teams of course in Hull) which brought "foreign" engines and stock. (e.g. ex LMS 12 wheel clerestory refreshment cars) that contrasted hugely with the ex LNER engines & carriages.

What i forgot to mention was that I was "educated" at Thomas Stratten Junior Boys School. Those who remember travelling to Hull in the steam days may remember a brick wall on the north side of the tracks with a prominent notice asking footplate crew to avoid noise that would disturb the school. I presume they meant letting off steam, or sounding whistles.

The girls school was downstairs and the boys upstairs with no inter-connection. Unfortunately the classroom windows were too hight to let me see out at what was happening on the adjacent railway though.

An interesting article on Hull's Immigration Platform.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emi ... le_1.shtml

The 'waiting room' later of course became the old BRSA Club on Anlaby Road and is now the site of the 'Tigers Lair' (for City fans with a thirst!!)