Operation
The York and North Midland was a great success, particularly in its early years when it was part of the trunk route to London, via Derby and Birmingham. In 1845, it was paying a dividend of 10% in line with the top few railway companies.
Over the last part of its route it was in competition with the Leeds and Selby, particularly into Leeds, and George Hudson negotiated a lease of the latter and practically closed it down, finally purchasing it in 1845 when they also leased the Hull and Selby Railway. Hudson then bought and upgraded the horse-worked Whitby and Pickering Railway for steam operation, connecting it with his own York to Scarborough Line via a branch to Pickering. In 1851 the Knottingley branch was built with Stephenson's third tubular bridge after the pattern of the one over the Menai Strait and the East & West Yorkshire Junction Railway from Knaresborough to York was taken over.
Before this, in 1849 however had come Hudson's spectacular collapse and the company had come under the guidance of T E Harrison who proposed a merger with the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway and the Leeds Northern Railway. This took place in 1854 to form the North Eastern Railway. The NER inherited the lease on the H&S and it was not until 1872 that it was finally taken over.
The Leeds and Selby is still open, with the York and North Midland as a diversion, as part of the present day Dearne Valley Line.
Read more about this topic: York And North Midland Railway
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