RAILWAYS Mining

Almost one hundred years after they closed, Rosedale’s ironestone mines and railway in North Yorkshire are a unique legacy which gives visitors and enthusiasts an opportunity to explore and discover the dale’s little known but nationally important contribution to the Industrial Revolution.

Documents the dramatic growth, heyday and decline of the Rosedale Mines and Railway.

The Rosedale Railway in North Yorkshire played a significant role in the region’s ironstone mining industry during the 19th century. Spanning 19.5 miles, this goods-only railway line connected Battersby Junction to the remote Rosedale valley, where iron ore deposits were abundant. Originally opened as a narrow gauge railway to Ingleby Incline top in 1858, it was later converted to standard gauge and extended to Rosedale West in 1861. The railway ultimately closed in 1929. Today, the former trackbeds serve as popular walking and cycling routes, allowing visitors to explore the area’s rich industrial past.

During the industrial revolution, the landscape of Rosedale underwent a dramatic transformation. The opening of the Whitby and Pickering Railway in 1835 marked the beginning of a century of rapid growth in ironstone mining in the region. As a result, pioneering railway construction took place, connecting the remote valleys of Rosedale to Teesside and the wider world. The calcining kilns at Rosedale Bank Top and Rosedale East were essential in processing the ironstone and making it more economically viable. The Rosedale Railway played a crucial role in transporting this valuable resource out of the North York Moors for iron and steel manufacturing, contributing to the industrial revolution’s progress.

In 1858, The Ingleby Ironstone & Freestone Mining Company built a narrow gauge line to connect existing mining operations with the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Railway at Battersby, then known as Ingleby Junction. To overcome the height difference between Battersby Railway Station and the moorland mining sites, a steep 1 in 5 incline was constructed at Ingleby. This innovative solution enabled trucks to be hauled up the slope to a height of 370 metres (1200 feet) above sea level using the weight of descending full wagons.

Following the absorption of the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Railway into the North Eastern Railway (NER) in 1859, the NER decided to convert the line to standard gauge and extend it by 10 miles from the top of the incline to Rosedale West. This expansion, completed on 27 March 1861 at a cost of £24,500, facilitated access to additional ironstone mining operations in the area.

In response to the commencement of mining on the east side of Rosedale valley, an additional branch line was constructed, connecting Blakey Junction to the new mining sites. While the railway company initiated the project, the NER completed the line, which opened for traffic in August 1865. The branch to the east mines dropped consistently at a gradient of 1 in 50, following the hillside’s contours all the way from Blakey to Rosedale East.

Rosedale Railway reached its peak production in 1873, transporting an impressive 560,000 tons of ironstone from the mines. During this period, the railway played a crucial role in supporting the thriving iron ore trade in the region. Consequently, Rosedale became a significant player in the British iron industry, contributing to the nation’s industrial growth.

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