Ryedale Society of Model Engineers
Gilling East
© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2015
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
28 June 2015
Gilling East lies not quite six miles from Helmsley, on the B1363 from York. It had a
railway station (”Gilling”) on the line from Sunbeck Junction to Malton, but lost its
passenger services more than 60 years ago (the line remained open until 1964 for
through trains from the north to Scarborough, avoiding York). It’s not totally without
railways though - perhaps a quarter of a mile from the old station, in the grounds of
the village hall, is a wonderful miniature railway...
The term “miniature railway” can be used to describe a fairly wide variety of lines and
purposes. This one is very much about model engineering, and though the emphasis is on the
5” gauge model, the double-track main line, built as a continuous loop of around 400 yards,
is mixed gauge, able to accommodate 3½” and 7¼” gauge models. One of the latter really
caught my eye - a superb model of a North Eastern Railway Class C (C1, strictly speaking) -
the class which became LNER J21. One survives in preservation - 65033, currently (I think) at
Shildon, but earmarked for Kirkby Stephen East
This was very much a “flying visit” - we were on our way to Helmsley and Rievaulx, but felt
we ought to look in and see what was going on. We left the railway determined to pay a
return visit...
Gilling East
- a ride, hauled by a 5” gauge B1
(passing other trains en route)
- lineside clips: note the working
slotted post signal - and see that
beautiful class C galloping along...
