Ryedale Society of Model Engineers
Gilling East
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© 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...
7¼" gauge Class C no 22 5" gauge Metropolitan electric loco NER slotted post signal 84028 on freight 7¼" gauge Class C no 22
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...