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Driffield Station was opened by the York and North Midland Railway on 6 October 1846, at the same time as the line from Hull to Bridlington. The independent Malton & Driffield Railway company obtained parliamentary approval to build a branch line between it and Malton in the same year, but more than six years would pass before it was ready for traffic – the first train running in May 1853.
Driffield Station whilst the overall roof was still in position
Date - 1905. Driffield. Photo Ref 448. © John Law
Photographed from the brakevan of the pick-up freight at the point the Malton branch joined the Market Weighton branch. The line then crossed the main road at Driffield West Junction.
Date - 1956. Driffield. Photo Ref 393. © A M Ross
Another superb photo showing the overall roof. Also note the wonderful enamel sign on the right of the photo reading "Driffield Junction"
Date - 1930. Driffield. Photo Ref 361. © Stations UK - Neg ref RRP09
D20 62387 on special train duties, about to return to Malton
Date - 02/06/57. Driffield. Photo Ref 543. © John Taylor Collection
The Malton Dodger prepares to leave Driffield. Note the school boy on the platform with notebook
Date - Unknown. Driffield. Photo Ref 635. © Mrs Wray
LNER V3 class 2-6-2T 67663 on a down local runs into Driffield
Date - 1952. Driffield. Photo Ref 698. © N Stead Collection
Driffield West Junction - This photo is taken on the Beverley Road level crossing during a classic car rally. Driffield town centre is on the right of the photo.
Date - 1950. Driffield. Photo Ref 237. © Len Cook
Driffield West Junction - Loco 61415 storms over Driffield West Junction on its way to Driffield
Date - 1950. Driffield. Photo Ref 239. © Len Cook
The gate to the right of the loco is the level crossing crossing gate that allowed traffic to cross the 9 lines that where once here. The footbridge is now in this location, and the crossing long gone. Loco 62387 running a Railtour organised by the Branch Line Society.
Date - 02/06/1957. Driffield. Photo Ref 262. © R Casserley
Between 1940 and 1945 in addition to the Hull – Sboro line and Malton, trains also ran to Market Weighton. Records exist of as many as 125 trains movements before lunch!
There were five signal boxes regulating the passage of the trains through Driffield. Wansford Road, Eastgate or Depot crossing, Station, Skerne Road and Driffield West on Beverley Road. All allowed vehicles and pedestrians across as footbridge at Eastgate had not been built. Each of the boxes was allocated two signalmen and relief signalmen attended when necessary. At some of the crossings, for example Wansford Road and Eastgate, signalmen lived in the railway house adjacent. The operation of the railway was divided into a passenger and a goods department, each with its own foreman and clerical staff, under the overall control of the stationmaster who lived in his house on the platform of the railway station itself. This house still exists on the Bridlington platform, which also housed a booking office, waiting room with fire, a railway buffet and a branch of W.H.Smith The goods office had five clerks, and had up to 8 lorries working from it all maintained in the garage at the yard. One lorry was kept going all day just supplying Woolworths!
At one time approximately 50 people where employed at Driffield Station.
Written with the much appreciated assistance of Trevor Malkin, Driffield
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