Exhibition marks 60 years since final rail journey

An exhibition has opened marking 60 years since the final journey on the Scarborough to Whitby railway line.

The service, famed for its scenic route, transported passengers along the Yorkshire coast from 1885 until its closure due to cost-cutting measures in 1965.

Railway enthusiast Chris Martin spent three years building a 14ft working model of part of the railway, which features in the exhibition at Scarborough Library.

He said it would be "interesting to put on an exhibition to show people what it was like 60 years ago for those who didn't know, and for memorabilia for those who did".

Today, the former railway route is a popular walking and cycling trail between Scarborough and Whitby, known as the Cinder Track.

The exhibition, entitled The Last Train to Whitby, is running on Thursday and Friday.

Scarborough's mayor Janet Jefferson, who runs a railway shop in the town, was among the visitors on opening morning.

"She said the model railway was just like the real thing as it would have been 60 years ago," said Mr Martin.

He used archive material from libraries to build the replica of Gallows Close Goods Yard, which trains to Whitby would pass through.

Today, the site is home to a supermarket.

Mr Martin remained tight-lipped on the cost of his passion project - which he admitted he had not disclosed to his wife.

The closure of the line formed part of the so-called Beeching cuts, which saw thousands of miles of Britain's unprofitable railways closed.

"Apparently the last service was full," Mr Martin said.

"Unfortunately, if it was like that for the previous 40 years there might have been a railway still."

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