The seven mile long freight only branch between Saltburn West Junction and Boulby Potash Mine represents some of the most scenic railway panorama anywhere in mainland Britain.
The line snakes its way along the breathtaking clifftops of North Yorkshire, running adjacent to the Cleveland Way long distance footpath. In places, as you will see in this video, the line is less than 50 yards from the cliff edge, which results in a truly stunning coastal backdrop.
Around a dozen trains a day use the single line Boulby branch, most of which are running the full seven miles to or from ICL Boulby, the potash mine. A couple of trains in each direction carry steel slabs and their empties between British Steel Skinningrove and Tees Yard.
Skinningrove is around 4.5 miles from Saltburn West Junction. The northern entrance to the Boulby branch is signalled by Longbeck Signal Box, with Crag Hall Signal Box signalling the area around Skinningrove, Carlin How and Boulby.
On the day of this video I followed the Cleveland Way a couple of miles south down the coast from Saltburn to Hunt Cliff. It was a really nice day, but there was a refreshing sea breeze. There is a derelict fanhouse set back slightly from the edge of the cliff and an interesting charm bracelet sculpture.
DB Cargo's 66152 was working the daily steel slabs from Tees Yard to Skinningrove. On this occasion it was hauling a rake of 17 BEA bogie bolster wagons, the front 16 of which were loaded with steel slabs. Around an hour later the unloaded train, 6N53, was trundling back in the opposite direction towards Tees Yard.
DB Cargo also holds the contract for the potash trains on the Boulby branch.
Filmed on 3rd June 2022.
Footage was captured using a Panasonic HC-VX1 (aff. link) fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go (aff. link).
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