Lot Essay
There were, during the Railway mania many proposals for connecting Knaresborough with the growing national network of railways. The complex history of the numerous proposals and railway companies is a study itself.
The Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company proposed a line and published it's prospectus in 1844, Knaresborough offered real and financial support and shares were taken up. Another company the East and West Yorkshire eventually built the railway over the Nidd at Knaresborough, however because of poor materials and workmanship, in March 1848 the viaduct collapsed. The line was described as "A line that begins nowhere and ends nowhere, except at the decaying village of Knaresborough"!
However, a new viaduct was built and the line was fully operational on 1st October 1851. One locomotive only was in service "Knaresborough No 1", and that was described as somewhat erratic! The watercolour shows Knaresborough No 1 being driven, probably on the way to the opening of the railway, and possibly by the Rev. Thomas Collins of Knaresborough who was a major shareholder of the original Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company.
The Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company proposed a line and published it's prospectus in 1844, Knaresborough offered real and financial support and shares were taken up. Another company the East and West Yorkshire eventually built the railway over the Nidd at Knaresborough, however because of poor materials and workmanship, in March 1848 the viaduct collapsed. The line was described as "A line that begins nowhere and ends nowhere, except at the decaying village of Knaresborough"!
However, a new viaduct was built and the line was fully operational on 1st October 1851. One locomotive only was in service "Knaresborough No 1", and that was described as somewhat erratic! The watercolour shows Knaresborough No 1 being driven, probably on the way to the opening of the railway, and possibly by the Rev. Thomas Collins of Knaresborough who was a major shareholder of the original Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company.