Rhubarb Express (GNR)

[peter.rabbit]

Strange request, but here goes. I'm doing some research into the trains that ran from Ardsley and Rothwell to London which took, nightly, forced rhubarb from the farms in the West Riding of Yorkshire and eventually to Covent Garden, I believe before 1939.
Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of an old working timetable showing these trains?
Thank you.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The L.N.E.R. "Rhubarb Express" was a 209 mile non-stop overnight run seasonally from Leeds to London Kings Cross (or St. Pancras). Conveyed hundreds of tons of early-season forced rhubarb originating from various locations in the West Riding of Yorkshire for sale in London (Covent Garden/Spitalfields) and the South, the following day. Understand that the departure time (in 1938) from Leeds was 8.30 p.m. The trains were, I believe, routed via Doncaster. However, the rhubarb trains were cancelled in early 1940 following the onset of WW2. Not sure if, or when, they were ever subsequently resumed, this following the end of the war.

 

[Magdalia]

Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of an old working timetable showing these trains?

The railway carried a lot of seasonal agricultural traffic. The seasonal nature meant that the trains did not usually appear in working timetables, but there would likely be a special traffic notice (STN) at the beginning of the season.

 

[peter.rabbit]

Thanks both. That's really useful.

 

[Gloster]

Wikipedia states that the train ran from Ardsley, which is roughly in the middle of the Rhubarb Triangle and had a loco shed.

 

[DarloRich]

Wikipedia states that the train ran from Ardsley, which is roughly in the middle of the Rhubarb Triangle and had a loco shed.

Is the Rhubarb tirangle not Wakefield, Morley, and Rothwell? Ardsley is Barnsley isnt it?

 

[Gloster]

Is the Rhubarb tirangle not Wakefield, Morley, and Rothwell? Ardsley is Barnsley isnt it?

There are two Ardsleys: one on the east side of Barnsley and a second between Lofthouse and Morley. The main settlement of the second may be called East Ardsley, but the station, shed and yard seem to be just called Ardsley.

 

[DarloRich]

There are two Ardsleys: one on the east side of Barnsley and a second between Lofthouse and Morley. The main settlement of the second may be called East Ardsley, but the station, shed and yard seem to be just called Ardsley.

aha! got you!

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Technically GWR have a Rhubarb express but for quite different reasons! The curve between North Somerset Jn and Dr Days Jn which avoids Bristol TM is known colloquially as the Rhubarb Loop, which I presume was named after a local pub at some point. There is a parliamentary train service each way daily SX to keep it open.

 

[The exile]

Technically GWR have a Rhubarb express but for quite different reasons! The curve between North Somerset Jn and Dr Days Jn which avoids Bristol TM is known colloquially as the Rhubarb Loop, which I presume was named after a local pub at some point. There is a parliamentary train service each way daily SX to keep it open.

As a regular user, the 10mph at which it rounds the Rhubarb Curve stretches “express” beyond the bounds of credibility. Fairly certain it’s only used for scheduled passenger trains in one direction only - for many years there was an afternoon Filton - Bath, but now it’s 07.04 Bath - Filton. However - this is straying well away from a GNR train carrying real rhubarb!

 

[Magdalia]

The flyover that carried the Midland and Great Northern over the East Coast Main Line at New England was called the Rhubarb Bridge. The name lives on with the nearby A47/A15 road junction which is called the Rhubarb Bridge junction.

 

[Gloster]

The flyover that carried the Midland and Great Northern over the East Coast Main Line at New England was called the Rhubarb Bridge. The name lives on with the nearby A47/A15 road junction which is called the Rhubarb Bridge junction.

Could that have had something to do with the nearby allotments?