The
idea of building a railway between York and
Leeds was first discussed in 1833. George
Hudson, the chairman of the North Midland
Railway,
was the line's main supporter. Hudson had already commissioned George
Stephenson to build a line between Leeds
and Derby. He now asked him to construct
a railway between York and Leeds.
Opened in 1839, the York
& North Midland Railway became part of the great trunk route from
London to York
via Rugby and Derby. At Milford the railway
was linked to the Leeds, Selby & Hull
line. Hudson's employed Robert Stephenson
to build a branch line to Scarborough and this was completed in 1845.
At £6,000 a mile, it was one of the cheapest railway lines ever
built in Britain.
As a result of being involved in dubious business activities, George
Hudson was forced to resign as chairman of the York & North
Midland Railway in 1849. Six years later the company was taken over
and became part of the North Eastern Railway.
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