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NOTE: I can't post any photos of the station at the moment until I get my laptop back from being repaired.
The town is situated in West Yorshire and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book (1086) and has a population of 1,426 (2011 census) Yep I used Wiki for this!.
It's about a 10 minute walk into to the town according to Google Maps. I didn't venture in to town as I wanted to have breakfast at the station.
The current station was opened in 1880, the orignal station being opened in 1849 about 0.25 mile away. The Station reminds me of the late 1980s/early 1990s stations in some ways but still has modern parts.
The entrance to the station is pretty uninspiring. If you were being blunt I'd say it was just a hole in the wall. The stonework has information boards either side of the entrance. There is an old looking gate that seems to be have been locked open for years.
In the tunnel is a set of shopping lockers. The tunnel curves up to the platforms. THe tunnel could do with a bit more in the way of lighting but it is clean.
As you appraoch the platforms you will come face to face with the station buildings and within them is Shed 24H at Hellifield Station. I had the Fireman's Breakfast and at £9.75 it's a good price. Everything on the plate was properly cooked, I'm not a fan of mushrooms or tomatoes but I gace the m a try. I've not tried Black Pudding since I was a kid but I did try it. It was ok but not my thing personally. THe bacon and sausage were awesome.
There is an outside area on platform 1 that you could sit and eat but I chose inside and revelled in the railwayana adorning the walls. There some books for sale in the café and there are some you can read while eating.
In another section of the station buildings is a Railwayana shop with all sorts of things for sale.
Let me say up front I haven't stayed here but one day I might.
Also part of the station has The Yorksire Sleeper. From the description it looks quite interesting.
The 'in use' platforms (at the south end of the station) have indicator boards and wooden fence to stop you falling in to the former bay platform at the south end of the station. At the north end the platforms are pretty much in disuse and boy do I love them like that. The north end bay platform is open and have the old buffers in situ. The platform surface are how I remember them in the 80s with the old flagstones on the edges.
Across from the station are some old sidings and an old shed which are owned by West Coast Railways and stores some spare stock (For those wanting numbers: 94302, 94303, 94306, 94323, 94326, 94333, 94495, 94504, 94527, 94546 according to 2022 Platform 5 book).
Some of the highlights that people may miss;
The old buffers at the north end bay.
The semaphore signals.
The intricate MR logos in the canopy ironwork.
The views from the platform.
And on my visit in the sunshine - the birdsong.
All in all Hellifield has become on of my favourite stations on the railway network. Long may it stay exactly how it is - Wonderful.