The plaque above, on a wall beside the pavement at the west end of Spring Bank, shows an elderly woman holding the hand of a child, both presumably just off the train for a day beside the sea at Hornsea. Both the rural lines to Withernsea and Hornsea diverted from the Victoria Dock Railway at separate points in east Hull (see later) and passengers could get on the train at Paragon Station or any town station before the diversion. The steam train puts the time portrayed as the early 1950s, while the British Rail sign reminds of bygone times and, perhaps, those to come! The graffiti only examples the mindlessness of such behaviour.
As previously stated the Withernsea/Hornsea lines are now green corridors through the town (s.p.b.). For most of the right-of-way the hard surface is divided between the maroon-coloured cycle track and the asphalt grey footpath. Hull Council is currently engaged in having physical changes made to encourage more cycle use – bus lanes with times extended and green surfaced cycleways as part of the bus lanes and a better maintenance plan for existing cycleways. Apparently a council team of six workpeople have been allocated to cycleways, this I learned from earwigging a conversation between two of the team and two residents litter picking at the west end of the green corridor, they discussing the important matter of how far back from the path the weed/grass cutting should go. A long way back, appeals to those prioritising tidiness, maximum of three feet back appeals to those who prioritise biodiversity.
At this point a recent episode – while walking with dog along a section of the Hull-Hornsea line a cyclist complained that I was allowing the dog to wander back and forth over the cycleway, given that he made his point in a very abusive way I verbally fought back, but on reflection have to admit that he had a point, although it pains to admit it.
(to be continued).