Railway to Greenway: York to Selby Railway Line - Talk

The Solar System Greenway is a traffic free path that runs from York to Riccall.  It is a green corridor, recognised as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.  Yet 40 years ago this was the route of the East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh.  The discovery of coal reserves under the green fields led to the creation of the Selby Pit, the largest deep mine in Europe.  Fear of subsidence led to the diversion of the line to the west.  The redundant track was sold to Sustrans for £1 and became the first section of what is now the National Cycle Network.  Volunteers from the University of York then created a 6-mile scale model of the Solar System that gives the path its name. 

Host or Publisher York Civic Trust