Another of the iconic tiled North Eastern Railway maps has been returned to the Yorkshire Coast line. Scarborough and Beverley have original tiled maps, Hunmanby has a replica and now Bridlington has a partially restored original that was unveiled today at a short ceremony.

During a partial demolition of Bridlington station in 1987, the beautiful NER tiled map was smashed up by contractors. The remains of the map was stored at Hull Paragon station, where more parts went missing. A collector eventually purchased what was left of the map, but, as regards Bridlington, it seemed that the map, installed on the station in 1900, had been lost for good. However, volunteers from the Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership managed to track down surviving fragments of the tiled map.

Fragments of the tiled map rediscovered by YCCRP volunteers

The group funded a partial restoration and local craftsman John Edmond was given the job of reimagining the map. In a short ceremony, Bridlington’s deputy Mayor Councillor Mike Heslop-Mullins, unveiling the restored and relocated map on Bridlington station.

Bridlington’s partially restored tiled map

Twenty-five of the busier stations on the North Eastern Railway boasted these beautiful tiled maps, depicting the network of the North Eastern Railway. Sadly, the vast majority have been lost, but nine survivors can be viewed at Beverley, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Morpeth, Saltburn, Scarborough, Tynemouth, York and Whitby. Last August Hunmanby station had a replica tiled map installed on its platform. Should Filey station become the next home to one of these replica maps? The opening of Buffers Cafe, allied to the existing, and highly useful, taxi office has given Filey station a new lease of life. Perhaps a tiled map could be the next step? Surely, our community can raise the £4,000, or so, required to have one installed?

Hunmanby’s replica NER tiled map