An exhibition showcasing 200 years of Hull’s railway history and development has opened at the Hull History Centre, running until 11 December. Titled Tracks Through Time: The Story of Hull's Railways, the display traces the city’s railways from the opening of the first line in 1840 through to the privatisation of the industry in the 1990s.

Visitors can also view original archive material in the centre’s library until 30 October, featuring rare surviving objects from the Hull and Barnsley Railway.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said the railways “transformed the port of Hull” and described the exhibition as “promised to be fantastic.” A free talk will also be held on 7 October at 12:30 BST by Martin Barker of the Hull and Barnsley Stock Fund.

Pritchard highlighted how Hull’s historical industries, such as fishing, benefitted from the rail network. “The fishing industry developed because railways were there to transport catches to market quickly and cheaply. Coal trains brought coal mined in Yorkshire to Hull for export across the world, and it was railways that shipped huge quantities of Australian wool from Hull to the mills of the West Riding.”

He added that the exhibition is part of the nationwide Railway 200 commemorations and is supported by the Hull and Barnsley Railway Stock Fund. SOURCE : BBC