Sir, – May I correct the caption to the photograph of “a busy Richmond Station shortly before its closure in 1963” (D&S Looking Back, Feb 21).

The Beeching Report, which advocated numerous railway line closures throughout the country, was published in 1963, and it was not long thereafter before the North Eastern Region of British Railways gave notice, on October 10, 1963, of its intention to withdraw all passenger services between Darlington and Richmond. However, permission to do so was refused by the Minister of Transport.

Despite an economy measure carried out in late 1967 when the double line between Catterick Bridge and Richmond was singled, and the Richmond signalbox closed, and subsequently demolished, British Railways repeated the same passenger services withdrawal proposal on January 26, 1968.

This time, unfortunately, despite strong objections, closure was consented to and this took effect from March 3, 1969, when the section of line between Catterick Bridge and Richmond closed completely, freight facilities having already been withdrawn from Richmond on October 2, 1967. The Eryholme Junction (on the East Coast Main Line) to Catterick Bridge section lingered on for freight until February 9, 1970.

CHARLES ALLENBY Swinton, Malton.