Record Crowd Celebrates Railway Milestone on Scarborough's World's Longest Bench
Hundreds of people gathered at Scarborough railway station to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first British passenger rail journey by filling what is claimed to be the world's longest station bench. The event, organized by the Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership (YCCRP), aimed to surpass their previous record of people seated on the bench.
A Bench of Historic Proportions
The Grade II listed bench, located on platform one at Scarborough railway station, stretches approximately 456ft (139m) long. Approximately 239 people squeezed onto the vast seat, exceeding the YCCRP's initial target of 200 participants. This historic bench was installed in 1883 to accommodate the growing number of Victorian tourists traveling to the seaside.
Celebrating Railway History
The event coincided with national celebrations marking 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first in the world to operate passenger and freight trains. Many participants donned Victorian outfits to add to the historical atmosphere. Elithia Francis, a 72-year-old participant, said she joined the event "to be part of history."
More Than Just a Bench
Rachael Osbourne, community rail officer for YCCRP, explained that the bench was fixed to a retaining wall on platform one, once known as an excursion platform designed for heavy holiday traffic. She emphasized that the bench's length reflected the enormous demand from travelers in the late 1800s. According to YCCRP, the bench is the "longest station seat in the world," a claim supported by the enthusiastic participation of local sixth form college students.
Scarborough's Railway Legacy
Pete Myers, chair of YCCRP, highlighted the crucial role of the railways in establishing Scarborough as a popular tourist destination. He stated, "Scarborough owes its reputation as a tourist hotspot to the railways. That's why North Eastern Railway put this ridiculously long bench here." David Birdsall, Scarborough's town crier, captured the celebratory mood, saying it was "fantastic seeing all these people sitting on this bench, everyone is so happy to join in with this."
