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| Exploring the routes & uncovering the history of the lost, abandoned, disused & dismantled railways of West Yorkshire: Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley, Halifax, Wakefield, Queensbury & Shipley. Including the Aire, Calder & Spen Valley lines. Please contact us for any additional information you require, or photos & information you would like to share. lost.railways@ntlworld.com (Best viewed at 1024 x 768) | |||||
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Start
here for maps, routes & companies involved in the creation of West
Yorkshires railway network.Covering the period from 1834 to its peak in 1910 through its demise to the present day. The remaining system is a shadow of its former self, with just a few overworked trunk routes remaining. |
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North
portal of the Leeds road tunnel on the GNR
Dewsbury Loop. Photo's from
Carbootnut. |
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Neville
Hill in winter and how a railway still operates even in tuff weather.See Homeless section Photo's from Luke Bennett |
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Chickenley
Heath Station back in the old days, on the
Adwalton to Wakefield line.
Photo from Geoff Rooks. |
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There
is a superb little film on the
Yorkshire Film Archive that shows a speeded up train journey from
Leeds Central to Bradford Exchange in 1962. there are great views of
the stations just out of Leeds before Pudsey, Laisterdyke station with
Quarry Gap before,St Dunstans and the approach to Bradford Exchange. Info from Graham Smith. |
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Oakenshaw
& Goose Hill junctions & signal boxes in the
Homeless section.
1980s photo's from Micheal Kaye. |
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The
cut and cover tunnel under Bradford Rd East Bierley taken before the
infill.See Ardsley to Laisterdyke section. Photo's from Alan Thompson. |
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Remnants
of the old Halifax North Bridge station & Halifax viaduct in the
Queensbury Halifax section.photo's from Brandon Hatzer. |
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Mark
Neale has produced a 2010 calendar `Yorkshire Steam`. The calendar
retails at £3.50p plus 50p post and packing. A donation of 50p for
each sale will be made to the BRADFORD BURNS UNIT APPEAL
A research unit at Bradford University set up as a direct result of
the Bradford City Fire disaster in 1985. Orders to AFL/City Gent PO
Box 56 Bradford, BD13 3XW Cheques made payable to City Gent. |
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Nidd
Gorge viaduct in the Leeds Harrogate
section.The line north of Harrogate closed to passengers in 1967 and to goods in 1969. Photo's from David Taylor |
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Crimple
Viaduct in the Church Fenton
to Harrogate section. Still used for Leeds - Harrogate
trains.
Photo : David Taylor |
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Adwalton
- WakefieldFrom Wrenthorpe south junction on the Doncaster to Leeds Line 3/4 of a mile north of Wakefield Westgate, to Adwalton Junction, on the GN Wakefield Bradford line, via Alverthorpe, Flushdyke, Ossett, Chickenley Heath, Batley GN, Upper Batley & Howden Clough. GNR 1864. Photo : Andrew Stopford. |
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Ardsley
to LaisterdykeFrom Laisterdyke, east of Bradford, to Ardsley via Dudley Hill, Birkenshaw & Tong, Drighlington & Adwalton, Adwalton junction, Gildersome, Morley Top & Tingley. GNR 1857. Photo : c/o Andrew Wilson. |
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Batley
to BeestonFrom Batley west junction to Tingley west junction via Woodkirk, & from Tingley east junction to Beeston junction. GNR 1890. Photo : Simon Edgerton. |
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Beeston
Junction - Hunslet GoodsFrom Beeston Junction on the GNR main line into Leeds. The line turns east crosses the canal (on a swing bridge) & the River Aire & turns NW to terminate at Hunslet goods station a mile from the city centre. GNR 1899. Photo's & info from Railway Ramblers member Ralph Rawlinson. |
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Dewsbury
Loop (Ossett
to Batley)From Runtlings Lane Junction Ossett, to Batley west junction & GNR station. Via Earlseaton, Dewsbury Central & Batley Carr. G.N.R 1880. Photo : Ralph Rawlinson. |
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Pudsey
LoopBranch Lines from both Stanningley & Bramley to Pudsey Greenside via Pudsey Lowtown. Later extended to Cutlers junction to join the Ardsley Laisterdyke line. Pudsey Greenside Tunnel & cutting soon to be backfilled. GNR 1893. Photo : Rikj. |
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The
Queensbury LinesFour pages of the GNR lines Between Queensbury, Halifax, Bradford & Keighley. Queensbury Station Queensbury - Bradford Queensbury - Halifax Queensbury - Keighley Make sure to see Richard Barnes mint Holmfield photo's on the Queensbury - Halifax page. |
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Batley
to
Birstall Lower (goods)From Batley (Birstall Junction) to Birstall Lower, 2 miles (single track) Opening Batley to Birstall Lower, 30th September 1852. Intermediate station at Carlinghow opened 1st April 1872. Photo : Allan Shaw. |
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Kirkburton BranchFrom Kirkburton junction 2 miles east of Huddersfield station, on the L.N.W.R Huddersfield to Heaton Lodge line, to Kirkburton station (terminated) via Kirkheaton. Length 4 1/2 miles, opened 7th October 1867. |
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Leeds
New LineBetween Heaton Lodge junction Huddersfield & Farnley junction Leeds. L.N.W.R 1900. Six pages & loads of maps. An in depth study of one of the regions youngest lines. See the Gildersome tunnel exploration on page six. Photo: Phill Davison. |
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Calder
Valley
Main LineFrom Manchester to Normanton. To keep the line flat & straight it managed to avoid some big towns like Halifax & Huddersfield. Built by the L&Y in 1840. Line still open but many stations lost. Photo : Phill Davison. |
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Cutsyke
- MethleyFrom Methley Junction on the Midland Leeds to Normanton line, via Lofthouse Junction, over the NER line to Church Fenton, & joined the NER line from Castleford at Cutsyke Junction. L&Y 1849. Photo's Andrew Stopford. |
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Holmfirth
BranchFrom junction on the Huddersfield - Penistone line near Brockholes, to Holmfirth terminus, via Thongsbridge. Built by the L&Y, opened in 1850. Contains some choice shots of Holmfirth station in the 1980s from Tony Button. |
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Horbury
West CurveAt a little under 1¾ miles in length, Horbury West Curve (known locally as the Crigglestone Curve) provided a connection between the Lancashire & Yorkshire’s main Todmorden-Wakefield line and its branch to Barnsley. Opened by the L&Y 1902, disconnected in 1991. Photo's : Graeme Bickerdike. |
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Meltham
BranchFrom junction at Lockwood on the Penistone to Huddersfield line, via Netherton, Healey House, terminating at Meltham. Opened by the L&Y in 1869, was closed to passengers in May 1949 but remained open for David Brown tractor freight up until April 1965. Photo's from Andrew Stopford. |
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Mirfield
- Low Moor
(Cleckheaton branch)From Mirfield via Northorpe, Liversedge, Heckmondwike & Cleckheaton Central. Over 150 photo's of this stretch of line, including Mirfield sheds, still plenty of left to see. Forms part of the Spen Valley Greenway, so most of it easy walking. Photo : Mark Anthony Astley collection. |
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North
Dean (Stainland) branchNorth Dean Branch from Greetland junction to Stainland. Photo Matt c. Work in progress by Sustrans to make West Vale Viaduct into a footpath. |
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Pickle
Bridge LineBetween Anchor Pit Junction near Brighouse & Wyke. Opened by the L&Y in 1881. Some decent relics still left on this 3 ¾ mile line. Also includes the blowing up of Wyke viaduct. Photo's by Matt_uk. |
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Ravensthorpe BranchThornhill to Heckmondwike. Short but interesting section of line with most bridges still intact. Connected to the Leeds New Line at Heckmondwike in 1966 to supply the Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal, now forms part of the Spen Valley Greenway. Photo : Greame Walton. |
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Sowerby Bridge - RishworthAn extension of the Sowerby Bridge to Ripponden branch. L&Y 1881. Photo's : Richard Barnes. |
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Hunslet
Midland goodsThe former Midland Goods station is now the Crown Point Retail Park Leeds. The cutting was recently sold at auction by Pugh & Company on behalf of BRB (Residuary) Ltd. Guide price £83,000, went for £138,000. It was sold as being suitable for landfill. Photo : Rikj. |
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Newtown
GoodsBetween Newtown Huddersfield & Mirfield Jct. Midland 1910. In depth study with two pages & maps. Photo Simon Green. |
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Royston - Dewsbury Savile
townRoyston to Dewsbury Savile Town. Midland Railway 1906. The Midland planned to build its own mainline between Sheffield & Bradford to avoid the congested areas around Leeds. The L&Y later gave the Midland running powers on its lines so the scheme was never completed. |
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Castleford
- GarforthVia Ledston, Bowers Halt & Kippax & Allerton Bywater. NER 1878. The massive span of the cast iron bridge is in a terrible condition. Huge girders have split in half & the decking is paper thin. I find it amazing that fully laden coal trains were using this bridge as little as 14yr's ago. Photo's : Phill Davison |
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Church
Fenton - HarrogateThe first railway to be closed by Dr Beeching in 1964. N.E.R 1848. Includes some choice interior shots of prospect tunnel. Photo's : Phill Davison. |
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Leeds
to HarrogateHeadingley, Horsforth, Arthington & Bramhope tunnel. N.E.R 1849. Brunswick Tunnel & Air Raid Shelter exploration, the latest scoop for the Leeds Historical Expedition Society. Make sure to see Phills blog - links within. |
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Leeds
to WetherbyFrom junction on Leeds Selby at Cross Gates to Wetherby, via Penda’s Way, Scholes, Thorner, Bardsey, & Collingham Bridge. N.E.R 1876. Photo's : Phill Davison. |
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BradfordExchange, Adolphus Street, Forster Square & the Bowling junction to Laisterdyke avoiding line. One of Bradford's best known landmarks, the Exchange station, with its two arched roofs just before demolition began in 1976 & the new Interchange terminal replacement. Photo's : Andrew Wilson. |
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DewsburyFive stations & four companies, plenty going on here. Photo : Graeme Bickerdike |
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LeedsA wander round Leeds, including Farnley viaduct, Holbeck Depot, Leeds City, Central & Wellington stations, Holbeck junction, Wortley west curve & Whitehall junction. |
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Holmfield
to St Pauls (Halifax)Built originally by the Halifax High Level Railway company 1890. Photo : Richard Barnes |
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Lofthouse
junction to Lofthouse & OutwoodA five mile joint NER L&Y & GNR venture opened in to freight in 1865 & passengers in 1869. Closed to passengers in 1957, but kept open for freight up until 1981. |
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Otley
to IlkleyJoint North Eastern & Midland Railway, opened in 1865. The two companies combined to construct & manage a joint line between Otley & Ilkley. |
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Building up a library of the books you should own. |
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Save
The Woodhead TunnelThe Woodhead Tunnel, vital for a re-opened freight service or new passenger services on the rail line between Sheffield and Manchester, faces permanent closure to trains due to an impending decision by the National Grid to use the tunnel for cabling. |
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Keighley
& Worth Valley RailwayBritish Railways closed the Keighley - Oxenhope (Worth Valley) branch to passengers on Saturday 30th December 1961. On Saturday 29th June 1968 the line was re-opened by the volunteers of the Keighley & Worth valley Railway Preservation Society. Words & pictures from Paul Holroyd of the V.C.T |
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HomelessBits & bats of stuff I cant think of anywhere to put. Photo: Gareth Beaumont |
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British
Rail 1980s photo galleryNo exact dates for most of these, been lying around in a box for years, thought I might as well include them on the site. Their all around 1980-81. |
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Multiple
UnitsMany a branch line kept open by these little fellas, a page dedicated to multiple units, by Paul Holroyd of the VCT. |
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Railway
RamblersAbout the organisation & a five page gazetteer detailing the routes & relics along closed lines in West Yorkshire. Your information is required on important bridges & viaducts. Click here to find out more. |
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Station
ClosuresDepressing list of all west Yorkshires lost passenger stations. |
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Vintage
Carriages TrustThe trust owns and operates the Museum of Rail Travel at Ingrow near Keighley. You still here? |
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The ill-fated Transperience venture opened at Low Moor on 1st July 1995. Photo's by Paul Holroyd of the VCT. |
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EntrancesDoorways leading nowhere & some nice bricking up jobs. |
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Hatchet
ManA brief history of the man & the reshaping of British railways. |
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Shipley
& SaltaireMark Neale's atmospheric Shipley & Saltaire page. |
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Huddersfield
Goods WarehouseIn 1885 the biggest warehouse in the country. Joint L.N.W.R L & Y. Includes all the latest redevelopment plans. |
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Links
PageLeaving already? About fifty links so far, let us know if you would like to be included. |
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E-mail
Contributors & Addresses Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the site. See this page to email contributors direct or contact Lost Railways - lost.railways@ntlworld.com |
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