www.lost railways west yorkshire.co.uk

Newspaper scans

Link (24-07-10)

Express (20-05-10)

Warehouse (13-05-10)

Theft (20-04-10)

Water Tower
(11-03-10)

Huddersfield Viaduct
(11-03-10)

Huddersfield Goods
Warehouse (28-11-09)

Direct Link
(26-09-09)

ECML (02-07-09)

Steam Tram (07-09)

Bonus (27-06-09)

Vandalism
(20-06-09)

On Time (27-05-09)

Direct Link
(27-05-09)

Bail Out (08-05-09)

Greenway (21-02-09)
See North Dean

Green Express
(16-02-09)

Northern Rail
Heritage (14-02-09)

Hebden Bridge
(22-01-09)
See Calder Valley

Clayton West
(1960s/80s)

David Browns
(1963)

Elland
(15-12-08)

Tornado
(06-11-08)

Cycle Path
(03-11-08)

Leeds Commuter
(30-10-08)

Kirklees Light rly
(20-09-08)

Rail Services
(20-09-08)

Sheerman
(19-09-08)

Freewheeling
(04-09-08)

Scarborough Flyer
(09-08-08)

Scarborough Flyer
(01-08-08)

Elland land slip
(13-06-08)

Greenway (03-04-08)
See also Meltham Branch

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)

Route Maps

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.

Latest Uploads

The surviving GNR goods depot at Morley top. See Ardsley Laisterdyke section

Clare Morrow, the Chairperson of Welcome to Yorkshire, formally opened the refurnished reception area at the Museum of Rail Travel
at Ingrow Railway Centre, Keighley, on Saturday June 19^th 2010 See Vintage Cariages page.

1960s Doncaster & BR Standard Class Britannia in the Homeless section : Photo from Avaskeg.
See Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/avaskeg/4672564834/in/photostream/

Thorner lane bridge on the Leeds to Wetherby line. You could easily drive across this bridge and not really know it was here.
All you can see are the two parapet walls. It's amazing to think such a massive structure hides away like that.
Photo's from : Phill Davison. See the full set on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thanoz/4631519431/in/pool-leedsrailways

Pudsey Greenside tunnel in the Pudsey Loop section.
The search for the above ground location of the ventilation shaft continues with aerial photo's & overlay maps.
From Graeme Bickerdike. See website - http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/

Inside Pudsey Greenside tunnel in the Pudsey Loop section.
Looking for the elusive above ground location of the ventilation shaft : Photo's from Phill Davison.
See the full set on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/476694432/in/photostream/

A rare survivor from the Holmfield to St Pauls line at the Hall Cross collection at Doncaster Grammar School.
The unique "One Engine In Steam" staff from Wheatley goods. Discovered by Rob Daniels.

Birstall & the removal of Gelderd road bridge on the Leeds New Line back in the 60s Photo's : Percy Simpson.

A tunnel under a tunnel at Dean Clough. See Halifax section.
This short tunnel under the Halifax - Queensbury line served the carpet mills down in Dean Clough. Photo's : Brandon Hatzer.

What the Metro map might look like if created 100 years ago see route maps page.
A clever re-creation of the modern Metro map showing the 1905 network, by Richard Strand.

Great Northern Railway (G.N.R) Lines

Adwalton - Wakefield
From 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.

Ardsley to Laisterdyke
From 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.

Batley to Beeston
From Batley west junction to Tingley west junction via Woodkirk,
& from Tingley east junction to Beeston junction. GNR 1890. Photo : Simon Edgerton.

Beeston Junction - Hunslet Goods
From 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.

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.

Pudsey Loop
Branch 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.

The Queensbury Lines
Four 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.

London & North Western Railway (L & N.W.R) Lines

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.

Heaton Lodge to Stalybridge
From Heaton Lodge junction 3 miles east of Huddersfield on the Calder Valley Main Line to Stalybridge Lancashire.
Opened throughout in 1849, the route takes in Huddersfield & the 3 mile long Standedge tunnels.

Kirkburton Branch
From 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.

Leeds New Line
Between 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.

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (L & Y.R) Lines

Calder Valley Main Line
From 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.

Cutsyke - Methley
From 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.

Holmfirth Branch
From 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.

Horbury West Curve
At 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.

Meltham Branch
From 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.

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.

North Dean (Stainland) branch
North Dean Branch from Greetland junction to Stainland. Photo Matt c.
Work in progress by Sustrans to make West Vale Viaduct into a footpath.

Pickle Bridge Line
Between 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.

Ravensthorpe Branch
Thornhill 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.

Sowerby Bridge - Rishworth
An extension of the Sowerby Bridge to Ripponden branch. L&Y 1881. Photo's : Richard Barnes.

Midland Railway (M. R) Lines

Hunslet Midland goods
The 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.

Leeds - Derby
Opened in July 1840. One of George Hudson's lines built originally by the North Midland Railway company.
It connected with the York & North Midland line at Altofts junction a mile north of Normanton. With the L&Y Calder valley line joining south at Goose Hill, the Victorians thought Normanton would become big enough to rival Crewe. Photo : Dave Watson

Newtown Goods
Between Newtown Huddersfield & Mirfield Jct. Midland 1910.
In depth study with two pages & maps. Photo Simon Green.

Royston - Dewsbury Savile town
Royston 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.

North Eastern Railway (N.E.R) Lines

Castleford - Garforth
Via 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

Church Fenton - Harrogate
The 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.

Leeds to Harrogate
Headingley, 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.

Leeds to Wetherby
From 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.

Towns

Bradford
Exchange, 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.

Dewsbury
Five stations & four companies, plenty going on here. Photo : Graeme Bickerdike

Halifax
Small town, big attitude. Photo : Phill Davison

Leeds
A wander round Leeds, including Farnley viaduct, Holbeck Depot, Leeds City, Central & Wellington stations, Holbeck junction, Wortley west curve & Whitehall junction.

Joint Lines

Holmfield to St Pauls (Halifax)
Built originally by the Halifax High Level Railway company 1890. Photo : Richard Barnes

Lofthouse junction to Lofthouse & Outwood
A 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.

Otley to Ilkley
Joint North Eastern & Midland Railway, opened in 1865.
The two companies combined to construct & manage a joint line between Otley & Ilkley.

Other Stuff

Books
Building up a library of the books you should own.

Save The Woodhead Tunnel
The 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.

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
British 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

Homeless
Bits & bats of stuff I cant think of anywhere to put. Photo: Gareth Beaumont

British Rail 1980s photo gallery
No 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.

Multiple Units
Many a branch line kept open by these little fellas, a page dedicated to multiple units, by Paul Holroyd of the VCT.

Railway Ramblers
About 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.

Station Closures
Depressing list of all west Yorkshires lost passenger stations.

Vintage Carriages Trust
The trust owns and operates the Museum of Rail Travel at Ingrow near Keighley. You still here?

Transperience
The ill-fated Transperience venture opened at Low Moor on 1st July 1995. Photo's by Paul Holroyd of the VCT.

Entrances
Doorways leading nowhere & some nice bricking up jobs.

Hatchet Man
A brief history of the man & the reshaping of British railways.

Shipley & Saltaire
Mark Neale's atmospheric Shipley & Saltaire page.

Links Page
Leaving already? About fifty links so far, let us know if you would like to be included.

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