Mirfield Low Moor

Mirfield to Low Moor (Cleckheaton Branch)
1847 - 1965
Lancashire & Yorkshire railway

See Railway Ramblers gazetteer
L&YR Mirfield - Low Moor

Contributors: Paul Holroyd / Graham Holroyd / Alan S Bagot / David Hey / K Evans /
James Cliff / John Down / Graham Smith / Michael Kaye / Paul B / Mark Wilcock

The Route
From junction 200 yards east of Mirfield station
To Low Moor (south of Bradford between Wyke & Bowling junction
on the L & Y lines). (formerly West Riding Union Railway)

Length     6 miles 843 yds
Opening Mirfield to Cleckheaton Central 1847
                  Low Moor to Cleckheaton Central July 1849
Closure   Heckmondwike, Liversedge & Cleckheaton Central stations
                 all closed 14th June 1965.

Mirfield - Cleckheaton junction 1980

Timetable 1962 : Paul Holroyd website - www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
Click here to see selection of railway tickets & handbills.

Mirfield
Mirfield totem : Paul Holroyd 18-03-06 website - www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
Totem from Mirfield station, currently on display in the Museum of Rail Travel at Ingrow near Keighley.
Click here to see selection of railway tickets & handbills.

Mirfield c1980
Class 37 & tankers heading toward Mirfield. Heaton lodge junction just visible in distance.

Mirfield c1980 : © David Hey Reproduction prohibited see David Hey's collection
Peak Class 1980s

Mirfield c1960 : © David Hey Reproduction prohibited see David Hey's collection
When the new Trans-Pennine units were introduced in 1961, a total running time of 163 minutes was introduced on the 127.7 mile route between Hull and Liverpool - an average speed of 47mph, including stops at Brough, Selby, Leeds, Huddersfield, Manchester and Earlstown Junction.
In this view, the 4pm Liverpool-Hull Trans-Pennine service sprints along the former LYR main line near Mirfield on August 22 1961.

Mirfield c1960 : © David Hey Reproduction prohibited see David Hey's collection
Photographed from the opposite side of the main line, a Fowler 2-6-4T No 42310 heads a lightweight parcels train past the same spot between Mirfield and Ravensthorpe.

Mirfield facing Huddersfield c1980
Taken by surprise, not many Deltics on this route, always worth a photo.
The old station building on the left now gone.

Mirfield facing Huddersfield c1980
Class 40 on its way to the sidings, all gone now, at least the mill is still there.

Mirfield Sheds c1960 : Graham Smith

My step-Brother worked at Mirfield sheds for 7 years before he emigrated to Australia (now lives in Cambridge). He used to travel by train to work from Cleckheation (imagine that!). He was a MAD train spotter in the 50's and 60's before I was born. He even once volunteered as a fireman on a Mallard fast run from London to Edinburgh. He said at speed that train could eat more coal than 2 men could shovel and they had to change teams every 20-30 minutes or so through the tender (I believe).

Mirfield Sheds c1960 : Graham Smith

Unknown c1960 : Graham Smith
The double-header is a mystery to me although the large building in the background may give you some clues.

Mirfield M.P.D 20 March 1984 : Alan S Bagot
The shed closed to steam on 2nd January 1967 when the new diesel depot at Healey Mills opened.
Last I heard, the surviving sheds are used by Patterson's road tankers.

Mirfield M.P.D 20 March 1984 : Alan S Bagot
Buildings & interior.

Church lane facing south (06-06-04)
This boring photo shows bridge parapet at the bottom of Church lane, see map.
The line ran under the road at this point.
The new section of wall in the middle crosses the deepest part of the cutting.

Canal crossing facing north east (06-06-04)
Taken from the south side of the canal.
I assume an iron deck bridge crossed here, supported on these tasty rusticated stone pillars.

Canal crossing facing north west (06-06-04)
Same thing, different angle.

Northorpe Lower (North Road) 1847-1965

O S Map 1902

Bridge (23-03-08) : Mark Wilcock
Remains of bridge spanning North road looking back in direction of ravensthorpe.

Station access (23-03-08) : Mark Wilcock
Access to station facing direction of Heckmondwike/Low Moor.

Wall (23-03-08) : Mark Wilcock
Wall in direction of Northorpe Higher.

Bridge (23-03-08) : Mark Wilcock
Remains of bridge span looking in direction of Ravensthorpe.

Wall (23-03-08) : Mark Wilcock
Wall at side of above photo

Facing Ravensthorpe (23-03-08) : Mark Wilcock
View in direction of Ravensthorpe.

Trackbed (23-03-08) : Mark Wilcock
Track line looking in direction of Heckmondwike/Low Moor.

Heckmondwike Central 1848 - 1965

Heckmondwike Central station & B.R Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal spur (o.s 1985)

Heckmondwike Central 1966 B.R spur Facing back towards Ravensthorpe 1987 (K Evans)
(Liversedge Charrington Hargreaves Oil Terminal)
In 1966 a new connection was made at Heckmondwike Spen Goods yard, see Leeds New Line page 3
between the L & Y Ravensthorpe branch & The Leeds New Line to Liversedge Spen.
This was to supply the Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal at the former Liversedge Spen Goods Yard.
This enabled the closure of the Heaton Lodge to Liversedge Spen Goods section of the Leeds New Line.
The yard was sold to Charrington Hargreaves in 1967. The terminal was mothballed in 1986.

Heckmondwike Central junction 3rd August 1983 : Alan S Bagot
Heckmondwike L & Y junction & footbridge.

Heckmondwike Central footbridge 1986 : K Evans

Heckmondwike Central 1986 (K Evans)

Heckmondwike Central 3rd August 1983 : Alan S Bagot
Heckmondwike L & Y boundary stone.

Heckmondwike Central 1985 (K Evans)
4 Mile marker post near Heckmondwike Central 1985.

Heckmondwike Central goods 3rd August 1983 : Alan S Bagot
Heckmondwike L & Y goods depot.
Tacky new houses now built on the whole of this area.

Heckmondwike Central Station 1848 - 1965
Renamed Heckmondwike Central from 1924 to 1961.
Opening 1848, Rebuilt 1889. Closures Passengers - 14th June 1965. Freight - May 1969.

Totem from Heckmondwike Central (18-11-07) Paul Holroyd
On display at the National Railway Museum, York.
Click here to see selection of railway tickets & handbills.

Heckmondwike Central station facing east (c1960) : Mark Anthony Astley collection website - www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
Heckmondwike Central in the early 1960s,
with a Metropolitan- Cammell diesel multiple unit operating a local service along the Spen Valley

Heckmondwike Central station facing east (c1960) : Mark Anthony Astley collection
Heckmondwike Central in the 1960s

Heckmondwike Central station facing east (c1980) : Greame Walton

Taken on the Spen Valley greenway just after the old platform of the old station in Station Lane.
The photos are from the early eighties, when freight trains used to use the lines. I remember the old Charrington Hargreaves line quite well. Full tankers would come along early in the morning and in the evening they would come to take them away when they were empty.

Heckmondwike Central station facing east (02-07-06)
Facing back towards Railway street, platform remnants.
Tacky new housing, built on the site of the goods yard, visible in the distance.

Railway street bridge facing west (02-07-06)
Stood on the site of the goods yard, just beyond Heckmondwike junction.
The double bridge crossing Railway street. Heckmondwike central platform was just at the other side of the bridge.
The platform over grown with trees now. The Railway pub is just to the right.

Railway street bridge (28-07-06) : Paul B
The view from street level facing towards Heckmondwike town centre.

Heckmondwike Central entrance facing west (02-07-06)
The view from under the bridge. Passenger access to the island platform was via a covered stairway leading down to street level,
I assume through this strange bricked up doorway.
The steps on the right lead to a cobbled yard. See next photo.

Heckmondwike Central 3rd August 1983 / Feb 1984: Alan S Bagot
Site of goods yard & forecourt.

Beck lane facing east (16-07-06)
Under the tracks a few yards west of Heckmondwike station platform.

Wormald street facing east (16-07-06)
200 yards further west, fence post sleepers on the corner of Cornmill lane & Wormald street.

Huddersfield road facing west (16-07-06)
Facing towards Liversedge the A62 Huddersfield road crossing.

Huddersfield road facing east (16-07-06)
View from the other side, the bridge looks to have been widened at some stage.

Strawberry Bank Colliery facing west (16-07-06)
100 yards beyond Huddersfield road the site of Strawberry Bank colliery Sidings, five or so tracks wide.
Tracks leading to the pit head curved off to the left.

Footpath facing south (16-07-06)
Footpath between Headlands road & Ashton Clough road. (just beyond the trees in previous photo)
Shot of the entrance from Ashton Clough road end.

Footpath facing north (16-07-06)
View from under the tracks looking towards Ashton Clough road.

Liversedge Central 1847 - 1965
Liversedge Central 3rd August 1983 : Alan S Bagot

Liversedge Central (17-07-06)
Similar view in 2006.
Halifax road bridge & Knowler Hill tunnel in distance

Liversedge Central entrance (17-07-06)
Taken from the corner of Headlands road & Halifax road.
Stone sets & gate posts.

Liversedge Central 19-08-67 : Paul Holroyd courtesy Alan S Bagot
Bridge demolition.

Knowler Hill tunnel facing west (16-07-06)

Knowler Hill tunnel facing east (16-07-06)
Looking back towards Liversedge station, Halifax road bridge visible at the other end.

Primrose lane facing north (17-07-06)
Lane between Halifax road & Bradford road.
Still has the old stone sets. (Cleckheaton to the left).

Rawfolds footpath facing east (17-07-06)
Path between Quaker Lane & Bradford road (Cleckheaton to the right).

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
Bridge near junction of Pyenot Gardens and Syke Fold, Cleckheaton.
For many years Eastwoods Taxis operated from Syke Fold, Cleckheaton, opposite the old Cleckheaton bus station.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
The other side of the underbridge near the junction of Pyneot Gardens and Syke Fold, Cleckheaton.

Cleckheaton Central Westgate bridge 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
The bridge over Westgate, looking towards the site of Cleckheaton Central station.
The buffer stop is at the other side of the bridge, on the left.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
The buffer stops by the bridge over Westgate.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
The buffer stops by the road bridge over Westgate.
Note the surviving pieces of track.

Cleckheaton Central Westgate bridge 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
The bridge over Westgate Cleckheaton, looking towards Liversedge.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
The scene of the accident in June 1928, now with commemorative seat and plaque.

Cleckheaton Central 1847 - 1965
Cleckheaton Central station map 1905
Opening 1847. Closures Passengers - 14 June 1965. Freight - May 1969.

Cleckheaton Central sign c1968 : Harry Naylor Holroyd courtesy Richard Holroyd
Happily, the sign still exists.

Vintage Carriages Trust Museum of Rail Travel
Totem from Cleckheaton Central is on display
at the Museum of Rail Travel, Ingrow near Keighley.

website - www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk

Click here to see selection of railway tickets & handbills.

Cleckheaton Central shunting records 1958 : Paul Holroyd see more
Until the Beeching axe, Cleckheaton Central had a busy goods yard. Fortunately, a number of Freight train and shunting records survive from 1958, covering the periods February 24-26, April 1-May 30 , August 2-31 and October 2-13.

The example shown is a fascinating historical document, showing the arrival and the departure times at Cleckheaton,

the locomotives involved: nos 52461, 44485, 90397 and 90124 as well as the origin points and final destinations of the trains,
and the number of wagons detached at Cleckheaton Central. The 06.00 from Mirfield to Cleckheaton which arrived at 06.40
consisisted of 30 wagons , while 14 wagons were detached from the Sowerby to Low Moor train which arrived at Cleckheaton at 12.10

Cleckheaton Central 18 Feb 1968 Harry Naylor Holroyd courtesy Alan S Bagot
A young Paul Holroyd at Cleckheaton Central.

Cleckheaton Central A3 60109 : James Cliff
Same vantage point.

Cleckheaton Central 18th Feb 1968 : Paul Holroyd courtesy Alan S Bagot
Booking office, platforms & south signal box.
Cleckheaton South signal box closed 1966.
Cleckheaton North signal box closed 1970.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
Think this is the remains of the Loading Gauge which stood between the goods depot buildings and Cleckheaton South signal box (see previous photo)

Signal box board 31-10-06 : Paul Holroyd
Signal box board from Cleckheaton South, currently on loan to the Museum of Rail Travel at Ingrow.
Click here to see selection of railway tickets & handbills.

Cleckheaton Central April 1962 : Harry Naylor Holroyd / Rodney Holroyd courtesy Alan S Bagot
A young Paul Holroyd with a previously unidentified LMS-design Black Five no 44731 heading from Cleckheaton Central
towards Liversedge Central. Also a couple of shots of WD Austerity 2-8-0 no 90707 at Cleckheaton Central.

Cleckheaton Central Multiple unit : James Cliff website - www.procast.co.uk
General view of the island platform & sidings.
see also Cleckheaton spen Leeds new line page 4

Cleckheaton Central 7F 49618 : James Cliff

Cleckheaton Central Jubilee : James Cliff

Cleckheaton Central approach 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd

The bridge over Station Approach & Katy Louise Holroyd. Liversedge is to the left, Low Moor to the right. There used to be a taxi rank where the double yellow lines are, and a lamp hung from the bottom of the bridge to illuminate the pavement on the right. The passenger entrance to the station was mid-way under the bridge - a set of stone steps on the right leading to the platforms.

Cleckheaton Central approach 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Detail of the underside of the bridge over Station Approach.
You can just make out the blue pipe for the lamp.

Cleckheaton Central station entrance 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Underneath the Station Approach bridge, looking towards the Station Hotel and Cleckheaton town centre. Tofts Road is behind the Photographer. The bricked up pedestrian entrance to the station is visible on the left.

Cleckheaton Central station entrance 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
The bricked up pedestrian entrance from Station Approach.
The steps on the right were more worn than those on the left hand side.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
The bricked up Staircase which led from Station Approach to the platforms.
Looking towards Low Moor. Originally this open area was surrounded by blue-painted wooden fencing.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Detail of the remains of the bridge over Station Approach

Cleckheaton Central approach 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Underneath the Station Approach bridge. The steps lead to Tofts Road. The road curves away to join Tofts Road, and there are 3 Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway stone boundary posts at the bottom of the embankment.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
All that remains of the platform of Cleckheaton Central
This set of railings is on top of the bridge over Station Approach.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
The staircase linking Tofts Road with Station Approach, taken from the bridge over Station Approach

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
The remains of the loading dock by the former W H Sharpe coalyard.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
Sleepers in the remains of Cleckheaton Central goods yard
Where once there was a yard full of railway wagons, there is now a supermarket car park

Cleckheaton Central goods yard 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
All that is left of the entrance to Cleckheaton Central goods yard - Some stonework and some ironwork in the pavement. Where once Scammell mechanical horse lorries operated the collection and delivery service, now the area is used as a supermarket car park. (Katy Louise Holroyd taking part, bless)

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
The Whitcliffe Road overbridge & Katy Louise Holroyd
looking towards Cleckheaton Central station.

Cleckheaton Central 11 March 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Whitcliffe Road overbridge, looking towards Low Moor. The slope on the right has been created in the late 1990s by Sustrans to link the Spen Valley Greenway to a public access point.
In British Railways days all the earth was at the lower trackbed level.

Cleckheaton Central Royal Scot : James Cliff website - www.procast.co.uk
Same bridge back in the old days.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Just after leaving the site of Cleckheaton Central. Note the two rows of sleepers

Bridge over Whitechapel Road 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
looking towards Low Moor. The remaining part of Cleckheaton Gas Works is to the right of the photographer, on this side of the bridge. On the far side of the bridge , on the right hand side,
there used to be Ellisons Tar Works, which later became Yorkshire Tar Distillers. (see later)

Cleckheaton Central Class 40 : photographer unknown Paul Holroyd collection
English Electric Class 40 diesel no 392 in the cutting immediately north of Cleckheaton Central. Following the end of main line steam in August 1968, the loco has lost its D prefix to the fleet number, but has not yet received its 1972 TOPS fleet number.

Cleckheaton North signalbox (c1966 - 1970) : photographer unknown Paul Holroyd collection
Photographed between 1966 - 1970. Following the closure in 1966 of Cleckheaton South signalbox, the word "North" appears to have been painted out. Cleckheaton North signalbox was itself closed in 1970, but happily a signalling instrument from Cleckheaton North is on display at the Museum of Rail Travel, Ingrow. (see next photo)

Signalling Instrument : Paul Holroyd
From Cleckheaton North signal box, on display at the Museum of Rail Travel, Ingrow near Keighley.
website - www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk

Click here to see selection of railway tickets & handbills.

Andrew Barclay locomotive 1823 Harry : John Down website http://pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk/
The last steam locomotive to work at Yorkshire Tar Distillers (Ellisons) was built in 1924 by Andrew Barclay, of Kilmarknock (works number 1823).It was originally owned by the Colzium Quarry Co. Ltd.
In 1929 it was sold to Yorkshire Tar Distillers of Kilnhurst works, Rotherham, moving to Cleckheaton in 1967 and returning to the Rotherham Works of Yorkshire Tar Distillers in 1969. It was moved in 1972 to Embsay, and then in 1975 it moved to Crossley's Scrap Merchants, adjacent to Shipley Railway station who reinstated the locomotive to working order. In 1984 it moved to the Peak Railway Society, Buxton.
In December 1989 it moved to the Middleton Railway, Leeds, and in 1992 it moved to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.
Dates :
The Loco was at Cleckheaton between 1967 and 1969.
Henry Ellison Ltd 's own private siding at Cleckheaton opened 1910.
Ellisons changed their name to Yorkshire Tar Distillers in 1926.
Ellisons siding signal box destroyed by fire in 1966.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Looking towards Cleckheaton Central.
Katy Louise Holroyd takes a rest near Cleckheaton Gas Works.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
Bridge over Whitechapel Road. Cleckheaton Gas Works was to the left,
Yorkshire Tar Distillers to the right.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Footbridge after Yorkshire Tar Distillers, looking towards Low Moor.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
View from the footbridge, looking towards the M62 motorway and Low Moor.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Looking back towards Cleckheaton Central.
Katy Louise Holroyd has another rest.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Bridge over the M62 motorway, looking towards Low Moor

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Bridge over the M 62 Motorway.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Bridge over the A58 Whitehall Road, looking towards Low Moor.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
Bridge over the A58 Whitehall Road.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
Underbridge by Cleckheaton Golf Course.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
The same underbridge, by Cleckheaton Golf Course

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Another underbridge.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Graham Douglas Holroyd
View from the other side.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Looking towards Low Moor.
Note the milepost

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Milepost.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Overbridge, looking towards Low Moor.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
3/4 milepost.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Overbridge, looking towards Low Moor.

Spen Valley Greenway (18-11-07) : Ralph Rawlinson
Hatchet lane bridge at Oakenshaw. looking towards Low Moor.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Oakenshaw Tunnel, looking towards Low Moor.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Inside Oakenshaw Tunnel, looking towards Low Moor.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
Oakenshaw Tunnel looking towards Cleckheaton.

Spen Valley Greenway (18-11-07) : Ralph Rawlinson
Oakenshaw Tunnel looking towards Cleckheaton.

Spen Valley Greenway 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
The end of the Spen Valley Greenway at Low Moor.
In front, behind the trees, lie the remains of the ill-fated Transperience,
built on the site of Low Moor junction. see Transperience

Low Moor

Transperience 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd see Transperience
The remains of Transperience - West Yorkshire Transport Discovery Park. The yellow building with the dome used to be the Exploratory. Behind the former Transperience Transport Discovery Park, a frequent train service still operates over the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Bradford to Halifax route.

Transperience 27 May 2006 : Paul Holroyd
The remains of Transperience. The Bradford to Halifax main line is at the front of the picture.
You can just make out the Transperience tram line curving away towards Cleckheaton.
The Exploratory building is to the right of the picture, hidden by the trees.

Low Moor Cleckheaton line 21-08-83 Alan S Bagot
The line curves round from Low Moor towards Cleckheaton.

Low Moor No2 west box (28-08-83) Alan S Bagot / Paul Holroyd
During Autumn 1961 the Mirfield-Low Moor route was regularly used by London to Leeds and Harrogate trains which were diverted because of engineering work. 29th October 1961 saw Deltic diesel no. D 9012 Crepello, class A4 pacific no. 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower, B1 no 61016 Inyala and B1 no 61135 traverse the route.

Low Moor No 2 Signalbox (25-04-88) : Michael Kaye
We are on the 'Up' line heading towards Halifax and are about to pass Low Moor No; 2 Signalbox, the bridge was once a level crossing and the station was located here to..the line on the left was the remains of a passenger loop and of course it once took you to Thornhill, 25th April 1988

Low Moor signal box boards : Paul Holroyd 31-01-07 website - www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
Boards from Low Moor No 2 East and No 5 signal boxes, currently on display in the Museum of Rail Travel, Ingrow near Keighley.
Click here to see selection of railway tickets & handbills.

Home

Maps & photos © Paul Holroyd / Graham Holroyd / Alan S Bagot / David Hey / K Evans / James Cliff /
John Down / Graham Smith / Michael Kaye / Paul B / Mark Wilcock / Lost Railways / Reproduction prohibited.