Contributors: Rikj
/ Graeme Bickerdike /
Melvyn Aveyard / Phill Davison
See also Pudsey photo set on the Leeds & West Yorkshire
railway group -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/reinholdbehringer/sets/72157600062118665/
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The Route
Branch Lines from both Stanningley & Bramley to Pudsey Greenside via
Pudsey Lowtown. Later extended to Cutlers junction to join the
Ardsley Laisterdyke line.
Openings
1st April 1878, between Stanningley & Pudsey Greenside.
1893, the branch was formed into a loop off the main Leeds Bradford
line, track was laid between Bramley & Pudsey.
Line extended from Pudsey Greenside to Cutlers junction
Closure
Branch lines & Pudsey stations closed July 1964.
Stanningley closed 30th December 1967
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 Pudsey Greenside Tunnel
Western portal
(31-07-05) : Rikj
The security gate had been jacked off its
hinges. Not sure why as the padlock had also been removed. Don't know why
they bothered doing that either as it's possible to crawl under the fence
anyway. The tunnel itself shows little sign of vandalism, graffiti or
litter. There are unaccountably lots of pieces of wood throughout the
tunnel. |
 The
airshaft (31-07-05) : Rikj
The tunnel is generally dry-ish with a couple of leaks in the arched
brick roof. The floor appears to have been graded by something like a
tarmac stripper and is ridged along its length.
All the refuges are intact but we saw no other artefacts.
One nice feature is the air-shaft, which looks to be capped with
concrete. |
 View out of the eastern portal
(31-07-05) : Rikj
The eastern portal
has an intact security fence, though once again this has been tunnelled
under.
This portal is in a cutting.
P.S. While googling for info I found out that this eastern portal cutting
is
the one in danger of being land-filled.
This is in addition to the Midland
goods cutting. |
Note : Melvyn Aveyard
JUST A QUICK NOTE. I HERE LOCALLY THAT PLANNING PERMISSION HAS NOW BEEN
GRANTED TO BACKFILL THE GREENSIDE TUNNEL AND ASSOCIATED CUTTINGS. DON'T
KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN.
MEL
18-05-06 |
Pudsey Greenside tunnel (23-11-06)
: Graeme Bickerdike website - http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/
I took a trip out to Pudsey today to take a look at Greenside tunnel
before it gets lost under the dreaded landfill. No sign yet of work
getting underway. I understand it will only affect the eastern approach
cutting but the portal will be sealed. A few pictures attached - |
 Bridge
(23-11-06) : Graeme Bickerdike
Fifty yards from the western portal is a bridge which carried a
lane down the hill to Smalewell quarries. Beyond it, the line crossed
Pudsey Beck on an embankment which was reputed to be the largest in
Europe. |
 Pudsey
Greenside tunnel western portal (23-11-06) : Graeme Bickerdike
Greenside’s western portal looks out over a
rusting oil drum and the ubiquitous shopping trolley.
Great autumn colours though. |
 Pudsey
Greenside tunnel interior (23-11-06) : Graeme Bickerdike
The tunnel itself is 616 yards long, with a curve
to the south. The white splodge to the right of centre is light from the
eastern end. The walls are stoned-lined whilst the roof is brick. |
 Pudsey
Greenside tunnel interior (23-11-06) : Graeme Bickerdike
The depth of the refuges is unusually generous.
Perhaps the Great Northern took trackworker safety more seriously than
its competitors or maybe it had a fatter workforce! |
 Pudsey
Greenside tunnel eastern portal (23-11-06) : Graeme Bickerdike
At the soon-to-be-lost eastern end, the sheer
approach cutting is already used as a rubbish tip.
Planning permission has been granted for this to be infilled. |
 Pudsey
Greenside tunnel eastern portal (23-11-06) : Graeme Bickerdike
There’s either been a landslip or tipping close to
the portal, restricting access. This end is to be sealed.
|
 Pudsey
Greenside tunnel eastern portal (01-05-07) : Phill Davison
website -
http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/sets/72157594397421428/
Detailed study of the Leeds end portal partly obscured by landslip or
tipping. |
