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Queensbury to Keighley
1884 - 1956
Great Northern Railway
The Queensbury Lines:
Queensbury - Halifax Queensbury Station Queensbury - Bradford
Contributors:   Des Phillips / Paul Holroyd/ Graeme Bickerdike / Nigel Callaghan / Dave Walbank

Queensbury to Keighley

The Route
From Queensbury to Keighley via Thornton,
Denholme, Wilsden, Cullingworth & Ingrow.

Openings 
14th October 1878 Bradford to Thornton.
see Queensbury - Bradford

1st September 1882 Thornton to Denholme.
1st April 1884 Thornton to Keighley Goods.
7th April 1884 Thornton to Ingrow passenger.
1st November 1884 Thornton to Keighley passenger.

Closures
May 1956 Cullingworth & Ingrow section.
1963 Cullingworth
1965 Thornton & Ingrow.

The Halifax Thornton & Keighley Railway
September 1st 1882  a single track goods line opened as far as Denholme.
The first passengers were on the 1st January 1884.
The Line opened to Keighley goods depot on 1st April 1884.
The junction with the Midland railway was not complete & as an interim measure, from Monday 7th of April1884, eight  passenger trains per day were extended to Ingrow.
Finally on 1st November 1884 the Great Northern served Keighley with 18 departures per day.
A station opened at Wilsden on 1st July 1886,
even though the line is about two miles away from the town centre.
 


 
Queensbury north junction Keighley side facing north c1950 / 21-08-05
Before & after. (c1950s Nigel Callaghan) & 2005.
The start of the route, the north junction at Queensbury station,
Brow lane bridge facing east 21-08-05
The Keighley side crossing Brow lane (Originally Brook lane)
Nice solid stone bridge in good fettle. see map Queensbury station
Thornton Viaduct
Thornton Viaduct (June 1988
Des Phillips)
Thornton railway station was situated at the top of a deep valley and was reached from Queensbury
via this massive 20 arch viaduct, a listed structure soon to be reopened as a public footpath, nice.
Thornton Viaduct (June 1988 Des Phillips)
The listed Buildings descriptive text describes it thus: Thornton Viaduct, Alderscholes Lane - Grade II listed,
"one of a spectacular series c1876-78. A finely proportioned structure of sandstone 'brick' with 20 arches in slender tapering piers supporting the bed of the former railway. "
Thornton Viaduct (June 1988 Des Phillips)
"Very thin ashlar strings; capping piers at spring of arches; flat band below the parapet.
The viaduct makes a most impressive contribution to the landscape of the valley below Thornton."
Thornton Viaduct (June 1988 Des Phillips)
The section of line between Bradford & Keighley is said to be the most engineered stretch of railway
in West Yorkshire. For loads more visit
 The Great Northern Railway Trail
Thornton lamp (15-02-06 Paul Holroyd)
A survivor from Thornton on the GNR - preserved at the private Hall Cross Museum.
Thornton-1 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike  website - http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/
I can think of few viaducts which are more impressive than Thornton, with its S-shaped curve.
This is the view looking south, showing its east side.
Thornton-2 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
At its tallest point, the structure stands 117 feet above the stream. It looks in immaculate condition,
possibly thanks to the money spent on it recently as part of the Great Northern Trail scheme.
Well Heads tunnel
Wellheads-1 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
Beyond the viaduct, the line turns west before heading north-east again up a deep cutting to Well Heads tunnel.
 
Wellheads-2 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
The southern portal is bricked up, with hefty steel access gates. Constructed between 1878-1881, the tunnel boasts a vaulted stone roof but no air shafts. It's possible that the trail will eventually pass through it.
Wellheads-3(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
For that to happen, Well Heads' northern end will have to be excavated and cleared of an assortment of clutter. When built, the tunnel was 662 yards long but, according to a Jarvis Rail report from 1998, the northern portal has been removed and this accounts for the bore being 40 yards shorter today.
Wellheads-4 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
A long, straight approach cutting takes the trackbed towards Denholme tunnel.
Denholme tunnel
Denholme-1 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
It crosses a narrow valley on an embankment. The Great Northern Railway thoughtfully provided this elegant bridge for the local farmer. Running beneath it in a culvert is the stream which babbles down through the fields.
Denholme-2 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
A distant view of Denholme tunnel's south end with a solitary railway fence post in the foreground.
Denholme-3 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
The south portal's apparently low profile is due to 4 feet of infill (or landslip) which is now a bog.
The tunnel itself is not long - a little over 150 yards.
Denholme-4 (29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
Trains emerged at the northern end into Denholme station, the site of which is now a timber yard. Beyond it, Doe Park tunnel welcomed trains shortly after they'd departed to Keighley.
Hewenden Viaduct
Hewenden Viaduct (June 1988 Des Phillips)
Hewenden Viaduct is a Grade II listed structure.
It crosses Hewenden Beck at about 270 metres above sea level  the stone was quarried locally.
Hewenden Viaduct (June 1988 Des Phillips)
Situated near Cullingworth on the same stretch of line as Thornton vaiduct.
Hewenden viaduct, now open to the public & forms part of the Great Northern Trail.
Hewenden Viaduct (June 1988 Des Phillips)
The first section of the trail runs from Cullingworth to Harecroft.
Eventually the new Great Northern trail will cover a distance of 10 kilometres
between Queensbury and Cullingworth.
Heweden Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul Holroyd)   website - http://www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
GN trail Heweden Viaduct  17 arches 376 yards long 123 feet high 29 may 2005
Heweden Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul Holroyd)
GN trail Hewenden Viaduct 29 may 2005
Heweden Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul Holroyd)
 
Heweden Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul Holroyd)
Heweden Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul Holroyd)
Heweden Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul Holroyd)
 
Heweden Viaduct (09/2004) : David Taylor.
Another of Hewenden Viaduct taken from near the site of Wilsden Station,
which incidentally was about two miles from Wilsden village.
The Great Northern Trail    website - The Great Northern Railway Trail
Great Northern Trail Wilsden station (29-05-05) Paul Holroyd        website - http://www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
Taken along the first stretch of the Great Northern Trail, between Cullingworth and the site of Wilsden station  29 May 2005. (following the route backwards heading north Wilsden - Cullingworth) The current end of the trail at the site of Wilsden station
Great Northern Trail (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
Between Cullingworth & Wilsden 29 may 2005
Great Northern Trail (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
Between Cullingworth & Hewenden viaduct 29 may 2005
Great Northern Trail (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
Between Cullingworth & Hewenden viaduct 29 may 2005
Great Northern Trail (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
GN trail demolished bridge between Cullingworth and Wilsden 29 may 2005
Cullingworth viaduct
Cullingworth Viaduct (02/2004) : David Taylor
Section of Cullingworth Viaduct which is largely obscured by houses.
Cullingworth viaduct (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
GN trail Cullingworth viaduct 29 may 2005
Cullingworth viaduct  (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
GN trail Cullingworth viaduct 29 may 2005
Great Northern Trail Cullingworth (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
The start of the trail at Cullingworth.
Lees Moor tunnel
Lees Moor tunnel eastern portal (Graeme Bickerdike) website - http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/
The eastern approach cutting to Barcroft tunnel (on the Queensbury-Keighley route) has been Landscaped, almost up to the portal.  see also homeless  Known by drivers as ‘the hell hole’. When heading from Keighley, trains entered the tunnel in a southerly direction but exited, 1,533 yards later, traveling east.
Leesmoor -1 (23-11-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
The northern portal is obscured by a stone and corrugated metal porch.
Leesmoor -2 (23-11-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
Around its edge are the characteristic rounded stones which feature on the line's other portals.
Leesmoor -3 (23-11-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
Polythene sheeting has been slung beneath the western side of the tunnel to protect parked caravans from water ingress.
Leesmoor -4 (23-11-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
It's possible to drive to the eastern end and there are caravans parked almost all the way through. As you can tell from this shabby picture, thick mist hangs in the tunnel thanks to the large volume of water which permeates the lining. Despite its length, the tunnel has no ventilation shafts.
Lees Moor tunnel northern portal April 2006 : Paul Holroyd website - http://www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
The northern entrance to Lees Moor Tunnel, on the GNR line between Ingrow EAST and Cullingworth.
The tunnel is used as a store by the Bronte Caravan Park.
Lees Moor tunnel northern portal April 2006 (Paul Holroyd)
GNR Lees Moor Tunnel Wider view.
Lees Moor tunnel northern portal trackbed April 2006 (Paul Holroyd)
GNR Trackbead approaching Lees Moor tunnel.
Keighley
Keighley Station (n.d) : Dave Walbank
Keighley station yard.
Keighley sheds (1952) : Dave Walbank
I've found the picture of keighley sheds taken in 1952.
Keighley sheds (n.d) : Dave Walbank
Keighley shed as it was starting to be demolished.

Queensbury station     Queensbury - Bradford     Queensbury - Halifax

Maps & photos © Des Phillips / Paul Holroyd/ Graeme Bickerdike / Nigel Callaghan / Dave Walbank / Lost Railways / Reproduction prohibited.