Leeds New Line 1

Heaton Lodge - Farnley Junction (Leeds New Line) Page: 1 of 6 [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> ]
1900 - 1965
London & North Western Railway

Contributors: © Reproduction prohibited / Andrew Stopford / Paul Holroyd / S Baggot / Eric Ellis
Bernard Coomber / John Wraithmell / Michael Kaye / Graham Smith / David Webdale

The Route
From Heaton Lodge Junction East of Huddersfield
( L.N.W.R Huddersfield Leeds Line & the L &Y Calder Valley Line)
To Farnley Junction West of Leeds (on the L.N.W.R Ravensthorpe to Leeds line)
From Huddersfield to Leeds - The Down Line. From Leeds to Huddersfield - The Up Line.

Length
13 miles, 2 furlongs, 7chains, 45 links (80chains = 1mile 1chain = 22yards)
13 & 7/16 Miles or thereabouts.

Original Company
Opened by the London & North Western Railway company.
Originally the line was called the Heaton Lodge & Wortley Railway.
During construction became known as The Leeds New Line.
At the time of closure British Rail called it The Spen Valley Line.

Opening
1st October 1900.

Closures
Passengers - August 1965.
Freight - Between Farnley Junction & Liversedge Spen - August 1965.
                Between Heaton Lodge & Heckmondwike Spen Goods -1966
                Between Heckmondwike Spen Goods (L & Y Ravensthorpe branch)
                & Liversedge (Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal) - 1986.

1   Battyeford
1   Battyeford
2   Northorpe
3   Heckmondwike Spen
4   Liversedge Spen
5   Cleckheaton Spen
6   Gomersal
7   Birstall Town
8   Gildersome
9   Farnley & Wortley

Notes: Paul Holroyd
On 1st August 1964 ex-LMS Black Five 4-6-0 locomotive no. 45352 hauled the 09.30 Manchester – Newcastle.
With the exception of the 15.00 Liverpool-Newcastle, the Leeds New Line between Spen Valley Jct and Farnley Jct was closed to passenger traffic from 7th September 1964.
However, on 13th September 1964 the Leeds New Line was in use for passenger traffic in both directions because of bridge repairs at Dewsbury.
The New Line was used again for passenger services on Sunday 23rd January 1965 because of permanent way repairs near Dewsbury.
At least three diesel-hauled trains, the 09.48 ex-York and the 09.30 and 17.10 ex-Newcastle were provided with banking locomotives throughout between Leeds and Huddersfield.
On 31st July 1965 D395 hauled the final passenger service to use the Leeds New Line - 15.00 Liverpool-Newcastle.
Just eleven months later, British Rail lifted the track between Liversedge and Gomersal, demolishing underbridges in the process – thereby preventing any chance of the line being reopened.

The Leeds New Line route maps
The six pages of the Leeds New Line are divided into a series of six modern street maps.
The route of the old railway line is combined with modern street maps & shows the crossings over or under roads where possible.
Of course many of the road bridges over the line have now been filled in underneath & the railway bridges over the roads have been demolished.
We follow the route northwards from Heaton Lodge junction Huddersfield to Farnley junction Leeds.

You are here: Map 1 Mirfield
Heaton Lodge junction -Dunbottle lane

Map 1 Mirfield
Heaton Lodge Junction to Dunbottle lane
L.N.W.R Leeds New Line shown in red

The Leeds New Line part 1: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C34BcKc6ZzE

The Leeds New Line part 2: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERNSc1rsxx8

The Leeds New Line part 3: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7kRAeeNlAU

The Leeds New Line part 4: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT0gN55dXBA

The Leeds New Line part 5: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH78f6J24Wk

The Leeds New Line part 6: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHsvFJz5oE0

The Leeds New Line part 7: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne3997fa0S4&feature=youtu.be

The Leeds New Line part 8: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnppPBgEaSo

The Leeds New Line part 9: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gts6-AVhCRE

The Leeds New Line: c/o Paul Holroyd
Found this on Youtube from Darley Transport and Travel. https://youtu.be/FeHqisg1Mxc

Mirfield : c/o Graham Smith
Aerial shots from Bradford Museums & Galleries website. Mirfield with some rare shed and New Line shots.
http://photos.bradfordmuseums.org/index.php?a=QuickSearch&q=mirfield&WINID=1446034986327

Excursion Hand Bills Paul Holroyd / S Baggot website - Vintage Carriages Trust see also Vintage Carriages
1952 Excursion handbill for Morcambe
1952 Excursion handbill for Scarborough
1949 Excursion handbill for Manchester
All via Leeds New Line.

Working timetable. Paul Holroyd website - Vintage Carriages Trust
September 1933 working timetable.

Heaton Lodge : Bernard Coomber
Britannia 'Robin Hood' rounds the curve from Huddersfield at Heaton Lodge eastbound.

Spen Valley Junction (08-06-03) : David Webdale
The start of the Leeds New Line. This location is just a bit further left around the corner towards Huddersfield than is shown on above map. Originally six tracks at this location and a signal box to the right.
This photo taken from the Road bridge (see Bottom left of Heaton Lodge Junction map).

Spen Valley Junction (26-12-07) : Andrew Stopford
Last surviving stretch of Leeds New Line

Heaton lodge junction map 1908 : David Webdale
Officially Heckmondwike & Heaton Lodge Junction.
Two short single bore tunnels, take the Leeds New Line under the L & Y Calder Valley main line, forming a flying junction.

Heaton lodge junction sign : Paul Holroyd 18-03-06 website - Vintage Carriages Trust
And a few others, currently on display in the Museum of Rail Travel, Ingrow near Keighley.

Heaton lodge footbridge (07-06-03) : David Webdale
Still in use, & re timbered. Built to provide access over the Leeds New Line,
to the Lancashire & Yorkshire Signal box (see top right of Heaton Lodge Junction Map).

Heaton Lodge Facing North (14-07-02) : David Webdale
A Couple of hundred yards further towards Mirfield, only just visible behind the single track on the far side, is an embankment.
This led onto the 700 ton 267 feet Battyeford girder bridge, at a gradient of 1 in 90. The single track once a double, formed part of the Leeds new line, but was connected back onto the original main line back in 1970 to form a flying junction.

Heaton Lodge Facing North (c1980) : David Webdale
Class 47 passenger at Heaton Lodge joining back onto the mainline, having passed underneath the flying junction.
More tracks & loco hauled passenger trains in those days.

Mirfield : Bernard Coomber
A westbound coal train passes a local DMU looking west from Woodend Lane bridge Mirfield. Note the girder bridge for the Leeds New Line.

Mirfield (c1980) : David Webdale
Nothing much to do with the Leeds New Line, a class 37 & tankers heading toward Mirfield.
Just visible on the right is part of the stone pillar supporting Battyeford girder bridge. Heaton lodge junction just visible in distance.

Battyford girder bridge : c/o Michael Kaye. Photograph by kind permission from John Wraithmell
Class 40 taken from the back of Heaton Lodge Junc Box, you can see Battyford Bridge.

Battyford girder bridge Facing West (25-04-04) : David Webdale
Taken from the east bank of the river Calder, facing back toward Heaton lodge Junction. A clearer view of the stone pillar.
Construction was a single span latticed warren riveted bridge, 267 ft long weighing 700 tons.
The gradient of 1 in 90 was to provide a minimum head room of 15 ft above the river.

Battyford girder bridge Facing South (29-08-05) : David Webdale
Photographed from my mates barge. A closer view of the stone pillars on the west bank

Battyford girder bridge Facing East (29-08-05) : David Webdale
Another photograph from the barge. Girder Bridge pillar & end view of viaduct on the east bank of the river.

Heaton Lodge Facing East (14-07-02) : David Webdale
A side on view of the three of the remaining arches of a stone viaduct originally 89 yards long.
This lead onto the blue brick Battyeford viaduct.

Battyeford viaduct Facing East (07-06-03) : David Webdale
Close up of the the ten or so remaining arches of the Battyeford viaduct, originally 193 yards long & built of blue engineering brick.

Battyeford viaduct Facing East (07-06-03) : David Webdale
Even closer up.
Apparently the firm hired to demolish the remaining section of the viaduct went bust after several failed attempts using explosives.

Battyeford Viaduct Facing West (14-07-02) : David Webdale
The other end of the remaining section of the viaduct taken form the A644 Huddersfield road.
Half the length of the Battyford station platforms were carried on the viaduct over the road at this point.

Battyeford Station
Opened 01-10-1900. Closed 03-01-1953.

Battyeford station map 1908 : David Webdale
The station buildings were of timber construction, platforms were brick with stone flags.
Goods yard consisted of - Stone warehouse, loading dock, stables & coal merchant.

Battyford & Mirfield viabuct (n.d) Photo: Eric Ellis website - Mirfield memoriesRailways
In this Ariel photo, kindly donated by Eric Ellis, the Mirfield viaduct is visible across the top of photo. From left to right - Top left Battyford goods warehouse , iron bridge crossing Nettleton road, five viaduct arches, iron bridge crossing Doctor lane, four arches leading onto an embankment
& top right an iron bridge (I think) crossing Knowle road.

Battyeford Station Facing East (14-07-02) : David Webdale
Here Part of the original blue brick used as a garden wall next to the pavement.
Behind the houses are what remains of Battyeford station, retaining walls & some bricked up arches. I don't know what the arches were for.

Battyeford Station Facing East (14-07-02) : David Webdale
Up on top facing the same direction.
Hard to believe there was a station here at all. Wilson terrace is in the centre of photo in the distance.

Twelve L.N.W.R Houses Littlemoor road (31-05-03) : David Webdale
The L.N.W.R re-housed a number of people displaced by the construction of the railway in Battyeford & Heckmondwike.
The contract to build 12 houses on Littlemoor road, was awarded in August 1895.
They are all built to the same design as the 80 houses in Heckmondwike (see page 3) Total Cost - Houses £3,084 - Streets £300

Oddfellows Street Facing West (14-07-02) : David Webdale
This is the only evidence I have found where the line may have crossed Doctor lane on the last part of the Mirfield viaduct.
The viaduct was constructed of blue engineering brick & 190 yards long.
A sloping stone wall to the left & an old engineering brick wall on the right. It may just be re-used stone & bricks, I don't know.

Parker Lane Facing East (14-07-02) : David Webdale
From Knowle road, we picked up a footpath (which seems to follow the route of the old line) went through a new housing estate & came out here on Parker lane. On the left are the remnants of parker lane bridge over the line, now a garden wall.

Dunbottle Lane Facing North (14-07-02) : David Webdale
Not much evidence between Parker lane & here. The whole area has been re-developed.
Across the middle of the photo is Dunbottle lane bridge, the railway ran through here.
It seems common practise to land fill & bulldoze earth under bridges to avoid maintaining them. Building had started here in 2004.

Dunbottle Lane Facing East (14-07-02) : David Webdale
Bit of a rubbish photo really, apart from the yummy mummy, this is the view from Dunnbottle lane.
The bridge wall can be seen on the right hand side. The line carries on towards Northorpe station through the new housing estate on the left.

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