Leeds New Line 5

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

Contributors: K Evans / Andrew Stopford / Percy Simpson / Lost Railways

The route Divided into a series of six maps following the route northwards from Heaton Lodge junction Huddersfield to Farnley junction Leeds (north is up)
	You are here: Map 5 Gildersome Oakwell Hall - Gildersome Spur industrial estate

Map 5 Gildersome (Oakwell Hall - Gildersome Spur industrial estate)
L.N.W.R Leeds New Line shown in red Great Northern Line shown in Yellow (North is up)

Field Head lane facing East : K Evans
The same train from previous page - Warren lane bridge approaching the 3 arch viaduct that carries Fieldhead Lane.
The deep cutting was filled in circa 1992/4.

Field Head lane facing East (25-05-03)

Same bridge in 03. The line originally travelled through a deep cutting, at a gradient of 1 in 80, to reach here.
The section between Field Head lane & Raikes lane was cut through solid rock (contractors Baldry & Yerburgh)
Looking towards Birstall station, Field Head lane bridge is across the middle of the photo. Consisted of three arches
& was built from those blue engineering bricks. How much land fill am I stood on here? See previous photo.

Field Head lane (24-12-07) : Andrew Stopford
Fieldhead Lane overbridge - building work commencing from here in the already infilled cutting eastwards to the Raikes Road overbridge. Bridge parapet breached for access.

Field Head lane (24-12-07) : Andrew Stopford
Intact west parapet

Raikes lane bridge facing West (26-05-03)
Looking back to where I was just stood, (previous photo). Someone's made a tasty job of bricking up this archway.
Raikes lane bridge is made of stone & to the same design as the bridges around Heckmondwike.

Birstall station facing East (26-05-03)
The view from Raikes lane looking down on the goods yard & station.
Birstall Town signal box was down on the right, about where that tree is. (see Birstall station map).

Upper Birstall station map 1908 (Re-named Birstall town in1935)

Upper Birstall - 1st October 1900 - 1st August 1951 The line reaches its highest point at Birstall station, all downhill from here. The station buildings & platforms were of timber construction, with a subway.
Passenger access from Gelderd road was via timber staircase with a corrugated iron roof.
The subway entrance was about half way up the staircase. (see next photo)

Birstall (1964) : Percy Simpson
This is the Main line with the Coal sidings. By this time 1964, the line was used purely for diversions for Trans-pennine expresses and Freight. Just look how quiet Gelderd road was.!!

Birstall (c1960) : Percy Simpson
This was one of the last Transpennine expresses to pass Raikes lane. Sadly, my Granddad did not photo the motive power, but it was mostly peak diesels at the time. Birstall home Semaphore signal looks good. By 1965, the signal was probably blocked out....can't think where the Box would have been??

Birstall (1967) : Percy Simpson
Late summer 1967. A scene so common thanks to DR Beeching. The metal has got and all what is left is ballast....I think that got removed late 1968. Today this is an industrial estate and sadly nobody will remember this great line, which probably if was saved could serve Leeds 27 shopping park, Birstall, Gomersal, CLeckheaton, Heckmondwike with links to Leeds and Manchester.

Gelderd Road (c1960) : Percy Simpson

One of the sad pictures of this set. The removal of the Rail bridge over Gelderd road. My grandfather used to laugh at the short-sighted view of the so-called government of the day. They allowed a huge house building scheme in Birstall and Fieldhead and CLOSED this line. Sometimes on my way home, I just think how busy this line and Birstall Upper station would be now!!! Sure beats the jams...

Gelderd Road facing West (26-05-03) : Lost Railways
Upper Birstall station just visible behind the trees, to the left of photo, half way up the wall, is a bricked up passenger subway. (fuel for thought my arse.)

Moat Hill Farm drive facing East (26-05-03)
Moat Hill Farm drive bridge, taken from within, what was a cutting, facing towards Leeds. (see main map).
Built from blue engineering brick. Visible on the left is the top of one of its three arches.
Must be a lot of landfill under this bridge.

Nab lane facing North (26-05-03)
I expected to see some action at this point, where the Great Northern line crossed the new line on a steel bridge.
No, just loads of landscaping & trees, so I took this boring picture of Nab lane.

Nab Lane (07-12-07) : Andrew Stopford
Overbridge from the infilled track (complete with silver birch forest!)

Nab Lane (07-12-07) : Andrew Stopford
Overbridge - top of arch just visible.

Trackbed (07-12-07) : Andrew Stopford
Trackbed looking towards Nab Lane.

Trackbed (07-12-07) : Andrew Stopford
On the trackbed looking towards Gildersome.

Trackbed (07-12-07) : Andrew Stopford
Trackbed between Nab Lane & Gildersome Tunnel (tunnel is to left).

Gildersome tunnel 1 mile 579 yards.
Gildersome tunnel West end SE242277 (1985) : K Evans
This photo taken from behind the Showcase cinema (see main map) shows the bricked up portal in 1985.

Gildersome tunnel West end SE242277 (1985) : K Evans
Wider view.
The line travelled through here at a gradient of 1 in 70, 175 feet below ground at its deepest point.
Built of blue engineering brick throughout with stone portals & contained 139 tablets, set into the tunnel walls.

Gildersome tunnel West end SE242277 (1985) : K Evans
Wider view.

Gradient marker (1985) : K Evans
Gradient marker about 1/4 mile from tunnel mouth

Vent Gildersome Spur facing South SE247283 (30-05-03)
Originally the tunnel had 3 vent shafts, the one at the Birstall end was capped early on (see next page).
This vent on Gildersome spur industrial estate is still intact & looks to be in good nick.