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Leeds West
1834 - Present
LNWR  GNR  NER  MR  L&Y
Contributors:  © Reproduction prohibited / David Hey / David Taylor / David Walbank / Michael Kaye / RikJ / Phill Davison
                          Graham Smith / Roy Lambeth / Paul Holroyd / Michael Kaye / Paul Corrie / Lost Railways


Leeds West
Hybrid map
Roads 1980
Rails 1908































 
See also Leeds & West Yorkshire railway group - http://flickr.com/groups/leedsrailways/
Yorkshire Film Archive c/o Graham Smith
There is a superb little film on the Yorkshire Film Archive that shows a speeded up train journey from Leeds Central to Bradford Exchange in 1962. I think the makers may have used a bit of poetic licence as I’m struggling to identify some sections, but there are great views of the stations just out of Leeds before Pudsey, Laisterdyke station with Quarry Gap before, St Dunstans and the approach to Bradford Exchange.

British Railways Illustrated (September 1996)
 The September 1996 issue includes a 14-page feature on Wortley Junction.

Round House
 North Eastern Railway
Round house (12-09-10) : Lost Railways
View from the footbridge over Wellington road along side the existing tracks. Originally built for the Leeds & Thirsk Railway & opened in 1847.
The Leeds & Thirsk later became part of the NER. The architect was Thomas Grainger & the building had 20 stabling bays.
Main Entrance (12-09-10) : Lost Railways
This was the only entrance up until 1864 when a further entrance was added around to the right hand side facing the half round house.
By 1889 the bays were too small to house the bigger loco's being built at the time. In 1904 a new shed was built at Neville Hill & the NER moved out.
Main Entrance (12-09-10) : Lost Railways
The Main entrance, closer view. Since 1904 the building has had several tenants including the West Leeds Motor Company in 1908.
Part of the building was used as a drill hall by the Leeds Rifles 1909-1916. Thomas Marshall Engineers 1925-1970 & Leeds Commercial from 1969 to present.
Interior (12-09-10) : Lost Railways
The view from just inside & to the right of the entrance. Some track still in existence.
Interior (12-09-10) : Lost Railways
The 20 stabling bays curve around the doors on the right leading out to the central turntable.
The roof trusses are made from single pieces of timber 55ft in length.
Interior (12-09-10) : Lost Railways
The view from the turntable area. The walls are stone built & originally there was no roof over this section. The turntable was 46ft 6" in diameter.
Interior (12-09-10) : Lost Railways
Heavy wooden doors lead into the individual bays, this is the only one remaining.

Holbeck Depot
Midland Railway

Holbeck 1 (c1980): David Walbank
The shed round house was on the left.
Holbeck 2 (c1980) : David Walbank
The maintenance shed stands on the the site of the coal bunker for loading tenders.
Holbeck Depot facing West (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
Taken from Nineveh road. Farnley viaduct crosses in background.
Holbeck Depot facing West (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
Closer view, The brick engine shed on the left still survives.
 
Holbeck Memories : David Walbank
I used to live in Keighley in Yorkshire years back. Every Saturday my friend and I used to travel to Leeds by train steam pulled too, when we got there we used to dash round to the Central Station in time to see the Deltic pulled Pullman. Then round to Holbeck Steam Shed where we used to climb a large wall and in through a broken window into the roundhouse where we used to sneak around collecting numbers because they wouldn't let you walk round. Then we would walk up to Farnley Junction sneak round there and spend a bit of time watching the trains pass and the engines move around. Then either back to Holbeck or maybe go to Neville Hill or Copley Hill all steam.  And then back home we used to spend all Saturday in Leeds we used to come home blacker than the engine cleaners but we'd have about 200 numbers. I still have a old Ian Allen Combine my last one I used in the 60's. I have a picture in a book of Farnley Junction in a book somewhere if I can find it I'll send it in. I have no photos of steam sadly I never took a camera with me.  Wish I had now but I have books so it isn't so bad. I still remember the Thames Clyde Express and The Waverley come roarin' through Keighley, the station used to shake pulled either by a Royal Scot class or Jubilee class engine. I also have sad memories of what we'd call scrap trains , trains made up of engines stripped of their runnin gear being towed away for scrap. My favourite sound was 8f's or 9f's pulling a heavy freight train the deep throbbing sound was unreal.

Whitehall Road Goods
Midland Railway
Whitehall road goods (c1980) : C/O Michael Kaye with permission from Paul Corrie
Class 31 at Whitehall road goods. Armley jail (The Castle) in the background.

Wortley West Curve
Great Northern Railway
Wortley West Junction 31-12-06 : Phill Davison
I was surprised there was so much intact (albeit in a dreadfull state) since it was abandoned by B.R in 1985.
The mainline connection is still intact in the Bradford direction.
Point of abandonment 31-12-06 : Phill Davison
Oldfield Lane Bridge 31-12-06 : Phill Davison
 
Oldfield Lane Bridge 31-12-06 : Phill Davison
The overgrown state on top of Oldfield lane bridge.
Wortley West Curve 31-12-06 : Phill Davison
Wortley West Curve 31-12-06 : Phill Davison
Wortley signals
Wortley South Junction 31-12-06 : Phill Davison
The junction sign still intact the curve ran to the left & Copley Hill shed was in the triangle spur ahead


Joint Leeds City New Station
Modern Railways” (April 1999) : Paul Holroyd website - www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
The April 1999 issue of “Modern Railways” includes a 4-page feature on the Leeds First rebuilding project.
Modern Railways (July 1967) : Paul Holroyd  
The July 1967 issue of "Modern Railways" includes a 9 1/2 page feature on the closure of Leeds Central and rebuilding of Leeds City.
Plaque : Paul Holroyd   website - www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
Plaque commemorating the 1967 rebuilding of Leeds City.
Rail Magazine (2002) : Paul Holroyd
Issue no. 437 June 2002 of "Rail" includes a 6-page feature on the Leeds First rebuilding programme.
Steam Days (2007) : Paul Holroyd
The October 2007 issue of "Steam Days" includes an 18-page feature on Leeds.
Steam Days (2008) : Paul Holroyd
The January 2008 issue of "Steam Days" includes a 17-page feature on Leeds.
Leeds City New c1980 : Lost Railways
HST snakes in from the west.
Leeds City New c1980 : Lost Railways
HST takes five.
Leeds City New c1980 : Lost Railways
47 takes five.
Leeds City New c1980 : Lost Railways
General view west.
Leeds City New c1980 : Lost Railways
31405 pauses on the old platform 8 side of the station. Dragonara hotel in the background.
Leeds City New c1980 : Lost Railways
High speed brass rubbing. An unidentified 55 pauses  on its way to Newcastle. Wonder where these lads are now & if the rubbing still exists, hope so.
Leeds City New 1980s : Lost Railways
Unidentified York bound Peak class. The fancy dust extractor tower of the Tower works factory on Globe road Holbeck is visible on the left.
This is the biggest and most ornate of three towers. It was built in 1899 & is based on Giotto's Campanile in Florence. The factory closed in 1981.
Leeds City New 1980s : Lost Railways
Peak  & mixed freight. Dragonara hotel in the background.
Leeds City New 1980s : Lost Railways
Unidentified Peak hauled passenger.
Leeds City New Station (10-04-07) : David Taylor
 People not familiar with Leeds may not be aware that when New Station was completed in 1869 it was built on a massive complex of vaults and arches spanning the River Aire, the so called ‘Dark Arches’, reputedly comprising 18 million bricks, and the present station still sits on this great Victorian complex. In 1892 a fire in a tallow works beneath the station lasted two days and caused severe damage and caused collapse of part of the station resulting in closure of New Station for several weeks. There is an old photo of the collapsed station held by Leeds library and I'll try and get a copy.
Leeds City New Station (10-04-07) : David Taylor
Originally they were used as workshops and warehouses and, until comparatively recently, comprised one of the most un-salubrious parts of Leeds but today whilst some are still used as workshops most are car parking and even retail units.
 
Leeds City New 1980s : Lost Railways
Unidentified 47 approaching from the west.
Leeds City New (03-87) : Michael Kaye
We are exiting Leeds PCD with 'A' line to the left, on the Gantry
(Right to Left are 'B' 'C' & 'D' Lines, the viaduct line off to left was still in use at this date. March 1987
Leeds City New (10-07-86) : Michael Kaye
Entering Leeds on 'C' Line, to the right is the Motive Power area, and in the distance is a Class 45 with Red Bank Parcels, 10th July 1986
Leeds City New (04-04-88) : Michael Kaye
Entering Leeds again on 'C' Line, now the Motive Power Area is gone, note on the left of the picture,
the PCD Pilot, this is now a car park, 4th April 1988.


Joint Holbeck East Junction
Holbeck East Junction (15-06-86) : Michael Kaye
Holbeck East Junction, during re-modeling, the railway off to left as now been taken out of use. 15th June 1986
Holbeck East Junction (15-06-86) : Michael Kaye
This is Holbeck East Junction, 15th June 1986, we are entering Whithall Junction on the 'down' heading towards Leeds,
just to the left of the colour light was Holbeck Low Level Station. Now this piece of railway as been removed.

Wellington Station
Midland Railway
Wellington station facing South (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
 Wellington Station, was on the site of the present station car park and it was dismantled in the late 60s.
The old stone viaduct leading into the station still visible.

Wellington Station : David Taylor
I remember Leeds stations well from the 50s and 60s as I lived in Harrogate but was at school in Leeds and then started work in Leeds so travelled there daily by train for ten or more years. 'City Station' was still not considered a single entity but often referred to by the names of its two former stations - Wellington Station and New Station, although they had organisationally amalgamated in the 1930s. This wasn't surprising as the ticket barriers to the platforms of the two former station were still totally separate from one another with no access between their respective platforms once through the barriers.
Wellington Station Concourse : David Taylor
 The platforms were accessed through ticket barriers from the Art Decor concourse, which was built 1937ish to connect the two stations, and the platform entrances are now occupied by the retail and fast food outlets seen on the left hand side of the photo.

The 'three' stations retained a degree of pre-nationalisation flavour: 'Central' was served almost exclusively by former LNER locos, 'Wellington' (or City North) by LMS and New (or City South) by a mixture of both and BR standard locos.  We used to get the Liverpool - Newcastle (via Leeds/Harrogate/Thirsk) express home which came into 'New' hauled by two LMS locos which were there changed for an LNER loco.

Nostalgia : David Taylor
 As I mentioned before I was at school in Leeds during the 1950s but lived in Harrogate so for many years travelled back and forth by train. The morning train went into Central Station and with school finishing at 3.50 we could either leg it down to Holbeck Low Level and there get the stopping 4.13 from City South (New) Station. More leisurely a walk down to City Station and get the 4.35 Liverpool – Newcastle  Express (frequently packed out with slightly the worse for wear National Servicemen) which came into Leeds double-headed by two former LMS locos, having come over the Pennines and then down the Calder Valley Line. In Leeds these were un-coupled and replaced at the other end by an LNER loco, frequently an A3 Pacific, and back out of the station the way it had come in but then taking the Harrogate line. The line north of Harrogate to Northallerton closed to passengers in 1967 and to goods in 1969. If for some special occasion we were let out of school before the last class then we could get down to City Station and for a real treat get the 4.50 to Harrogate via Wetherby but that route closed in 1964.
Plaque : Paul Holroyd   website - www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
1999 Ian Allan National Railway Heritage Awards. Plaque commemorating the restoration of the 1930s north concourse.
Foundation Stone : Paul Holroyd
October 1936 foundation stone of Queens Hotel, Leeds.


Joint Central Station & goods depot (1884 - 1967)
Modern Railways (July 1967) : Paul Holroyd   website - www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
The July 1967 issue of "Modern Railways" includes a 9 1/2 page feature on the closure of Leeds Central and rebuilding of Leeds City.
Leeds Central (n.d) : Dave Walbank
Leeds Central station
Leeds Central (n.d) : Dave Walbank
 Leeds Central station before demolition.
Leeds Central viaduct (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
Leeds Central viaduct (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
Driver’s eye view of the approach to central.
Leeds Central viaduct (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
The view overlooking Leeds city from the rather abrupt end of the viaduct.
Leeds Central viaduct (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
The central viaduct western approach towards Armley.
Leeds Central viaduct (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
All clear for the approach to central
Leeds Central viaduct (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
The incline section from Geldard jnct that runs nicely alongside Leeds new apartment blocks.
Leeds Central viaduct (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
The end of the severed bridge makes city island look like a fortress
Leeds Central viaduct (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
Low level Goods (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
This is the remaining bridge stonework that spaned the canal that carried the low level goods line.
Leeds Central Viaduct (10-04-07) : David Taylor
According to Stephen Batty (“Rail Centres: Leeds & Bradford ) the LD&MR viaduct was comprised of  33 stone arches of 30’ span and 20 of 35’, and as can be seen from David Hey’s  photo of  the wagon lift it was actually a double viaduct. Today only 17 arches remain plus the elegant ballustraded bridges over the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the River Aire.
Leeds Central Viaduct (10-04-07) : David Taylor
Most of the remaining arches have been barely visible due to the proximity of industrial buildings but as a result of demolition works they can currently be seen together with a small section of the second viaduct behind, not in photo.
Central station & Goods high level approach : Canal crossing facing south (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
Standing between the canal & the river facing toward Holbeck. There is evidence of the lower level N.E.R & G.N.R approach on the right.
An old semaphore signal is just visible up on the viaduct.
Central station & Goods high level approach : Canal crossing facing west (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
Same bridge different side, taken from the canal towpath.
Central station & Goods high level approach : River crossing facing east (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
Standing between the canal & the river facing toward Leeds.
Central station & Goods high level approach : River crossing facing west (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
Same bridge viewed from Whitehall road.

Central station wagon lift : Photo David Walbank (c1980) : Info David Taylor
With a capacity of 20 tons they were used to lift whole wagons from the low level G.N.R goods yard up to the higher level L&Y.R sidings. This one used to lift wagons from a shed on Whitehall road to sidings next to Central station. Remaining L&Y & L&N.W viaduct brickwork still visible in this photo.
This is all that remained of Leeds Central Station at the time.
Central station wagon lift : facing west (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
Closer view same side 25 years later. Evidence of the L&Y, L&N.W viaduct arch on this side.
Central station wagon lift : facing east (02-04-05) : Lost Railways
View from round the other side. This was the site of the lower level G.N.R sidings.
Originally there were three wagon lifts on this site, two wagon lifts visible in next photo.

Canal Junction - Farnley & Wortley (Farnley Viaduct)
London & North Western Railway
Gelderd Road junction (30-07-86) : Michael Kaye
Geldard Road Junction 30th July 1986, as you can see the points are set for going over Farnley Viaduct. This connection to the Leeds Wakefield line was made around 1967. The red brick building on the left was part of Market Mill (flax).
Gelderd Road junction facing east (10-04-05) : Lost Railways
Same junction in 2005. The sign behind the trees says Gelderd Road junction. During October 1987 the Gelderd junction was removed & Farnley viaduct was taken out of use. The old track bed veers off to the right towards Gelderd road. Red brick building just visible to the left.
Great Northern Leeds Wakefield underpass facing west (10-04-05) : Lost Railways
Originally the track went underneath the G.N.R Leeds Wakefield line at this point, through Farnley & Wortley station
& connected to the L.N.W.R  Leeds Dewsbury line.
Gelderd Road bridge facing east (10-04-05) : Lost Railways
Gelderd Road crossing Facing towards Leeds.
Gelderd Road bridge facing north (10-04-05) : Lost Railways
View of the bridge from Gelderd road.
Embankment & Track bed facing west (10-04-05) : Lost Railways
Facing back along the embankment (A643 & Farnley viaduct behind camera)
 
Embankment Facing south (c1980) : Lost Railways
Taken from somewhere near Copley Hill, a romantic view of a Kings Cross H.S.T on the same embankment back in 1980.
 Elland road football ground visible in the background.
Farnley viaduct facing east (30-07-86) : Michael Kaye
Photograph was taken on 30th July 1986, we are on the 'Down Line' entering the viaduct from Geldrard Junction, the building on the right is Kays,
Farnley viaduct facing east (10-04-05) : Lost Railways
Same place in 2005 facing towards Leeds at the start of the viaduct. The viaduct (fenced off from this point) starts here & crosses the A643.
Some track still remains.
Farnley viaduct facing east (10-04-05) : Lost Railways
View down the side.  A643 passes under the second arch.
Farnley viaduct facing south  (02-05-05) : Lost Railways
Photographed from the A643 travelling slowly south.
Farnley Viaduct (10-04-07) : David Taylor
This has already been mentioned by Michael Kaye. In 1882 the L&NWR opened a line from Wortley on the existing route to the west side of New Station giving them independent access into New Station and avoiding the congestion on the shared rails.
Farnley Viaduct (10-04-07) : David Taylor
The line ran extensively on the ¾ mile long Farnley Viaduct of 83 arches and 10 girder bridges.
The line was closed in 1987 and the track subsequently taken up.
Farnley viaduct facing north (10-04-05) : Lost Railways
Taken from from Holbeck Depot (on left) facing towards Canal junction.
Farnley Viaduct facing Leeds (29-06-05) (RikJ)    www.flickr.com/photos/rikj/   http://www.darkplaces.co.uk/
View from on the viaduct where it starts to curve round into Leeds City Station.
Farnley viaduct bridge (29-06-05) (RikJ)
Farnley Viaduct (20-10-10) : Phill Davison
The Leeds skyline has changed dramatically over the years. The ornate towers of Tower works are today dwarfed by it's new neighbours.
This is pictured on top of the bridge across Bridge Road in Holbeck. See the full set here - http://blogs.myspace.com/
Farnley Viaduct (20-10-10) : Phill Davison
Above the City shot looking across Bridge Road towards the Farnley direction. The roof you can see on the left is the Old Chapel on Czsar Street in Holbeck. Low Hall Mills can be seen on the right of the picture.
Farnley Viaduct (20-10-10) : Phill Davison
I love these subways and ginnels around the viaduct, there great for atmospheric photos. The green board fixed to the fence (next to the small subway) is where another footpath joined the ginnel from Water Lane. That footpath has long since been disused.
Farnley viaduct footpath 2 (19-06-05) (RikJ)
Now that's what I call litter.
Farnley Viaduct (20-10-10) : Phill Davison
This place was littered with old fridges and gas cannisters when i first looked down here four years ago. It's good to see it's been cleaned up since then. I like the blue glow of daylight radiating into the tunnel on this shot. See the full set here - http://blogs.myspace.com/
Farnley viaduct footpath 1 (19-06-05) (RikJ)
Maybe Victorian pedestrians were a lot taller than we are.
Farnley viaduct footpath 3 (19-06-05) (RikJ)
That angle on the stone arch isn't perspective, it's really like that!
Farnley Viaduct (20-10-10) : Phill Davison
This is the much smaller subway built in 1846 by the Midland railway. The subway has a slight kink in it for no apparent reason. The sun is in the right position to highlight the interior tiles nicely here. You can see the subway has been extended to accomodate extra track above at a later date. Today hardly anyone uses these ginnels, there pretty much a forgotten part of old Holbeck. See the full set here - http://blogs.myspace.com/


High & low Stations at Holbeck
Explanation : David Taylor
As a schoolboy I used the Low Level Station but I do think that people who did not know it may be a bit confused by the High Level/Low Level talk, so to explain. In effect it was two stations one on top of the other connected by steps. The High Level station was on a bridge and served GNR and L&Y lines which then continued over a viaduct in to Central Station (see photos re Central Station). Below it was the Low Level station on the MR lines from Wellington Station to the Aire Valley and the NER New Station line to Harrogate. The primary purpose and usage was as an interchange between the Central Station lines and the lower lines from Wellington and New stations so that passengers could change between these lines without having to cross between the city centre stations. Unfortunately I've never seen a photo of High Level Station taken from the Low Level platforms which would visually explain.

Holbeck low level station
Midland Railway   North Eastern Railway
Entrance to Holbeck station from Gelderd road (29-06-05) : RikJ
Just to the south of the round house on Wellington road.
This entrance to the station, off Gelderd road, was via a subway between the joint N.E , G.N line & the Midland line,
emerged between the railings in the centre of the platform.
Entrance to Holbeck station Gelderd road (12-09-10) : Lost Railways
The view from above facing towards Leeds. The entrance just visible along side that car. An island platform was on top next to the bridges.
Entrance to Holbeck station from Whitehall road (29-06-05) : RikJ
See Map
This entrance via a long footpath from beneath the L & N.W.R & Midland lines on Whitehall road.

Holbeck high level station
Great Northern Railway  Lancashire & Yorkshire
Holbeck high level station (23-10-06) : Phill Davison   Website - http://www.flckr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/   
This is the only remains of the much photographed Holbeck high level station.
Holbeck high level station (23-10-06) : Phill Davison
The view from Whitehall jnct looking over the removed bridge section towards Leeds.
I’m stood on the exact spot where platform 1 of Holbeck high level was.
Holbeck Subway Sutton Street entrance (02-07-05) : RikJ  websites -  www.flickr.com/photos/rikj/   http://www.darkplaces.co.uk/
The subway runs from Sutton street, under the L.& N.W.R. Whitehall Branch, under Holbeck G.N.R & emerged on what was Talavera street off  Gelderd road. (See map)
Holbeck Subway  (02-07-05) : RikJ
Breezeblock and concrete section in the middle of the subway, may have originally been where the subway emerged out into the open.
 
Holbeck Subway Northern entrance (02-07-05) : RikJ
Subway entrance at northern end.

Holbeck MPD
Midland Railway
Holbeck (29-05-1967) : Roy Lambeth    Website - www.dmm.org.uk/mindex.htm
70046 b
Holbeck (29-05-1967)  : Roy Lambeth 
92082

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