ROYSTON Jct - DEWSBURY Lost Railway of Yorkshire. Midland Railways West Riding Branch
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 20 июн 2022
- A walk tracing the old line which ran from Royston Jct, which was on the Midland line that went to Leeds, following it to its terminus at Dewsbury Saville Goods Depot. This was later deemed a failed project as the Midland railway wanted to create their own avoiding loop to Bradford and beyond, avoiding the busy hub at Leeds. There original intention was to reach Bradford as well as build an additional spur to the nearby town of Huddersfield. As costs rose the Midland Railway reached an agreement with the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway to share their metal following their line through to Low Moor. Close to Low Moor the Midland railway planned on building their own triangle close to Oakenshaw but again this did not materialize.
The walk follows the route through a once busy district of Crigglestone, passing the site of a colliery as well as a disused viaduct, this was also the location where several railways passed under each other, providing connections to the nearby town of Wakefield. The next major district was Middlestown which once had its own goods depot. It was close to here that the railway split in order to join the line to Bradford, this junction was called Middlestown Jct. This line opened in 1906 but closed early in 1950, i was surprised at what i discovered....
The Midland Railway's eight-mile route from Royston Junction to Thornhill was authorised under the 1898 West Riding Lines Act, which included lines to Huddersfield, Halifax and Bradford. First trafficked in 1905 after three years construction, it connected with the Lancashire & Yorkshire's network at Thornhill Junction and featured a short tunnel as well as two substantial viaducts. 1st March 1906 saw the opening of a two-mile spur to Savile Town Goods from a junction near Horbury Bridge. This would have served as Dewsbury's passenger station had the full plans come to fruition.
Intended principally for freight, the route was used by Bradford-St Pancras services for a 12-year period between the two world wars. The eastern end of the line closed in May 1968 but trains continued to use the western section until August, bringing materials to the M1 motorway which was then under construction. Track lifting took place the following year.
The viaduct at Calder Grove (known as Crigglestone Viaduct) has 21 arches. The most eastern one sits over the existing Wakefield-Barnsley line. The former Crigglestone curve (Crigglestone Jnc to Horbury Station Jnc) passed beneath its western approach embankment whilst the central section towered over Pepper's Yard British Oak site and the old line serving the collieries around Flockton.
To the east of Crigglestone goods station, the line passed through a ridge courtesy of a curved 250-yard tunnel. This is lined throughout in blue engineering brick and numerous refuges are provided on both sides.
Since closure, the eastern approach cutting has been infilled and the concrete wall erected at the portal. The extant western entrance has a wonderful presence and, during winter months, can be glimsed by southbound traffic on the M1, just after Junction 39.
The last two bridges at the end of your video, over the Canal and river Calder to Horbury, I can remember as a young lad watching stream trains go over them, and the line running from Hartley Bank pit to Horbury with the little saddle tank engine called our girls pulling coal. Those days where magic, just wish we had video cameras back then in the 50’s early 60’s the memories are still there and the smell of soot and sulphur in the air. Enjoyed your video, next time take a machete 😂🤣👍cheers Martin.
I’ve cycled this route many times, and used to live next to the line on Stoney Lane, Chapelthorpe (top end is Crigg).
The wall you see that is part blue brick was actually a bridge that went over the road (I have a photo) and it progressed through land that became part of the miniature golf course at Painthorpe Country Club.
Rightly so as you mention it then disappears at the old Crigglestone Colliery site which is now industrial estate.
It was backfilled and built on, which is more obvious from above as the two houses have really long driveways. This is because the tunnel is underneath and they couldn’t build on it, hence why the houses are set further back.
Tunnel is eerie, known locally as ‘Darkie Tunnel’ and used to be a dare to walk to the end when we were kids.
It’s a fascinating walk, I’ve been meaning to do a drone flight over for some time. It’s years since I walked over the viaduct so sad to see so many trees growing through.
@31:24 Out of sight stabling point for the Royal Train. Around 2012, there were still tracks extant over the Calder and Hebble and River Calder Bridges.
It’s sad to see the remains of railway lines being erased. I personally feel that it was very short sight of the likes of Dr Beeching and others of that era especially given today’s circumstances. Great to see your videos exploring what remains.
Do you have a video of the Leeds New Line?
Fantastic video. Thank you. Although Saville Town Goods closed in 1950 the spur from Thornhill L&Y continued open to Royston junction until the mid 1960s. I used to travel on this line from Mirfield to Rotherham on Blackpool to Derby excursions. Steam to about 1962 then DMUs.
On my channel I have the gbrf freight train that run along the live railway at the beginning of the video. I live in royston and I know what everything is. So the brick square was a junction box for the coal mine. The bricks on the in bankment were part of the main royston junction boxes. The mines junction box wasn't manned by a railway engineer. It was ran by a mining engineer who had to radio the main junction boxes. 1 south in cudworth the other just a few hundred metres up the line were the line diverged the first stone bride you come across on the dewsbury line carries the royston to Sandle wakefield main road( Road name Station Road. Befor turning into Walton lane
Lovely video. I worked at Carlton North Sidings in the late 60s and we use to send trains to Rose Grove in Lancashire via Royston Junction to Criggleston, missing out Healey Mills. I left in 1969. So not too sure when it actually closed.
It should be made into a cycle / walkway & carry on all the way. But I doubt it.
Another great video, well worth a watch.
Thank you for a brilliant video 👍
Sustrans should open up the whole of this line and link it on to the Spen Valley Greenway. It wouldn’t be overly difficult.
Yet another fascinating video. Thank you, and please keep up the excellent work 👍
I grew up in Royston and still live nearby so it's great to see this, nice one. Been on Crigglestone Viaduct a few times, it's not easy to get on so well done there!
The spur line off the Leeds barnsley line lasted up until the mid eighties and the track was left in place for a long time after closure , I can remember passing the signal box grigglestone junction on Barnsley Leeds trains , I cycle the Royston junction line as far as newmiller dam sometimes
The live line terminates at the Ardagh glass works in Monk Bretton.
Thanks Allan, I know that area and the route the line took and that's on hell of a long walk, well done.
Loved this makes sense of the photos I’ve got, thanks. 😎
Another brilliant explore!! :)
U can grow potatoes in there lots of spuds
When we lived in Wakefield I walked the route several times with my Dad, from the Barnsley Road (by the Mercedes van depot) to as close as possible to the Monk Bretton glassworks line - which when we lived there was the main express route from Leeds to Sheffield, before the present route via Moorthorpe took over and the Royston route was downgraded to freight only. It's a great shame that the whole route wasn't turned into a footpath/cycle track as soon as the track was lifted. The view from Crigglestone Viaduct would be very impressive.
to be informant of the starting point the line you see at the beginning is the royston glassworks sidings although it is an active line it only sees goods trains on certain days the majority of the bed was in cuttings which some parts have been infilled there were talks of turning the remaining parts of the disused bed into the a part of the sustrans tpt route but this never happenedit only goes as far as east of crigglestone 1/2 a mile from eastern portal of the crigglestone tunnel which has been filled in leaving only the western portal visible but only from the M1 southbound more than 6 years ago some work were carried out on the tunnel to determin its condition of its bore nothing else has came of it it did pass beneath the M1 onto the viaduct but a large area is on private land & straight after rail over raail the embankment comes to a stop where 4 feet of beds missing where field starts from the rest of the bbed passes thru another private land then stops the goods yard is now housing if those are wanting to do this plan your route carefully as some areas are literally no go zones its worth doing but with care
That’s brick foundation is the sight of the royston junction signal box
those new houses on the sidings in savile town must be built on very recent infill ,would not want to live there lol
9:21 What's the name of the road please?
Stoney lane
Hi, this is the bit of the west curve you could not get to. ruclips.net/video/ttbD9YolKS0/видео.html