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View Full Version : Some lost railways of West Yorkshire Feb '09



boxfrenzy
18-02-2009, 09:52 PM
Right. Got everything? Anorak, flask, satchel, beard? Lets go... First stop, Dewsbury.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3290107743_b81e387832.jpg

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Headfield Viaduct. It was built in the early years of the twentieth century, and the last train rolled over here in the mid 1990's.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3290107685_a9bb058be4.jpg

The former line between Dewsbury Central and Headfield Junction features an open bow string girder bridge across the River Calder and a 13-arch viaduct.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/3290107733_7df290d906.jpg

The two spans are supported by a huge stone pillar in the middle of the river.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/3290107691_8fcfb4dcd6.jpg

Further down the line from the Headfield Viaduct is this overgrown track. It is still used occasionally by the nearby Blue Circle cement company.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3290939440_55f9bf3021.jpg

I like these overgrown railway tracks.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/3290107699_04fcea2016.jpg

Fasten those seatbelts, we're off about a half a mile north, to the Earlsheaton Tunnel. This is the western portal readers.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3290114921_fe93974c35.jpg

The Earlsheaton tunnel is 179 yards long. The tunnel formed part of the GNR loop line from Batley to Wakefield via Dewsbury. The line opened in 1876 and closed to all traffic in 1965.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3290114943_315c19b47e.jpg

Poor, nay inept, climbing ability prevented a decent photographic opportunity. Here's the northern portal.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/3290114929_9235c8382f.jpg

We're heading to Horbury now, and this time for a great photographic opportunity under a live railway in possibly the scariest footbridge ever constructed. Lets pop up the steps shall we?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/3290134359_b93ac64a81.jpg

How cool is this? How frightening would this be late at night?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/3290134337_df1381e26c.jpg

Looking the other way.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3290134349_634ecd6509.jpg

Trains go over this, I'll have you know.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/3290134383_abc96d0cba.jpg

Lets travel over to Halifax to finish the railway adventure with some tunnel action. So to speak.The Old Lane tunnel was between Woodside Viaduct and North Bridge station. Recently work was carried out inside the disued tunnel. This is the hidden northern portal.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3214571953_63e440e7c8.jpg

Lee Bank tunnel was built near Ovenden in Halifax. It was 267 Yards long and was very close to Woodside Viaduct and Woodside (Old Lane) Tunnel. The southern portal of Lee Bank tunnel was infilled when the main Keighley road was doubled to a dual carraige way.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3215437108_889b2e2a50.jpg

The Wheatley tunnel was a tunnel of over 800 yards in length. It was on the old Halifax High Level Railway which ran between Holmfield (on the suburbs of Halifax) to a station called Halifax St. Pauls to provide a rail link for the west side of Halifax.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3214571959_151806db82.jpg

The branch was closed to passengers in 1915 and to goods in 1960 when the tracks were lifted.
The east portal has now disappeared. The mist inside the Wheatley tunnel is bad.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3214571977_96e547fe81.jpg

Thank-you for reading. Carry on as you were.