Exploring the Former Eastwood (Yorks) Railway Station

Opened on January 1st, 1841, Eastwood Railway Station once bustled, serving the charming village of Eastwood, nestled between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden in West Yorkshire. A vital hub in its time, the station boasted a signal box, a level crossing, coal drops, and a goods passing loop – features that have, alas, all vanished with the passage of time.

Today, while the main access ramp from Burnley Road still serves as a pedestrian thoroughfare, the former vehicle level crossing has been reduced to a simple pedestrian crossing, offering a quieter route to Eastwood Lane.

The station played a crucial role in local transport for over a century, but the rise of trams and buses gradually led to a decline in passenger numbers. This shift ultimately led to its closure in December 1951. Though passenger services ceased, goods traffic continued for a few more years, lingering until the early 1960s.

The station buildings themselves stood as a testament to its history until the early 1970s. With the closure of the signal box, the remaining structures were eventually demolished and the site cleared, leaving only remnants of its former grandeur.

These evocative images, captured on May 4th, 2022, using a Nikon D3300 SLR, offer a glimpse into what remains of this once-thriving railway station, allowing us to connect with the echoes of its past. They invite us to imagine the trains chugging in and out, the passengers coming and going, and the vital role it played in the life of Eastwood.

The remains of the former station buildings, the site was always tight on
space and the hillside was dug away to provide space for the buildings.
Its hard to imagine now that there were station buildings, a signal box, a
passing loop, coal delivery drops and 2 platforms all within this 
small area for a station.

The station access roads, these used to lead up to a level crossing that
past between the 2 stations platforms, these were staggered due to the
small area available. The only crossing now is for pedestrians.

Looking down the former access ramp and at the pedestrian crossing
that was once used by cars. This picture shows how tight the site
was to fit a station here.

Eastwood Lane runs above the station site, the road towards the
bottom left of the picture accesses the area around what was the station.

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Exploring the Rishworth Branch Line: December 2013

As an avid photographer and history enthusiast, few places capture my imagination quite like the remnants of old railway lines. One of my absolute favorite spots to explore with my camera is the Rishworth Branch Line, a fascinating piece of history that once connected the Ryburn Valley with the mainline at Sowerby Bridge.

This railway wasn't just a simple track; it was a vital link, with stations and halts at Rishworth, Ripponden, Triangle, and Watson's Crossing. Even today, much of the line remains remarkably intact. You can still find a number of old bridges providing crossings over the former trackbed, silently witnessing the passage of time.

A Glimpse into its History

The Rishworth Branch Line was initially conceived as the first stage of an ambitious plan: to shorten the railway connection between Sowerby Bridge and Littleborough by about five miles, by tunnelling right underneath the Pennines. Imagine the engineering feat that would have been! However, this grand scheme was eventually abandoned due to difficulties encountered during the construction of the line to Rishworth.

Despite this, the line itself had a significant life. Authorized in 1865 as part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the section to Ripponden was completed in 1878, extending to Rishworth in 1881. Stations opened in Rishworth and Triangle that same year. Interestingly, though built for double track, for much of its existence, only one line was actively used, with the second serving as storage for carriages.

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The Rise and Fall of a Railway

The turn of the 20th century brought innovation to the line with the introduction of motor railcars. This led to the opening of a new halt at Watson's Crossing in 1907, perhaps marking the peak of the line's usage. However, the golden age was fleeting. Growing competition from trams and the burgeoning popularity of motor cars led to a decline in passenger numbers. Passenger service was eventually withdrawn on July 8th, 1929, with only goods traffic continuing.

The line's final chapters saw further closures. The section between Ripponden and Rishworth closed in March 1952 due to engineering issues, and the entire line officially ceased operations on September 1st, 1958.

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What Remains Today

Today, while the station buildings are long gone, along with the former pedestrian bridge, Ripponden Bank road bridge, and the wooden trellis bridge that once connected Rishworth Station with the turnpike, the spirit of the line endures. The Scar Head Tunnel still runs underneath the Norland Hillside (though it's inaccessible), and you can still see the platform at Rishworth, now beautifully reclaimed by vegetation.

Much of the former trackbed is now a fantastic place for walkers to explore, offering a unique journey through history and nature, though it's worth noting that some stretches are privately owned.

These photos, capturing the atmospheric remnants of the Rishworth Branch Line, were taken on December 7th, 2013, with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. It just goes to show you don't always need fancy equipment to capture the magic of a place!

Scar Head Tunnel Portal

The former site of Triangle Station

The pictures above were taken on the stretch of former track bed between Scar Head Tunnel and the site of Triangle Station, the following images were taken between Triangle and Ripponden Stations, although nothing remains of either stop.

The former Ripponden station used to sit at the top of the abutment.

The final set of pictures were taken between Ripponden and Rishworth station sites, This section was the last to open in 1881 and also the first to fully close in 1953.

The former trackbed through this section was so wet on the day I was there it resembled a canal rather than the former trackbed of a railway.

The former Rishworth station platform still remained, although largely reclaimed by nature, when I visited it had been 60 years since it had seen a train and 84 since a passenger had waited on it stone concourse.

This was the entrance to Rishworth Station which was reached by a wooden trestle bridge, which constantly had issued regarding stability. The bridge was strengthened in the 1920's and was one of the reasons that led to the closure of Rishworth station in 1953 some 5 years before the rest of the line, when the bridge was demolished.

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Discover the Spen Valley Greenway. Low Moor to the M62.

Imagine a tranquil, traffic-free path winding through the heart of West Yorkshire, connecting Low Moor to Ravensthorpe. This is the Spen Valley Greenway, an 8-mile haven for cyclists and pedestrians, tracing the forgotten routes of the old Spen Valley Railway and Ravensthorpe Branch Lines.

Opened in 2000, just two years after Sustrans acquired the disused track bed, the Greenway isn't just a path; it's a living museum. As you journey through towns like Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, and Liversedge, you'll discover more than just picturesque scenery. Keep an eye out for tell-tale railway signposts and unique ornamental benches – subtle nods to the line's industrial past. But the true gems are the scattered artworks that surprise and delight: spot Sally Matthews' charming flock of Swaledale sheep and the intriguing form of Trudi Entwistle's "Rotate."

One of the Greenway's greatest appeals is its accessibility. It's blissfully traffic-free and remarkably flat, with only gentle slopes to keep things interesting. And for those mid-journey refreshment breaks, convenience is key! You'll find a Tesco right alongside the former Cleckheaton Station site, and a Morrison's just a short walk from what was once Heckmondwike Station.

So, whether you're a keen cyclist, a leisurely stroller, or simply looking for a peaceful escape, the Spen Valley Greenway offers a unique blend of nature, history, and art.

The following is a short video I put together of the pictures I took along the line, it includes images of the station sites whilst still operational.

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From Rails to Trails: The Spen Valley Greenway's Storied Past

Before it became the beloved Spen Valley Greenway, a pleasant tarmacked route for cyclists and pedestrians, this peaceful stretch of land had a bustling past as the Mirfield and Low Moor Railway. This double-track line opened in two stages: first, from Low Moor to Mirfield on July 18, 1848, followed by the Ravensthorpe Branch, connecting Thornhill with Heckmondwike, on June 1, 1849.

At its peak, the line boasted eight stations. Along the main Mirfield route, travellers could alight at Low Moor, Cleckheaton Central, Liversedge Central, Heckmondwike Central, and then, after the split, Northorpe North Road and Mirfield. The Ravensthorpe Branch served Ravensthorpe Lower and Thornhill. The railway hummed with activity until passenger services were withdrawn in July 1965, with goods traffic finally ceasing in the late 1980s.

A Future on the Horizon? Reopening the Spen Valley Line

Today, whispers of the past are growing louder. Small but passionate campaigns are advocating for the reopening of the line, a seemingly straightforward, albeit potentially expensive, endeavour given that much of the track bed remains clear and undeveloped.

The argument for reinstatement is compelling: over 50,000 people reside along the Spen Valley route with limited access to rail services without lengthy commutes. Competing proposals envision both heavy rail and light rail solutions, each offering a different vision for reconnecting these communities. Could the former Mirfield and Low Moor Railway once again carry passengers, transforming the region's connectivity

The following pictures are taken on the route from Low Moor to the M62 Motorway Bridge at Chain Bar. They were taken on the 30th December 2019 with a Nikon d3300.

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The Ghost of the Halifax High Level Railway

Back in 2017, I shared some snapshots from a 2014 trek along the ghostly remains of the Halifax High Level Railway. For ages, I've yearned to retrace those steps, especially since my collection of historic photos – depicting the line in its operational glory or just after its demise – has grown significantly. My vision? To weave together a compelling "then and now" narrative. While COVID-19 unfortunately scuppered plans for an early 2020 re-walk, I couldn't wait to bring this forgotten route back to life. So, I stitched together a virtual journey on YouTube, guiding viewers along the tracks from its terminus at St. Paul's Station, King Cross, all the way to Shay Lane, Holmfield, where it once met the Queensbury line. It's a blend of those cherished old images and my own 2014 captures, presented in chronological order of the route itself.

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Conceived in the ambitious railway boom of 1884, the Halifax High Level Railway was destined for grandeur, envisioned as a vital artery connecting Queensbury to Huddersfield and beyond. Yet, like many grand designs, its reach far exceeded its grasp. The grand vision crumbled, leaving behind a mere three-mile spur that cautiously opened to Pellon Station in August 1890, extending to St. Paul's a month later.

Despite its initial promise, the line never truly captured the hearts of passengers. A paltry 1.3-mile journey to Halifax Old Station became an arduous, 30-minute ordeal, complete with a change at Holmfield. The arrival of trams at Pellon and King Cross by the turn of the century sealed the line's fate, siphoning away the few remaining passengers. A planned station at Wheatley, nestled between the tunnel and viaduct, remained a phantom, replaced by a humble goods yard for Webster's brewery. Passenger services, first withdrawn in 1917, flickered back to life briefly after the war, only to fade entirely by 1927, save for a few nostalgic excursions. The final passenger train, a somber procession, departed St. Paul's on a Friday in February 1963.

Though passenger dreams evaporated, the Halifax High Level Railway found its niche in freight, a steady stream of goods rumbling along its tracks until June 1960, when the final whistle blew, and the line fell silent. Station buildings were razed, tracks lifted, and the brief life of the Halifax High Level Railway came to an end.

Today, echoes of this lost line remain. The magnificent Wheatley Viaduct, a towering, 10-arch structure, still dominates the landscape. The western entrance of the tunnel stands as a silent sentinel, though its eastern counterpart was consumed by a housing estate, a lost opportunity for what could have been a stunning bridleway connecting communities. The former sites of St. Paul's, Pellon, and Holmfield Junction have succumbed to industrial sprawl, or in the case of St. Paul's, a forgotten, dilapidated car showroom. Many of the original bridges at Hopwood Lane, Gibbet Street, Hanson Lane, Battinson Road, and Keighley Road, though now filled in, still stubbornly mark the line's path. Others, like those at Pellon Lane, Brackenbed Road, and Wood Lane, stand proudly across their roads, alongside footbridge remnants at Field Side and Church Lane. Beyond Wheatley, the tunnel's airshaft at Cousin Lane and a lonely abutment on Shay Lane offer tantalizing glimpses into the railway's past.

Imagine the possibilities if this forgotten railway had been transformed into a vibrant bridleway, a green corridor weaving through the heart of Halifax, potentially even linking with the ambitious Queensbury Tunnel cycleway.

Field Side Tunnel Path

Brackenbed Lane Bridge

Wheatley Viaduct

Wheatley Tunnel Entrance

Inside Wheatley Tunnel. I never entered the tunnel this was taken from the doorway.

Wheatley Tunnel Air Shaft.

Remains of Shay Lane Bridge.

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