Huncoat: A Lancashire Railway Station with a Powerful Past

 In August 2022, I took a trip to the quaint village of Huncoat in Lancashire, camera in hand (my trusty Nikon D3300!) to capture the essence of its modest but historically significant railway station.

This seemingly quiet stop on the East Lancashire Line holds a fascinating past, closely linked to the region's industrial boom. It's more than just a place to catch a train; it's a window into the coal, brick, and power-generating industries that once dominated this area.

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The Historical Significance

Huncoat Railway Station, currently managed by Northern Trains, first opened its doors on September 18, 1848, as part of the East Lancashire Railway. Interestingly, the station you see today isn't the original location—it was relocated to its current site in 1902 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway to better serve the growing local industries.

• Industrial Hub: The area around the station exploded with industry between the two World Wars. It served three local collieries (coal mines), two coke ovens, and the famous Accrington Nori Brick Works. This meant a vast network of mineral lines converged here, making Huncoat a vital freight hub.

• The Power Station Link: Perhaps the most imposing piece of local history was the massive Huncoat Power Station, constructed between 1950 and 1956 right next to the station. It relied on the railway for the massive amounts of coal it consumed. While the power station was decommissioned in 1984 and the site is now a nature walk, the sheer scale of the operation it once supported is impressive.

• A Railway Award Winner: In a testament to its freight importance, the station actually won a railway award just before the start of the Second World War for the sheer tonnage of freight it handled!

Capturing the Modern Halt

Today, the bustling freight yards are gone, and the grand old 1912 station buildings—which once housed a booking office, waiting rooms, and a parcels office—have been replaced with simple, modern shelters, marking its evolution into a quiet, unstaffed commuter halt.

Despite the modernisation, the station's character shines through, especially thanks to the community effort from the local group, 'Hands on Huncoat', who often add beautiful floral displays, breathing new life into the platforms.

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Your Journey on the East Lancashire Line

The station sits on the East Lancashire Line, connecting destinations in a convenient one-hour frequency (hourly on weekdays and Saturdays, two-hourly on Sundays).

• Westbound: Trains head toward Accrington, Blackburn, and ultimately Preston.

• Eastbound: Services run to Burnley and Colne.

The contrasting elements of Huncoat make it a compelling subject for any rail enthusiast—the simple functionality of a modern Northern station set against a backdrop of deep industrial history. If you're ever travelling through Lancashire, it’s a spot well worth a pause to reflect on the industries that shaped the region.

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Unveiling the Hidden Arches: A Norland Perspective of Copley Viaduct

The Copley Viaduct, a stoic sentinel of stone and rail, is a familiar and imposing sight to many in the Calderdale valley. Its grand, rhythmic arches, usually captured and admired from the more accessible Copley side of the river, are a profound testament to the ambition and structural ingenuity of Victorian engineering. However, on a crisp 5th of November in 2016, armed with my trusty Nikon d3300, I embarked on a personal quest to unveil a lesser-seen, often-overlooked side of this magnificent structure – the view from the wilder, higher Norland embankment.

The Quest for a New Angle

My intention was born from a desire for a unique perspective. The viaduct, an integral part of the railway line stretching towards Halifax, is the longer and more impressive of the two major crossings in the area. Yet, the rugged Norland bank of the River Calder at this point is rarely photographed. I wanted to see it through fresh eyes, framed by the wild, untamed beauty of the western slope, capturing the interplay between the raw landscape and the man-made marvel.

The viaduct itself, a Grade II listed structure completed in 1852 for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, is a marvel designed by the prominent engineer Sir John Hawkshaw. Its original purpose was to link Sowerby Bridge and Halifax more directly, bypassing the earlier, circuitous branch line. Its 21 to 23 arches (sources vary slightly) elegantly span the valley, crossing not just the River Calder, but also the historic Calder & Hebble Navigation and the Wakefield Road (A6026). This sheer scale and historical importance add immense weight and character to every stone.

An Unrecommended Ascent

The specific viewpoint I sought demanded an ascent. The climb up the embankment was, to put it mildly, a significant challenge. It was a steep, difficult scramble, weaving through thick undergrowth and navigating treacherous, uneven terrain. As I pushed upwards, my mind was half-expecting to encounter a formidable fence at the summit, a clear, sensible demarcation preventing access to the elevated, active railway line.

To my surprise, when I reached the top of the banking overlooking the line, there was no fence. While this offered an unobstructed view, it instantly reinforced the absolute necessity of extreme caution. I maintained a safe and sensible distance away from the active railway lines at all times. The brief moments at the top were only for two quick, carefully composed shots before I commenced the careful and difficult descent back down the banking.

I must stress this point strongly: I absolutely would not recommend anybody else attempt this climb. The risks involved, especially the proximity to a busy, active main railway line like the Calder Valley route, are far too high, and the terrain itself was unforgiving. Safety, around any railway infrastructure, must always be paramount.

The Rewards of the North Bank

The effort, for me, was justified by the images captured, which offer a rare glimpse into the hidden world beneath and beside the viaduct from this unique vantage point.

Looking up from the base of the embankment, the sheer scale of the viaduct becomes strikingly apparent. The imposing, semi circular arches, usually perceived as elegant distant features, now loom overhead, their weathered, rock-faced sandstone a massive canvas of time and history. They dwarf the surrounding trees and give a visceral sense of the colossal effort that went into their construction.

The scene, captured on an autumnal day, is framed by the skeletal trees, stripped bare by the approaching November chill. Their branches reach like gnarled, dark fingers towards the sky, creating natural, gothic frames for the stone arches. The low, crisp light of the day filters through the canopy and between the arches, creating pockets of illumination and deep shadow—a moody, almost ethereal atmosphere that hints at the industrial and natural secrets held within the valley.

The Norland side, less manicured and more rugged, provides a powerful contrast to the structure itself. It reminds you that this incredible piece of Victorian infrastructure was driven right through a landscape that did not easily surrender, a landscape still defined by the steep banks of the River Calder.

The images taken from the top of the embankment offer the true prize: an unprecedented, sweeping view along the length of the viaduct as it vanishes towards Halifax. This perspective, often monopolized by the distant Copley side, reveals the full, majestic sweep of the arches from a parallel, elevated angle—a fitting reward for a difficult photographic quest to see a familiar landmark with completely new eyes.

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A Rare Sight in the Valley: TransPennine Express Diverted Past Brearley

The Calder Valley Line is a gem of Northern rail travel, known for its winding route through deep, green valleys and historic mill towns. But on June 1st, 2024, it offered up a sight rail enthusiasts rarely, if ever, get to see: a TransPennine Express (TPE) train from Manchester Victoria to Saltburn roaring through the valley floor at Brearley (near Luddendenfoot).

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The Unexpected Visitor

Typically, the TPE services that run between Manchester and Saltburn use the main Leeds and York routes. These are the fast intercity links, and the local, slower-paced Calder Valley Line is usually reserved for Northern services.

However, due to scheduled engineering works elsewhere on the network—the inevitable weekend maintenance that keeps the UK rail network running—this particular TPE service had to take a detour. And what a magnificent detour it was.

I was positioned above the line at Brearley, near the historic stone retaining walls, with the lush, vibrant greenery of the valley providing a perfect frame. The sun, dappled by the clouds, illuminated the scene, making the purple rhododendron blossoms on the embankment pop against the deep forest green.

When the train appeared, it was a blur of blue and yellow against the landscape. The TPE livery is a familiar sight at major stations, but here, in the secluded valley, it felt like an interloper—a high-speed express briefly slowing its pace to appreciate the West Yorkshire scenery.

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Capturing the Moment

I had my Nikon D3300 ready. Capturing a moving train in a forested valley is a classic photography challenge, especially when you want to convey the sense of motion against a stationary, beautiful backdrop.

To achieve that wonderful blur on the train while keeping the surroundings relatively sharp, I used a technique called panning. It involves:

1. Setting a Slower Shutter Speed: Around 1/125th or 1/160th of a second was perfect to blur the wheels and the carriages just enough.

2. Tracking the Subject: As the train approached, I smoothly moved my camera, keeping the main engine or a specific carriage door exactly in the same spot in the viewfinder.

3. The Shot: Firing the shutter while still panning.

The result is a photograph where the train appears to stretch and streak, emphasising its speed and momentum, while the detail of the surrounding trees and purple flowers remains a sharp frame for the action. The motion blur on the train perfectly contrasts with the solidity of the valley.

This wasn't just a photograph of a train; it was a snapshot of a railway story—a fleeting moment where operational necessity created a beautiful, one-off photographic opportunity.

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The Beauty of Brearley

The location itself, near the village of Luddendenfoot, is a photographer’s dream. The Calder Valley is one of the most rugged and rewarding sections of the Pennine route, carving its way through what was once a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. Today, it’s a tranquil scene of stone-built villages nestled into the hillside, with the railway tracing the ribbon of the River Calder below.

For anyone looking to capture the romance of British railways, the Calder Valley Line—even on an ordinary day—offers endless compositions.

But seeing that big TPE heading to Saltburn on these tracks? That's one for the logbook! Always remember to keep your eyes open, because sometimes the best photo opportunities are the unexpected diversions.

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Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Chasing the Last Light: An Atmospheric Day in Scarborough, North Yorkshire

There’s a unique, nostalgic magic that settles over the British coast as summer reluctantly gives way to autumn. On September 7th, 2024, I found it draped across the cliffs and lapping the shores of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. It was a day of transition—the vibrant crowds of high summer had thinned, leaving behind a profound sense of place, perfectly captured through the lens of my trusty Nikon D3300.

This wasn't about seeking out picture-postcard sunshine. It was about atmosphere, the contrast of Victorian grandeur against the raw, rugged North Sea.

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The Headland’s Timeless Watch: Castle and Lighthouse

The journey to the heart of Scarborough always starts with the dramatic headland, where the past is literally carved into the rock. The formidable ruins of Scarborough Castle stand guard, silently surveying both the bustling South Bay and the calmer North Bay. From this vantage point, you feel the weight of over 3,000 years of history, from Roman signal stations to Civil War sieges.

Looking down towards the harbour, one of the most compelling scenes unfolds: the South Bay beach, the colourful boats, and the sturdy white and red stripe of the Scarborough Pier Lighthouse.

On a day like this, the air was thick with a salty, invigorating mist, softening the edges of the town and lending a timeless, cinematic quality to the light. The lighthouse, a beacon of safety since 1806, seemed to glow from within, a stark, steadfast pillar against the movement of the sea. Capturing this composition—the power of the ancient castle looming over the industry of the harbour—is the essence of Scarborough.

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The Elegance of Iron: Scarborough's Spa Bridge

As you move away from the wild coastline, you encounter the architectural elegance that cemented Scarborough's status as Britain’s first seaside resort. The Cliff Bridge, often still referred to as the Spa Bridge, is an astonishing multi-span cast iron footbridge dating back to 1827.

Spanning the valley from St Nicholas Cliff to The Spa complex, the bridge is more than just a convenient shortcut; it’s an iconic piece of Georgian engineering and Grade II listed beauty. Its green iron arches cut a striking silhouette against the sky. Walking across it, high above the valley, offers a unique perspective on the town.

It was designed to transport Victorian gentry effortlessly to the natural Spa waters—a testament to the town’s luxurious heyday. The intricate ironwork, still perfectly preserved, feels like a delicate lacework against the sheer drop, contrasting the brute force of the coastline with a touch of civilised finesse.

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In the Frame: A Photographer’s Love Letter to the D3300

As a photographer, there’s a certain satisfaction in using a workhorse like the Nikon D3300. While the latest models boast incredible features, the D3300’s 24.2-megapixel sensor and robust handling prove that you don't need the most expensive gear to capture breath taking images.

On this September day, the challenge was the atmospheric light. The D3300 excelled at rendering the deep, moody blues and greys of the overcast sky and the texture of the sea. I paid particular attention to:

1. Composition: Using the strong vertical lines of the lighthouse and the horizontal lines of the pier and bridge to anchor the images.

2. Detail: Focusing on the incredible detail in the castle stone and the rust on the fishing boats, showing the town's character.

3. Timing: The mid-morning light, diffused by the cloud cover, was perfect for capturing the muted, gentle colour palette that defines the early autumn seaside.

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The Enduring Charm

My day in Scarborough was a reminder that the best seaside towns offer more than just a beach and a handful of arcades. They offer layered history, architectural marvels, and a constantly changing, dramatic landscape.

Whether you're visiting for the fish and chips, a walk along the Cleveland Way, or to find a quiet spot to watch the tide come in, Scarborough remains utterly captivating.

If you’re planning a trip to the North Yorkshire coast, make sure to pack your camera—you won’t regret capturing the enduring, powerful beauty of Britain’s original seaside resort.

Clicking any of the images below should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.