Colne Railway Station: Where History Pauses and the Future Beckons

Arriving at Colne Railway Station today, you step onto the platform and immediately sense the town's character. For a station that currently marks the end of the line on the East Lancashire route, its simple, single-platform setup belies a bustling past and an incredibly ambitious future.

Inspired by the sight of the 'Welcome to Colne' sign and the quiet track leading out, we wanted to delve into the fascinating story of this Lancashire terminus.

---

A Joint History: The Railway Frontier

Colne station's origins date back to a time of booming textile production in East Lancashire. In the mid-19th century, it became a crucial point where two major railway companies met.

• 1848/49: The Midland Railway arrived first, followed shortly by the East Lancashire Railway (later absorbed by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, affectionately known as 'the Lanky').

• A Joint Station: Colne became a 'Joint Station,' which, while making it a hub, also created operational headaches, often requiring passengers to change trains for through journeys.

• A Busy Hub: In its heyday, the station was a hive of activity, boasting a goods shed, an engine shed with turntables, and a large carriage shed. The railway was vital for distributing the cotton and other goods that Colne was built upon.

However, the infamous Beeching Cuts of the 1960s brought a period of decline. The Midland's critical connection to Skipton closed in 1970, and the station was downgraded to an unstaffed halt in 1971. The grand original buildings were sadly demolished in the late 1970s, leaving the pared-down, functional station we see today.

A Welcome from 'Millie' the Mill Girl

Despite the lack of the original grand architecture the station offers a unique and touching tribute to Colne's heritage.

As you walk toward the platform, you are greeted by a distinctive piece of public art: 'Millie' the Mill Girl statue. This abstract, stainless steel sculpture was commissioned by the 'Colne in Bloom' team and created by sculptor Clare Biggar.

'Millie' stands as a proud, permanent welcome, honouring the thousands of workers whose labour built the town. She is a powerful visual reminder that Colne's identity is inextricably linked to the cotton mills, offering new arrivals a meaningful connection to the local history before they even step into the town centre.

The Future: A 'Game Changer' Reopening

The single track and buffer stop at Colne do not represent the end of ambition. In fact, the station is the focus of one of the North of England's most significant and hopeful rail campaigns.

The Skipton and East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) is campaigning relentlessly for the reinstatement of the 12-mile connection to Skipton. This route is known as the 'missing link.'

• Economic Impact: Reopening this line is seen as a true 'game changer.' It would create a vital East-West Trans-Pennine link, connecting communities and businesses in East Lancashire with those in North and West Yorkshire.

• Feasibility: Crucially, a government-commissioned feasibility study has already declared the project 'technically feasible.' The current focus is on building a robust business case to secure funding.

The reinstatement would not only provide direct services to major destinations like Leeds but would also unlock significant opportunities for economic growth, tourism, and easier access to jobs and education across the Pennines.

From its role as a Victorian-era joint station to its current status as the line's terminus and the site of a forward-looking campaign, Colne Railway Station is more than just a place to catch a train to Blackpool. It is a historical marker, a tribute to the past, and a powerful symbol of potential for the future.

Colne is at the end of the line... but it's poised for a new beginning.

I took these pictures with a Nikon d3300 on the 19th August 2022, clicking any of them 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.

Platform Echoes and Calder Valley History: A Love Letter to Sowerby Bridge Railway Station

The air here smells of damp stone, railway ballast, and the promise of journeys. Standing on the platform at Sowerby Bridge Railway Station, you're surrounded by more than just tracks and metal—you're immersed in the layered history of the Calder Valley. Inspired by a set of photographs I took back in 2016, I was reminded of this unassuming, yet characterful, hub in West Yorkshire.

The pictures capture the essence of a traditional, two-platform British railway station, a snapshot of its quiet utility. The deep red canopies, supported by sturdy white columns (with a matching red trim!), provide a welcome shelter, a classic regional railway look you might recognise across the north.

Looking down the lines, as seen in photos above, the twin tracks curve away, following the natural contours of the valley, a constant reminder of the engineering prowess of the Manchester and Leeds Railway which first brought the line here in 1840.

A Turbulent History of Stone and Steam

Sowerby Bridge hasn't always looked like this. The original station was situated further west, but the current site opened in 1876, built by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. By all accounts, it was once a grand structure, even winning the "Best Kept Station" award in the 1960s.

But time, and tragedy, changed things. The late 1970s saw a period of decline, culminating in a serious fire in 1978. Much of the original building was subsequently demolished in 1980, despite local campaigns. The station you see today, with its simplified, yet functional, platforms and canopies, is the result of that rebuilding effort in the early 1980s.

It’s a phoenix, of sorts—one that retained a vital connection to its past.

The Charm of the Underground Passage

Perhaps the most atmospheric part of the station, and beautifully captured in the photos above, is the entrance and the subway connecting the platforms. The deep stone staircase, flanked by lush greenery, plunges into a cool, arched underpass. This pedestrian tunnel, with its whitewashed brick walls and classic red handrails, is a timeless feature.

Look closely at the walls inside the subway and you see the colourful, slightly faded signage for Sowerby Bridge, a simple yet effective mix of red, white, and green on a dark background. It's an enclosed piece of transit history, a brief retreat from the light and sound of the tracks before you emerge onto the platforms.

Details and Dedication

While the station is unstaffed today (the original ticket office survives and now houses a popular independent bar, the Jubilee Refreshment Rooms), its platforms show signs of local pride.

The picture above shows a simple yet effective planted area next to the seating—bright red metal chairs contrasting against the dark slatted fence and the vibrant green foliage. It’s a touch of unexpected beauty, a sign of the care poured into the station environment, likely the work of the Friends of Sowerby Bridge Railway Station volunteer group. These small acts of gardening and tidying bring life to the functional space, echoing the dedication of those who maintained the station in its 'Best Kept' glory days.

Sowerby Bridge Railway Station, serving the Caldervale Line, remains a crucial transport link. It’s a gateway to Halifax, Bradford, Leeds, and Manchester, and the wider world beyond. But it's also a destination in itself. It is a place where every train whistle carries a whisper of the past, and every quiet moment on the platform feels like a connection to the enduring spirit of the Calder Valley. It’s not flashy, but it is authentically Sowerby Bridge.

Clicking any of the pictures above 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 pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

A Journey Through Time: Mytholmroyd Railway Station

 On the last day of 2018, with my Nikon D3300 in hand, I took a stroll around Mytholmroyd, a village nestled in the heart of the Calder Valley. My destination was the railway station, a place that, like many others in this industrial landscape, holds a wealth of history and a quiet dignity. The photos I captured on that day tell a story of a place in transition—a past of industrial grandeur giving way to a new future.

The Old Station Building: A Glimpse into the Past

The most striking feature of the station is the original building. This Grade II listed building, with its rugged sandstone and classical lines, stands as a testament to the Victorian era of railway expansion. Opened in 1871 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, it was once the bustling hub of the community, complete with a booking hall, stationmaster's house, and waiting rooms. For many years, however, it sat derelict and boarded up, a sad sight for a building of such importance.

What the photos don't fully capture is the incredible story of its revival. After decades of neglect, a dedicated group of local volunteers, the Mytholmroyd Station Partnership, began a long-running project to bring it back to life. Their work, supported by grants from organizations like the Railway Heritage Trust and Northern, aims to transform the building into a creative community hub, breathing new purpose into this historic landmark.

---

The Viaduct and the Modern Station

The station is uniquely situated atop a magnificent viaduct, a feat of 19th-century engineering. The viaduct itself was built by George Stephenson and dates back to 1840, making it even older than the station building it now supports. From the street below, the imposing stone arches give a sense of the scale and ambition of the railway age.

While the old building was awaiting its new lease on life, the modern station was already serving the community. With two platforms, it's a vital part of the Calder Valley Line, connecting the village to major cities like Leeds and Manchester. The station is known for having step-free access to its platforms, a rare and helpful feature for a station built on a viaduct. The contrast between the old, unused entrance and the bustling modern platforms tells the story of a place that, despite its challenges, remains a crucial link for the people of Mytholmroyd.

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 pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.