A Quick Stop on the Huddersfield Line - Deighton Railway Station

Deighton Railway Station serves the Deighton area of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. It's a handy little station for those needing a quick and convenient connection to Huddersfield or Leeds.

Interestingly, there have actually been two stations at Deighton! The first station opened in 1871 and served a branch line to Kirkburton. Sadly, that station closed in 1930. The current Deighton Station we see today is a much younger addition, having opened in 1982.

Deighton Station is located roughly two miles northeast of Huddersfield Station on the Huddersfield Line towards Leeds. Trains are frequent, with journeys to Huddersfield taking a mere 4 minutes on average. Trans Pennine Express is the main operator on this route.

While the station itself is compact, there are two platforms and a ticket office. There are no waiting rooms or toilets at the station, but there are shelters on both platforms for waiting passengers.

For onward journeys after your train ride, bus stops are located a short walk from the station on Leeds Road, with connections to both Leeds and Huddersfield. Taxis are also readily available.

Deighton Station might be a small station, but it offers a vital service for the Deighton community and surrounding areas.

Whether you're a local resident or just visiting, Deighton Station is a great way to get around Huddersfield and beyond. So next time you're in the area, consider hopping on a train and checking it out!

I took these pictures on the 27th May 2023 with a Nikon d3300. Clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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Thanks for looking, all the images are the copyright of Colin Green.

Long Preston Railway Station: A Stop on the Scenic Bentham Line

Nestled in the heart of North Yorkshire, Long Preston isn't your grand city station. But for those seeking a taste of rural England and a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, it holds a certain charm.

Located on the scenic Bentham Line, which winds its way between Leeds and Morecambe via Skipton, Long Preston offers a peaceful escape. The original station buildings are long gone, replaced by basic shelters on each platform. But don't be fooled by its simplicity; there's a certain romance in its lack of modern frills.

For train enthusiasts, Long Preston holds particular significance. It's the last station before the Bentham Line and the Settle-Carlisle Line diverge. The Settle-Carlisle is known for its breath taking views and challenging engineering feats, making it a favourite among railway fans.

While the station itself is unstaffed, a handy ticket machine was installed in 2019, allowing for convenient ticket purchases. There's also a small car park for those arriving by car.

Long Preston's beauty lies in its surroundings. The village itself is a quintessential Yorkshire Dales gem, with old stone houses and traditional pubs. Stepping off the train, you're instantly transported into a world of peace and tranquillity.

For those seeking adventure, the Yorkshire Dales National Park beckons. With its rolling hills, dramatic waterfalls, and charming villages, it's a walker's paradise. Buses depart regularly from the station for the nearby towns of Settle and Skipton, offering further options for exploration.

Long Preston station sees a modest number of trains each day, with services running to Leeds, Morecambe, and Carlisle. To ensure a smooth journey, it's wise to check timetables in advance, especially if you're connecting to other routes.

While the station may lack extensive facilities, its basic amenities and idyllic location make it a worthwhile stop.  If you're looking for a taste of rural England and a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, Long Preston Station awaits.

The pictures below were taken 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.

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The Charm of Castleton Moor Railway Station

In an age of bustling, modern transport hubs, there's a unique and quiet beauty to a place like Castleton Moor Railway Station. Tucked away on the scenic Esk Valley Line, this stop in North Yorkshire feels like a step back in time. It’s a place where the journey is as much about the destination as the space in between.

Castleton Moor, which connects Middlesbrough with the coastal town of Whitby, has a history that stretches back over 160 years. Opened on April 1, 1861, as simply "Castleton," the station was once a much busier place. Originally, it was a two-platform station with a passing loop, complete with a signal box and a goods warehouse. But like many small stations across the UK, its facilities were streamlined over the years, with these features being removed in the early 1980s. The station was renamed Castleton Moor in March 1965, a subtle change that reflects its quiet, moorland surroundings.

Today, the station retains a charming simplicity. Its main building, a handsome stone structure with classic Victorian railway architecture, is no longer a ticket office or waiting room. It has been beautifully converted into a private residence, watched over by a row of traditional chimney pots. This transformation adds to the station's unique character, creating a sense of a living, breathing history.

For the traveler, the station offers a peaceful waiting experience. A basic shelter, information boards, and a ticket machine are all that's needed here. This low-key functionality is a far cry from the crowded stations of major cities and is a key part of its appeal.

The numbers tell a story of a station serving its local community. With 4,732 passengers in the last full year of recorded stats, the station sees an average of around 91 people a week. It's a modest but vital link for the village, with 11 trains per day—five heading towards the dramatic coast at Whitby and six making the journey towards Middlesbrough.

These photos, taken on a sunny day in August 2022, capture the station's tranquillity perfectly. The bright blue sky, the meticulously maintained buildings, and the lush greenery and wildflowers growing along the tracks all contribute to its picturesque charm. Castleton Moor Railway Station is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the most interesting stories are found not in grand, sweeping gestures, but in the quiet, enduring places that connect us to the past.

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Mytholmroyd Railway Station

Some places hold stories in their very foundations. Mytholmroyd Railway Station is one of those places. My trip here on a crisp day in October 2013 with my Samsung Galaxy Tablet wasn't just about taking pictures; it was about capturing a moment in the long and fascinating history of this station.

The Ghosts of Stations Past

The station you see today is a far cry from its original form. Opened in May 1847 by the Manchester & Leeds Railway, it began with temporary buildings and platforms. It was only in December 1871 that new, more permanent structures were built, with platforms that actually overhung the impressive Mytholmroyd Viaduct. This is how the station remained for over a century, a busy and vital hub for the village.

The photos show what remains of that grand history. The old station building, now boarded up and closed, is a Grade II listed structure that stands as a silent sentinel to a different time. Its brickwork and arched windows speak of an era when train travel was a new and transformative experience. You can almost hear the steam hissing and the whistles blowing from decades ago.

Modern Day Commute

In the 1980s, the station underwent significant changes. Some of the original buildings were removed, and the station became an unstaffed stop. New platforms were built further down the line, and the old ones over the viaduct were taken away.

Today, Mytholmroyd Station is a functional, no-frills stop for commuters. My pictures show the platforms with their simple bus shelters and electronic ticket machines. There are no refreshment or toilet facilities—just the essential services needed for a quick journey. It's a stark contrast to the grand station it once was.

In 2020/21, the station served over 45,000 passengers, a number that dropped significantly from pre-pandemic levels. However, it still serves as a vital link for the community, connecting them to the wider Calder Valley and beyond.

More Than Just a Stop

Walking the ramp and stairs that lead to the platform, you can feel the layers of history. This station isn't just a place to catch a train; it's a living piece of local heritage. It shows how places adapt and change while still holding onto their past. It’s a testament to the community it serves and the enduring power of the railway.

I hope these images inspire you to look at your local railway station not just as a place of transit, but as a window into the past.

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

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End of the Line: A Farewell to Cottingley Railway Station?

On a seemingly ordinary day, August 27, 2022, I stood on the platform of Cottingley Railway Station near Leeds, my Nikon D3300 in hand. The sun was out, the tracks were glinting, and a train approached with a familiar rumble. What was captured in those photographs, however, was not just a snapshot of a working train station, but a moment in time for a place on the brink of change.

Cottingley Railway Station is a modest two-platform stop, a vital link for the communities of Churwell and Cottingley. It was built with function in mind, a no-frills facility with limited shelter and access. Yet, since its opening on April 25, 1988, it has been a quiet success story. Created by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and British Rail, it steadily grew its patronage. The annual usage surged from a humble 10,000 in the early 2000s to a remarkable 100,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic. This growth is a testament to its importance to local commuters.

But change is on the horizon. A new, state-of-the-art station, the White Rose Railway Station, is being built just half a mile away on the same Huddersfield Line. The proximity of the two stations makes keeping both unviable, and as a result, Cottingley is scheduled to close. The pictures I took that day feel like a farewell tour, a visual record of a place that will soon become a memory.

The images tell their own story. The signs are clear and functional, guiding passengers to Platform 1 for services to Leeds and Platform 2 for those heading away from the city. The basic shelters, a splash of yellow against the grey platforms, are a stark reminder of the station's utilitarian purpose. Yet, there is a beauty in this simplicity. The footbridge, with its intricate metalwork, stands out, a structure that will thankfully remain as a public right of way even after the station closes.

And then, there are the trains themselves. The photos capture a Trans Pennine Express service pulling into the station, its lights cutting through the shade of the bridge, and another departing, a symbol of the journeys that have begun and ended here for over three decades.

The closure of Cottingley Station is a classic case of progress vs. history. While the new White Rose station will offer improved facilities, better accessibility, and a strategic location to serve the nearby White Rose Shopping Centre and Office Park, it marks the end of an era for Cottingley. The footbridge, a physical and symbolic link between the two communities, will remain, but the trains will no longer stop.

As a photographer, I find myself drawn to these moments of transition. They are reminders that even the most mundane parts of our infrastructure have a story. Cottingley Railway Station is more than just a stop on the line; it's a place that has served a community, enabled countless journeys, and witnessed the rhythms of daily life. Soon, it will fall silent, a ghost station on a busy line.

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

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Burnley Barracks: A Hidden Gem on the East Lancashire Line

Ever heard of a request stop? It's a bit like an old-fashioned bus stop, but for trains. You have to actively let the driver know you want to get on or off. That's exactly the kind of place Burnley Barracks is—a small, unassuming station on the East Lancashire Line, but one with a surprisingly rich history.

The station, which opened way back in 1848, was originally known as Burnley Westgate and served as the temporary terminus for the line. It was only meant to be a short-lived stop, but the rapid development of the area, including a new army barracks, led to its reopening in 1851. Renamed Burnley Barracks after the nearby military base, the station became a local hub, serving passengers while the larger stations at Rose Grove and Bank Top (now Burnley Central) handled the freight.

Today, Burnley Barracks is a simple affair. As you can see from the photos, the station has a single platform, a basic shelter, and a card-only ticket machine. It offers step-free access and relies on on-street parking, but its charm lies in its simplicity. It’s a quiet spot, often overlooked, but it's a vital link for the local community.

The station's history is written in its very structure. The old eastbound platform, which was taken out of use when the line was singled in 1986, is now largely overgrown and hidden from view. It's a subtle reminder of a busier past, a time when the station had two platforms and a footbridge connecting them.

While passenger numbers have fluctuated over the years—dropping significantly after the army barracks closed in 1898 and local slum clearances in the 1960s and 70s—they've been on the rise in recent years. This is thanks to new housing developments and a growing trend of people opting for public transport over their cars.

Burnley Barracks is more than just a stop on the line; it’s a living piece of local history. It's a testament to the changes in the area, from its military past to its modern residential communities. On my recent visit, it was the busiest of the eight stations I visited on the East Lancashire Line, with several passengers boarding and alighting the train.

There's a proposal to close the station should the line be upgraded, but for now, Burnley Barracks remains a quiet, functional, and fascinating part of the railway network. It’s a small station with a big story, a true hidden gem just waiting to be discovered.

So next time you're on the East Lancashire Line, why not make a request stop at Burnley Barracks? You might just find yourself stepping back in time.

The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 19th August 2022, clicking any of them below should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Colne bound training just leaving. It would 45 minutes before another train passed through the station.
There is 1 train in each direction approx. every hour.

The entrance sign to the station

The station looking west from the end of the platform. Despite Junction Street Bridge (Foreground)
and Padiham Road Bridge (Background) passing over the station, the 2 platforms were connected
by a wooden passenger bridge sighted between the 2. I assume this was removed when the line
was singled in the 1980's, but it may have been earlier as there is evidence on another site entrance
just off Junction Street Bridge.

The station looking eastward (towards Colne) from the end of the platform. The stations only
facilities are the shelter seen before the bridge and a ticket machine to my right
just out of shot.

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.