Exploring Wood Lane Bridge: A Hidden Railway Relic Near Fountain Head Village, Halifax

Nestled in the lush, rolling greenery of West Yorkshire lies a striking monument to the golden age of steam: Wood Lane Bridge. Situated just a short walk from Fountain Head Village in Halifax, this magnificent stone structure stands as a resilient reminder of late-19th-century industrial ambition.

Whether you are a local history enthusiast, an industrial archaeologist, or a landscape photographer, Wood Lane Bridge offers a beautiful blend of historic engineering and natural reclamation.

On 11th July 2020, I spent a summer morning capturing this overlooked landmark from several angles. Below is the story behind this impressive masonry arch and how it fits into the short-lived legacy of the Halifax High Level Railway.

The Architectural Grandeur of Wood Lane Bridge

Wood Lane Bridge is a substantial single-span stone masonry arch that cuts across a quiet, winding country road. Framed by mature trees and climbing moss, the bridge looks completely at home in the Yorkshire landscape, though it was built for a far more industrial purpose.

Approaching the bridge along Wood Lane, you are treated to a dramatic perspective as the road dips and curves gently beneath the massive structure. The dry stone walls running parallel to the road frame the scene beautifully, leading your eyes directly to the dark, cool underside of the stone arch.

Close up, the craftsmanship of the Victorian builders becomes fully apparent. The precisely cut stone voussoirs (the wedge-shaped stones forming the arch) and the ruggedly textured wing walls demonstrate the absolute permanence with which Victorian engineers built their infrastructure.

Echoes of the Halifax High Level Railway

While Wood Lane Bridge sits in peaceful quietude today, it was engineered to bear the immense weight of passing steam locomotives. The bridge carried the ill-fated Halifax High Level Railway.

A Short History of the Line

• The Grand Vision: Promoted in the 1880s, the line was originally envisioned as a major artery linking Holmfield with Huddersfield and beyond.

• The Reality: The full ambitious route was abandoned due to financial constraints, leaving a truncated 3-mile spur running from Holmfield Junction to a terminus at Halifax St Paul’s Station.

• Opening: The line opened for goods in August 1890, and passenger services followed in September 1890.

• The Decline: Because the route was highly indirect and sat 350 feet higher than the town centre, passengers quickly abandoned it once electric trams arrived at the turn of the century. Passenger services were permanently withdrawn in 1917.

• The Final Freight Trains: The line carved out a successful niche serving local textile mills and breweries—including the nearby Webster’s Brewery (the site of which is now Fountain Head Village). Freight trains continued to rumble over Wood Lane Bridge until the line closed completely in June 1960.

Visiting Wood Lane Bridge Today

If you are looking to explore the remnants of the Halifax High Level Railway, Wood Lane Bridge is one of the most accessible and best-preserved bridges on the entire former line.

How to Find It

The bridge is located just south of Fountain Head Village, a modern residential hamlet built on the footprint of the old brewery. You can easily combine a visit to the bridge with a scenic walk through Ovenden Wood or a trip down to the nearby, majestic 10-arch Wheatley Viaduct further down the line.

As you stand beneath the mossy stone archway, listening to the birds in the dense canopy above, it's incredible to imagine a time when heavy freight engines shook these very stones on their way across the Calderdale hills.

The Great Underground Gateway: Discovering the Summit Tunnel from Walsden to Littleborough

Hidden beneath the rugged peaks of the Pennines lies a monumental feat of Victorian engineering that once held the title of the longest railway tunnel in the world. Stretching between the quiet village of Walsden and the bustling town of Littleborough, the Summit Tunnel is more than just a dark passage for trains; it is a survivor of fire, ice, and the relentless march of industrial history.

Whether you are a railway enthusiast, a local historian, or a hiker looking for a walk with a story, the Summit Tunnel offers a fascinating glimpse into the sheer ambition of the 19th-century pioneers.

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A Vision in Brick: The Birth of a Legend

In the late 1830s, the Manchester and Leeds Railway faced a formidable obstacle: the Pennine range. To connect the industrial powerhouses of the North, they needed to pierce the "backbone of England."

Designed by the visionary engineer Thomas Longridge Gooch—a close collaborator of the legendary George Stephenson—construction began in 1838. The scale of the project was staggering for its time:

• The Workforce: Between 800 and 1,250 men and boys worked in shifts, hewing rock by the flickering light of candles.

• The Materials: Over 23 million handmade bricks were used to line the horseshoe-shaped tunnel, with up to 60,000 bricks laid in a single day during peak construction.

• The Cost: Originally estimated at £107,800, the final bill soared to over £251,000—an astronomical sum in 1841.

When the tunnel finally opened on March 1, 1841, it was a global marvel. At 1.6 miles (2,638 meters) long, it stood as a testament to human grit, though that victory came at a heavy price: 41 workers lost their lives during its perilous construction.

The Trial by Fire: The 1984 Inferno

For over 140 years, the tunnel served as a reliable artery for the North. However, its greatest test came not from age, but from a catastrophic accident.

On the morning of December 20, 1984, a freight train carrying over one million litres of petrol derailed deep inside the tunnel. What followed was one of the most intense railway fires in British history. As the petrol ignited, the tunnel’s ventilation shafts—originally designed to vent steam—transformed into giant chimneys.

Witnesses described terrifying pillars of flame 150 meters high erupting from the hillside above Walsden. The heat was so extreme (reaching $1,200^\circ\text{C}$) that it actually vitrified the brickwork, turning the surface of the tunnel walls into molten glass.

Miraculously, thanks to the heroic efforts of the fire brigades and the tunnel's robust Victorian design, there were no fatalities. The tunnel was repaired and reopened just eight months later, proving that Gooch’s masterpiece was built to last.

Exploring the Hillside: The "Air Shafts" of Walsden Moor

If you visit the area today, the most striking remnants of the tunnel aren't underground, but dotting the landscape above. To align the tunnel and provide ventilation, 14 vertical shafts were sunk from the moorland down to the track level.

Today, you can still find several of these iconic circular brick air shafts (or "pepper pots") as you hike the trails between Littleborough and Walsden. They stand like silent sentinels on the hillside, often surrounded by the wild beauty of the Pennines.

• Photography Tip: The shafts near Bottomley Road provide a fantastic subject for photographers, especially when the mist rolls over the moors, creating a brooding, atmospheric scene.

• Nature’s Influence: In 2010, the shafts made headlines again when a passenger train derailed after striking a massive block of ice that had formed inside a shaft and fallen onto the tracks—a reminder that the tunnel is still at the mercy of the Pennine elements.

Walking the Summit Route

A walk from Walsden to Littleborough is the best way to appreciate the scale of this engineering feat.

1. Start at Walsden Station: From here, you can see the northern portal where trains disappear into the darkness.

2. Follow the Rochdale Canal: The canal runs parallel to the railway, offering a flat, scenic path.

3. The Climb: For the more adventurous, head up onto the moors toward Warland Reservoir or Blackstone Edge. From these heights, you can look down and spot the alignment of the air shafts, tracing the invisible path of the railway deep beneath your feet.

4. Finish in Littleborough: Reward yourself with a visit to the Littleborough Coach House or a walk around Hollingworth Lake, which was originally built to feed the very canal you just walked beside.

Why the Summit Tunnel Still Matters

The Summit Tunnel isn't just a relic; it remains a vital part of the Calder Valley Line, carrying thousands of passengers between Manchester and Leeds every day. It serves as a bridge between our industrial past and our connected future.

Standing at the portal in Walsden and feeling the rush of air as a modern train exits the tunnel, you are experiencing the same sensation that Victorian spectators did nearly 200 years ago. It is a place where history isn't just remembered—it's still in motion.

I took these with a Polaroid is2132 on the 31st May 2015. 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.

A Line of Iron and Grit: Tracing Part of the Halifax to Queensbury Railway

Back in May 2015, I spent a day walking the ghost lines of the Halifax to Queensbury Railway, a spectacular and demanding route that was part of the Great Northern Railway’s challenging "Queensbury Lines" network. This railway was born of Victorian ambition, forging a path through the steep Pennine terrain—a task so difficult it earned the nickname 'the Alpine route' or 'the switchback'.

The short section I explored, captured in these photos, run from the former site of North Bridge Railway Station up toward where the Woodside Viaduct once stood. These remnants of a mighty line, which closed to passengers in 1955 and completely in 1974, speak volumes about the engineering and industrial power of West Yorkshire.

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The Haunted Halt: North Bridge Station

My journey started at the site of North Bridge Station. Opened in 1880, it was built by the Halifax and Ovenden Junction Railway, jointly operated by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR).

The station itself was a marvel of Victorian compromise. The line had to run beneath the newly rebuilt North Bridge, which was raised an impressive 11 feet to clear the tracks. The passenger facilities were apparently "cramped & gloomy," but the site was a major hub for goods, including a large yard that served the nearby gasworks. Today, the station buildings are long gone, replaced by a leisure centre and its car park.

The only prominent survivors are the iron footbridge that once spanned the platforms and the dark, imposing mouth of the Old Lane Tunnel.

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Tunnels and Tragedies: The Route North

Heading north from North Bridge, the line immediately plunged into engineering challenges. The nearby Woodside Viaduct was a six-arched structure that carried the line toward the Old Lane (Woodside) Tunnel and Lee Bank Tunnel. Tragically, the viaduct was later demolished to make room for the A629 road, the main road between Halifax and Keighley.

All that remains now is the impressive southern abutment , a powerful stone statement of where a massive structure once began.

Further on, the line passed through the Lee Bank Tunnel(sometimes referred to as Woodside Tunnel). It’s an incredibly atmospheric stretch, the stonework damp and mossy, a true forgotten path. The entire Queensbury Lines project was notoriously difficult and dangerous, leading to the local press dubbing them "the slaughtering lines" due to the casualties sustained during construction. Lee Bank Tunnel will feature in a later post.

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The Photography: A Splash of History

To capture the mood of this forgotten industrial heritage, I chose a specific editing style for these photos: selective colour removal.

I stripped almost all colour, rendering the stone, moss, and foliage in moody, evocative black and white. The only colour I allowed to remain was red . This choice was deliberate, a visual metaphor for a past that was dramatic and often difficult:

• The Grit and Rust: Red represents the rust of forgotten ironwork and the danger of the great works.

• The Warning: It highlights the warning signs of demolition and decay that now mark these historical sites .

• A Trail of Memory: It forces the eye to focus on the small, contemporary markers that dot the landscape, sharply contrasting the scale of the forgotten Victorian infrastructure with its quiet modern life.

Walking these overgrown tracks is a humbling experience. They are a physical reminder of the sheer human effort and engineering ambition that powered the industrial North, now slowly being reclaimed by nature.

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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.

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

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Echoes of the Past: The Lost Railway of Blake Dean

Hardcastle Crags is a place of timeless natural beauty, but hidden beneath the lush green slopes of Blake Dean are the fascinating, almost unbelievable, remnants of a short-lived industrial marvel. This is the story of the Blake Dean Railway and its spectacular wooden trestle bridge—a forgotten piece of engineering that briefly transformed the Hebden Valley over a century ago.

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A Railway to the Sky

In the early 1900s, the booming town of Halifax needed water, and the remote moorland above Hardcastle Crags, at Walshaw Dean, was chosen for three new reservoirs. Contractor Enoch Tempest needed a way to transport thousands of navvies, materials, and supplies to the high, distant construction site. His solution? A narrow-gauge railway, a daring 5.5-mile line that skirted the valley's edge.

The railway's most dramatic feature was the incredible trestle bridge at Blake Dean. Designed by Hebden Bridge architect William Henry Cockcroft and built by local joiner George Greenwood, this wooden giant was a sight to behold:

• Length: Over 700 feet

• Height: 105 feet (the equivalent of a ten-story building!)

• Material: Constructed entirely of sturdy pitch pine.

Locals considered it the Eighth Wonder of the World. Imagine the sight of steam locomotives and carriages packed with workers trundling over that massive wooden structure, high above the valley floor.

The mighty wooden trestle bridge at Blake Dean, a stunning temporary marvel, over 100 feet high.

🛠️ The Work and the Wonder

For just over a decade, the serene valley was alive with the sound of the railway. The line started at "Dawson City," a temporary workers' shantytown near Heptonstall, and delivered its precious cargo—the men and materials—to Walshaw Dean.

The bridge stood up to everything the Pennines threw at it, even a small fire caused by engine sparks in 1906. It was, however, a place of danger. Safety warnings were often ignored by curious visitors, and tragically, at least one death occurred on the bridge when a local lady fell from it in 1909.

A close-up of the dizzying height and complex structure of the trestle viaduct.

All That Remains

The Blake Dean railway was always destined to be temporary. Once the Walshaw Dean reservoirs were completed, the line had served its purpose. In 1912, the massive bridge was dismantled, the valuable pitch pine sold off for recycling, and the rails lifted. The valley quickly reclaimed its peaceful silence.

Today, if you walk deep into Blake Dean, following the path that winds down to the Hebden Water, you can find the only tangible evidence of this incredible feat of engineering: the stone foundations, or 'stumps,' that once supported the monumental wooden legs.

Standing here, looking up and across the deep ravine, it takes a leap of imagination to picture that massive structure soaring overhead. These moss-covered stones are a profound reminder of the ambition and hard labour of the past.

All that remains—the stone foundations of the trestle bridge, now peacefully reclaimed by the valley floor.

🚶 Visit the Ghost Railway

For those who enjoy a piece of history with their walk, seeking out the remains of the Blake Dean trestle bridge is a rewarding detour on a hike through Hardcastle Crags. You can also trace the level, overgrown trackbed (or 'terrace') high on the hillside, which once carried the trains on their journey to Walshaw. It is a stunning, quiet corner of Yorkshire where nature and history meet.

The wider valley view, showing the railway's level track bed high on the slope and the foundation ruins below.

I can not give credit on the first 2 pictures as the name has been lost to time, the second 2 of the foundation stones were taken by me on the 10th September 2016.

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Wheatley Tunnel and Viaduct: Exploring Part of Halifax's Abandoned High Level Railway

Tucked away in the green, rolling landscape of Halifax, West Yorkshire, lie two magnificent relics of the area's industrial past: the Wheatley Viaduct and the Wheatley Tunnel. These structures were once key features of the short-lived, three-mile-long Halifax High Level Railway, a line engineered to connect the higher and lower parts of Halifax to the wider rail network. Today, the overgrown track bed and imposing stonework tell a haunting tale of ambition, engineering, and eventual closure.

The line, constructed in the late 1880s and opened in 1890, was an expensive undertaking, costing a reported £300,000—the equivalent of tens of millions today. The cost was largely due to the challenging terrain, necessitating two major engineering works: the viaduct and the tunnel.

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The Ten-Arch Giant: Wheatley Viaduct

As captured in some of these images, the Wheatley Viaduct is a spectacular sight. It crosses the Hebble Brook valley with ten magnificent arches, stretching for approximately 200 yards (180m) and towering 100 feet (30m) high. Built primarily from rock-faced stone, ashlar, and blue brick, its curved design is a testament to Victorian civil engineering. It once carried two lines of track, though mapping from the late 1940s suggests only a single line was in use as a freight-only branch.

Today, surrounded by a thick, lush canopy of trees , the viaduct has been reclaimed by nature in many spots, but its sheer scale remains dominating, contrasting sharply with the modern housing estates that now nestle in the valley below. Recent, vital restoration work, completed in 2024, has been carried out to repair masonry, install waterproofing, and secure the structure for the future, preserving this important local landmark.

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Into the Dark: Wheatley Tunnel

Connected to the eastern end of the viaduct is the Wheatley Tunnel, an 810-yard (740m) long dark passage burrowing through the hillside. The entrance to the tunnel is marked by a substantial stone portal, often concealed by dense greenery and reached via a secluded, overgrown cutting, as shown in the photographs.

Images taken inside the tunnel reveal a classic Victorian brick-lined bore. It's a dark, damp, and atmospheric space, littered with debris and marked by the occasional splash of modern graffiti—a silent echo of its use transporting coal and goods until its final closure in 1960. A walk inside is a humbling experience, transporting you back to the early 20th century when it was a vital artery for the region's industry.

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A Short-Lived Legacy

The Halifax High Level Railway's life was brief. Passenger services ceased as early as 1917, lasting just over 26 years. Freight operations, mainly coal traffic, continued until June 1960, after which the line was fully dismantled.

Despite its short operating life, the Wheatley Viaduct and Tunnel are indelible parts of Halifax’s landscape and history. They stand as rugged monuments to the ambition of the railway age, now forming picturesque—if inaccessible—features in the local scenery. These structures, silent and still, offer a unique window into a forgotten era of connectivity in the heart of West Yorkshire.

I took these pictures in July 2020 with a Nikon d3300, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The Viaduct.

The Tunnel.

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.