The Pickle Bridge Railway, a line that once linked Bradford and Huddersfield, now exists mostly as a series of ghosts in the West Yorkshire landscape. The line, which operated from 1881 to 1952, was a casualty of a common problem in the area: subsidence. While it's been closed for over 70 years, a walk along its former route reveals fascinating glimpses of its past life.
From Clifton to Bailiff Bridge
My first walk along the route began at the former site of the Clifton Road Viaduct. This three-arch viaduct, which led directly into Clifton Road Station, is no longer standing. The line then crossed the A644 Wakefield Road and the River Calder before joining the Caldervale Line. Today, the former trackbed is often a narrow, overgrown trail.
Further along the path, you come across the Thornhills Viaduct, a magnificent five-arch structure that still stands today. The sheer scale of the viaduct, seen from Thornhills Beck Lane below, is a powerful reminder of the engineering feat required to build this line. The path then continues, leading to an abandoned railway bridge stranded in the middle of a field between the viaduct and Birkhouse Road. This isolated structure, weathered and partially hidden by thick overgrowth, is a poignant symbol of the line's fate.
The final stretch of this particular walk took me toward Bailiff Bridge. Here, the former railway crossing and the Birkhouse Road Bridge are still visible, marking the line's path through the village. These structures, now simply part of the local scenery, are a testament to the fact that even after being abandoned, the railway still leaves its mark on the land.
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The remains of Clifton Road Viaduct, the station occupied a spot along the wall pictured with the dirt track to the left the main access road.
Former track bed pictured between the remains of Clifton Road Viaduct and Thornhills Beck Viaduct.
The top of Thornhills Beck Viaduct, this was the southern side and was gated off as can be seen preventing access any further.
Thornhills Beck Viaduct, opened up I think it would make an interesting footpath - cycleway.
Another of Thornhills Beck Viaduct
These last 2 show an abandoned bridge in the middle of a low cutting in what seemed to have become a farmers field. Looking at the surrounding land and historic maps I can see no reason for it's existence as their were alternative crossings over the railway nearby in both directions.
The second set of pictures were taken on the 25th May 2014, starting at the bridge above they show the remains of the line up to the end of Red Lion (Wyke) Viaduct.
The Pickle Bridge line crossing over Birkhouse Lane, Bailiff Bridge
The line's remains at Bailiff Bridge, the town's former station used to occupy a spot to the right of the picture behind the trees.
All that remains of the bridge that crossed Lower Wyke Lane, Houses now occupy the former trackbed to the left of the picture.
The bridge that crossed over Bradford Road has been removed, leaving only the abutments as a reminder the railway passed here.
The Red Lion or Wyke Viaduct crossing over a small access lane off Bradford Road.
The top of Wyke - Red Lion Viaduct, I don't remember climbing up to the top but I must have as the picture here proves I did. The end of the viaduct was probably just beyond the trees,
Wyke - Red Lion Viaduct. The crossing suffered badly from subsidence resulting in a much reduced speed limit during its years of operation. The situation was so bad that by the 1980's permission was sought to demolish part of the Grade II listed Viaduct.
This partially overgrown bridge stands to the northern end of the demolished part of Wyke - Red Lion Viaduct, I'm not sure if it was separate or part of that structure.
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