As an avid photographer and history enthusiast, few places capture my imagination quite like the remnants of old railway lines. One of my absolute favorite spots to explore with my camera is the Rishworth Branch Line, a fascinating piece of history that once connected the Ryburn Valley with the mainline at Sowerby Bridge.
This railway wasn't just a simple track; it was a vital link, with stations and halts at Rishworth, Ripponden, Triangle, and Watson's Crossing. Even today, much of the line remains remarkably intact. You can still find a number of old bridges providing crossings over the former trackbed, silently witnessing the passage of time.
A Glimpse into its History
The Rishworth Branch Line was initially conceived as the first stage of an ambitious plan: to shorten the railway connection between Sowerby Bridge and Littleborough by about five miles, by tunnelling right underneath the Pennines. Imagine the engineering feat that would have been! However, this grand scheme was eventually abandoned due to difficulties encountered during the construction of the line to Rishworth.
Despite this, the line itself had a significant life. Authorized in 1865 as part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the section to Ripponden was completed in 1878, extending to Rishworth in 1881. Stations opened in Rishworth and Triangle that same year. Interestingly, though built for double track, for much of its existence, only one line was actively used, with the second serving as storage for carriages.
The Rise and Fall of a Railway
The turn of the 20th century brought innovation to the line with the introduction of motor railcars. This led to the opening of a new halt at Watson's Crossing in 1907, perhaps marking the peak of the line's usage. However, the golden age was fleeting. Growing competition from trams and the burgeoning popularity of motor cars led to a decline in passenger numbers. Passenger service was eventually withdrawn on July 8th, 1929, with only goods traffic continuing.
The line's final chapters saw further closures. The section between Ripponden and Rishworth closed in March 1952 due to engineering issues, and the entire line officially ceased operations on September 1st, 1958.
What Remains Today
Today, while the station buildings are long gone, along with the former pedestrian bridge, Ripponden Bank road bridge, and the wooden trellis bridge that once connected Rishworth Station with the turnpike, the spirit of the line endures. The Scar Head Tunnel still runs underneath the Norland Hillside (though it's inaccessible), and you can still see the platform at Rishworth, now beautifully reclaimed by vegetation.
Much of the former trackbed is now a fantastic place for walkers to explore, offering a unique journey through history and nature, though it's worth noting that some stretches are privately owned.
These photos, capturing the atmospheric remnants of the Rishworth Branch Line, were taken on December 7th, 2013, with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. It just goes to show you don't always need fancy equipment to capture the magic of a place!
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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| Scar Head Tunnel Portal |
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| The former site of Triangle Station |
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| The former Ripponden station used to sit at the top of the abutment. |
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| The former trackbed through this section was so wet on the day I was there it resembled a canal rather than the former trackbed of a railway. |
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