After a short bus ride from Riddlesden we arrived at Keighley Railway station. This station not only serves National Rail Network services between Leeds, Skipton, and York but platforms 3 and 4 are the terminus for the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
This railway has been a preserved line since 1968.The first station on the line is Ingrow West which although being a Midland Railway station actually came from Foulridge in Lancashire and was dismantled, transported and rebuilt stone by stone.
With five mile of track to the original terminus at Oxenhope the line has 6 stations one of which is known to most of us as the station run by Bernard Cribbins in the TV series “The Railway Children”. This of course is Oakworth station. Next up the line is Haworth station famous by way of the Bronte sisters and the Bronte Parsonage Museum nearby.
The station’s have all been lovingly restored to their Midland Railway circa 1900 condition with enamel advertising signs, gas lighting and all the usual bric-a-brac seen on station platforms on that era.Since the KWVR soc; took over the line patronage has increased to the extent that in 1971 they added a passing loop between Damems and Oakworth stations to allow for 2 train operation.
Today’s service was provided by ex Taff Vale railway 0-6-2 no 85 built by The Vulcan Foundry , Newton Le Willows in Lancashire in 1945. With a train of 6 Mk II carriages she worked well on the 1 in 56 grade up to Oakworth station. This week-end is her final outing before being withdrawn for her 10 yearly overhaul.
1 comment:
Ah... the Brontes. Wuthering Heights would have to be my all time favourite. All that dark smouldering passion ingnighted by the bleak moors. We remember visiting Haworth village and Parsonage on our earlier trip to UK, what a thrill for a book-worm like me.
Jenny
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