Missing Railway links from Church Fenton to Harrogate, and Leeds to Wetherby

TomD · Post by **TomD** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 4:29 pm

So I guess I have always had a nagging curiousity to find out about my local history, only youth and lazyness kept me from finding out sooner...One of my local bike rides takes me along what I always assumed would be a railway. The other night whilst killing time my curiousity got the better of me...I checked out the area on google earth and followed a line. My starting point is a bridge, visible right on the map from Scarcroft.I'm a Shadwell local and so was suprised to discover that this old train line (I've now convinced myself!) peeled off the line from Leeds to Hull/York at Crossgates, then up past Scholes, right through Thorner - reminds me of a bridge hidden away in Thorner behind some houses - and then right past a house, which I assume would have been some railway workers house as it seems old from the aerial photo... the track then goes under the road bridge I used as my starting point, then along where I ride my bike! The track then goes into Bardsey! When you drive through Bardsey along Wetherby road, just before you reach the new traffic lights on the way up the hill, you pass a row of houses built alongside the road, yet set back from it - these houses were evidently built on the area vacated by the railway! It then cuts across towards Collingham and follows alongside Linton Road into Linton, crossing the Wharfe where there is now a beachy area popular in the summer for Barbeques. The old line runs next to Linton Golf Club (is it even called that?), going through a few posh back gardens, and then crossing Linton Road into Wetherby. This area today is a footpath that I believe is part of the walk from Spofforth to Wetherby.If you are still reading this I commend you.This is where I got really interested - the line splits, turn right to get to Church Fenton, turn left to go to Harrogate.I seem to remember a pub on the way out of Wetherby called "The Railway Works" or something - it is in an industrial estate off of what I believe is called York Road... it would have been right on the site of the former railway! Cool! I wonder if that is where the old railway station was?Going towards Harrogate now the line goes past Spofforth, over the A658 and joins the Leeds/Harrogate line where it dog-legs into Harrogate City Centre.Out of interest, did the track originally go straight onto Starbeck where the original Harrogate Train Station was? Presumably I can find the site of the original Brunswick Tunnel around there?Anyway, the idea of this rambling post is really to find out if anyone has any information on, or better still remembers any of the railway that I have mentioned above. I would ideally like to know where the stations were.If nobody knows does anyone know how I can find out?Lastly, and thanks for bearing with me everyone, does anyone know when and why that line went? Was it simply a profit-based decision? Or was it something more sinister? All I can find out so far is that it went between 1961 and 1969 - http://www.joyce.whitchurch.btinternet. ... .htmThanks! Tom

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 4:36 pm

Phew there's a good bit to take in there. You've got a few lines all together. You have the Leeds-Wetherby line that branched away past Crossgates to Wetherby where there was a triangle spur. One way to Harrogate & the other way to Church Fenton. The Church Fenton-Harrogate line has the dubious honour of been the 1st line to fall under the Beeching axe in 1964 the line was never dieselised & the service was classed as 'nowt nor summat' by the ever decreasing long suffering number of passengers that used it. The original Harrogate station was the Brunswick terminus built in 1848 & closed 1862. Situated where the stray is now. There is a hotel opposite but i believe the name has changed. The station was originally built there so to avoid a 100' climb into the town & dig a cutting out of sheer rock. However the new station was built were it is today only 20 years later The Brunswick tunnel was abandoned-So long ago infact that no pictures of it in use exist as the camera hadn't been invented then. You would never have know the station was there apart from a small plaque set in stone i believe. There is only one portal to the Brunswick tunnel still left. The other end has been infilled years ago. I have some Leeds-Wetherby pics here & there's some Harrogate stuff somewhere in there too. http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/set ... il/?page=7

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 4:57 pm

Brunswick & prospect tunnel sets here http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn ... 18/detail/

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 5:11 pm

There's also a good book that covers all that area 'Railways around Harrogate' (Aptly named) It also goes into detail about the Tadcaster railway viaduct over the wharfe that never carried a service train. The building of the line was abandoned due to a cash crisis after the viaduct was built. It only ever carried a short siding to the other side for a factory closed in 1955. A VERY expensive piece of enginerring for a short siding. See here http://www.tadcaster.uk.com/history.htm I hope that fills in a bit of your answers Tom? Bookings for after dinner talks now been taking

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 5:31 pm

To add to Phill D's comments the Leeds to Wetherby Railway opened on 1 May 1876 as a single line. It ran from the Leeds & Selby Railway close to Crossgates station to the Church Fenton to Harrogate line at Wetherby, a distance of 10 miles and 66 chains. The line was dualled in 1902 and the station in Wetherby was resited to allow through running from Harrogate to Leeds. The original intermediate stations were at Scholes, Thorner, Bardsey & Collingham Bridge. Pendas Way was opened in 1939. There were usually around 14 local trains each way between Wetherby & Leeds in the 20th Century. For many years some of the through trains from Newcastle to Manchester & Liverpool via Harrogate & Leeds travelled via this route to avoid reversal in Leeds City Station. The line did not survive Dr Beeching's axe!!The Leeds & Thirsk railway through Headingley & Bramhope Tunnel originally ran direct to Starbeck from Pannal until a connection was made between Pannal and the end of Crimple Viaduct.

TomD · Post by **TomD** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 6:50 pm

thanks for the info fellas! definatley not the kind of replies i was expecting...i thought i would get something along the lines of "yes, it was nice" so much appreciatedOn friday I rode past the bramhope tunnel entrance at the north end - it is fantastic - all castle-like and vaulted. In the surrounding area there were a few ancient-looking bridges and stone walls, implying there was probably at some point was part of the estate at Greskeld Hall...Looking at the old OS Map there was actually a railway junction right opposite it!Arthington Junction Station! Where the Leeds/Harrogate line met a line to Otley! Another missing line!haha I actually feel annoyed that they arent there anymore! I dont even ride the railways unless I am off down to london!

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 6:58 pm

Once you start looking at one line dissapering then you open up a whole can of worms. I've limited mine to a 20mile radius around Leeds! (tunnels exepted

The ornate castelated crenalations on Bramhope tunnel were to keep the landowner happy (One end only) There is a monument of it to honour the men killed during it's construction. Dave @ lost rails has a page here http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co ... rogate.htm You can see how short sighted it was closing all the branch lines. The oncoming threat of the motor car! They predicted that part right-They didn't predict the roads would be SO FULL people would love to leave there cars at home & jump on these local trains! Too late now. Lines ripped up, tunnels filled in & houses built on the line! The Leeds-Wetherby line would be fantastic to re-open. A park & ride on the notorious a64 york road would do a roaring trade. RANT RANT!!

wsmith · Post by **wsmith** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 7:53 pm

Keep ranting! This stuff is brilliant!

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Tue 10 Apr, 2007 8:06 pm

It's like banging your head against the wall tho wsmith, The lines will never re-open! It's good to get some banter & interaction going amongst groups i think..

edgey2001 · Post by **edgey2001** » Wed 11 Apr, 2007 1:12 pm

I have been collecting copies of old Railway magazines from the 50's and 60's from eBay and I have managed to obtain a copy which features the Leeds to Wetherby Line, but I didn't know if it would would be ok just to upload these articles as it may infringe on copyright ect, I also have copies of Railway magazine from 1957 with a feature called West Riding Rail Tours, its about 15 pages long including some interesting pictures of long gone railways in West Yorkshire so it might be best if these were uploaded onto the Lost Railways of West Riding site. What do people think ?