Engine changing at Leeds "New"

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Mon 22 Jul, 2013 9:15 pm

Having examined my copy of Colonel Cobb's (very detailed) Atlas of the Railways of Great Britain the only station I can find which fits Jon's description appears to be Gildersome station on the Spen Valley Line between Leeds & Huddersfield. This station was closed in 1921 and the line itself in the 1960s.

liits · Post by **liits** » Mon 22 Jul, 2013 9:35 pm

I'm sure Jim has seen these before but for those who haven't.......60036 Colombo at Darlington60074 Harvester at Neville Hill60081 Shotover at Neville Hill60084 Trigo at Neville Hill60086 Gainsborough at Neville Hill

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Mon 22 Jul, 2013 11:08 pm

liits wrote: I'm sure Jim has seen these before but for those who haven't....... That's great. I saw Flying Scotsman at York the other week looking fairly sad. Weren't some of the A3's moved to Holbeck towards the end of their lives for use on the Settle - Carlisle?

trophy · Post by **trophy** » Tue 23 Jul, 2013 8:46 pm

majorhoundii wrote: liits wrote: I'm sure Jim has seen these before but for those who haven't....... That's great. I saw Flying Scotsman at York the other week looking fairly sad. Weren't some of the A3's moved to Holbeck towards the end of their lives for use on the Settle - Carlisle? holbeck had quite a few a3s in 60 61 they were transferred from the north east but most were in poor condition.but were well liked for there good riding and steaming (scots could be rough riding)the Neville hill a3s were frequently borrowed by holbeck as they were in much better condition.and their turns had been dieselised. they were Firdausi.the white knight.dick turpin .book law . fairway .neil gow .which was in the best condition.they were later joined by sceptre .gladiateur .and sunstar from Copley hill.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Fri 26 Jul, 2013 9:19 pm

Barwicker wrote: Having examined my copy of Colonel Cobb's (very detailed) Atlas of the Railways of Great Britain the only station I can find which fits Jon's description appears to be Gildersome station on the Spen Valley Line between Leeds & Huddersfield. This station was closed in 1921 and the line itself in the 1960s. Thats correct Barwicker - it was originally built when the line first opened to serve St Bernards mill on the other side of Geldard Rd, The over bridge that was adjacent to the station is still visible just off Geldard Rd, a little higher up than the site of the mill towards Gildersome

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 10:09 am

Where abouts is that? I don't suppose it's visible on Google Earth?

jim · Post by **jim** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 11:13 am

The overbridge Big N mentions is on Rooms Lane which heads east from Gelderd Road. The station was south of that bridge, but there don't appear to be any visible remains of the station, or indeed of the trackbed as seen from googlemaps. The platforms are still shown on my early 1970s A to Z.

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 11:51 am

Ah, thanks jim. I know where you mean as I keep meaning to take a walk round there some time.For some reason I was thinking it would be the other side of Geldered road. Is it the line which went through the Gildersome tunnel?

jim · Post by **jim** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 12:30 pm

It is. "The Leeds New Line as it was always known was opened for passenger traffic in 1900. Stopping services were withdrawn on 5th October1953....closed completely in (1966).""The L&NW ..... was anxious to eliminate the bottleneck formed by the section of the L&Y from Heaton Lodge junction to Dewsbury Junction at Thornhill. It was also keen to widen the (line) on to Leeds, but was deterred by the vast number of old mine workings in the vicinity of Morley Tunnel, and the fact that at Staincliffe it was wedged between the GN and a steep scarp. ..... The L&NW therefore conceived a route....... (from) between Bradley and Heaton Lodge junction (which) dived under the Calder Valley main line......crossed two minor tributary valleys before piercing the Aire and Calder watershed by the 1 mile 571 yard Gildersome tunnel to join the LD&M route at Farnley by an impressive flying junction."Quoted from "A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain, Vol 8, South and West Yorkshire", by David Joy.

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 12:37 pm

Thanks for that Considering how much time I've spent in that part of Leeds I must have had my eyes closed as I know little of its history -- though I hope to explore a little and educate myself.