Engine changing at Leeds "New"

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 12:48 pm

The Gildersome station in question seems to be the Saint Bernard's Railway Station. This is a link to a photo that I've found in Flickr by a member called jb303 which shows some of the station:- http://www.flickr.com/photos/thanoz/6014017939/This link shows a hand drawn map of the station:- http://www.flickr.com/photos/thanoz/5989689709/This link is to a superb and very large collection of photos (many are Leeds and/or railway related) in Flickr created by jb303 that are worth looking through (the pages however load slowly on my slowish broadband connection):- http://www.flickr.com/photos/thanoz/page1/

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 5:03 pm

jim wrote: 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 Stopping services were withdrawn on 5th October1953....closed completely in (1966).""The L&NW .....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. The embankment to Gildersome can still be clearly seen from the M621 when heading down the hill into Leeds from Gildersome - as you come out of the cutting look left and the embankment is there between the motorway and the Ring factory / Gelderd Road. Sadly the 'impressive flying junction' was removed years ago but it was roughly where the motorway crosses the railway line.Phill D has some amazing photo's on flickr: http://snipurl.com/27iq7qiAnd there is more about the line here: http://snipurl.com/27iq82y

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 7:20 pm

This is probably the best photo of the new line flying junction as it was. As Ravey says this part of line has been obliterated by the M621. A steady inclined bank curved away from the mainline, in order to let the train cross over the Manchester line and head for Gildersome. The up and down lines are both visible in shot, a few hundred yards further along, both tracks would meet and run side by side again. The stone bridge you can see in the distance carries Gelderd Road across the line.Gelderd Road bridge visible on the top photo in the distance. The new line inclined bank and Gelderd Road bridge in the distance.This is the only remains of the new line over bridge today.But used to look like this.Same location today minus rail bridge.You can see the dark curve of the old line, and how the M621 basically cuts right through it today.Part of the line and bridge visible from the M621 Ravey mentions.The line curved quiet a bit, most of the track bed still visible today.Gildersome St Bernards station, Rooms lane passing over the line.You can clearly see where the station and goods yard was. The railway cutting being filled in these days, but the scar on the land is obvious from above.Looking south towards Birstall and the Gildersome Tunnel entrance, showing what was left of the goods yard.The passenger platforms ran both sides of the tracks just below the signal box with access to both sides from Rooms Lane which ran from Morley towards the A62 Huddersfield road.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 7:25 pm

PhillI think your second b&w shot is the then newly built Lewis's depot

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 7:40 pm

Jogon wrote: PhillI think your second b&w shot is the then newly built Lewis's depot We worked out what that building was on flickr before.It was the new Cadburys distribution depot. It had it's own rail connection. One of the older posters commented.. The chocolate depot did have a connecting line, one very hot day after a wander round Farnley shed, a black five was parked up next to a sign which prohibited steam engines from passing that point late 1963. The Scotswood-Redbank empty van train had just thundered past.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 8:08 pm

Photos of steam engines are (well to me!) very nostalgic. It's probably more to do with my childhood train spotting and sneaking into Neville Hill train sheds (always from Richardson Road) in the early 1950s to get close to and often onto the engines. I don't recall much now other than I think most (if not all) engine numbers started with a 6 (I have a vague feeling that a very few may have began with a 4 but I'm probably wrong). Standing near the football field by the rail track at the bottom of Osmondthorpe Lane gave a good view of the keenly hoped to see Streakers and Blinkers. Exciting times for a child.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Sat 27 Jul, 2013 8:27 pm

Later it was Lewis's Warehouse.The land narrowed to the bridge, lots of wildlife including Barn Owls.