SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

From being about eight to about thirteen I was a fairly keen trainspotter. We'd watch the trains at Morley "Top" - mainly B1's on the Bradford sections of the White Rose and West Riding" and at Morley Low. On Saturday mornings we'd eagerly await the double header, which ususally consisted of a Royal Scot paired with either a Jubilee or a Patriot. These trains used to carry boards over the carriages "Liverpool - Manchester - Leeds - Hull" (or Newcastle) When eventually my mam would let me go to Leeds unacompanied by an adult, we'd get a stopping train from Morley to Leeds "New" (6d. return!) And we'd watch the Thames Clyde and the Waverley expresses both "up" and "down" change locos and direction at Leeds City, usually hauled by either a Jubilee or Britannia. Or we'd go to Leeds Central and watch the Kings Cross departures and arrivals. But one thing occurred to me years later. The trains to Hull and Newcastle that came into Leeds "New" from west of the Pennines. Did they change loco's? We never bothered to look! Were the Jubilees etc replaced by Neville Hill A1',s A2's or A3's on their way north or east. Anyone know, or any way of finding out?

All that trainspotting stuff goes right over my head Majorhoundii, although being a Morley lad myself I'm familiar with the locations you're talking about. My memories of 'Morley Top' are of it lying in an incredibly delapidated state just off Chartists Way, the station was still there with its white tiled underpasses and red brick buildings, but the trains and lines were long gone and it was very overgrown. Isnt it a Barrett Housing estate or something now? My dad worked for Chew & Sons undertakers and joiners just to the rear of 'Morley Top' at Bridge Works, Baker Street just off Fountain Street. I can remember when there was still the old ticket office at Morley Low station before it mysteriously burned down, rumour has it a boy from our school called 'Simon Ja**an' was the young arsonist responsible. Major Houndii do you remember the small railway station just down Rooms Lane and off Gelderd Road? It was just before the railway track went into Spring Woods and into the Gildersome Tunnel. I've got some vague memories of the place just after it had stopped operating in the late-70s. I can remember thinking at the time it looked like a station from a wild west film because it was all made from wood and it was already quite derelict.

As an early 1950s spotter I can confirm that the Lancashire - Durham/Northumberland and vice versa through trains did have engine changes at Leeds New at that period. As Neville Hill only had four Pacifics (A3s) which were generally used on The North Briton and on the Leeds Central engine changes for the Queen of Scots, the other replacement engines for the through trains could be from Gateshead, Heaton, or even York.Mr personal favourite was a Sunday evening train which arrived on Platform 13 at around 19.30 behind a Tyneside A2. This was invariably replaced by an unrebuilt Patriot which then remained there for an hour - I think there was some kind of parcels changing and connecting going on. Hanging around for a few minutes looking inquisitive would almost always result in an invitation to hop up onto the footplate until leaving time, a very special bonus for the young enthusiast!    

jim wrote: As an early 1950s spotter I can confirm that the Lancashire - Durham/Northumberland and vice versa through trains did have engine changes at Leeds New at that period. As Neville Hill only had four Pacifics (A3s) which were generally used on The North Briton and on the Leeds Central engine changes for the Queen of Scots, the other replacement engines for the through trains could be from Gateshead, Heaton, or even York.Mr personal favourite was a Sunday evening train which arrived on Platform 13 at around 19.30 behind a Tyneside A2. This was invariably replaced by an unrebuilt Patriot which then remained there for an hour - I think there was some kind of parcels changing and connecting going on. Hanging around for a few minutes looking inquisitive would almost always result in an invitation to hop up onto the footplate until leaving time, a very special bonus for the young enthusiast!     Thats what I wanted to know. Thanks. I recall travelling to York as an eleven year old on the North Briton. I know the engine was an A3 but I aren't sure which one. Was there one called Colombo?

Memory in good order majorhoundii. Neville Hill's A3s were 60036, Colombo, 60074, Harvester, 60084, Trigo, and 60086, Gainsborough.

Do you remember travelling on Thomas the Tank Engine?

It's a story Jon. Didn't mummy tell you?

In the 1950s there were actually 5 A3s allocated to Neville Hill shed. I think Jim may have forgotten 60081 Shotover.

Certainly did Barwicker, you have a better memory than I have!

Does anyone remember the wooden train station just off Gelderd Road between Gildersome and Morley?