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Castleford to Garforth
1878 - 1951
North Eastern Railway
Contributors:  © Reproduction prohibited
                    
Phill Davison / Michael Kaye / Graeme Bickerdike / Malcolm Mallison / Christopher Franz / Keith Looker / Andrew Gallon / David Webdale
The Route
From junction on Castleford - York line at Castleford East Junction to a junction on the York - Leeds line east of Garforth station, via Ledston, Bowers Halt & Kippax. Braches served Allerton Bywater colliery & Bowers Row colliery.

Length
6.3 miles single track.

Original Company
Leeds, Castleford and Pontefract Junction Railway (LC&PJR)
Was taken over prior to opening in 1878 by the North Eastern Railway company.

Openings
Passengers - 12th August 1878.
Freight - 8th April 1878.

Closures
Passengers - 22nd January 1951
Freight - Between Ledston & Garforth 14th July 1969.
Between Castleford east junction & Ledston 6th June 1998.



 


Castlford & Methley junctions   See also Cutsyke Methley section
















 
Railway Ramblers gazetteer
See also the Railway Ramblers gazetteer -  Leeds : Castleford east junction - Garforth
Altofts & Whitwood map (1932) : Malcolm Mallison
From the Six inch map 1932 Survey.
Altofts & Whitwood (tiny, almost missed it).
Whitwood colliery map (1932) : Malcolm Mallison
Collieries from the same sheet as above.
Hopetown colliery map (1932) : Malcolm Mallison
Collieries from the same sheet as above.
The residents of Hopetown seem to have a railway through their back gardens. Note LMS line, deep inside LNER territory.
Castleford - Garforth 1 inch Map 1947 : Ralph Rawlinson
Layout Plans : Keith Looker
Castleford.
Castleford - Garforth - Leeds Time table 1951 : Ralph Rawlinson
Table 44 from the summer 1949 BR (NER) timetable.

Castleford Central station
Castleford (nd) : Michael Kaye

Facing east, approaching Castleford Central from Pontefract. Via the now gone L&Y Cutsyke junction.
See also Cutsyke Methley The signal box is now all boarded up.

Ledston station
Opened 12-08-1878. Closed 22-01-1951.

Ledston station (23-04-85) : Michael Kaye

Ledston Station 2nd August 1985 looking towards Kippax. I think all that is left in this picture is the building centre top.
Ledston station (03-10-85) : © Andrew Gallon
Ledston station and signalbox, and Allerton Bywater Colliery, on October 3rd 1985.
56 014 heads laden MGR coal hoppers from Bowers Row Opencast Site to Ferrybridge Power Station.
Ledston station : Phill Davison  website - http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/sets/72157594397421428/
(N.E.R) Taken from the remains of Ledston station closed in 1951 on the former Garforth-Castleford branch.
This section of line remained in use for coal traffic from the nearby Allerton Byewater colliery untill it closed in 1992.
There are plans to rip this line up & turn it into a cycle path. This view is looking towards Castleford.
Barnsdale rd bridge : Phill Davison
The overgrown remains of the trackbed from the Barnsdale rd bridge.
Trackbed subsidence : Phill Davison
The flood water has eroded the ballast away from the trackbed & it looks rather precarious to say the least.
Allerton Byewater colliery end of line : Phill Davison
There seemed to have been some sort of weigh bridge here for the coal m.g.r wagons.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge : Phill Davison
(N.E.R) The northern eastern railway bridge spanning the Aire & Calder navigation abandoned in 1992.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge : Ralph Rawlinson (01-05-09)
Network Rail is considering reopening Castleford - Garforth line. If this comes about it would bring back into use the magnificent (although sadly deteriorating) 840ft long Castleford Viaduct over the River Aire.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge (30-01-08) : Graeme Bickerdike
The bowstring span over the Aire remains in fair condition.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge : Phill Davison
The massive span of the cast iron bridge. It's in a terrible condition. Huge girders have split in half & the decking is paper thin.
I find it amazing that fully laden coal trains were using this bridge as little as 14yr's ago.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge (30-01-08) : Graeme Bickerdike
No part of this 840-feet long structure appears to align, presumably due to movement of the piers.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge : Phill Davison
Totally severed.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge (30-01-08) : Graeme Bickerdike
According to a local, a walkway is due to be constructed across the viaduct. I can't find any reference to it on the net.
Some serious repairs would certainly be needed before it was fit for foot traffic.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge (30-01-08) : Graeme Bickerdike
Corrosion has caused holes to form in the deck.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge (30-01-08) : Graeme Bickerdike
Wherever you look, the structure is under attack from rust.
Aire & Calder navigation bridge (30-01-08) : Graeme Bickerdike
One of the pier's substantial feet.
Note : Reopening of the Castleford - Garforth line : Ralph Rawlinson (01-05-09)
Rail magazine reports that, in order to run more shuttles to Leeds, Network Rail is considering reopening Castleford - Garforth line and the disused Up platform at Castleford. If this comes about it would bring back into use the magnificent (although sadly deteriorating) 840ft long Castleford Viaduct over the River Aire.
Berry Lane near Kippax (25-06-20) : Christopher Franz
Selby Road (A63) near Garforth (25-06-20) : Christopher Franz

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