Otley Ilkley

Otley to Ilkley
1865 - 1965
Joint North Eastern & Midland Railway

Contributors: © Reproduction prohibited / Malcolm Mallison / Michael Kaye / Andrew Gallon / David Webdale

The Route
From Otley on the North Eastern Railway to Ilkey on the Midland Railway,
via Burley in Wharfdale & Ben Rydding.

Length
6 1/2 miles.

Original Companies
The North Eastern Railway began operating between Arthington & Otley on Feburary 1st 1865.
The Midland Railway was still constructing its line from Apperley junction,
on the Leeds Shipley line, to Otley & Burley.
The two companies combined to construct & manage a joint line between Otley & Ilkley.
Midland trains began running to Ilkley on August 1st 1865.

Opening
1st August 1865.

Closures
Passengers - Burley In Wharfdale to Arthington 20 March 1965.
Freight - Burley In Wharfdale to Arthington 5 July 1965.
Skipton to Ilkley - January 1966 (Ilkley then became a terminus)

N.E.R Arthington to Otley section See also Arthington to Otley
Bridge (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Bridge at Russell Farm.

Bridge (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Bridge, grid ref 215450.

Trackbed (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
We shall draw a veil over the bypass.
The track can be picked up again from a footpath off the roundabout at its western end, where it survives as an official, gravelled path.

Farm access (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Only one farm access bridge over this section of track survives.

Otley Station
Opened 01-02-1865. Closed 22-03-1965. See also Arthington to Otley

Otley Station facing north (01-05-05) : David Webdale
Taken from a footbridge crossing the A660T, looking down Station road. The site of the old Otley goods yard. The stone sets may have been part of the old access road. Weighbridge on the left hand side of photo. The passenger station was out of picture to the right, nothing remains.

Otley Station Map1910 : Malcolm Mallison
Otley (1910, amended 1938).

Weighbridge (10-2011) : Malcolm Mallison
Oct 2011. 80 years old, unused in 45, weighbridge in Otley station yard.
(Perhaps should re photograph when not covered in dead leaves).

Otley church yard Bramhope tunnel monument (01-05-05) : David Webdale See Leeds to Harrogate
Monument to the 23 people killed during the construction of the nearby Bramhope tunnel.
The monument was rebuilt using local stone back in 1913. Made to look like the north portal.

Bridge (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
The bridge over the A6038 Bradford Rd was demolished by the 1970s.
It seems to have been in two sections- over a stream and then the road. Abutment on south side of stream.

Precipitous drop (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Precipitous drop to stream from road. (Couldn’t find any obvious way down).

Bridge (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Remains of bridge visible on A6038.

Cutting (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Cutting between A6038 and A65.

Line (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
View of line(!) from golf course.

Bridge (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Two bridges crossed the A65 where the line forked. As above, the southern (Leeds/Bradford) bridge long survived closure.
Same comment applies. The northern (Ilkley) must have been demolished shortly after the line closed. Ilkley branch east side of road.
Gate on left gives access to track.

Leeds branch (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Leeds branch, east side.

Leeds branch (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Leeds branch, west side.

Ilkley branch (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
Ilkley branch, west side.

Menston Old Lane (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
There seems no access to, or even good view of, the Leeds fork, but the Ilkley embankment can be climbed at Menston Old Lane…

Junction (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
… and followed all the way to the junction with the surviving line.

Embankment (12-12) : Malcolm Mallison
View of embankment from footpath to Menston.

Ilkley station See also Otley Ilkley see also Cab rides

lkley Junction signalbox (16-07-86) : © Andrew Gallon
Ilkley Junction signalbox, on July 16th 1986. It closed in 1994.
A two-car Class 101 Metro-Cammell DMU approaches Ilkley station.

Ilkley station (15-07-86) : © Andrew Gallon
Ilkley station on July 15th 1986, with the former Skipton line platforms (now a car park) on the right.
The 13.40 to Leeds, a two-car Class 101 Metro-Cammell DMU, awaits departure.

Ilkley (nd) : Michael Kaye
Approach.

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