Queensbury to Keighley
The Route
From Queensbury to Keighley via Thornton,
Denholme, Wilsden, Cullingworth & Ingrow.
Lengths
Thornton to Keighley 9 3/4 miles.
Original Companies
The original company was the Great Northern Railway.
The Halifax Thornton & Keighley Railway
act was passed on
5th August 1873.
September 1st 1882 a single track goods line
opened as far
as Denholme.
The first passengers were on the 1st January 1884.
The Line opened to Keighley goods depot on 1st April 1884.
A station opened at Wilsden on 1st July 1886.
Openings
Passengers -
14th October 1878 Bradford to Thornton.
1st September 1882 Thornton to Denholme.
7th April 1884 Thornton to Ingrow passenger.
1st November 1884 Thornton to Keighley passenger.
Freight -
1st April 1884 Thornton to Keighley Goods.
Closures
Passengers -
May 1956 Cullingworth & Ingrow section.
1963 Cullingworth
1965 Thornton & Ingrow.
|
|
 Queensbury
Station Map 1908
NIgel Callaghan
Opened 12-07-1879
Closed 21-05-1955
See also
Queensbury Station
|
 Keighley
to Bradford Exchange via Queensbury : Dave Graham (c/o Paul Holroyd)
A simulation of the journey from Keighley to Bradford if the
line was still in use today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msL3L5t1uAs |
 The
Queensbury Lines :
Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqUtzppBZp4&list=PL-iLBhpCwmO-2RcbZjQZ05YM6Spz_qorN&index=72
|
 Signal
Box Board (25-04-23) : Paul
Holroyd
Signal box board from Queensbury, now on display
at the Vintage Carriages Trust's museum at Ingrow.
Vintage Carriages Trust |
_small.jpg)  Queensbury
north junction
Keighley side facing north c1950
/ 21-08-05 : Nigel Callaghan
/
David Webdale
Before & after. 1950s & 2005.
The start of the route, the north junction at
Queensbury station, |
_small.jpg) Brow
lane bridge facing east (21-08-05)
: David Webdale
The Keighley side crossing Brow lane
(Originally Brook lane)
Nice solid stone bridge in good fettle.
see map Queensbury station |
  Timetables (1950)
: Charles Boylan
A summer 1950 Queensbury line timetable. Note
that the Queensbury - Keighley section is repeated in the "down"
direction on both timetables. A mistake which presumably would have been
rectified in a timetable supplement.
See also Queensbury Bradford |
Timetables (1954/55)
: Charles Boylan
_small.jpg) _small.jpg) Sadly, this is the last ever timetable for the
Queensbury lines from the winter 1954/55 North Eastern Region edition. I
am particularly impressed by the 14 minutes allowed for the non stop run
of the last Bradford Halifax service bringing through coaches from Kings
Cross. The thought of a LNER N1 going all out up the gradient to
Queensbury is impressive but in reality it most probably went via Low Moor
so the lines signalboxes could be closed as all other services had ceased
a few hours earlier with the exception of a later service on Saturday. I
would be delighted to be told otherwise.
See also Queensbury Bradford |
Thornton Viaduct
 Thornton Viaduct (June 1988
Des Phillips)
Thornton railway station was situated at the top
of a deep valley and was reached from Queensbury
via this massive 20 arch viaduct, a listed structure soon to be reopened
as a public footpath, nice. |
 Thornton Viaduct (June 1988
Des Phillips)
The listed Buildings descriptive text describes it
thus: Thornton Viaduct, Alderscholes Lane - Grade II listed,
"one of a
spectacular series c1876-78. A finely proportioned structure of
sandstone 'brick' with 20 arches in slender tapering piers supporting
the bed of the former railway. " |
 Thornton Viaduct (June 1988
Des Phillips)
"Very thin ashlar strings; capping piers at spring
of arches; flat band below the parapet.
The viaduct makes a most impressive contribution to the landscape of the
valley below Thornton." |
 Thornton Viaduct (June 1988
Des Phillips)
The section of line between Bradford & Keighley is said to be the most
engineered stretch of railway
in West Yorkshire.
For loads more visit
The
Great Northern Railway Trail |
 Thornton-1
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
website - http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/
I can think of few viaducts which are more impressive than Thornton,
with its S-shaped curve.
This is the view looking south, showing its
east side. |
 Thornton-2
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
At its tallest point, the structure stands 117
feet above the stream. It looks in immaculate condition,
possibly thanks
to the money spent on it recently as part of the Great Northern Trail
scheme. |
 Thornton
viaduct (02-12-09) : James Lovell |
/004%20Thornton_small.jpg) Thornton
station
Opened 1878. Closed 1955.
Thornton station (1890) : Malcolm Mallison
6 inch map from the 1890 survey. |
 Thornton
lamp (15-02-06 Paul
Holroyd)
A survivor from Thornton on the GNR - preserved at the private Hall
Cross Museum. |
Well
Heads tunnel
 Wellheads-1
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
Beyond the viaduct, the line turns west before
heading north-east again up a deep cutting to Well Heads tunnel.
|
 Wellheads-2
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
The southern portal is bricked up, with hefty
steel access gates. Constructed between 1878-1881, the tunnel boasts a
vaulted stone roof but no air shafts. It's possible that the trail will
eventually pass through it. |
 Wellheads-3(29-04-07)
: Graeme Bickerdike
For that to happen, Well Heads' northern end will
have to be excavated and cleared of an assortment of clutter. When
built, the tunnel was 662 yards long but, according to a Jarvis Rail
report from 1998, the northern portal has been removed and this accounts
for the bore being 40 yards shorter today. |
 Wellheads-4
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
A long, straight approach cutting takes the trackbed towards
Denholme tunnel. |
Denholme tunnel
 Denholme-1
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
It crosses a narrow valley on an embankment. The
Great Northern Railway thoughtfully provided this elegant bridge for the
local farmer.
Running beneath it in a culvert is the stream which
babbles down through the fields. |
 Denholme-2
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
A distant view of Denholme tunnel's south end with a solitary
railway fence post in the foreground. |
 Denholme-3
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
The south portal's apparently low profile is due
to 4 feet of infill (or landslip) which is now a bog.
The tunnel itself
is not long - a little over 150 yards. |
 Denholme-4
(29-04-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
Trains emerged at the northern end into Denholme station, the
site of which is now a timber yard. Beyond it, Doe Park tunnel welcomed
trains shortly after they'd departed to Keighley. |
Denholme station
Denholme : Bob Cockcroft
Note : The goods shed at Denholme was still
there the last time I visited about a year ago. It's hard to see, as it
forms part of the timber business working buildings. Likewise there
remained the station master's house on the hill above the station. All
the other buildings went some years ago when it seems there was a
"tidying up" of the remaining buildings associated with passengers on
that part of the line. Mostly wooden, presumably this was to prevent
them forming a hazard. Denholme stable was demolished some years ago,
maybe when the yard was simplified in the 1920's. |
Denholme (23-10-12) : Bob Cockcroft
   It's
a bit late but the timber yard and business associated with it went bust
in early 2012 and after standing derelict for some time, caught fire
quite spectacularly on the night of the 10/11th October last which
completely destroyed most of the goods shed end of the site. I went to
see it the following week 23rd October 2012 and, very kindly, they lent
me a hard hat and allowed me to photograph anything there.
The walls of the goods shed was being cleaned prior to recycling the
stone exterior. The interior walls were brick.
I would imagine that the site has been entirely cleared by now. The
goods shed was the only railway building left at Denholme except for the
station house. |
 Denholme
Station tunnels
A walk through
Denholme tunnels : Wetdog video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_eNw08U02M |
Wilsden Station opened
01-07-1886 closed 21-05-1955
_small.jpg) Wilsden
station interpretation board : Richard Kunz
The interpretation boards are produced for the
Great Northern Trail by Richard Kunz. |
Wilsden
painting (nd) : Painter anonymous c/o Mark Neale
 The painting is of Wilsden on the former GN line
linking Keighley with Bradford and Halifax via Queensbury. Its a typical
N1 on two coaches passenger formation prior to closure to passengers in
1955.
Note : Malcolm Mallison
A little light Googling on the locomotive number produced the below...
http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteam.php?row_id=21010
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Railway-Photo-LNER-N1-69434-DONCASTER-WORKS |
 Wilsden
(29-07-08) : James Lovell
The bridge which crosses the railway line at
Wilsden Station. |
 Wilsden
(27-07-08) : James Lovell
The retaining in the cutting near the Bridge the
cutting is now a field and the the bridge is used as some sort of
shelter,
possibly for animals, it is banked up as the garden behind it is
considerably higher. |
 Wilsden
(27-07-08) : James Lovell
Bar on the station side of the bridge - possibly
held a lamp of some sort, I am unsure of its use. |
Hewenden Viaduct
 Hewenden
Viaduct interpretation board : Richard Kunz
The interpretation boards are produced for the
Great Northern Trail by Richard Kunz. |
 Hewenden
Viaduct (nd)
: Richard Kunz
A superb fly by on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuPy3ycyvhg&feature=youtu.be |
 Hewenden
Viaduct (05-10-13)
: David Webdale
The info board by Richard Kunz. |
   Hewenden
Viaduct (31-07-14)
: Malcolm Mallison
Lost Railways already has about a zillion of
these, but none, I’ll warrant, taken on a 75 year old Leica. |
 Hewenden Viaduct (June 1988
Des Phillips)
Hewenden Viaduct is a Grade II listed structure.
It crosses Hewenden Beck at about 270 metres above sea level the
stone was quarried locally. |
 Hewenden Viaduct (June 1988
Des Phillips)
Situated near Cullingworth on the same stretch of
line as Thornton vaiduct.
Hewenden viaduct, now open to the public &
forms part of the Great Northern Trail. |
 Hewenden Viaduct (June 1988
Des Phillips)
The first section of the trail runs from Cullingworth to Harecroft.
Eventually the new Great Northern trail will cover a distance
of 10 kilometres
between Queensbury and Cullingworth. |
 Hewenden
Viaduct (05-10-13)
: David Webdale
On top of the viaduct with grandson Reece. |
 Hewenden
Viaduct (05-10-13)
: David Webdale
The view down the side |
 Heweden
Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul
Holroyd)
website - www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
GN trail Heweden Viaduct 17 arches 376
yards long 123 feet high 29 may 2005 |
 Heweden
Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul
Holroyd)
GN trail Hewenden Viaduct 29 may 2005 |
 Heweden
Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul
Holroyd)
|
 Heweden
Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul
Holroyd) |
 Heweden
Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul
Holroyd) |
 Heweden
Viaduct (29-05-05 Paul
Holroyd)
|
 Heweden
Viaduct (09/2004) : David Taylor.
Another of Hewenden Viaduct taken from near the
site of Wilsden Station,
which incidentally was about two miles from Wilsden village. |
  Heweden
Viaduct (09-07-09) : Andrew Stopford.
Just had time for a quick passing look at Hewenden
Viaduct, now open as the Great Northern Trail. |
 Heweden
Viaduct (27-07-08) : James Lovell
A view across the top of Hewenden Viaduct. |
Cullingworth
  Cullingworth
station interpretation boards : Richard Kunz
The interpretation boards are produced for the
Great Northern Trail by Richard Kunz. |
  Station
road (29-05-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Bridge over railway at Station Road. One side
factory storage, one side garden rockery. |
  Bridge
(29-05-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Bridge carrying railway over footpath, grid ref
063370 (previously photographed on Leica). |
  Embankment
(29-05-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Embankment, 063372 from both sides (previously
photographed on Leica).
www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw025228
Cullingworth- Embankment in hidden under trees to left of photo. Bridge
carrying bridleway over track just above. |
 Farm
access (29-05-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Farm access and bridleway over railway, grid ref
062373. |
The Great Northern Trail
website - The
Great Northern Railway Trail
 Great
Northern Trail Wilsden station (29-05-05) Paul Holroyd
website -
www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
Taken along the first stretch of the Great
Northern Trail, between Cullingworth and the site of Wilsden station
29 May 2005. (following the route backwards heading north Wilsden -
Cullingworth)
The current end of the trail at the site of Wilsden
station |
 Great
Northern Trail (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
Between Cullingworth & Wilsden 29 may 2005 |
 Great
Northern Trail (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
Between Cullingworth & Hewenden viaduct 29 may 2005 |
 Great
Northern Trail (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
Between Cullingworth & Hewenden viaduct 29 may
2005 |
 Great
Northern Trail (27-07-08) : James Lovell |
 Great
Northern Trail (27-07-08) : James Lovell |
 Great
Northern Trail (29-05-05) (Paul Holroyd)
GN trail demolished bridge between Cullingworth and Wilsden 29 may 2005 |
 Iron
girder bridge(27-07-08) : James Lovell
The remains of an iron girder bridge on the GN
Trail. |
 Iron
girder bridge (27-07-08) : James Lovell |
 Iron
girder bridge (27-07-08) : James Lovell |
 Great
Northern Trail (27-07-08) : James Lovell |
Cullingworth
viaduct
 Cullingworth Viaduct
(02/2004) : David Taylor
Section of Cullingworth Viaduct which is largely obscured by houses. |
 Cullingworth viaduct (29-05-05)
:
Paul
Holroyd
GN trail Cullingworth viaduct 29 may 2005 |
 Cullingworth viaduct (29-05-05)
: Paul
Holroyd
GN trail Cullingworth viaduct 29 may 2005 |
 Great
Northern Trail Cullingworth (29-05-05)
: Paul
Holroyd
The start of the trail at Cullingworth. |
 Bridge
(20-08-14)
:
Malcolm Mallison
Bridge over bridleway, grid ref 063370.
Taken on a 75 year old Leica.
See
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw025222 the bridge is
right at the bottom of photo. |
 Culvert
(20-08-14)
:
Malcolm Mallison
Magnificent find. Culvert and retaining
wall for embankment, grid ref 063372.
Needs revisit with proper lostrailwayscam- 5 cm Summar not wide enough.
Taken on a 75 year old Leica. |
Lees Moor tunnel
 Lees
Moor
tunnel eastern portal (Graeme Bickerdike)
website - http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/
The eastern
approach cutting to Barcroft tunnel (on the Queensbury-Keighley route) has
been Landscaped, almost up to the portal.
Known by drivers
as ‘the hell hole’. When heading from Keighley, trains entered the
tunnel in a southerly direction
but exited, 1,533 yards later, traveling east. |
 Leesmoor
-1 (23-11-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
The northern portal is obscured by a stone and
corrugated metal porch. |
 Leesmoor
-2 (23-11-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
Around its edge are the characteristic rounded stones which feature on
the line's other portals. |
 Leesmoor
-3 (23-11-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
Polythene sheeting has been slung beneath the western side of the tunnel
to protect parked caravans from water ingress. |
 Leesmoor
-4 (23-11-07) : Graeme Bickerdike
It's possible to drive to the eastern end and there are caravans parked
almost all the way through.
As you can tell from this shabby picture,
thick mist hangs in the tunnel thanks to the large volume of water which
permeates the lining.
Despite its length, the tunnel has no ventilation
shafts. |
 Lees
Moor tunnel northern portal April 2006 :
Paul Holroyd
website -
www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
The northern entrance to Lees Moor Tunnel, on the
GNR line between Ingrow EAST and Cullingworth.
The tunnel is used as a store by the Bronte Caravan Park. |
 Lees
Moor tunnel northern portal
April 2006
: Paul
Holroyd
GNR Lees Moor Tunnel
Wider view. |
 Lees
Moor tunnel northern portal
trackbed April 2006
: Paul
Holroyd
GNR Trackbead approaching Lees Moor
tunnel. |
 Damems
Lane underbridge (Paul
Holroyd)
Damems Lane underbridge. The trackbed on the left leads to Lees Moor
Tunnel, whilst that on the right leads to the cutting near Apple
Street. |
|
 Damems
Lane trackbed : Paul
Holroyd
Trackbed, looking from
Damems Lane towards the cutting near Apple Street. Damems Lane
climbs on the right hand side of the photo. The main A 629 Keighley
to Halifax Road lies behind the other side of the houses. |
 Damems
Lane underbridge : Paul
Holroyd
Damems Lane underbridge, looking towards Lees Moor Tunnel. Damems
Lane runs from the main A629 road to the level crossing at Damems
station. |
|
 Damems
Lane underbridge : Paul
Holroyd
Damems Lane underbridge,
looking towards Lees Moor Tunnel.
The
main A629 road
is behind the houses
in the top left of the photo. |
|
 Damems
Lane underbridge : Paul
Holroyd
Damems Lane underbridge.
The trackbed towards
Ingrow is on the left, with the trackbed towards Lees Moor Tunnel on
the right. |
  Damens
Lane (25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Bridge at Damens Lane, and trackbed looking north. |
   A629
Halifax Rd (25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Crossing A629 Halifax Rd, and cutting to western side. |
 Halifax
Road (23-11-10) :
Paul Holroyd
Looking south from the west side of Halifax Road. After passing in
front of Oakvale, and burrowing underneath Halifax Road,
the railway emerged near Apple Street in this cutting, before
climbing towards the northern portal of the notorious Lees Moor
Tunnel. |
 Halifax
Road (23-11-10) :
Paul Holroyd
Halifax Road, looking North towards Keighley.
The railway used to be
in a
cutting in front of the house, Oakvale, and passed under Halifax
Road. |
 Halifax
Road (23-11-10) :
Paul Holroyd
A closer view |
 Haincliffe
Road (23-11-10) :
Paul Holroyd
Looking south from Haincliffe Road, the railway used to be in a
cutting at this point. |
  Hainworth
Lane (25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Bridge at Hainworth Lane. |
  Hainworth
Road (25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Parapets of bridge at Hainworth Road. Ingrow East station
lay just to the south, but is now obliterated under a builders’ merchant. |
/005%20Ingrow_small.jpg) Ingrow East station
Opened 07-04-1884 closed 21-05-1955
Ingrow stations map (1890) : Malcolm
Mallison
6 inch maps from the 1890 survey. Both stations
shown. see also Worth valley section |
 Ingrow
East station (23-11-10) :
Paul Holroyd
The site of Ingrow East station, looking north towards Keighley.
Taken from Haincliffe Road. |
 Ingrow
East station (23-11-10) :
Paul Holroyd
The site of Ingrow East station, looking towards Keighley. |
 Woodhouse
Road (25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Parapet of bridge at northern side of Woodhouse Road.
Opposite is industrial premises.
|
 Trackbed
(25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Old trackbed to north of Woodhouse Road.
|
  Park
Drive Road (25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
Footpath, once under a bridge, at Park Drive Road (K &
WVR just beyond) and trackbed looking north through railings. |
 K
& WVR junction (25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
I think the junction with K & WVR, where the cutting
widens out. Queensbury line branched off to left.
|
 Keighley GNR
Opened 16-03-1847
Keighley
Station (April 1987) : Michael Kaye
Keighley station yard.
See also Queensbury Keighley |
 Keighley
Station (02-06-1975) : Charles Boylan
A refurbished class 108 dmu in a short lived
livery at Keighley Station (still with canopies) dated unusually for me
2.06.1975. |
 Keighley
Station (1981) : Andrew Ripley
A view of Keighley, I think from 1981, before
they messed about with it. |
 Keighley
sheds (1952) : Dave Walbank
I've found the picture of keighley sheds taken in 1952. |
 Keighley
sheds (n.d) : Dave Walbank
Keighley shed as it was starting to be demolished. |
  Keighley (12-05-23) : Paul
Holroyd
Looking south from Hainworth Lane, Keighley. |
 Keighley (12-05-23) : Paul
Holroyd
Looking north from Hainworth Lane, Keighley. |
/006%20Keighley%20Goods_small.jpg) Keighley Goods
GNR
Opened 1884. Closed 1956.
Keighley Goods map (1890) : Malcolm
Mallison
6 inch maps from the 1890 survey. |
  Keighley
Goods (25-03-15) : Malcolm Mallison
A short, dead end, section of double track, passing under
the Worth Valley line, to facilitate shunting in and out of the goods
yard. Bridge under Parkwood Street (behind camera) seems to have
disappeared. Cutting far too brambly to explore far. What I can’t
understand from the 1890 map, is where did the goods yard connect with the
main line? |
 Keighley
abandoned railway cutting (20-12-08) : Phill Davison
The half filled in cutting of the Queensbury to Keighley Great Northern
railway goods yard.
The line used to pass under the Worth Valley line seen in the distance to
an extensive goods yard were a timber merchants now stands.
The line was
opened in 1884 and closed to traffic in 1956. |
Keighley goods Parkwood street tunnel
 Parkwood
street tunnel South portal (20-12-08) : Phill Davison
The elusive South portal of Parkwood st tunnel is in a hard to reach
location these days.
The easily viewed site of the North portal been filled in many years ago.
Parkwood tunnel has largely been forgotten about and is listed on most
tunnel data bases simply as a 'lost tunnel' |
 Parkwood
street tunnel interior (20-12-08)
: Phill Davison
Looking towards the South portal, and the only reminder the tunnel still
exists from the outside world. You can still see the indents in the track
ballast were the sleepers used to be. The remains of the tunnel drainage
system can be seen on the left. These can be pretty lethal hazards while
exploring disused tunnels. |
 Parkwood
street tunnel north portal (20-12-08) : Phill Davison
Tunnel men added for scale. The north portal been filled in many years
ago.
The tunnel is a short 118 yds long with no air shafts or refuges in It's
construction.
See more of Phills photo's on flickr. |
Queensbury
- Halifax
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
/004%20Thornton.jpg)
.jpg)
/005%20Ingrow.jpg)
/006%20Keighley%20Goods.jpg)
