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Sowerby Bridge to Rishworth
1881 - 1929
 Lancashire & Yorkshire railway
Contributors:  © Reproduction prohibited / Andrew Stopford / Bob Prigg / Stephanie Penny / David Cant
                          Richard Barnes / Dave Heatley / Malcolm Mallison / David R Ball / David Webdale
The Route
From From Sowerby Bridge on the Calder Valley Main line to Rishworth (terminated) via Triangle (opened in 1885)
& Riponden. Built to main line standards, the line was originally intended as a high speed cut off to Littleborough.
A survey of the route between Rishworth & Littleborough was carried out in 1882, but this section of  line was never built.

Length
3 1/2 miles.
Original Company
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway.
Openings
 Sowerby Bridge to Riponden - 5th August 1878.
Riponden to Rishworth - 1881.

Closures
 Passengers - 6th July 1929
 Freight - Sowerby Bridge to Rishworth - 1952.
                Sowerby Bridge to Riponden - 1958.
 

 
Railway Ramblers gazetteer
See also the Railway Ramblers gazetteer -  Calderale L&Y Sowerby Bridge Rishworth (Rishworth Branch)

Sowerby Bridge
Opened 05-10-1840.
Sowerby Bridge station map (1890) : Malcolm Mallison
 6 inch maps from the 1890 survey.   See also Sowerby Bridge to Rishworth
Sowerby Bridge sign (04-05-08) : Paul Holroyd  
Sign from Sowerby Bridge, currently on loan to the Museum of Rail Travel at Ingrow near Keighley.   See Vintage Carriages
Sowerby Bridge station  (1865) : Sowerby Bridge library c/o David Cant
 Early image of the first Sowerby Bridge station, from a collection in Sowerby Bridge library, 1865. This station was built just east of the tunnel mouth and closed when the present site was opened. The buildings had disappeared by the 1889/90 OS survey and the site is now part of Tesco's car park.
Sowerby Bridge (1972) : David R Ball
This is a view looking Eastwards at two of the three platforms of Sowerby Bridge Station and Sowerby Bridge Station signal box. I took this photo in 1972. Notice the platelayer's trolley in the middle foreground.
Sowerby Bridge Station Bar 2008
Halifax Courier 02-08.
Sowerby Bridge Station (16-08-08) : David Webdale
The old station building looks stranded in the middle of the car park.
The original station was severely damaged by fire in October 1978 and demolished by British Rail in 1980.
The existing station (not in the original place) was built in 1981.
Sowerby Bridge Station subway (16-08-08) : David Webdale
Photographed from entrance to station on Holmes road & close up of bricked up section.
I'm guessing the existing platform on the far side was once an island
Sowerby Bridge Station signal box (1972) : David R Ball
This photo shows Sowerby Bridge Station signal box. I took this photo in 1972. The box was abolished on Sunday 4th March 1973.
Sowerby Bridge Station signal box (1972) : David R Ball
This photo shows the interior of Sowerby Bridge Station signal box, the Signalman Roy Sunderland and the signalman's armchair.
I took this photo in 1972.
Sowerby Bridge river footbridge (16-08-08) : David Webdale
This little bridge carries a footpath over the river Calder. Don't know if it was built by the railway. The path runs between Holmes road near the station & the main road through Sowerby Bridge. The passageway up ahead leads through to the main road.
Sowerby Bridge & Rishworth branch (1972) : David R Ball
In this photo you can see Sowerby Bridge Station and in the background is the bricked up Eastern Portal of the tunnel that the Rishworth Branch line went through, as it left the area of Sowerby Bridge Station to go West towards Watson Crossing Halt, on its way to Rishworth.
I took this photo in January 1972.  see Sowerby Bridge Rishworth section
Sowerby Bridge West signal box (1972) : David R Ball
This is Sowerby Bridge West signal box. I took this photo in 1972.
Sowerby Bridge West signal box (1972) : David R Ball
This is a view of Sowerby Bridge West signal box which also shows the yard it controlled, Sowerby Bridge West Yard.
In 2015 there is a Tesco Supermarket on this yard. I took this photo in April 1972.
Sowerby Bridge West  Box (09-85) : Dave Heatley
Unfortunately the camera was letting light in but this is the last time the signal box was intact.
Fire damage has left the structure in an unsafe condition and would be demolished soon after this picture was taken in September 1985.
Sowerby Bridge West signal box & Engine Shed(1972) : David R Ball
This photo shows Sowerby Bridge West signal box . It also shows the site of the former engine shed at Sowerby Bridge.
The shed was closed in 1964 and subsequently demolished. I took this photo on Wednesday 12th January 1972.
The locomotive is the 'Halifax pilot', performing afternoon shunting duties near to Sowerby Bridge West signal box.
Sowerby Bridge West signal box & Engine Shed (1972) : David R Ball
This photo shows the site of the former Sowerby Bridge Engine Shed. Notice the coaling and water stage, Sowerby Bridge West signal box and the Eastern portal of Sowerby Bridge Tunnel. I took this photo in January 1972.
Sowerby Bridge tunnel north portal (02-08-06)(26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
 Sowerby Bridge tunnel- tunnel at start of branch (Sowerby Bridge end). Now a parcel delivery firm's yard. Sign of the times?
Sowerby Bridge tunnel south portal (02-08-06) : Andrew Stopford 
 The tunnel at Sowerby Bridge at the start of the Rishworth branch. Southern portal, picture looking towards Sowerby Bridge.
The mouth and some length of the tunnel seems to be in use as part of the factory site.
Sowerby Bridge & Rishworth branch (1972) : David R Ball
In this photo you can see Sowerby Bridge Station and in the background is the bricked up Eastern Portal of the tunnel that the Rishworth Branch line went through, as it left the area of Sowerby Bridge Station to go West towards Watson Crossing Halt, on its way to Rishworth.
I took this photo in January 1972.
Rishworth Branch (1972) : David R Ball
This photo is a view from above the Western portal of the Rishworth Branch tunnel, looking along the trackbed of the Rishworth Branch towards Triangle. Obscured by trees in the foreground is the site of Watsons Crossing Halt. I took this photo in January 1972.
Occupation bridge facing towards Rishworth (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
 just after Watson Mill Crossing
Occupation bridge (c2005) : Stephanie Penny
 Metal bridge that still connects the footpath network of Norland to Belmont/Triangle area of Sowerby Bridge.
Right next to this is a small electricity sub station right in the centre of the cutting
Northern Gas Networks installation  facing towards Rishworth (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
 Across trackbed - bridge in previous photo visible at far side.
Bridge facing towards Rishworth (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
Bridge facing towards Rishworth (26-08-06)  : Andrew Stopford
Footbridge (c2005) : Stephanie Penny
Ripponden/Rishworth line cutting and metal footbridge.
Cutting (c2005) : Stephanie Penny
Ripponden/Rishworth line cutting
Cutting facing towards Rishworth (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
Cutting looking back towards Sowerby Bridge (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford

Triangle station
Opened 01-12-1885. Closed 06-07-1929.
Triangle station map (1890) : Malcolm Mallison
 6 inch maps from the 1890 survey.
Triangle Station (c1959) : Richard Barnes © copyright on all Richard Barnes Photographs
Triangle station  (c2005) : Stephanie Penny
 The station house - though I have said that this could be the ex Station House,
this is only a presumption on my part, due to it's positioning, I have no real evidence for that.
Triangle station  (c2005) : Stephanie Penny
 This property also has a small holding which houses fowl of various sorts actually on the track.
Triangle station facing Rishworth (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
 The site of Traingle station.
Triangle station  (c2005) : Stephanie Penny
 A pleasurable use of the space left behind on the dismantled raillines on the Rishowrth branch line near Triangle.
Triangle station facing towards Rishworth (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
 Bridge at entry to Triangle station.
Triangle station facing Sowerby Bridge (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
 Leaving Triangle station looking back towards Sowerby Bridge
Bridge facing towards Rishworth (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
Cutting looking back (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
Lineside furniture (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
31 what? Miles to Manchester? Or 3 and 1 quarter miles from Sowerby Bridge? Any ideas? Lineside furniture survivor!
Bridge from lineside track (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
Level crossing (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
Site of level crossing approaching Ripponden -  LC gate post (looking towards Sowerby Bridge). Road on left is on railway formation.
Ripponden Old Bank (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
Former bridge. Moors in the background which the line was originally going to go through/under if it had been continued.

Ripponden & Barkisland station
 Opened 05-08-1878. Closed 06-07-1929.
 Ripponden Station approach (26-06-08) : Dave Heatley
Ripponden Station approach from Elland Road.
Ripponden Bank (26-08-06) : Andrew Stopford
Ripponden Bank bridge abutement.
Approach to Ripponden (c1959) : Richard Barnes ©
Approach to Ripponden. You can just make out the signal which was linked to the level crossing gates.
I remember friends and I having great fun opening and shutting the gate and watching the signal go up and down!!
Ripponden Station (c1959) : Richard Barnes ©

Rishworth Station
 Opened 1881. Closed 06-07-1929.
Rishworth Station platform (05/03/05) Photo : Railway Ramblers member Bob Prigg   Website - www.Railway Ramblers.org

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