Leeds New Line 3

Heaton Lodge - Farnley Junction (Leeds New Line) Page: 3 of 6 [ <<Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> ]
1900 - 1965
London & North Western Railway

Contributors: © Reproduction prohibited / Paul Holroyd / K Evans / Norman Hirst / Paul B / Graeme Bickerdike / Michael Kaye / Keith Looker
Paul Corrie / Graham Smith / Ralph Rawlinson / Graham Smith / Christopher Franz / Bernard Coomber / Keith Looker / David Webdale

The Leeds New Line route maps
See page 1 for explanation

You are here: Map 3 Heckmondwike
Walkley lane - Well street

Map 3 Heckmondwike
Walkley lane to Well street
L.N.W.R Leeds New Line shown in red
Lancashire & Yorkshire lines shown in blue

For the Lancashire & Yorkshire lines shown
on this map - see Mirfield to Low Moor
Ravensthorpe branch

The Leeds New Line part 3: Darren Hosker c/o Paul Holroyd
Youtube from Darren Hosker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7kRAeeNlAU

Heckmondwike : c/o Graham Smith
Aerial shots from Bradford Museums & Galleries website. http://photos.bradfordmuseums.org/index.php?
The 4th of the 5 photos was listed as Bradford. It took me ages to work out it was actually Heckmondwike looking towards the town from Dewsbury Moor. A lovely view of the New Line crossing over the line to Thornhill.

48 ft cutting facing N-West (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Taken from a footpath just off Walkley lane. Down in the bottom there is Brunswick street bridge, the first of 8 bridges through the middle of Heckmondwike. The house to the left of the church steeple is shown close up next photo.

Note : Graham Smith (19-04-07)
The deep cutting next to Walkley Lane has had a lot of activity over the last weeks. It looks like some sort of landfill activity. I am going to contact Kirlees Council to find out what’s happening as there has been no planning application as far as I know and I thought they were going to make the whole of the old Spen Line onto a cycle path to join up with the onther one along Dewsbury Moor.

Note : Graham Smith (26-10-17)
The deep cutting next to Walkley Lane and Walkley Terrace may be getting infilled to allow the building of 96 houses.
What they are going to infill such a large cutting with isn't stated in the application.
Application number 2017/93488 http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/planning-applications/search-for-planning-applications/default.aspx

There is already a lot of ill feeling against this by the local residents and I may be writing to the council before the 13th November deadline to try to oppose this application.

Horton street & Francis street Sunnyside facing N-West (15-09-02)
This smart looking house originally built on Church street, was moved in 1887. It now stands here, on the corner of Horton street & Francis street Sunnyside. Francis street was cut into two sections when the railway came through.
The right hand half is called Sunnyside, as the houses all face south.

The 80 houses Francis street & Powel street facing North (15-09-02) : David Webdale

The L.N.W.R re-housed a number of people displaced by the construction of the railway in Battyeford & Heckmondwike 126 houses were acquired by the L.N.W.R in various parts of Heckmondwike.
60% were occupied by what the L.N.W.R called the labouring classes.
Plans were approved in 1894 to build 80 new houses at the top of Church street.
The land was owned by Sir Francis Sharpe Powell Bart M.P. So the new streets were named Francis street & Powell street.
known locally as the 80 houses. Total Cost - Houses - £20,267 10s. Streets - £1,786.
The L.N.W.R argued that they were loads better than the ones they replaced, probably true.
The end of each row has this distinctive gable end. They're all built to the same design as the 12 houses on Littlemoor road in Battyeford. (see map 1)

Church st facing N-West (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Back to railways, this is the view from the track bed facing in Leeds direction. Directly in front is Church street bridge,
in the distance is the south 50 yard tunnel.
It looks like rubbish has been collected into piles ready for removal, I've heard this part of the route was going to become a cycle path.

50 yard tunnel (18-11-07) : Ralph Rawlinson
There is new residential building taking place within the cuttings at Heckmondwike,
but allowances appear to be in place for a footpath link at both ends of the housing estate.

South portal 50 yard tunnel (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
View of the tunnel underneath High Street, Heckmondwike, looking towards to site of Heckmondwike Spen passenger station.

South portal 50 yard tunnel (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Taken from the south 50 yard tunnel & facing back in the Huddersfield direction towards Walkley Lane.
The bridges in the distance are Church street & Brunswick street, respectively.

South portal 50 yard tunnel (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
View from the tunnel underneath High Street, Heckmondwike, looking towards Walkley Lane.

50 yard tunnel (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Platelayers' refuge inside the tunnel under High Street, Heckmondwike, looking towards to site of Heckmondwike Spen passenger station.

50 yard tunnel (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Platelayers' refuge inside the tunnel under High Street, Heckmondwike

50 yard tunnel (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Inside the tunnel under High Street, Heckmondwike

50 yard tunnel (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Inside the tunnel under High Street, Heckmondwike, looking towards Walkley Lane.

Heckmondwike Spen station
Opened 01-10-1900. Closed 05-09-1953.

Heckmondwike Spen station map 1908 (Re-named Heckmondwike Spen in 1924) : David Webdale

Heckmondwike Station is situated in cutting, between High street & Cemetery road. Foot & vehicle access from High street.
The station buildings were of timber construction. Platforms were brick with stone flags.
Due to the terrain, the goods yard (opened1st of November 1900) was situated further south between Walkley Lane & the L & Y Railway Ravensthorpe branch. The line cut through a heavily populated area of the old town.
This meant the railway had to buy up large amounts of property.
The railway company was obliged to re-house people within one mile of the houses they were demolishing.
This section of line between the Lancashire & Yorkshire line at Heckmondwike Spen goods yard & the oil terminal at Liversedge, remained open up until 1986 (one track only).

Layout Plans : Keith Looker
Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike

Heckmondwike Spen station (c1980) : Paul Holroyd Click here to see selection of Spen Valley railway tickets & handbills.
Heckmondwike Spen - the Huddersfield bound platform and the High Street bridge.

Heckmondwike station North portal south 50 yd tunnel facing S-East (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Taken from the site of Heckmondwike station. Up on the left there looks to be evidence of steps up on to High street (see next photo)
There were wooden station buildings on both sides of the tracks.

Heckmondwike Spen station staircase (1985) : K Evans
Heckmondwike Spen former staircase from platform to street level 1985.

Heckmondwike Spen station (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Tunnel under High Street, Heckmondwike

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (1986) : K Evans
Same direction, further back. There was an island platform on the right. Up on High street, is the Robert Peel pub.

Heckmondwike Spen station (c1980) : Paul Holroyd website - www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
Heckmondwike Spen station, looking towards Liversedge. The old swimming baths are in the background.

Heckmondwike Spen station (2007) : Graham Smith
Same view in 2007.

Heckmondwike Spen station (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
There are two separate pedestrian access points to Heckmondwike cutting from Old Station Court, which is a cul-de-sac.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (1900s) : Paul B
Post Card of Heckmondwike Spen station.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Same view in 2002, rapidly changing in 2006/7. see next photo's.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (23-07-06) : Paul B
Just thought id send ya this picture, probably the last chance to see where heckyspen station was before the whole area
becomes unrecognizable with houses.

Heckmondwike Spen station (08-10-06) : Graeme Bickerdike website - http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/
I passed through Heckmondwike on Sunday and discovered that the site of the Spen station has been levelled in preparation for a new housing development.

Heckmondwike Spen station (14-04-07) : Andrew Stopford
A shot of Heckmondwike Spen. Gone forever.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (2007) : Graham Smith

Heckmondwike Spen station platform facing west (1986) : K Evans
Still some evidence of a platform back in 1986. Cemetery road bridge visible on the right

Heckmondwike Spen station facing N-West (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Standing on the track bed facing toward Liversedge.
The bridges are (in order of appearance) - Cemetery road, Upper George street, Victoria street, King street.
The first two bridges span three track widths.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing N-West (2007) : Graham Smith
Same spot in 2007.

Heckmondwike Spen station (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Cemetery road bridge.

Heckmondwike Spen station (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Information board in Heckmondwike cutting.

Heckmondwike Spen station (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Upper George street, Victoria street & King street.

Heckmondwike Spen station (1981) : c/o Paul Holroyd Click here to see selection of Spen Valley railway tickets & handbills.
Photographer unknown Paul Holroyd collection.
The remaining single track from the Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal at Liversedge, curves through the cutting at Heckmondwike, 1981.

Under King street facing S-East (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Taken from under King street bridge facing back toward the station. In front, Victoria street bridge,
(spanning two track widths). Behind are bridges Upper George street & Cemetery road, respectively.

Under King street facing S-East (25-04-10) : David Webdale
Same view as above in 2010.

Heckmondwike Spen (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
Victoria street bridge.

Heckmondwike Spen (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd

Under King street facing N-West (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Taken from under King street bridge, facing opposite direction. In front is Jeremy lane, which looks to carry a water or sewer pipe underneath.
Beyond is the north 50 yard tunnel under Bridge street.

Jeremy Lane (14-07-09) : Paul B
Just recently been down onto the leeds new line (Spen Ringway as its called now)
and it looks like someone is doing a clear up job on there. I took these couple of shots for you to have a look.

Jeremy Lane (25-04-10) : David Webdale
Close up of the tricky brickwork around the pipe.

Jeremy Lane (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd

North 50 yard tunnel facing N-West (15-09-02) : David Webdale
The North 50 yard tunnel with Cook lane beyond.

North 50 yard tunnel (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd

Cook Lane bridge (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd

Cook Lane bridge (25-10-20) : Paul Holroyd
There are still odd traces of where cables used to be.

Cook Lane bridge facing s-east (22-07-06) : Norman Hirst
Facing back towards Heckmondwike.

Heckmondwike (18-11-07) : Ralph Rawlinson
Recent shots along the route, from Railway Ramblers member Ralph Rawlinson. The leader considers
that walking through the tunnels and bridges here is the ultimate railway rambling experience!

Heckmondwike (05-09-09) : Graeme Bickerdike
Sustrans' new footpath which passes beneath the bridges to the north of Heckmondwike Spen Station.
They are wonderful structures as, of course, is the cutting which they span.

The Old Hall

The Old Hall facing East (15-09-02) : David Webdale
At the other side of Cook lane is the Old Hall, dating from the 15th century It was originally a timber house, now a pub.

The Old Hall (25-04-10) : David Webdale
The right hand wing of the building was sliced off when the railway came through.
The original plans were to demolish the building altogether, but the owners must have reached some sort of agreement with the L.N.W.R

The Old Hall (25-04-10) : David Webdale
View from the roadside.

The Old Hall (25-04-10) : David Webdale
Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, lived here as a boy & is commemorated by this blue plaque.

The Old Hall (25-04-10) : David Webdale
The original construction was incorporated into the 17th century modifications, which include this fancy plaster ceiling.
The old timber frame work has been also been exposed.

Leeds road bridge facing East (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Leeds road bridge, looking back towards Heckmondwike.
Bit boring compared to the bridges we've just seen, looks to have been reinforced or rebuilt at some time.

Liversedge Spen station
Opened 01-10-1900. Closed 05-09-1953.

Liversedge station map 1908 (Re-named Liversedge Spen in 1924) : David Webdale
Situated between Listing Lane & Firthcliffe Lane. Platforms & buildings of timber construction.
Goods yard opened on 1st November 1900. Situated between Firthcliffe lane & Leeds road.
Consisting of 7 sidings, warehouse & stables. The site of one of the last parts of the line to stay open.

Spenborough (c1915) : Thomas Castle c/o Christopher Franz
View from Stanley colliery. Liversedge Spen station next to Listing Lane visible in the background on the left hand photo.
See close up next photo. The line in the foreground is the L&Y Mirfield to Low Moor.

Spenborough (c1915) : Thomas Castle c/o Christopher Franz
Close up of above photo, Liversedge Spen station next to Listing Lane.

Liversedge Spen (2007) : Graham Smith
Facing back towards Heckmondwike & standing on the exact spot of where the edge of the Leeds bound platform used to be.

Liversedge Spen Charrington Hargreaves Oil Terminal

Plans for run-round facilities for the Charrington Hargreaves oil depot (22/12/65) : Paul Holroyd
A small part of the plans for building the connecting spur between the L & Y and LNWR lines at Heckmondwike, and associated works.
There is a handwritten note saying "Plan enclosed with DE's letter 22/12/65" on my copy
Run-round facilities for the Charrington Hargreaves oil depot at Liversedge Spen.

Timetables for the Charrington Hargreaves oil depot (17/05/82) : Paul Holroyd
Extracts from the 17 May 1982 - 3 October 1982 Working Timetable,
showing freight services to and from the Charrington Hargreaves Oil Terminal at Liversedge Spen.

Locomotives operating from Charrington Hargreaves : Paul Holroyd
A large number of the oil tanker trains were hauled by BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 steam locomotives, but other locomotive classes did appear.
Most of the following information is from the monthly magazine, The Railway Observer, published by the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society.

On 22 September 1964 ex-LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 locomotive no 45583 Assam worked the 01.25 Ellesmere Port-Liversedge.
On the same date 9F no 92046 worked the 19.30 Cleckheaton-Ellesmere Port empty tankers.
On 1st October 1964 9F no 92109 worked the Cleckheaton-Ellesmere Port empties.
On 5th November 1964 9F no 92214 hauled the Ellesmere Port – Liversedge.
On 22nd December 1964 9F no 92085 hauled the Liversedge-Ellesmere Port empties.
On 24th December 1964 9F no 92249 hauled the Liversedge-Ellesmere Port empties.
On 2nd January 1965 9F no 92022 hauled the 01.24 Ellesmere Port-Liversedge.
On 29th January 1965 9F no 92124 hauled the Ellesmere Port-Liversedge.
On 2nd February 1965 ex-LMS Class 8F 2-8-0 locomotive no 48771 hauled the Ellesmere Port-Liversedge.
On 8th May 1965 9F no 92109 was seen at Cleckheaton Spen running round the tanker train.
On 3rd November 1966 9F no 92103 worked the Stanlow-Liversedge tanker train, dropping a lead plug when it reached its destination.
The loco was hauled back to Hillhouse Shed by ex-LMS Class 8F 2-8-0 steam locomotive no 48276.
In January 1967 English Electric Type 4 diesel locomotives, based at Healey Mills depot, began operating the Stanlow-Liversedge tanker trains throughout, replacing the BR Standard class 9F 2-10-0 locomotives which were based at Birkenhead.
On 21st December 1968, English Electric diesel loco 398 worked the Stanlow-Liversedge.

Heckmondwike B.R Spur Facing Ravensthorpe (c1987) : K Evans
In 1966 B.R made a new connection at Heckmondwike Spen Goods yard, see Leeds New Line page 2

between the L & Y Ravensthorpe branch & The Leeds New Line to Liversedge Spen.
This was to supply the Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal at the former Liversedge Spen Goods Yard.
This enabled the closure of the Heaton Lodge to Liversedge Spen Goods section of line.
The yard was sold to Charrington Hargreaves in 1967. The terminal was mothballed in 1986

Heckmondwike B.R Spur (c1980) : C/O Michael Kaye with permission from Paul Corrie
Class 47 with tankers approaching Charrington Hargreaves terminal.

Ravensthorpe Branch Charrington Hargreaves Oil Tankers (c1980) : David Webdale
The only photo I have of Oil tankers on their way to Charrington Hargreaves oil Terminal at Heckmondwike,
on the old L&Y Ravensthorpe branch. Taken from a moving Huddersfield to Leeds train.

Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal (c1980) : C/O Michael Kaye with permission from Paul Corrie
Peak at Liversedge oil terminal.

Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal facing east (1986) : K Evans
Leeds road bridge visible in the distance. Liversedge goods yard was used as an oil terminal by Charrington Hargreaves.
To supply the terminal B.R made a connection from the L&Y Ravensthorpe branch to the Leeds New Line in 1966. see page 2

Charrington Hargreaves (2007) : Graham Smith
Standing under the cable post shown in the above photo. This was about 100 yards from where I used to live.
I bet the people in the house don't realise that the trains used to run through their front rooms!

Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal facing east (1986) : K Evans
A wider view from further back.
The yard was sold to Charrington Hargreaves in 1967. The terminal was mothballed in 1986.

Liversedge Spen (1985) : K Evans
Liversedge Spen looking towards Heckmondwike 1985.

Nostalgia : Graham Smith
Have a look at the tree in the centre of the photo. It covers a shallow drainage ditch right next to the track.
Me and a friend used to hide under the tree when the train came to Charrington Hargreaves during the summer.
The wheels went past not 4 feet from you and you whole body used to vibrate due to the engine noise.
The train usually went about 10-15 mph max.
One night it stopped right next to us and we had to stay hidden while the crew walked about and smoked for about half an hour.
I also remember once when the train crew were arguing as they had forgotten the key to the gate that closed off the sidings to the oil tanks.
Eventually they reversed the loco and simply smashed through the gates at about 20mph. They were sitting around bent double for about 6 months after that.
We used them as a make-shift see-saw as they formed a almost perfect 270° curve. The gates are in the centre of the photo.
The trains didn't vary much and were generally 47308, 47373 or 47277. The odd class 40 used to turn up, but the best was 45022 Lytham St Annes.
The only 'namer' I remembered seeing in about 10 years, although half the trains used to arrive and leave in darkness.
I used to love to be woken up by the noise of the train and the oil trucks clanging together. Some of the neighbours didn't though.

Firthcliffe lane facing N-East (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Spanning Firthcliffe lane, this bridge looks a bit tastier, stone with a brick arch, a common design for this route.
To the right was Liversedge goods yard & to the left was Liversedge station, just a footpath now. (see Liversedge map 1908)

Firthcliffe lane (20-07-1963) Bernard Coomber collection
Photo taken 20 July 1963 showing a Peak class diesel loco shortly after leaving Liversedge Spen on the Leeds 'new' line with a Liverpool to Newcastle express.

Listing lane bridge facing west (1985) : K Evans
Liversedge Spen looking towards Cleckheaton 1985.

Listing lane N-East (15-09-02) : David Webdale
The only remaining iron deck bridge I've seen is this one crossing Listing lane.
Liversedge station was situated just up to the right of the bridge with entrances to each platform from Listing lane.
The Toby Jug pub is on the right.

Listing Lane (nd) : c/o Graham Smith
Leeds New Line photos on a Facebook page showing just past Liversedge Spen Station looking toward the bottom of Listing Lane.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hightownliversedge

Well street footpath facing North (15-09-02) : David Webdale
Taken from well street on the edge of a new housing estate, this little bridge provides footpath access to nowhere in particular.
The brickwork & pointing still looking sharp, even after 100 years.

End of the Line in 1985
Liversedge Spen : Paul Holroyd website - www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
The end of the line, just beyond Well street & the Charrington Hargreaves oil depot at Liversedge Spen.

Liversedge Spen (1985) : Paul Holroyd
The end of the line: The run-round loop for the Charrington Hargreaves oil depot at Liversedge Spen, circa 1985.

Near Well Street Liversedge Spen (1985) : Paul Holroyd

Near Well Street Liversedge Spen (2007) : Graham Smith
Exact same spot in 2007.

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