Lost Railways of South and West Yorkshire: (Lost Railways)

This illustrated and meticulously researched book takes you back to the golden age of railways in Yorkshire. This was a time when gigantic viaducts were built to cross valleys and tunnels were cut through hills, as industry boomed and passengers flocked to the Yorkshire coastal resorts. Using archive photography, maps and accounts from the time, the book brings to life the history of these railways, the reason for their construction and their closure. Today's counties of South and West Yorkshire were among the first to witness the birth of the Railway Age. The need to link local mills, mines and quarries with their customers, both at home and overseas, soon led to a high density network. The story began in 1755 when a Leeds estate owner, Charles Brandling, got permission to build a horse-drawn wooden wagon-way from the nearby coal mines at Middleton to the River Aire. In July 1840 the first steam rail route opened. This passed through Swinton, Cudworth and Normanton, the latter station later being dubbed 'The Crewe of the Coalfields'. Many more routes were to follow with the Dearne Valley Railway being the last to open to passengers in 1912. But this golden age was not to last. Competition from electric trams, lorries, buses and cars, plus a duplication of lines, began to take its toll. Lines began to close to passengers as early as 1917 and the decline continued through later decades. This fascinating book vividly recalls the story of the region's railways. Modern photographs accompany those from earlier times when the lines were open and busy. There are also details of what can be seen of these lines today.

Table of Contents:
CONTENTS Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1. In the Beginning The Middleton Railway 2. North-Eastern Corner Arthington-Otley-Burley/Cross Gates-Wetherby The Ledston branch/The East & West Yorkshire Union Railway/The Methley Joint Railway 3. Rural Branch to Major Preserved Line The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway 4. Lost Empire – the Great Northern Railway Direct line to Bradford/The GNR through Batley and Dewsbury/Pudsey/Laisterdyke-Shipley/ The Queensbury lines 5. An Odd Assortment - LNWR and LYR Through Lines The Pickle Bridge branch/The LYR Spen Valley line The Leeds New Line/The Askern branch The Dearne Valley Railway 6. Branches Galore - More LNWR and LYR Lines Rishworth/Stainland/Holmfirth/Meltham/Clayton West Kirkburton/Dewsbury (Market Place)/Birstall 7. Pennines and Coalfield - the Great Central Railway The Woodhead line/Penistone-Sheffield Victoria Mexborough-Barnsley/Barnsley-Sheffield/The GCR through Rotherham/Stairfoot-NostellsThe South Yorkshire Joint Railway 8. Hopes Unfulfilled – the Midland The main line north to Normanton/Links and branches 9. The Last Contender - the Hull & Barnsley Railway Kirk Smeaton-Cudworth/Branches to Denaby and Wath Conclusion Opening & Final Closure Dates Bibliography Index