Leeds and Bradford Railway
Encyclopedia
The Leeds and Bradford Railway (L&BR) was formed in 1843 to bring the railway to Bradford
: the line opened on 1 July 1846. The company was always closely allied with the Midland Railway
, and within ten years the L&BR had been absorbed into the Midland, and disappeared.
opened on 1 July 1846, with hourly services between the two and some direct services from Bradford to London Euston
via Derby
and Rugby
. The nine intermediate stations opened within the next few weeks.
From 1848 an extension
of the line ran via Skipton
southwest towards Colne
where it joined the East Lancashire Railway in 1849. This 11½ mile stretch was closed in January 1970. Today there is an active campaign to reinstate this missing stretch, led by the Skipton - East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership.
was becoming an important centre of the wool trade, but was beginning to be hampered by the cost of transport — the town is not on a river of any size, and moreover is in a deep valley. During the 1760s and 1770s, a group of Bradford businessmen were the driving force for creating the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
and its offshoot the Bradford Canal
, in order to improve the town's communications.
The canals were very successful for Bradford; but from the 1830s, railways began to be built around the country, and again a group of Bradford businessmen were eager to benefit from this development. Various schemes were started, but none received enough support. Nor could the North Midland Railway
be persuaded to extent its Derby to Leeds line to Bradford.
At last in 1843
they succeeded in forming the Leeds and Bradford Railway company, with George Hudson
(known as the 'railway king') as chairman. They obtained the necessary Act of Parliament
in July 1843, to build a line from Wellington Street, Leeds to Bradford via Shipley
; and also a link to the North Midland Railway
's terminus at Hunslet Lane, to allow connections to the south.
The engineer in charge of the project was George Stephenson
, who had been one of the engineers for the NMR's line. He routed the line up the Aire
valley to Shipley
, and then south up Bradforddale to Bradford
— the only reasonably flat approach to Bradford.
George Hudson was also chairman of the North Midland, and in 1844 he had persuaded the NMR and two other companies he controlled to merge, forming the Midland Railway
. With him involved in both companies, the Midland was closely associated with the L&BR from the start, but they remained separate entities for a few years. However, by 1853 the Midland had absorbed the L&BR.
: they form parts of the Leeds-Bradford Lines
, the Airedale Line
and the Wharfedale Line
. Most services are provided by Northern Rail
, with a few long-distance services from NXEC.
20 March 1965.
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
: the line opened on 1 July 1846. The company was always closely allied with the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
, and within ten years the L&BR had been absorbed into the Midland, and disappeared.
History
The line and the two terminiTerminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
opened on 1 July 1846, with hourly services between the two and some direct services from Bradford to London Euston
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
via Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
. The nine intermediate stations opened within the next few weeks.
From 1848 an extension
Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
The Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway was an early British railway company in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It built a line from near Bradford through and to...
of the line ran via Skipton
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
southwest towards Colne
Colne
Colne is the second largest town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, with a population of 20,118. It lies at the eastern end of the M65, 6 miles north-east of Burnley, with Nelson immediately adjacent, in the Aire Gap with two main roads leading into the Yorkshire...
where it joined the East Lancashire Railway in 1849. This 11½ mile stretch was closed in January 1970. Today there is an active campaign to reinstate this missing stretch, led by the Skipton - East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership.
Background to construction of the line
During the 18th century, BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
was becoming an important centre of the wool trade, but was beginning to be hampered by the cost of transport — the town is not on a river of any size, and moreover is in a deep valley. During the 1760s and 1770s, a group of Bradford businessmen were the driving force for creating the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
and its offshoot the Bradford Canal
Bradford Canal
The Bradford Canal was a English canal which ran from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Shipley into the centre of Bradford. It opened in 1774, and was closed in 1866, when it was declared to be a public health hazard. Four years later it reopened with a better water supply, and closed for the...
, in order to improve the town's communications.
The canals were very successful for Bradford; but from the 1830s, railways began to be built around the country, and again a group of Bradford businessmen were eager to benefit from this development. Various schemes were started, but none received enough support. Nor could the North Midland Railway
North Midland Railway
The North Midland Railway was a British railway company, which opened its line from Derby to Rotherham and Leeds in 1840.At Derby it connected with the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and the Midland Counties Railway at what became known as the Tri Junct Station...
be persuaded to extent its Derby to Leeds line to Bradford.
At last in 1843
1843 in rail transport
-January events:* January 3 - The Great Western Railway of England officially opens its Swindon Works.- February events :* February 25 - The Grand Duke of Hesse and Grand Duke of Baden in present day Germany agree to construct the Main-Neckar-Eisenbahn from Heidelberg to a connection with the state...
they succeeded in forming the Leeds and Bradford Railway company, with George Hudson
George Hudson
George Hudson , English railway financier, known as "The Railway King", was born, the fifth son of a farmer, in Howsham, in the parish of Scrayingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, north of Stamford Bridge, east of York. He is buried in Scrayingham...
(known as the 'railway king') as chairman. They obtained the necessary Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in July 1843, to build a line from Wellington Street, Leeds to Bradford via Shipley
Shipley, West Yorkshire
Shipley is a town in West Yorkshire, England, by the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, north of Bradford and north-west of Leeds....
; and also a link to the North Midland Railway
North Midland Railway
The North Midland Railway was a British railway company, which opened its line from Derby to Rotherham and Leeds in 1840.At Derby it connected with the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and the Midland Counties Railway at what became known as the Tri Junct Station...
's terminus at Hunslet Lane, to allow connections to the south.
The engineer in charge of the project was George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
, who had been one of the engineers for the NMR's line. He routed the line up the Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
valley to Shipley
Shipley, West Yorkshire
Shipley is a town in West Yorkshire, England, by the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, north of Bradford and north-west of Leeds....
, and then south up Bradforddale to Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
— the only reasonably flat approach to Bradford.
George Hudson was also chairman of the North Midland, and in 1844 he had persuaded the NMR and two other companies he controlled to merge, forming the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
. With him involved in both companies, the Midland was closely associated with the L&BR from the start, but they remained separate entities for a few years. However, by 1853 the Midland had absorbed the L&BR.
The line today
Today the line, and the four surviving stations on it, are run by West Yorkshire MetroWest Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive is the Passenger Transport Executive for the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the executive arm of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority and was originally formed on 1 April 1974 as the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport...
: they form parts of the Leeds-Bradford Lines
Leeds-Bradford Lines
The Leeds-Bradford Lines services are those included in the West Yorkshire Metro area system of Lines.-Services involved:The services include those on the following Lines:* Caldervale Line* Wharfedale Line* Airedale Line-Places served:...
, the Airedale Line
Airedale Line
The Airedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the Metro area of northern England. The service is operated by Northern Rail, on the route connecting Leeds and Bradford with Skipton in the North of England. Some services along the line continue to Morecambe or Carlisle...
and the Wharfedale Line
Wharfedale Line
The Wharfedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service connects Ilkley with Leeds and Bradford, and is operated by Northern Rail. West Yorkshire Metrocards are available for use on the line, covering Zones 3 - 5...
. Most services are provided by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
, with a few long-distance services from NXEC.
Features of the line
The stations and other features of the line were as follows, in order from Leeds to Bradford. Unless otherwise noted, the stations all closed on20 March 1965.
- Leeds Wellington station is now part of Leeds City stationLeeds City railway stationLeeds railway station is the mainline railway station serving the city centre of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England...
. - After Armley Canal Road stationArmley Canal Road railway stationArmley Canal Road railway station was a station on the former Midland Railway between Leeds and Shipley. It served the Leeds suburb of Armley in West Yorkshire, England until closure in 1965.-History:...
, the railway crosses the Leeds and Liverpool CanalLeeds and Liverpool CanalThe Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
and approaches - Kirkstall station.
- The railway bridges a bight of the River AireRiver AireThe River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
, crossing it twice, just before Kirkstall Forge stationKirkstall Forge railway stationKirkstall Forge is a proposed station between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. Metro, the Passenger Transport Executive for West Yorkshire, intends to open the station along with Apperley Bridge....
, which closed in 1905. - Just after Newlay station (Newlay and Horsforth station during 1889 to 1961), the railway again crosses the AireRiver AireThe River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
. - After Calverley and Rodley station, it again crosses the AireRiver AireThe River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
, but crosses back before - Apperley Bridge and Rawdon stationApperley Bridge railway stationApperley Bridge was a station on the line between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, between 1846 and 1965...
. - Both the river and the canal then swing north round Thackley Hill, but the railway instead crosses over them both and enters Thackley TunnelThackley TunnelThackley tunnel is a railway tunnel on the Airedale Line from Leeds to Shipley then on to Bradford or Skipton.Built in 1844/5, the tunnel is approximately long and cut through the prominent Thackley Hill to reduce travel time...
, about 1200m long. - Immediately on the west entrance to the tunnel was the original Idle stationIdle (L&BR) railway stationIdle railway station was a short-lived station serving Idle, near Bradford.It was built by the Leeds and Bradford Railway in 1847, but it was closed the next year. It was located near the west entrance of the Thackley Tunnel....
, which closed the very next year, in 1847. - At ShipleyShipley railway stationShipley railway station serves the town of Shipley in West Yorkshire, England.Train services are mostly commuter services between Leeds and Bradford, the Airedale Line , and the Wharfedale Line...
, the railway crosses the (now defunct) Bradford CanalBradford CanalThe Bradford Canal was a English canal which ran from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Shipley into the centre of Bradford. It opened in 1774, and was closed in 1866, when it was declared to be a public health hazard. Four years later it reopened with a better water supply, and closed for the...
and Bradford Beck, and then turns south towards Bradford. - Frizinghall stationFrizinghall railway stationFrizinghall railway station is situated in the Frizinghall district of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The station, an unstaffed halt north of Bradford Forster Square is on the Airedale Line, and all trains serving it are operated by Northern Rail....
was reopened in a slightly different location in 1987. - Manningham stationManningham railway stationManningham railway station was a railway station in Manningham, near Bradford, West Yorkshire, England between 1868 and 1965.It became the first stop out of Bradford on the Midland Railway , built in 1846...
was the last stop before reaching Bradford. - The BradfordBradford Forster Square railway stationBradford Forster Square station is a railway station in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The majority of services to/from the station use Class 333 electrified trains operated by Northern Rail, on the Airedale Line to Skipton, the Wharfedale Line to Ilkley and the Leeds-Bradford Line to Leeds.The...
terminus was at the bottom of Kirkgate, near the Canal Basin. A later station on that site would be called 'Bradford Forster Square', though the current station of that name is some 250m north of the original site.