Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Haworth Station
Commercial operations
Original gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Length 5 mi (8 km)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened 1867
Closed 1962
Preservation history
1968 Reopened by a preservation society
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Legend
 To Skipton & The North
Keighley
To Leeds, Bradford Forster Square & The South
To Queensbury, Bradford Interchange & Halifax
Oxenhope

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a 5-mile (8 km) long branch line that served mills and villages in the Worth Valley and is now a heritage railway line in West Yorkshire, England. It runs from Keighley[1] to Oxenhope.[2] It connects to the national rail network line at Keighley railway station. It is currently one of only two heritage railways that operates a whole branch line in its original form, the other being the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.

Contents

History

The line was built in 1867 by mill owners, but operated by the Midland Railway, which owned most of the rail network in the area, and was bought by the Midland in part due to interest from the rival railway company, the Great Northern. Upon sale of the railway, the mill owners made a profit, which was unusual for many lines of that type, as (for strategic reasons) the Midland wanted to prevent the GN from taking over its territory. After becoming part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923 during the Grouping Act, ownership passed to British Railways (BR) following nationalisation in 1948. As a result of the Beeching Axe in the 1960s, British Railways closed the line at the end of 1962.

A preservation society was formed which bought the line from BR and reopened it in 1968 as a heritage railway. The line is now a major tourist attraction operated entirely by volunteers and carries more than 110,000 passengers a year. The KWVR is currently the only preserved railway that operates a complete branch line in its original form. It is celebrated among beer lovers for operating the only buffet car serving real ale.

The line and its bridges and tunnels, including a deviation, were built as single track but with provision for duplication, should the need arise. The deviation was built as a condition of the buy out of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway by the Midland Railway. The need for the deviation was to avoid a large wooden trestle viaduct that crossed a mill pond, as the locals believed the viaduct was unsafe, and supposedly many alighted at Oakworth and continued on foot to Haworth to avoid crossing the viaduct. The original design for the deviation was to skirt the mill pond then through a cutting to rejoin the original formation. However during construction the material in the cutting proved to be unstable, resulting in the construction of the short Mytholmes Tunnel. The original trestle viaduct can be seen in a picture hanging in the booking hall of Oakworth station.

On 10 July 2008, the Duke of Kent visited the railway following the 40th anniversary of its reopening.[3][4][5] While at the railway, the Duke travelled on a specially prepared "Royal Train", consisting of tank locomotive 41241, an LMS Class 2MT, pulling a single carriage, The Old Gentleman's Saloon, as featured in The Railway Children, which is a former North Eastern Railway directors Saloon. While visiting, the Duke travelled in the carriage and on the locomotive footplate.

Stations and facilities

Commuter use

On weekends - in particular Saturday mornings, local residents who live in Oxenhope, Haworth, Oakworth and Ingrow catch the early morning diesel service to Keighley, and, often, from there to places beyond, to work or shop - returning later on Steam hauled services. During the weekday outside of the summer months, locals have to use the local bus services which typically take twice as long to reach a destination than any proposed commuter rail service, due to the nature of heavy traffic into and out of Keighley.

As a privately-owned heritage railway, the line does not specifically serve commuters; however, a study by Ove Arup & Partners funded by Metro looked at the feasibility of a daily commuter service between Oxenhope and Keighley in 2009.[6] After the first stage of the study was released, Metro stated concerns about a lack of funding and available rolling stock, meaning that services are unlikely to run in the short to medium term.[7]

Another study recently undertaken on behalf of the Worth Valley Joint Transport Committee has found that running up to four commuter trains each way in the morning and evening is feasible.[8]

Locomotives

KWVR has a large collection of locomotives, which are detailed below:

Steam locomotives

Operational

Number & Name Description History and Current Status Livery Photograph
No. 957 Class 25 "Ironclad" 0-6-0 Designed by Barton Wright for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1875/6, No 957 was delivered by Beyer Peacock in 1887.[9] It was on the books of Goole Shed at grouping, when it became LMS 12044; and it remained there until January 1950[9] when British Railways moved it to Wakefield shed (25A).

No 957 was privately purchased from BR in 1959 and moved to KWVR in 1965 where it became famous for its role in The Railway Children. It is now used on summer vintage trains and during special events. Recently suffered a fracture of the firebox door.[10] Boiler ticket expires 2011.

 L&Y Lined Black
No. 41241 LMS 2-6-2T Class 2MT No 41241 was built at Crewe Works in 1949 and from there went to Bath Green Park shed (71G).[9] After a few shorts spells at other sheds and transfer back to 71G, it was transferred to Wellington shed (84H) in October 1959. In 1964, No 41241 was moved to Leamington Spa (2L), back to Wellington, and to Wales, where it stayed at Bangor (6H) and Croes Newydd (6C).[9] In 1965, No 41241 went to Llandudno Junction shed (6G) for about 3 months before finally being transferred to Skipton (10G). It was withdrawn in December 1966, where it was taken under its own steam to its present home on the KWVR,[9] where it was destined to haul the re-opening special. It is now operational and used regularly; its boiler 'ticket' is due to expire in 2012.[10] BR Lined Black
No. 80002 BR 2-6-4T Class 4MT No 80002 was a member of the first batch of 10 to be ordered by the Scottish Region from Derby Works and emerged in October 1952.[9] It was sent north to Motherwell shed (66B) and moved to Polmadie (66A) the next month. After serving around Glasgow, in June 1962 No 80002 was transferred to Beattock shed (68D).[9] After closure of branches around Beattock, it was moved back to Polmadie in April 1964, where it stayed until retirement in March 1967. After a short spell as a stationary steam heating boiler, No 80002 moved to KWVR in 1969. It is now operational and used regularly. The locomotive's boiler 'ticket' is due to last until Spring 2013. 80002 has appeared in numerous television adverts over the years. BR Lined Black
No. 90733 BR 2-8-0 Austerity The Vulcan Foundry built works No 5200 (WD No 79257) for the War Department in January 1945. This was then shipped over to The Netherlands and numbered NSR No 4464.[9] Little is known about its time in Holland, but it is known to have been kept at Rietlanden at the beginning of 1949, before moving to Eindhoven. As Holland's modernisation plan moved apace, No 4464 was sold to Swedish State Railways in 1953; first it went to Örebro works to have a new (fully enclosed) cab, electric lighting and other standard Swedish equipment fitted along with shortening of the tender (to enable it to fit onto Swedish turntables and renumbering to become Swedish Railways Class G11 No 1931.[9] It became mothballed in 1958 and moved to a remote forest clearing along with sister locomotive No 1930. It stayed there until 1972, when a small group from KWVR went to inspect it. Being the better of the two locomotives, it was bought and repatriated, arriving at Ingrow in 1973.[11]

After three years of operating KWVR trains (1973–76) No 1931 was withdrawn. A heavy overhaul began in 1993 and, after 14 years of work, was completed in 2007. The locomotive was renumbered to the number subsequent to the last UK BR owned WD 2-8-0 - No 90733 - and returned to traffic.[11] It's now generally in regular use although currently out of traffic for repairs to axle boxes and horn guides and expected back in steam before 2011 is out.[10] 90733's boiler 'ticket' is due to expire in 2017.

 BR Unlined Black
No. 43924 Midland Railway 3835 Class 0-6-0 (LMS Class 4F) No 43924 was built in October 1920 at Derby Works and was allocated to Wellingborough shed where its primary duties were in the movement of heavily loaded coal trains to London and return of empty wagons to the East Midlands.[9] In March 1930, No 43924 was at Saltley Shed (21A) in Birmingham and it moved to Gloucester Barnwood (22B) in July 1937 where it stayed for 25 years. Finally, it moved to Bristol Barrow Road (82E) in September 1962 before being withdrawn in July 1965.[9] It was transferred to Woodham Brothers' Scrapyard in October of that year. In September 1968, No 43924 became the first locomotive ever to be rescued from a scrapyard. No. 43924 has recently been the subject of a heavy general overhaul; it re-entered revenue-earning passenger service in July 2011. BR Black
No. 1704 "Nunlow" Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T Works No 1704 was built in 1938 by Hudswell Clarke to operate a 2 mile branch line connecting G&T Earle's cement works with the mainline at Hope on the ex-Midland Sheffield to Manchester line.[9] It was named 'Nunlow' after a hill that stood on the works site. During the mid 1960s, Nunlow's role was taken over by diesel shunters. It was taken to the Dinting Railway Centre in 1969 and following the closure of this museum, moved to KWVR in 1990.[9] It is operational and sees occasional use. Boiler ticket expires 2018. While this locomotive runs on the KWVR, it remains property of the Bahamas Locomotive Society. Green

Currently elsewhere

Number & Name Description History and Current Status Livery Photograph
No. 68077 Class J94 0-6-0ST Works No 2215[12] emerged from Andrew Barclay's works in Kilmarnock, Scotland in January 1947.[9] It was soon sold to the LNER, numbered 8077, and put to work at Immingham Docks and allocated to Immingham Shed (later 40B). At nationalisation, it became No 68077 and was given an extended bunker. In January 1959, No 68077 moved to Hornsey shed (34B); in July 1961 it was moved to Boston (40F) and finally to Colwick (40E) in June 1962.[9] No 68077 was purchased from BR by the NCB and put to work in the collieries around Sheffield and Rotherham. Its extended coal bunker was removed, and it was renumbered No 14.[12]

No 68077 arrived at the KWVR in 1971, steamed and then withdrawn requiring mechanical attention, not least concerned with fitting suitable vacuum brakes. The loco then stayed at Haworth for over 30 years, before an agreement was made in 2005 that would see it restored and run for a time at the Spa Valley Railway[12] where the loco's dismantling is nearly done.

 N/A ~

Undergoing Overhaul

Number & Name Description History and Current Status Livery Photograph
No. 85 Taff Vale Railway O2 class 0-6-2T Number 85, along with other members of its class, was introduced to the Taff Vale Railway in 1899. At the grouping in 1923, the Great Western Railway received nine O2 class engines. They were all withdrawn during the 1920s, but No 85 was bought by the Lambton Hetton & Joicey Colliery Co in Durham, numbered 52. It continued to work at the Philadelphia depot at Houghton-le-Spring until 1968.

Number 85 arrived at KWVR at the end of 1970. After its most recent overhaul, it was used regularly up to June 2009 Steam Gala. The boiler ticket expired September 2009, and it is now stripped down to its frames for overhaul.[10]

 Taff Vale Lined Black with Taff Vale Railway emblem on coal bunker
No. 75078 BR standard class 4 4-6-0 Boiler away at Crewe for overhaul. Tender almost complete, just awaiting repaint. Cylinder covers are in the process of being prepared and runs for the injectors have been fitted. The cab has been sandblasted, revealing some weak spots. Completion is expected in 2014.[10] BR Lined Black ~
No. 34092 "City of Wells" SR 4-6-2 West Country Class Undegoing a heavy overhaul; the boiler cladding is now all on and the boiler is now being tackled. BR Brunswick Green ~
No. 1054 LNWR Webb Coal Tank 0-6-2T Approaching the final stages of its lengthy overhaul at the Bahamas Locomotive Society's workshop at Ingrow (West) staion. The locomotive is owned and being restored by the Bahamas Locomotive Society. LNWR Black
No. 5820 "Big Jim" USATC S160 Class 2-8-0 Under restoration; All main brake and suspension running gear has now been overhauled and refitted. The chassis is now back on the re-tyred wheels. Allowing the pony truck to be removed for overhaul. The truck has been completely disassembled. Cylinders and valves have been rebored. Work has begun refitting the motion. The boiler has been moved under cover, stays are being removed. Some welding work is also required. It is intended to perform all the work at Haworth, as much as possible in house, but using contractors where required. New tender bogies require minor modifications. The new tender tank, fabricated by a contractor has been received and is being painted (June 2009). Completion of the locomotive is expected in early 2012. N/A
No. 752 L&YR Class 23 0-6-0ST Undergoing restoration, the frames, smokebox and saddle tank are just about finished and the boiler has been steam tested, a few more jobs need to be done like putting the locomotive back together again, completion is some way off, with significant chassis work still required. N/A ~

Stored, Static or on Display

Number & Name Description History and Current Status Livery Photograph
No. 47279 LMS 0-6-0T Class 3F "Jinty" Built by the LMS following a previous Midland design, No 7119 left the Vulcan Foundry in 1924.[9] Under the LMS 1934 renumbering scheme, it became No 7279 and finally at Nationalisation, it became 47279. This locomotive had an active life, and transferred between many areas and sheds in the LMS and later LMR. It was bought by Woodham Brothers Scrapyard, and arrived at their scrapyard in Barry in 1967. After 12 years rotting in the scrapyard, No 47279 arrived at Haworth in 1979.[9] The locomotive was retired from service on 23 July 2011 upon the expiry of its '10 year' boiler ticket. BR Unlined Black
No. 78022 BR 2-6-0 Class 2MT Stored, withdrawn for ten year overhaul in 2000 and is currently on display in the museum at Oxenhope. BR Lined Black ~
No. 45596 "Bahamas" LMS 4-6-0 Class 5XP Jubilee Awaiting overhaul, the Bahamas Locomotive Society hope to have the loco back on the mainline between 2015 and 2017, funding is being arranged by the Bahamas Trust, and work will begin upon completion of the 'Coal Tank'. (Double chimney locomotive) BR Lined Green
No. 45212 LMS Black Five 4-6-0 No 5212 was built by Armstrong Whitworth's Newcastle works, and entered traffic in November 1935, with its home being Bradford Low Moor (25F), where it was often tasked with working Transpennine trains.[9] In November 1947, No 5212 moved to Fleetwood shed (24F), and in October of that year it was renumbered to become No 45212.[9] In October 1964, it was shedded at Carnforth (10A); moving in March 1965 to Speke Junction (8C); back to Carnforth in June 1965; to Carlisle Kingmoor (12A) in September 1965 and upon closure, to Lostock Hall (10D). No 45212 moved to KWVR in October 1968.[9] The loco is now withdrawn following expiry of its 10 year boiler certificate. BR Lined Black
No. 48431 LMS 2-8-0 Class 8F On display in the museum at Oxenhope, awaiting a full 10-yearly overhaul. BR Lined Black
No. 5775 5700 Class 0-6-0PT Built for the Great Western Railway in September 1929 and worked at Neath shed in South Wales. At Nationalisation, it was at 87C shed - Danygraig, where it stayed until transfer to Carmarthen (87G) and finally to Pontypool Road (86G).[9] Sold to London Transport in July 1963,[9] numbered L89 and repainted in LT maroon livery. No 5775 moved to KWVR in January 1970[9] before starring as the locomotive that hauled the Old Gentleman's train in 'The Railway Children'. Currently on display at Oxenhope. Requires general overhaul. BR brunswick green ~
No. 68 Class 21 "Pug" 0-4-0ST Stored awaiting overhaul which is planned to start once 752 is finished L&YR black ~
No. 30072 Class USA 0-6-0T After WWII, the Southern Railway needed to replace ageing shunting engines at Southampton Docks. They decided to use the USATC built USA tanks. No 30072 started life at the Vulcan Iron Works in 1943 as works number 4446.[9] After 4 years, the Southern Railway bought and 14 others of its class renumbering it No 72. At nationalisation, 30 000 was added to the number (as was customary for southern engines), and it stayed at Southampton. In 1962, its duties were taken over by diesel shunting engines and No 30072 was moved to Guildford (70C) shed.[9] On 9th July 1967, it was moved to Salisbury for storage, from where it was bought.

When at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, it hauled the re-opening special with 41241. It operated as an oil burning locomotive from 1976 to 1987. No 30072 is currently on display in the Oxenhope museum requiring extensive firebox repairs. Awaits major overhaul.

 KWVR brown ~
No. 31 "Hamburg" 0-6-0T Requires a new inner firebox and a general overhaul Black ~
No. 118 "Brussels" Hudswell Clarke "Austerity" 0-6-0ST Requires a general overhaul LMR blue
No. 2258 "Tiny" Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST On display at Ingrow West awaiting a general overhaul, owned by the Bahamas trust Black ~
No. 7069 "Southwick" Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-4-0 crane tank In store at Ingrow West awaiting overhaul N/A ~
"Lord Mayor" Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST On display at Ingrow West awaiting overhaul Green ~

Diesel locomotives & Multiple Units

Operational

Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Photograph
1 No. D2511 BR 0-6-0 British Rail Class D2/12 In use as the Works train shunter after a recent engine and cylinder liner repair. Recently stopped due to failure of the fluid flywheel. Repairs in progress with hydraulic flywheel returned to manufacturer for overhaul. N/A ~
2 No. 13336 (ex-08266) BR 0-6-0 Class 08 In use but restricted to Haworth yard duties as the locomotive is currently suffering from worn tyres. Appeared at 2008 diesel gala working shuttles between Keighley and Ingrow. BR Green with BR arrows ~
3 No. 25059 (ex-D5209) BR Bo-Bo Class 25 Restored to traffic following bodywork repairs, mainly to cab floors. Was in traffic for diesel gala, but then withdrawn from traffic again for the second cab to be repaired. Cab interior refurbishment and a repaint will follow. BR Blue ~
4 No. 20031 (ex-D8031) BR Bo-Bo Class 20 Returned to traffic in September 2008 after a second main generator repair. Currently available for use. Railfreight Coal Sector 3 Tone Grey ~
5 No. D226 "Vulcan" BR 0-6-0 Prototype EE shunter Operational. BR Green.
6 Nos. 50928+51565 Class 108. In regular use but when the 101 set is in traffic this set will be withdrawn for overhaul. BR Green ~
7 No. 79964 BR Railbus In regular use on morning diesel services. BR Green.

Under Repair

Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Photograph
8 No. 23 "Merlin" Port of Bristol Authority Diesel Mechanical 0-6-0 Previously in use at Oxenhope station as the carriage and wagon yard shunter, now withdrawn due to poor mechanical condition and stored at Haworth MPD until its turn for overhaul, likely to be once No. 32 "Huskisson" is returned to traffic. Unlined Black ~
9 No. 32 "Huskisson" Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Diesel Mechanical 0-6-0 Currently undergoing a long delayed axlebox overhaul. N/A ~
10 Nos. 51803+51189 BR Class 101 unit. Under restoration. Both vehicles are receiving attention to their interior and bodywork. The unit is expected to start carrying passengers in 2010. BR Green. ~
11 No. 79962 BR Railbus (See 7) Currently stored and sheeted over in Haworth yard, the engines restoration has been finished and once shed space is available the body, wheels and frames will be restored. N/A ~

Carriages & Wagons

Normal Service Stock

The railway has two fixed rakes of assorted British Railways MK1 stock. Further to this, it also owns some special stock, such as Buffet Cars and Kitchen Cars. Often, there is extra stock in the workshop which is interchanged when that stock has been repaired/restored.

Vintage carriages

The railway has emassed a large collection of Vintage Carriages over the years. Some are used to carry passengers on specially selected open days.

Freight Wagons

The Railway owns some freight wagons, which are often stored in sidings and yards along the line. These are used for works trains by the civil engineering department and for demonstration freight trains.

Other Rolling Stock

The railway owns three rail mounted cranes: a 10T Grafton steam P-Way crane, a 15T Taylor Hubbard diesel P-Way Crane and an ex LMS 45T steam breakdown crane. Currently only the 15T Taylor Hubbard crane is in traffic. Furthermore, there are a variety of wagons used by the civil engineering department, largely at either Oakworth of Ingrow West.

Use in film and television

The line and its stations has been used numerous period film and television productions including films The Railway Children and Yanks and in an episode of the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine in 1979.

Gallery

A section to showcase images of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

References

  1. ^
  2. ^
  3. ^ HRH The Duke of Kent visits Haworth Haworth Village Website, News, 10 July 2008, accessed 10 November 2008
  4. ^ Court Circular, past events, Thursday, 10th July 2008 www.royal.gov.uk, 10 July 2008, accessed 10 November 2008
  5. ^ Full-steam ahead on the royal railway! The Telegraph and Argus, 10 July 2008, accessed 10 November 2008
  6. ^ "Commuter trains earmarked for the Worth Valley?". Rail Magazine. 2009-05-20. 
  7. ^ "Commuter service plan hits buffers". Telegraph & Argus. 2009-06-06. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4423910.VIDEO__Commuter_service_plan_hits_buffers/. Retrieved 2009-06-08. 
  8. ^ "Keighley and Worth Valley Railway could carry commuters". BBC. 2011-01-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bradford/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9369000/9369367.stm. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Heavyside, Tom (1996). Keighley & Worth Valley locomotives as they were. Leicester: Midland. ISBN 1857800508. 
  10. ^ a b c d e "Locomotive Notes". Push and Pull. 2010-12-01. 
  11. ^ a b "The Fleet of Locomotives and Carriages". http://www.kwvr.co.uk/guide/rolling-stock/the-fleet.html. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
  12. ^ a b c "LNER J94 No. 68077". http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/SpaJ94_05.htm. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 

External links
Heritage railways: England · Scotland · Wales · Northern Ireland · Isle of Man · Channel Islands