Shipley Windhill railway station October 2017
HISTORY:
The Windhill line was the original railway route between Shipley and Bradford. Opened in the mid 1870s, it carried passenger and goods services over a roughly clockwise 6.5 mile journey from Shipley Windhill station, to Laisterdyke ,where it joined with the LYR corridor into Bradford Exchange. The line left Windhill along a n inclined hillside embankment before turning south, through suburban stops at Thackley, Idle and Eccleshill . Several cuttings and a couple of short tunnels were included along the way in addition to the unrelenting 1 in 50 climb out of Shipley.
The line sadly didn't last as long as hoped. Shortfall in passenger use saw the intermediate stations close in 1931 and the line reduced to single track although Laisterdyke station which also serving trains between Leeds - Bradford & Manchester on the LYR route remained open until the 1950s.
Goods operations lasted for almost four decades further before the Windhill line was shut altogether in 1968 and eventually lifted. After Shipley Windhill shut, the line itself was connected to the town's central station on the Midland Railway Airedale route, serving Bradford Forster Square from Skipton and Ilkley.
The line today is used as an unofficial path route between Shipley and Thackley and cycleway /public path between Idle and Eccleshill. Remains of Thackley station still survive in a cutting alongside Leeds Rd, including the brick wall of the stairway to the Shipley bound platform. Shipley Windhill station building remains in use as a business office , with the remains of the connecting spur from the current Shipley line discernible.
Shipley Windhill railway station October 2017
HISTORY:
The Windhill line was the original railway route between Shipley and Bradford. Opened in the mid 1870s, it carried passenger and goods services over a roughly clockwise 6.5 mile journey from Shipley Windhill station, to Laisterdyke ,where it joined with the LYR corridor into Bradford Exchange. The line left Windhill along a n inclined hillside embankment before turning south, through suburban stops at Thackley, Idle and Eccleshill . Several cuttings and a couple of short tunnels were included along the way in addition to the unrelenting 1 in 50 climb out of Shipley.
The line sadly didn't last as long as hoped. Shortfall in passenger use saw the intermediate stations close in 1931 and the line reduced to single track although Laisterdyke station which also serving trains between Leeds - Bradford & Manchester on the LYR route remained open until the 1950s.
Goods operations lasted for almost four decades further before the Windhill line was shut altogether in 1968 and eventually lifted. After Shipley Windhill shut, the line itself was connected to the town's central station on the Midland Railway Airedale route, serving Bradford Forster Square from Skipton and Ilkley.
The line today is used as an unofficial path route between Shipley and Thackley and cycleway /public path between Idle and Eccleshill. Remains of Thackley station still survive in a cutting alongside Leeds Rd, including the brick wall of the stairway to the Shipley bound platform. Shipley Windhill station building remains in use as a business office , with the remains of the connecting spur from the current Shipley line discernible.