The Rail Enthusiast thread

[robjh]

I tracked down, via a bike ride on forestry logging roads, the location of Riccarton Junction station on the former Waverley route from Edinburgh to Carlisle (and once with onward trains via the Midland route to London St Pancras). It ceased to be a junction in 1956 when the Kielder line closed, and the Waverley line was shut for good in 1969. At one time it had a small village for railway workers around the station, accessible only by rail, but of all this very little remains and the site is being enveloped by the forest.
(I gather a small section of track was relaid by a heritage group in the 90s, but among all the trees I must have missed it)

The station in the mid-60s, from an information plaque

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Sunday 27th

Footbridge ‘footings’

Crigglestone
Wakefield

The 'tracks'/paths can be accessed from various points, the line was in a cutting here, as not too far ahead, it entered a tunnel
The south-east portal is covered over/blocked
However, if anyone reading this has joined the M1 southbound at jct 39/Calder Grove, the north-west portal can still be seen, to the left, just as the slip-road finishes

This was the route of a Midland Railway route from Royston, via NewMillerDam woods, under Barnsley Road/A61/through this tunnel
Then over the (still standing) 'Calder Grove Viaduct' that crosses the Denby Dale Road/A636, the Wakefield - Barnsley railway line

It also serviced Crigglestone Colliery

Then... the same line crossed 'Horbury Bridge viaduct, over Huddersfield Road/A642

The footbridge is marked on the 25" OS map; https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.7&lat=53.63989&lon=-1.52929&layers=168&b=ESRIWorld&o=72

There's no photograph of this on 'Geograph', but the alignment of the trackbed can be made out; https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7146072

A trackbed level image of what can be seen from the M1 slip-road; https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1066529

See 'Crigglestone Tunnel'; http://lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/Royston Savile town.htm

 

[Jameshow]

Class 72 on KWVR

Damems station KWVR

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

View attachment 770704
Class 72 on KWVR

View attachment 770705
Damems station KWVR

Class 72?

That's not a class 73/0, that's a class 37.

 

[Jameshow]

Class 72?

That's not a class 73/0, that's a class 37.

Your correct must have miss read the number!

 

[wiggydiggy]

I tracked down, via a bike ride on forestry logging roads, the location of Riccarton Junction station on the former Waverley route from Edinburgh to Carlisle (and once with onward trains via the Midland route to London St Pancras). It ceased to be a junction in 1956 when the Kielder line closed, and the Waverley line was shut for good in 1969. At one time it had a small village for railway workers around the station, accessible only by rail, but of all this very little remains and the site is being enveloped by the forest.
(I gather a small section of track was relaid by a heritage group in the 90s, but among all the trees I must have missed it)

View attachment 770156

View attachment 770157

View attachment 770158

The station in the mid-60s, from an information plaque
View attachment 770166

I think I've posted this before but theres a lovely tv programme about this line: Abandoned Railways from Above I think they do interview someone that lived at Riccarton as a boy, and remembered how yes they relied on the train for everything.

There is a section of the line still in situ, part of Waverley Route Heritage Association. I have visited their main site but it was closed, possibly because of still in place COVID restrictions at the time. There website does say its still operational though.

I've got this book since I first found out about the line, bit of info here about Riccarton.

 

[Spartak]

Brussel-Zuid at lunchtime today.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Not much to report, other than I travelled on 318257 from Dalmuir to Yoker today

 

[Spartak]