Cleckheaton - Low Moor M62 bridge

[Dawg]

I know the line shut many moons ago, but after passing the bridge last night I thought I'd ask you wise folk on here about it.

Looks single track - did it see any traffic? Are there any photos of it in use?

My main query to be honest is that although it doesn't look substantial enough to carry heavy traffic, it was constructed at a time when the line was virtually shut - why was it built at all? Could it ever be reused?

Thanks.

 

[AndyHudds]

The line was closed mid 60's for passenger traffic and closed to freight in 1969 and the motorway wasn't opened until the 70's. So, not sure whether the line was still operational during the motorways construction or if there was ever a bridge in situ in the first place. For me the line would be a good candidate for re-opening due to the large population nearby in Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike.

 

[HowardGWR]

If you look at where it crosses Whitechapel Road Cleckheaton with Street View, that's a double underbridge, it seems to me. Perhaps the line was singled and all they had to do was build a single for the motorway? Of course that's enough for the present cyclepath / Bridleway.

 

[AndyHudds]

The line was closed before the motorway opened, its unlikely the route was given bridleway status immediately on line closure. Like I said not sure what was there before the motorway cut through. It would seem pointless building a bridge if the line wasn't still operational, so was the bridge there originally, that makes me think its always been there.

 

[Haydn1971]

Info here on the construction of the motorway and associated bridges - the viaduct was built as part of the motorway, although given the rail closure date, makes ya wonder if there's ever been a train over the viaduct.

http://motorwayarchive.ihtservices....torway/hartshead-to-gildersome-j25-to-j27.cfm

 

[47802]

Info here on the construction of the motorway and associated bridges - the viaduct was built as part of the motorway, although given the rail closure date, makes ya wonder if there's ever been a train over the viaduct.

http://motorwayarchive.ihtservices....torway/hartshead-to-gildersome-j25-to-j27.cfm

Some of my friends used to use it as a short cut on the way home from school in the late 70's but I believe there was an occasional train on it, I saw a 37 running light engine on it in about 1980, and there ware a few specials down the line in the early eighties including one featuring the original green 40.

As for bringing the line back, well it gets well used as a path and cycleway these days, and routing isn't ideal, it would be more useful going to Leeds than Bradford, while the other end of the line doesn't really go anywhere useful.

 

[AndyHudds]

Some of my friends used to use it as a short cut on the way home from school in the late 70's but I believe there was an occasional train on it, I saw a 37 running light engine on it in about 1980, and there ware a few specials down the line in the early eighties including one featuring the original green 40.

As for bringing the line back, well it gets well used as a path and cycleway these days, and routing isn't ideal, it would be more useful going to Leeds than Bradford, while the other end of the line doesn't really go anywhere useful.

We've done this subject to death a few times but re-opening would make sense, as I said a big area of population exists in Cleckheaton (pop 14937) and Heckmondwike (pop 17066) with no rail access. A curve could be built into the Wakefield line at Ravensthorpe to take trains onto Huddersfield, both Clecky and Hecky are both in Kirklees, so historical links exist to the town from that area, believe it or not Huddersfield Town draw a largish fan base from this area too. Also if the Horbury curve was re-opened it could give Bradford direct access to Barnsley, Sheffield and the East Midlands, even Wakefield.

Interesting on the bridge, seems strange they would go to the cost of constructing and fitting the bridge for a line that had already ceased operations. I just wonder if the line was given mothball status and not officially closed, thus requiring the bridges construction? In the picture the track still looks in situ, as far I remember the line was used for freight to Charringtons well into the 80's, although that is well before the motorway.

 

[Ploughman]

Just off the bridge to the South, we were contracted by Yorkshire Water in about 1995 - 6 to uplift and reinstate 2 panels of track on the embankment so a water main could be laid.
These had to be installed to operating standard even though the track either side was buried in the undergrowth.

 

[AndyHudds]

Just off the bridge to the South, we were contracted by Yorkshire Water in about 1995 - 6 to uplift and reinstate 2 panels of track on the embankment so a water main could be laid.
These had to be installed to operating standard even though the track either side was buried in the undergrowth.

So, the pipeline would not be an obstacle to re-opening?

 

[47802]

We've done this subject to death a few times but re-opening would make sense, as I said a big area of population exists in Cleckheaton (pop 14937) and Heckmondwike (pop 17066) with no rail access. A curve could be built into the Wakefield line at Ravensthorpe to take trains onto Huddersfield, both Clecky and Hecky are both in Kirklees, so historical links exist to the town from that area, believe it or not Huddersfield Town draw a largish fan base from this area too. Also if the Horbury curve was re-opened it could give Bradford direct access to Barnsley, Sheffield and the East Midlands, even Wakefield.

Interesting on the bridge, seems strange they would go to the cost of constructing and fitting the bridge for a line that had already ceased operations. I just wonder if the line was given mothball status and not officially closed, thus requiring the bridges construction? In the picture the track still looks in situ, as far I remember the line was used for freight to Charringtons well into the 80's, although that is well before the motorway.

I'm sure there are far more rail improvement projects that would be of greater benefit than the Spen valley route quite frankly. I travelled that line as a kid in 1966 just before it closed, and I have lived around that area on and off for most of my life but seem to survive perfectly well a combination of the local bus services and a car.

I do get a bit hacked off about people reopening lines when many existing local lines don't get the funding and service they need as it is.

 

[deltic08]

I can remember seeing a train of steel rod and plate on the line in the 1980s on its way to steel stockholders siding in Cleckheaton so the line must have stayed open to freight beyond 1969.
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I'm sure there are far more rail improvement projects that would be of greater benefit than the Spen valley route quite frankly. I travelled that line as a kid in 1966 just before it closed, and I have lived around that area on and off for most of my life but seem to survive perfectly well a combination of the local bus services and a car.

I do get a bit hacked off about people reopening lines when many existing local lines don't get the funding and service they need as it is.

You are selfishly thinking of yourself and not those living in the Spen Valley who want and would benefit from a reinstated line. Those who are already connected to rail are lucky to have the option and tend to get more investment in improvements than those not connected get.

I hope you are never old or disabled and unable to drive. The day when oil will become too expensive to burn in transport is not that far away. Then everyone will want an electrified railway. Best to plan for it now.

 

[47802]

I can remember seeing a train of steel rod and plate on the line in the 1980s on its way to steel stockholders siding in Cleckheaton so the line must have stayed open to freight beyond 1969.

I think actual closure to freight was about 81, but the south end of the line I think survived until the late 80's to serve the Liversedge oil terminal, there were also definitely a few charters which used the line up to about 82/83 I think.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I

You are selfishly thinking of yourself and not those living in the Spen Valley who want and would benefit from a reinstated line. Those who are already connected to rail are lucky to have the option and tend to get more investment in improvements than those not connected get.

I hope you are never old or disabled and unable to drive. The day when oil will become too expensive to burn in transport is not that far away. Then everyone will want an electrified railway. Best to plan for it now.

There are plenty of sizable locations in this country which don't have a train service and on present economics never will, possibly that might change at some point in the future, but until then I suggest that we concentrate mainly on the lines we already have. The Spen Valley has managed for nearly 50 years without a train service and the world hasn't stopped because of it.

Putting it bluntly there are plenty of loss making lines in Yorkshire as it is, and I as a taxpayer don't want to pay for another one at this moment in time, and if the line was reopened I think it would be more suited to a light rail scheme rather than a heavy rail scheme.

 

[deltic08]

I think actual closure to freight was about 81, but the south end of the line I think survived until the late 80's to serve the Liversedge oil terminal, there were also definitely a few charters which used the line up to about 82/83 I think.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


There are plenty of sizable locations in this country which don't have a train service and on present economics never will, possibly that might change at some point in the future, but until then I suggest that we concentrate mainly on the lines we already have. The Spen Valley has managed for nearly 50 years without a train service and the world hasn't stopped because of it.

Putting it bluntly there are plenty of loss making lines in Yorkshire as it is, and I as a taxpayer don't want to pay for another one at this moment in time, and if the line was reopened I think it would be more suited to a light rail scheme rather than a heavy rail scheme.

There are places that have rail and where billions are being poured into more rail improving the lot of the traveller in those places such as £400m extending Metrolink to the Trafford Centre with Government money. This will not benefit me at all but I have no objection but it will come out of my taxes and yours. Do you object to this also? What irritates me is that to be able to use a train I have to drive half an hour to a distant railhead whereas for a sixth of the cost of extending to Trafford Centre I could walk to a railhead but rail reinstatement is not in vogue.

Spen Valley destinations would be at heavy rail Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield soon to be electrified at 25kv. Light rail in isolation would be impractical.

 

[47802]

There are places that have rail and where billions are being poured into more rail improving the lot of the traveller in those places such as £400m extending Metrolink to the Trafford Centre with Government money. This will not benefit me at all but I have no objection but it will come out of my taxes and yours. Do you object to this also? What irritates me is that to be able to use a train I have to drive half an hour to a distant railhead whereas for a sixth of the cost of extending to Trafford Centre I could walk to a railhead but rail reinstatement is not in vogue.

Spen Valley destinations would be at heavy rail Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield soon to be electrified at 25kv. Light rail in isolation would be impractical.

I don't object to investment in the existing rail network, as I still benefit as a longer distance traveller by rail, I don't object to investment in reopening of old lines/new lines and Light Rail, as long as the new line can meet its operating costs without subsidy, or there has to be an overwhelming economic benefit.

I agree any light rail scheme would have to be part of a wider scheme, and it gives more flexibility to diverge from the rail formation as appropriate. It could be that a light rail scheme didn't even use the Calder valley line but take a different route from low moor.

The main commuting destinations from Spen Valley are Leeds and Bradford, there is some demand for Dewsbury and Huddersfield as they are in the same administrative region, I don't see a great demand for Wakefield specifically and Bradford could be served directly to Wakefield via the Halifax route which it already is to a limited degree with GC, so a better end destination for the line would be Dewsbury in my view, alternatively heavy rail to Dewsbury and onto Leeds, which would require significant work to access the main Dewsbury Line and has been discussed at length previously..

From a practical viewpoint Heckmondwike station area is now a housing estate, there is room to get a line through but not much else, and I imagime you will have a housing estate full of nimbys for starters. Also unlike many so called rail enthusiasts who seem to think that every rail line should be reopened especially ones that have most of the track bed intact, I'm not sure there is really the demand from the local population at this point in time.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Also unlike many so called rail enthusiasts who seem to think that every rail line should be reopened especially ones that have most of the track bed intact, I'm not sure there is really the demand from the local population at this point in time.

It's refreshing to see someone able to look at the bigger picture here. As enthusiasts we're all sometimes guilty of following our hearts rather than our heads when it comes to potential reopening of closed lines.

Let's face it, some closed lines are far busier as footpaths and cycleways than they were when trains rain; I suspect the Spen Valley trail is very much one of them.

 

[47802]

It's refreshing to see someone able to look at the bigger picture here. As enthusiasts we're all sometimes guilty of following our hearts rather than our heads when it comes to potential reopening of closed lines.

Let's face it, some closed lines are far busier as footpaths and cycleways than they were when trains rain; I suspect the Spen Valley trail is very much one of them.

Indeed I use it myself and it is very well used, so any rail scheme which didn't retain the cycleway as well I think would not go down very well.

 

[Iskra]

I don't object to investment in the existing rail network, as I still benefit as a longer distance traveller by rail, I don't object to investment in reopening of old lines/new lines and Light Rail, as long as the new line can meet its operating costs without subsidy, or there has to be an overwhelming economic benefit.

I agree any light rail scheme would have to be part of a wider scheme, and it gives more flexibility to diverge from the rail formation as appropriate. It could be that a light rail scheme didn't even use the Calder valley line but take a different route from low moor.

The main commuting destinations from Spen Valley are Leeds and Bradford, there is some demand for Dewsbury and Huddersfield as they are in the same administrative region, I don't see a great demand for Wakefield specifically and Bradford could be served directly to Wakefield via the Halifax route which it already is to a limited degree with GC, so a better end destination for the line would be Dewsbury in my view, alternatively heavy rail to Dewsbury and onto Leeds, which would require significant work to access the main Dewsbury Line and has been discussed at length previously..

From a practical viewpoint Heckmondwike station area is now a housing estate, there is room to get a line through but not much else, and I imagime you will have a housing estate full of nimbys for starters. Also unlike many so called rail enthusiasts who seem to think that every rail line should be reopened especially ones that have most of the track bed intact, I'm not sure there is really the demand from the local population at this point in time.

I think Heckmondwike probably has the best bus service for a town of its size in the West Riding, thus making any train service unnecessary.

The only train service required in the Spen Valley in my opinion would be Bradford-Cleckheaton-Birstall (retail park)- Morley -Leeds. However there aren't the units, there's scant capacity at Leeds, and there's barely enough capacity between Morley and Leeds already.

The reality however, is that no development will happen in this region, probably ever (maybe HS3 might go through it, but it won't serve the area). The problem is that Spen is the bit of West Yorkshire that nobody wants to administer. It's on the fringes of Kirklees, Bradford and Leeds so they don't see any point in investing because it doesn't benefit the administrative centres- despite the fact that this area is a strategically prime area for West Yorkshire due to being in the middle of the 4 core areas of West Yorks.

There's an interesting article in the local rag from the Birstall & Birkenshaw councillor pointing out that Birstall contributes more in rates than everywhere else bar Huddersfield in Kirklees (due to the retail park), yet we don't see any investment at all.

 

[Blamethrower]

Traffic in the spen valley is pretty horrific though. Are you happy to live in an area where there it will remain the same, forever? That's what I see as being advocated here. "buses and cars are fine" really? You do know that buses have to use the roads don't you?

Back in the days of Morley living, I used to travel all around the spen valley to visit the countless amount of old railway lines that exist in the area. Aided by the excellent lost railways of WY website it was incredible how many lines used to exist in that area.

The route we are talking about would have a direct route to Leeds / Bradford / Wakefield (if re-instated) and Huddersfield (with a change at Mirfield) and if re-opened could reduce quite a bit of peak time congestion in the region.

What's not to like?

There is currently record investment on the existing railway infrastructure, but nothing on re-opening of lines. Investing in the current infrastructure is the safe (easy)way of managing it all, building or re-instating old ones is the risky and challenging part that no-one seems to want to do.

I think that it will be interesting to see comes of East WEst Rail. It's all go for the part that already exists (surprise) and no movement on the bit that requires some serious planning and confrontations with NIMBYs. I genuinely want to see the route from bedford to Cambridge as being a test case for re-opening old lines

 

[yorksrob]

Also unlike many so called rail enthusiasts who seem to think that every rail line should be reopened especially ones that have most of the track bed intact, I'm not sure there is really the demand from the local population at this point in time.

I tend to find that there are a relatively limited number closed routes that are put forward for reopening again and again, usually for a particular reason (i.e. going through a well populated urban area such as this one). By contrast, there seem to be a hard core of so-called "rail enthusiasts" who will object to every potential reopening on principle.

 

[Iskra]

Traffic in the spen valley is pretty horrific though. Are you happy to live in an area where there it will remain the same, forever? That's what I see as being advocated here. "buses and cars are fine" really? You do know that buses have to use the roads don't you?

Back in the days of Morley living, I used to travel all around the spen valley to visit the countless amount of old railway lines that exist in the area. Aided by the excellent lost railways of WY website it was incredible how many lines used to exist in that area.

The route we are talking about would have a direct route to Leeds / Bradford / Wakefield (if re-instated) and Huddersfield (with a change at Mirfield) and if re-opened could reduce quite a bit of peak time congestion in the region.

What's not to like?

There is currently record investment on the existing railway infrastructure, but nothing on re-opening of lines. Investing in the current infrastructure is the safe (easy)way of managing it all, building or re-instating old ones is the risky and challenging part that no-one seems to want to do.

I think that it will be interesting to see comes of East WEst Rail. It's all go for the part that already exists (surprise) and no movement on the bit that requires some serious planning and confrontations with NIMBYs. I genuinely want to see the route from bedford to Cambridge as being a test case for re-opening old lines

It is, I commute from Birstall to Huddersfield. On a bad day it can take 1hr 30mins on the A62 by car, which is just a joke- god knows how long the bus would take to do the same journey. I'll probably end up moving to Huddersfield next year unless my company ask me to go elsewhere before then.

Last time I saw anything about developing transport links in the Spen Valley it was being called a 'bus improvement corridor.' Which seems to imply nothing beyond the token-effort of the odd bus lane.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It is, I commute from Birstall to Huddersfield. On a bad day it can take 1hr 30mins on the A62 by car, which is just a joke- god knows how long the bus would take to do the same journey. I'll probably end up moving to Huddersfield next year unless my company ask me to go elsewhere before then.

Last time I saw anything about developing transport links in the Spen Valley it was being called a 'bus improvement corridor.' Which seems to imply nothing beyond the token-effort of the odd bus lane.

I just a few minutes ago arrived at Huddersfield bus station on the Arriva 229 from Batley. Journey time was just over an hour, the timetable suggests exactly one hour for the journey at this time of day. Worst traffic blackspots being Roberttown Yew Tree crossroads, Cooper Bridge, and the last couple of miles into Huddersfield. The bus actually seems to benefit from going round the houses at Roberttown and Hartshead, but from past experience it can be far worse. If the 'Leeds New Line' had never closed I have no doubt that it would be well used today... Or rather it would have been up until the crazy evening restrictions came in!

 

[Iskra]

I just a few minutes ago arrived at Huddersfield bus station on the Arriva 229 from Batley. Journey time was just over an hour, the timetable suggests exactly one hour for the journey at this time of day. Worst traffic blackspots being Roberttown Yew Tree crossroads, Cooper Bridge, and the last couple of miles into Huddersfield. The bus actually seems to benefit from going round the houses at Roberttown and Hartshead, but from past experience it can be far worse. If the 'Leeds New Line' had never closed I have no doubt that it would be well used today... Or rather it would have been up until the crazy evening restrictions came in!

Agreed. I used to use the 229 to Hudds when I went to Greenhead. It took 1h15m, but the problems arise when you want to be there for 9am/10am- that's when it takes ages.

I used the 229 going the other way last night for the football and it was 30mins late and ended up getting overtaken by the bus scheduled 30mins behind it!

 

[JohnB57]

The route we are talking about would have a direct route to Leeds / Bradford / Wakefield (if re-instated) and Huddersfield (with a change at Mirfield) and if re-opened could reduce quite a bit of peak time congestion in the region.

What's not to like?

How does it get direct to Leeds and Mirfield? It would only get to Leeds via Wakefield Kirkgate or Bradford and it wouldn't get to Mirfield at all.

 

[47802]

How does it get direct to Leeds and Mirfield? It would only get to Leeds via Wakefield Kirkgate or Bradford and it wouldn't get to Mirfield at all.

Indeed, and I think the overall location of the line is less than ideal, yes I'm sure there would be some benefit but whether there is justifiable benefit I'm not too sure.

Traffic in Spen Valley OK its not great but no worse than many other places, we are now in the Traffic silly season in the run up Christmas so traffic will be bad everywhere at present.

The most important Transport scheme for would be to fix chain bar Junction by reinstating the cancelled direct link between the M62 west bound and the M606.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

How does it get direct to Leeds and Mirfield? It would only get to Leeds via Wakefield Kirkgate or Bradford and it wouldn't get to Mirfield at all.

Hang on... I was under the impression that the line being discussed was the route known as the 'Leeds New Line' Which left the existing Leeds to Huddersfield line at Heaton Lodge junction near Mirfield and ran via Battyeford, Cleck, Heck, and Birstall before rejoining the current route at Farnley Branch junction. It seems that the bridge referred to in the OP was not part of this line, and was in fact on the Spen Valley route from Ravensthorpe via Heckmondwike to Low Moor, or possibly the even longer-closed Pickle Bridge route from Mirfield to Bradford.

Other than Pickle Bridge, I imagine both those routes would be busy today had they not closed.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Hang on... I was under the impression that the line being discussed was the route known as the 'Leeds New Line' Which left the existing Leeds to Huddersfield line at Heaton Lodge junction near Mirfield and ran via Battyeford, Cleck, Heck, and Birstall before rejoining the current route at Farnley Branch junction. It seems that the bridge referred to in the OP was not part of this line, and was in fact on the Spen Valley route from Ravensthorpe via Heckmondwike to Low Moor, or possibly the even longer-closed Pickle Bridge route from Mirfield to Bradford.

With regard to the railway stations in the valley, those of Cleckheaton, Liversedge and Heckmondwike on the LNWR Leeds New Line were suffixed by "Spen" whereas those on the LYR line were all suffixed by "Central".

Cleckheaton Central station has the unenviable reputation as having been stolen, for those members interested enough to read up on the case history.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Many years ago, a miscreant did some unauthorized demolition work at the disused Cleckheaton station. When his crime came to court, the headline in the local press was "Man charged with stealing Cleckheaton railway station".

A BBC researcher though this must be a hilarious mistake so featured it as a one-line soundbite on Esther Rantzen's "That's life".

 

[table38]

Hang on... I was under the impression that the line being discussed was the route known as the 'Leeds New Line' Which left the existing Leeds to Huddersfield line at Heaton Lodge junction near Mirfield and ran via Battyeford, Cleck, Heck, and Birstall before rejoining the current route at Farnley Branch junction. It seems that the bridge referred to in the OP was not part of this line, and was in fact on the Spen Valley route from Ravensthorpe via Heckmondwike to Low Moor, or possibly the even longer-closed Pickle Bridge route from Mirfield to Bradford.

There's a great site and some maps which explain everything at: Lost Railways West Yorkshire

The line that goes over the M62 is the L&Y Low Moor to Mirfield/Ravensthorpe one.

The (later) LNW Leeds New Line (Bradley to Farnley) goes under the M62 through the (partially filled in) Gildersome Tunnel. The Leeds New Line stations had the "Spen" suffix (eg. Heckmondwile Spen was on the LNW line). Cleckheaton Spen ended up in the wrong place for the town becxause of the line of the railway, so they built a road viaduct to connect it to the town.

The L&Y line (including the M62 bridge) is now part of the Spen Valley Greenway, and a small part of the LNW line is part of the Spen Valley Ringway (see attached PDF)

 

[47802]

Hang on... I was under the impression that the line being discussed was the route known as the 'Leeds New Line' Which left the existing Leeds to Huddersfield line at Heaton Lodge junction near Mirfield and ran via Battyeford, Cleck, Heck, and Birstall before rejoining the current route at Farnley Branch junction. It seems that the bridge referred to in the OP was not part of this line, and was in fact on the Spen Valley route from Ravensthorpe via Heckmondwike to Low Moor, or possibly the even longer-closed Pickle Bridge route from Mirfield to Bradford.

Other than Pickle Bridge, I imagine both those routes would be busy today had they not closed.

The bridge in question is on the Spen Valley route to Low Moor, The Leeds New Line would be the better line to reopen in my view even though some of the stations were less central to the town's but significant sections of that route have been obliterated and built on, the only line that could be realistically reopened is the Low Moor line.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The bridge in question is on the Spen Valley route to Low Moor, The Leeds New Line would be the better line to reopen in my view even though some of the stations were less central to the town's but significant sections of that route have been obliterated and built on, the only line that could be realistically reopened is the Low Moor line.

Thanks all... The references to freight during the 1980s would give credence to the Spen Valley line being relatively intact at least at the Southern end. Even if the alignment of the routes were both intact though, one might struggle to make a case for reopening: in the case of Spen, the issue would be a lack of demand for journeys such as Wakefield to Bradford. In the case of the Leeds New Line the problem would be duplication of the existing route via Dewsbury, essentially the reason it was closed in the first place.
If the New Line had survived, it would probably be doing pretty well, certainly as well as similar routes in the area... Though that might have come at the expense of an (even) poorer local service on the Dewsbury route.