Bradley Chord:- for how long was it disused?

[61653 HTAFC]

Something I've wondered for a while (and inspired by previous discussions) is regarding the two curves that reopened in West Yorkshire in the year 2000: these being the Bradley curve, and the double track chord between Greetland junction and Dryclough junction near Halifax.

Based on past discussions on here, both were used for occasional diversions until some time in the 1980s. However my earliest memory of Bradley curve is that it was very much overgrown by the mid 1990s. The curve at the Halifax end was also out of use by then, though I can't recall whether the tracks were lifted or just rusty and overgrown.

So my question is: when were these curves last used, prior to their reinstatement as part of the Brighouse reopening?

TIA.

 

[Magdalia]

The summer Saturday Bradford-Poole ran via this route until 1986. In 1985 and 1986 it was a portion attached to a train from Leeds at Sheffield. It was the last vestige of a train with a long and fascinating history that I don't have time to go into now.

The route also had a daily through service to/from London up to the introduction of HSTs. Its last incarnation in 1977/78 was a portion attached to 0930 Leeds-Kings Cross and detached from 1804 Kings Cross-Leeds. This has an interesting history too, going back to when it was the "South Yorkshireman" running to/from Marylebone.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The summer Saturday Bradford-Poole ran via this route until 1986. In 1985 and 1986 it was a portion attached to a train from Leeds at Sheffield. It was the last vestige of a train with a long and fascinating history that I don't have time to go into now.

The route also had a daily through service to/from London up to the introduction of HSTs. Its last incarnation in 1977/78 was a portion attached to 0930 Leeds-Kings Cross and detached from 1804 Kings Cross-Leeds. This has an interesting history too, going back to when it was the "South Yorkshireman" running to/from Marylebone.

Thanks. Do you know if there were any other uses after 1986? In the years leading up to it being reopened it was very much overgrown, with a number of large trees on the trackbed. If my memory serves me right, the track had been lifted at some point and the switches at Bradley Junction plain-lined. No idea if the pointwork was removed at Bradley Wood Junction, as that section of the Calder Valley route had no regular passenger service at the time.

 

[Railsigns]

Both curves were taken out of use on 9 May 1988.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Both curves were taken out of use on 9 May 1988.

Thanks once more! I must admit I thought they'd been out of use far longer until I was told otherwise, simply because of how much tree growth was present in the months leading up to reinstatement. Then again, Healey Mills is a fine example of just how quickly vegetation can reclaim a disused site.

 

[Spartacus]

Thanks once more! I must admit I thought they'd been out of use far longer until I was told otherwise, simply because of how much tree growth was present in the months leading up to reinstatement. Then again, Healey Mills is a fine example of just how quickly vegetation can reclaim a disused site.

I've been told it's due to the common practice of using ashes on the trackbed. For about 100 years it's great, and inhibits plant growth, but after so long being rainwater 'treated' it turns into an excellent fertiliser!

 

[MisterSheeps]

turns into an excellent fertiliser

maybe also related to 'nightsoil' from toilets emptying onto track ... doesn't explain freight yard trees though

 

[RedKing]

I've had an (admittedly brief) look online and can't find much information about the Bradley Chord.
Just to clarify, this is the single line between Bradley Jn and Bradley Wood Jn to the East of Huddersfield.

Was it ever more than a single line? I know there was a Bradley station but believe it was on the line between Huddersfield - Mirfield rather than the Chord?

And whilst it's 'good' it didn't close, how did it survive being cut? It has 1tph (on a normal day), isn't typically served by freight and just seems something that would have been prime for closure?

 

[Gloster]

A 1961 Ordnance Survey map shows it as double track. The line closed to passenger traffic on 27 September 1986 (last train ran) and to goods on 9 May 1988 (mothballed).

Source for dates: Hurst’s Register.

 

[swt_passenger]

National Library of Scotland old OS post WW2 map view shows double track:

Side by side georeferenced maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Would it be correct to state that the 'Bradley Single' chord, which still provides a direct route from Huddersfield to Brighouse stations, and beyond, is around some 1 mile 17 chains in length?

The intermediate tunnel, opened c. 1850, is some 6 chains long.

Think I'm also right in saying that the chord didn't ever have its own standalone station, but Bradley station (closed with little fanfare in March 1950 - presume nothing remains) was once located in the vicinity of Bradley Junction, where, nowadays, the main line still continues in the general direction of Mirfield/Leeds.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Bradley station was immediately west of Bradley Junction

 

[jfollows]

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/sectional-appendix/Sectional Appendix full PDFs June 2025/London North Eastern (NCS) Sectional Appendix June 2025.pdf page 53A LN859/001 says 1m 11ch, 4ch for the tunnel.
Wrong curve.
LN861/001 says 1m17ch with 6ch for Bradley Tunnel, yes.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Thanks for clarifying. Was going by this early 20th century map of the area. Presume the modern day 'tunnel' is more an overbridge?


(Map of lines around Bradley (centre left) in 1911. Source: Wiki.)

 

[AndyHudds]

A 1961 Ordnance Survey map shows it as double track. The line closed to passenger traffic on 27 September 1986 (last train ran) and to goods on 9 May 1988 (mothballed).

Source for dates: Hurst’s Register.

What passenger service ran as late as 1986? A diverted trans pennine service?

Around 1988/89 time we used to ride our bikes along the line. By this time the line had become overgrown and the track rusted. As far as I remember it was single track at this point.

 

[martinsh]

What passenger service ran as late as 1986? A diverted trans pennine service?

Summer Saturdays only but I can't remember the details. I do recall that it was the only service to run direct from Brighouse to Halifax as well.

 

[Bevan Price]

A limited Bradford Exchange - Huddersfield - Stockport service had run until about November 1966.
It was also used for occasional diversions of Trans Pennine services (Liverpool/Manchester - Rochdale - Brighouse - Huddersfield (reverse) - Leeds until it closed. Then Summer Saturdays only as posted above.

Not sure when any regular freight workings had ceased.

 

[Magdalia]

What passenger service ran as late as 1986?

If you read the entire discussion the answer is at post number 2!

 

[Gloster]

A look at the Summer 1986 public timetable (no amendments) shows a 05.58 Bradford-Poole which seems to run this way (Halifax 06.12, Huddersfield 06.43 and Barnsley 07.20) before attaching to the 06.52 Leeds at Sheffield. I can’t find a return working.

EDIT: The 05.58 was Saturdays Only and the timetable ended on Sunday 28 September.

 

[AndyHudds]

If you read the entire discussion the answer is at post number 2!

Thanks....but this thread has clearly been merged with another, older discussion, on the matter. Post 8 was a new thread which was started yesterday. Get your facts straight first.

 

[Magdalia]

Get your facts straight first.

Which I did, in post 2!

but this thread has clearly been merged with another, older discussion, on the matter. Post 8 was a new thread which was started yesterday.

It may be clear to you, but it isn't clear to me, where post 8 just follows on from post 7.

I appreciate that, if you asked your question before the discussions were merged, then you would not have seen posts 1-7.

The important thing is that you have the answer to your question.

 

[Welshman]

A limited Bradford Exchange - Huddersfield - Stockport service had run until about November 1966.
It was also used for occasional diversions of Trans Pennine services (Liverpool/Manchester - Rochdale - Brighouse - Huddersfield (reverse) - Leeds until it closed. Then Summer Saturdays only as posted above.

Not sure when any regular freight workings had ceased.

Not only the Bradford-Stockports, but there was also an almost hourly dmu service from Bradford Exchange to Huddersfield via Halifax, with some extending to Penistone, running until about the same time.

 

[fishwomp]

1980s summer specials - a gem of routes and locos... I did the curve back then behind 47305.

Another use for the line was that DMUs would shuttle over the curve from Huddersfield to Hammerton St depot. That depot closed mid-80s, as did the curve that avoided Bradford and was alongside it.

There's a cab video out there of the curve:

The video shows all trackbed + structures were double track.

I don't know if the "corresponding" curve at Greetland was ever OOU - at least part of it was used for oil traffic to the oil terminal at Greetland on the Halifax - Greetland side.

 

[Gloster]

I don't know if the "corresponding" curve at Greetland was ever OOU - at least part of it was used for oil traffic to the oil terminal at Greetland on the Halifax - Greetland side.

Greetland Junction-Dryclough Junction has the same passenger closure and mothballing dates as the Bradley Curve: see #9.

 

[fishwomp]

Greetland Junction-Dryclough Junction has the same passenger closure and mothballing dates as the Bradley Curve: see #9.

Thanks. A quick look at the satellite maps shows that the oil terminal branched off from the Elland line just before the curve does.

FWIW, the track inside that terminal is still pristinely weed free, even though the access line is fully overgrown and lifted in parts. That'll be the oil industry ethos/rules of keeping burnable scrub growth away from the tanks I expect.

 

[MadMac]

Greetland Junction-Dryclough Junction has the same passenger closure and mothballing dates as the Bradley Curve: see #9.

I was involved in the whole Halifax-Huddersfield project and visited Greetland box in, I think, 1998. It had been switched out/“mothballed” for some time at that point.