Airedale History

[vincenth06]

I’m curious on the history of the Airedale line and I have some questions if anyone could answer:

Was the line ever 4 tracked because some of the bridges have empty bridges next to them?

Does anyone have any info or pictures on the old stations?

What was the timetable like?

What rolling stock did they use?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Believe the Airedale line was once four-tracked from Leeds to Shipley (and also from Bingley to Keighley).

 

[Gloster]

For pictures of the stations, try putting the station name (XXX station) into Google and then choose Images. This may also lead on to more informative sites.

 

[vincenth06]

Believe the Airedale line was once four-tracked from Leeds to Shipley (and also from Bingley to Keighley).

from what ive been reading i think it was does around 1905 and then removed in the 1960s

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Although I don't have a copy myself, Martin Bairstow's "Railways through Airedale and Wharfedale" (book) still looks to be widely available and not too expensive + may have the additional information that the OP is looking for. There's the 1985 original edition and a revised 2004 edition (depicted below).


(Pic of front cover of "Railways through Airedale and Wharfedale" (book) by Martin Bairstow - 2004 version.)

 

[vincenth06]

ok thank you i will get the book

Although I don't have a copy myself, Martin Bairstow's "Railways through Airedale and Wharfedale" (book) still looks to be widely available and not too expensive + may have the additional information that the OP is looking for. There's the 1985 original edition and a revised 2004 edition (depicted below).

View attachment 165404
(Pic of front cover of "Railways through Airedale and Wharfedale" (book) by Martin Bairstow - 2004 version.)

 

[xotGD]

I have a book on the Leeds - Liverpool canal that includes a photo of the original Bingley station. It was slightly closer to Keighley than the present station, at the foot of the 3-rise lock.

 

[30907]

Was the line ever 4 tracked because some of the bridges have empty bridges next to them?

The 4-track section ran through to Bradford FS, which was the original (and main) route (hence the sharp curves on platforms 1,2,5 at Shipley). The last 4-track section was from Snaygill into Skipton.

What was the timetable like?

Have a look on www.timetableworld.com for different years - before WW2 it's mostly Bradshaw, so look for Midland or LMS.

I have a book on the Leeds - Liverpool canal that includes a photo of the original Bingley station. It was slightly closer to Keighley than the present station, at the foot of the 3-rise lock.

Similarly, Keighley was the other side of the road bridge (except that it was a level crossing then).

 

[vincenth06]

I have a book on the Leeds - Liverpool canal that includes a photo of the original Bingley station. It was slightly closer to Keighley than the present station, at the foot of the 3-rise lock.

is it possible to post the picture here so I can have a look

 

[InkyScrolls]

Although I don't have a copy myself, Martin Bairstow's "Railways through Airedale and Wharfedale" (book) still looks to be widely available and not too expensive + may have the additional information that the OP is looking for. There's the 1985 original edition and a revised 2004 edition (depicted below).

View attachment 165404
(Pic of front cover of "Railways through Airedale and Wharfedale" (book) by Martin Bairstow - 2004 version.)

I happen to know MB personally so if for any reason you can't find a copy I'll ask him if he's got any spare you could buy directly.

 

[Western Lord]

According to the large scale OS mapping on the National Library of Scotland site the line was four tracked from Leeds to what was then Shipley Leeds Junction where it split with two tracks continuing towards Keighley (no platforms at that time) with the other two tracks turning through Shipley Station. All of the intermediate stations had four platforms and Thackley Tunnels were two twin track bores. The two tracks coming in from what was then Bingley Junction at Shipley joined the other two and there were four tracks onward to Bradford, but only the western pair had platforms at the intermediate stations. The line from Shipley to Keighley was double track except between north of Bingley Station to Thwaites which was four track (there were no intermediate stations on this stretch at the time).

 

[Ploughman]

Not forgetting what could be called an added parallel 2 track long loop with the Wharfedale line from Apperley Jcn to Skipton.

 

[vincenth06]

According to the large scale OS mapping on the National Library of Scotland site the line was four tracked from Leeds to what was then Shipley Leeds Junction where it split with two tracks continuing towards Keighley (no platforms at that time) with the other two tracks turning through Shipley Station. All of the intermediate stations had four platforms and Thackley Tunnels were two twin track bores. The two tracks coming in from what was then Bingley Junction at Shipley joined the other two and there were four tracks onward to Bradford, but only the western pair had platforms at the intermediate stations. The line from Shipley to Keighley was double track except between north of Bingley Station to Thwaites which was four track (there were no intermediate stations on this stretch at the time).

omg thank you this is so interesting

 

[L+Y]

When was the four tracking up the Aire Valley removed? I've seen photos that suggest some four tracking around Shipley well into the 1970s..?

 

[vincenth06]

When was the four tracking up the Aire Valley removed? I've seen photos that suggest some four tracking around Shipley well into the 1970s..?

i think it was around 1960 when the beaching axe happened

 

[xotGD]

is it possible to post the picture here so I can have a look

Here you go...

 

[30907]

i think it was around 1960 when the beaching axe happened

The section just East of Shipley Leeds Jn lasted into the 70s.

 

[vincenth06]

Here you go...

View attachment 165470

omg thanks thats so interesting

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The section just East of Shipley Leeds Jn lasted into the 70s.

how come they removed it

 

[Pigeon]

The more southerly of the two Thackley tunnels was knackered, which had a lot to do with it. It has now fallen in altogether in the middle.

 

[30907]

omg thanks thats so interesting

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Sep 2024 ==


how come they removed it

The last bit (from Guiseley Jn or Thackley?) went when they simplified the junction.

The quadruple track from Armley went in the late 60s or early 70s: once the stoppers and expresses Leeds-Bradford went, and the slow freights, the basic service on the Airedale (and Wharfedale) line was only 1tph.

Look at a late 50s/early 60s North Eastern Region t/t timetableworld.com.