{{Short description|Disused railway in West Yorkshire, England}} {{Use British English|date=January 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox rail line | box_width = | name = | other_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | color = | logo = | logo_width = | logo_alt = | image = Wyke-viaduct-by-Dr-Neil-Clifton.jpg | image_width = | image_alt = | caption = Wyke Viaduct in 1987, shortly before demolition | type = Heavy rail | system = | status = Closed | locale = West Yorkshire, England | start = | end = | stations = 2 | open = {{Start date|1881|3|1|df=y}} | close = {{End date|1952|8|2|df=y}} | owner = | operator = | character = | depot =
| linelength = {{convert|3.75|mi|adj=on}} | tracks = | gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}} | old_gauge = | load_gauge = | minradius = | racksystem = | routenumber = | linenumber = | electrification = | speed_km/h = | speed_mph = | speed = | signalling = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | elevation = | website = | map = 250px<br /> (Click to expand) | map_name = Route map | map_state = expanded }} {{Pickle Bridge Line}}
The '''Pickle Bridge line''' is a disused railway route in Northern England that ran between Huddersfield and Bradford. It opened to traffic in 1881 with two intermediate stations; Baliff Bridge and Clifton Road (Brighouse). The line closed to passengers in 1948, and closed completely in August 1952.
==History== The line was first authorised by the '''{{visible anchor|West Riding Union Railways Act 1846}}''' (9 & 10 Vict. c. cccxc) as part of the West Riding Union Railways.{{sfn|Suggitt|2015|p=59}} However, before any work started, the scheme became part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) who showed no interest in constructing the line.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Burgess |first1=Neil |title=The lost railways of Yorkshire's West Riding: the central section Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield |date=2014 |publisher=Stenlake Publishing |location=Catrine |isbn=9781840336573 |page=75}}</ref> However, with the threat of other railway companies entering into their territory and building lines, the L&YR pressed ahead with the line submitting applications to Parliament in 1865, and an amended one in 1873.{{sfn|Bairstow|2001|p=93}} The proposal was partly advantageous for the L&YR as it offered an alternative for trains between Bradford and Huddersfield, as before the line was built, the L&YR services a lengthy detour via Halifax.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Batty |first1=Stephen R. |title=Rail Centres: Leeds/Bradford |date=1989 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton |isbn=0711018219 |page=69}}</ref> Construction started in May 1874, though the line did not open until 1 March 1881.<ref>{{cite news |title=Railway intelligence |work=The Times |issue=28011 |date=25 May 1874 |page=8|oclc=646880228}}</ref>{{sfn|Bairstow|2001|p=104}} The line took its name from the station at the northern end of the line, and this name persisted even when this station was moved and was also renamed to Wyke and Norwood Green.{{sfn|Suggitt|2015|p=59}}
Stopping passenger services on the line ceased calling at Baliff Bridge in April 1917 due to a wartime economy measure, and at Clifton Road (Brighouse) in September 1931.{{sfn|Bairstow|2001|p=94}} A direct service between Bradford and Huddersfield typically called at Low Moor, Wyke & Norwood Green, Clifton Road, and finally Huddersfield, taking 34 minutes end to end.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Body |first1=Geoffrey |title=Railways of the Eastern Region |date=1985 |publisher=P. Stephens |location=Wellingborough |isbn=0850597129 |page=123}}</ref> A long-distance service connecting Bradford Exchange and London Marylebone was routed over the Pickle Bridge line in 1900. It was later diverted onto the Spen Valley Line from Low Moor, and in 1948, was named as the ''South Yorkshireman''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Batty |first1=Stephen R. |title=Rail Centres: Leeds/Bradford |date=1989 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton |isbn=0711018219 |page=117}}</ref>
All through passenger services were re-routed away from the Pickle Bridge line onto the Spen Valley Line in 1948, and the entire route was closed in August 1952.{{sfn|Bairstow|2001|p=104}}{{sfn|Suggitt|2015|p=62}}
===Wyke Viaduct=== Wyke viaduct (locally known as Red Lion viaduct) was by far the largest engineering feature on the line, a 22 arch {{convert|270|yd|adj=on}} stone construction built by Hawkshaw & Meek.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~calderdalecompanion/w.html#w251 |title=Malcolm Bull's Calderdale Companion |accessdate=7 June 2009 }}</ref> Unfortunately it was an unnecessary diversion around an unfriendly landowner across unsuitable ground.{{sfn|Suggitt|2015|p=63}} It suffered from subsidence due to local mine workings and a speed limit was imposed, followed by diversion of all passenger services in 1948,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/pickle%20bridge%201.htm |title=Railway Ramblers - L&YR BRIGHOUSE (ANCHOR PIT JN) - WYKE JN |date= |accessdate=7 June 2009 }}</ref> and complete closure of the line in 1952. The viaduct continued to deteriorate and British Rail applied for permission to partly demolish it, as by this time it was grade II listed. This permission was granted and the 14 arches at the northern end of the viaduct were demolished in 1987.{{sfn|Bairstow|2001|p=10}} It was previously managed by BRB (Residuary) Ltd., but now by National Highways as part of the Historical Railways Estate.<ref>{{cite web|format=Excel|url=http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-0475.xls|title=DEP2008-0475: A list showing BRB (Residuary) Ltd.'s (BRBR) railway structures|date=2008-01-14|accessdate=2010-06-07|work=House of Commons Deposited Papers|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612203844/http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-0475.xls|archivedate=2010-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Yellowlees |first1=John |title="The Historical Railways Estate in Britain" by Hélène Rossiter, Head of Historical Railways Estate, National Highways: 11 March 2024 |url=https://ciltscotland.com/mr11032024.php |website=Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>
==The route== The {{convert|3.75|mi|adj=on}} line{{sfn|Bairstow|2001|p=104}} began at Anchor Pit Junction between {{stnlnk|Brighouse}} and {{stnlnk|Cooper Bridge}} on what is now the Calder Valley line, but which was at that time the Manchester & Leeds Calder Valley main line and continued on an average gradient of 1-in-70 (south to north)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Earnshaw |first1=Alan |title=The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway: then and now |date=1992 |publisher=ian Allan |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-2058-2 |page=111}}</ref> as follows:
* Heading west and diverging north at Anchor Pit Junction.{{sfn|Bairstow|2001|p=93}} * Crossing the River Calder and swinging west to: * Clifton Road (Opened 1 March 1881, closed 14 September 1931, demolished 1934). * Heading north over a 5 arch viaduct at Thornhills and continuing north to: * {{stnlnk|Bailiff Bridge}} (Opened 1 March 1881, closed 1917, burned down 1929). * Crossing over Wyke Viaduct (partly demolished 1987). * Swinging north east and joining the current Calder Valley line at Pickle Bridge junction between {{stnlnk|Wyke and Norwood Green}} and Lightcliffe station.
== Re-use == The line was reassessed as a possible route for part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project. This would see the line through Bradford be linked directly to Huddersfield. The plan was discounted on account of there not being enough capacity between Wyke and Bradford on the existing route.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hakimian |first1=Rob |title=Alternative rail connections for Bradford after IRP snub |url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/alternative-rail-connections-for-bradford-after-irp-snub-21-12-2021/ |access-date=7 July 2025 |work=New Civil Engineer |date=21 December 2021}}</ref> In 2021, members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority voted to move forward with a scheme to improve connections between Bradford and Huddersfield. Part of this was the conversion of the former line between Wyke Lion and Brighouse to a greenway.<ref>{{cite news |title=Green light for corridor improvement |work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=16 June 2020 |page=9|issn=0962-1644}}</ref>
==References== {{Commons category|Pickle Bridge Line}} {{Reflist}} === Sources === *{{cite book |last1=Bairstow |first1=Martin |title=The Manchester & Leeds Railway – the Calder Valley Line |date=2001 |publisher=Bairstow |location=Farsley |isbn=1871944228}} *{{cite book |last1=Joy |first1=David |title=South and West Yorkshire: the industrial West Riding |date=1984 |publisher=David Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-9465-3711-9 |edition=2}} *{{cite book |last1=Suggitt |first1=Gordon |title=Lost railways of South & West Yorkshire |date=2015 |orig-date=2007 |publisher=Countryside Books |location=Newbury |isbn=978-1-84674-043-5}}
{{Railway lines in Yorkshire and the Humber}}
Category:Closed railway lines in Yorkshire and the Humber Category:Rail transport in West Yorkshire Category:Transport in Calderdale Category:Transport in the City of Bradford