Meltham branch line
The Meltham Branch Line is a disused railway line that ran for 3½ miles from Lockwood to Meltham, in West Yorkshire, UK. The line was single track for its entire length. The last regular passenger service was on May 21, 1949. It closed completely on April 3, 1965.
History
The line was built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway company. Construction began in April 1864 and the line opened to freight on August 10, 1868 with the first train carrying coal and lime. Passenger services began on July 5, 1869. The line was used to transport tractors from the David Brown tractor factory at Meltham.
The route
The route began just south of Lockwood station near Lockwood viaduct at a junction with the Penistone Line and continued as follows:
- Woodfield (Opened and closed June 1874)
- here is Butternab Tunnel (256 yards)
- here is Netherton Tunnel (333 yards)
- Netherton
- Healey House
- here is Healey House Tunnel (30 yards)
- Meltham Mills (Closed 1934)
- Meltham
Present day
A new housing estate and a Morrisons supermarket have been built on the site of the Meltham station but much of the line remains. There are plans to convert the track bed to a cycle track to be known as the Meltham Greenway.
References
Bairstow, Martin (1993). The Huddersfield & Sheffield Junction Railway. Martin Bairstow. ISBN 1-871944-08-2.
"Expert spotlight on plans for new cycleway", The Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 2004-09-20. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
