Kirkburton railway station explained

Kirkburton
Status:Disused
Borough:Kirkburton, Kirklees
Country:England
Coordinates:53.6152°N -1.7134°W
Original:London and North Western Railway
Pregroup:London and North Western Railway
Postgroup:London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Years:7 October 1867
Events:opened
Years1:28 July 1930
Events1:closed (passenger)
Years2:5 April 1965
Events2:closed

Kirkburton railway station served the village of Kirkburton, West Yorkshire, England until closure in 1930.

History

The Huddersfield-Kirkburton Branch Line opened on 7 October 1867, serving,, and Kirkburton.[1] It was unusual in that it was built by the London and North Western Railway in an area where the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway had a virtual monopoly. Plans to extend the line to never materialised and so Kirkburton remained at the end of the line. It was primarily used for the transportation of goods, although passenger services ran until the station closed on 28 July 1930.[2] These terminated shortly after the LMS had gained a half share in Huddersfield Corporation bus operations.[3] The line continued to be used to transport goods until 1965, when a combination of road haulage and a decline in industry lead to closure. A one-mile stub off the main line at remained to serve the ICI works until February 1971.[4]

The bulk of the station site is now occupied by a housing development along North Wood Park, which follows the old track bed. A retaining wall and arch remain at the junction of North Wood Park and North Road (B6116).

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lost Railways of West Yorkshire - Kirkburton Branch . lostrailwaysofwestyorkshire.co.uk. 11 August 2020.
  2. Book: Butt, R.V.J. . The Directory of Railway Stations . 1995 . Patrick Stephens Ltd . Yeovil . 1-85260-508-1 . R508 . 135 .
  3. Book: Huddersfield - The Corporation Motorbus Story . Peter . Cardno . Stephen . Harling . Robin Hood Publishing . 2003 . 0-948854-15-4 . 25 .
  4. Book: Fisher, J.N. . The Huddersfield and Kirkburton Branch . Oakwood Press . 1997 . 0-85361-510-1 . 75 .