Pickle Bridge line explained

The Pickle Bridge line is a disused railway route in Northern England that ran between Huddersfield and Bradford.^[1]

History

Wyke viaduct

The line was authorised in 1865 and amended 1873. Construction started in 1874.

Wyke viaduct (locally known as Red Lion viaduct) was by far the largest engineering feature on the line, a 22 arch 270yd stone construction built by Hawkshaw & Meek.^[2] Unfortunately it was an unnecessary diversion around an unfriendly landowner across unsuitable ground. It suffered from subsidence due to local mine workings and a speed limit was imposed, followed by diversion of all passenger services in 1948^[3] 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. It was previously managed by BRB (Residuary) Ltd., but now by National Highways as part of the Historical Railways Estate.^{[4] [5]}

The route

The line began at Anchor Pit Junction between and on what is now the Calder Valley line, but which was at that time the Manchester & Leeds Calder Valley main line and continued as follows:

• Heading west and diverging north at Anchor Pit Junction.
• 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:
• (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 and Lightcliffe station.

Notes and References

1. Joy, David. (1984). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Vol. 8 South and West Yorkshire.
2. Web site: Malcolm Bull's Calderdale Companion. 7 June 2009.
3. Web site: Railway Ramblers - L&YR BRIGHOUSE (ANCHOR PIT JN) - WYKE JN. 7 June 2009.
4. Web site: Excel. DEP2008-0475: A list showing BRB (Residuary) Ltd.'s (BRBR) railway structures. 2008-01-14. 2010-06-07. House of Commons Deposited Papers. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100612203844/http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-0475.xls. 2010-06-12.
5. Web site: Yellowlees . John . "The Historical Railways Estate in Britain" by Hélène Rossiter, Head of Historical Railways Estate, National Highways: 11 March 2024 . Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport . 24 August 2024.