Kirkburton railway station

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

Kirkburton
General information
LocationKirkburton, Kirklees
England
Coordinates53°36′55″N 1°42′48″W / 53.6152°N 1.7134°W / 53.6152; -1.7134
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyLondon and North Western Railway
Pre-groupingLondon and North Western Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
7 October 1867opened
28 July 1930closed (passenger)
5 April 1965closed

History edit

The Huddersfield-Kirkburton Branch Line opened on 7 October 1867, serving Deighton, Kirkheaton, Fenay Bridge and Lepton 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 Barnsley 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 Deighton remained to serve the ICI works until February 1971.[4]

 
Junction of North Wood Park and North Road, with remains of the former Kirkburton station at the right

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).

Route edit

Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Fenay Bridge and Lepton   London and North Western Railway
Kirkburton Branch
  Terminus

References edit

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