|   An 8F loco 48080 shunts
wagons from a "pick up" freight into Woodlesford's last remaining
station siding. When this photo was taken by station clerk Alan Bailey
in May 1964 the loco was based at Farnley Junction shed, 55C, in Leeds.
It had previously been based at Stourton and Royston. Designed by Sir William Stanier
of the London Midland and Scottish Railway and built at the Vulcan
Foundry in 1936, it was sent to Persia during the Second World War. It
was cut up for scrap at Draper's in Hull after being withdrawn from service in 1966.
Woodlesford
station opened in 1840 as part of the North Midland Railway, one of the
first long distance railways in the country running between Derby and
Leeds Hunslet Lane. The line was designed and engineered by George and
Robert Stephenson and built by railway navvies working for a number of
contractors.
In 1844 it was absorbed into the Midland Railway
and in 1923 became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway
Company. On the creation of the nationalised British Railways in 1948
the railway through Woodlesford became part of the London Midland
Region. In 1950 it was moved into the North Eastern Region.
Throughout
the early part of the 20th century the station had a thriving goods
business including coal trains from the nearby Water Haigh colliery, and
sidings serving George Armitage's stone quarry and brickworks. Raw
materials for Bentley's Yorkshire Breweries arrived by train, and beer
was dispatched all over the north of England. There was also parcels traffic for the Rothwell district, and homing pigeons were sent by fanciers far and wide for training and competitions.
This website tells the history of the station and the industries and people it served in the township of Oulton and Woodlesford.
Elizabeth, one of Water Haigh colliery's surface shunting engines, named after Princess Elizabeth shortly after
her birth in 1926. In 2012 Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee. Unfortunately her namesake
was
consigned to to the cutter's torch many years ago. In the background
are houses on Eshald Lane, and, on the horizon, Woodlesford church with
its spire. Photo by Derek Rayner. | |