Hi.I'm 39 and making a comeback here after my recent lul
Hi.I'm 39 and making a comeback here after my recent lul
Member since:22.08.2000
Reviews:179
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Anyone who finds themselves with a couple of hours to spare in Northern England should consider an afternoon on the steam railway that is the Keighley & Worth valley line.
This is a preserved steam route in West Yorkshire that used to form part of the national rail network until the 1960s , when that mad axeman Dr Beeching butchered the rural British train network. The line is only five miles in length but is in the heart of Bronte country. The line first opened in 1867 as trains rain from Keighley (the main terminus ) through to Oxenhope which is the end of the line.
Today under the ownership of the Keighley & Worth Valley the
same route still exists ,and it is a tribute to this hardy bunch of people that the route runs at all. The trains are mainly steam hauled although the early services tend to be run by a diesel railcar. As with other such lines in Britain special event attractions such as Thomas the tank engine ( always popular with kids and dare I say adults too!) They also run diesel galas , dining trains, and of course the santa specials .
Once the train has departed Keighley ( which is only half an hour's train journey from Leeds )the first station along the route is Ingrow West . This is a pretty ordinary part of Keighley and the best thing about the station is the line's museum is located there .
Leaving Ingrow the train goes through a short tunnel on it's way to a request stop called Damens.Passengers who wish to alight here must inform the guard beforehand. Damens is Britain's smallest railway station . This I can believe. It is tiny ! The platform is minute , but it's fun to get off here.
After Damens the train goes over a level crossing and heads for Oakworth station . This village station is famous for where the hit film The Railway Children was filmed . Oakworth is a nice village though ,it is a step climb from the station in the valley bottom to the village at the top. The next station and by far the most popular is Haworth . This is a real tourist honeypot and the main reason most people travel on the line is to visit Haworth. This of course is the Bronte village and a very nice place it is too . Well worth spending the afternoon here.The famous writers the Bronte sisters lived here in the 1840's.They went on to write such classics as Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre.
Next to the station is the railway's main locomotive depot and it is captivating to see the steam engines being stoked up ready for there next duty. There is also a fine gift shop on the station that sells all manner of railway relics , video's , books and toys.
Moving on through what is now beautiful rolling countryside the train meanders slowly to the end of the line station Oxenhope . Again this is a pleasnt village location , with nice shops and friendly locals . There are some great walks here too as you are now on the fringes of the Pennines between Yorkshire and Lancashire.
All in all a great day out for all ages , The price for a full line rover ticket per adult is £9. THis is not all that cheap , but it is a freedom ticket giving you unlimited travel on the day of issue.
The line is mainly single track throughout , with trains passing at special loops . The staff I find regularly are jolly , friendly and welcoming and the trains when I travel are always on time and clean.
The railway operates basically an hourly frequency (at peak times often better than this ) The days of operation are very generous too . They run EVERY weekend throughout the year and daily in the height of summer and when the kids are off school.
Finally as a person who used to live at Oxenhope I will to mention briefly the fantastic special offer the railway promotes for residents along the route. Anyone who has a postcode for that area can get a FREE local persons card which enables the holder to travel at reduced rates. Indeed it is possible to travel a single fare from Keighley to Oxenhope ( end to end ) for just 75 p . WOW! A great reason juat to live in the area I think !!
The railway has a website address www.kwvr.co.uk . This should help make up your mind whether you want to visit or not . I'm sure you will - it is a working part of Britain's heritage .
Great op, great line. I have vivid memories of City of Wells slipping almost to a stand on the bank out of Keighley one wet day. Better than Fireworks.. Cheers Baz
Miss-D 13.06.2001 11:35
I've been to the Bronte village and the house is pretty nice. I loved Haworth too complete with cobbled streets and little shops! Great op!
christopherj84 12.06.2001 22:13
A good detailed review on a railway which I want to visit.
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Advantages: A well-organised museum. Clear information brochure. Disadvantages: Busy with lots of tourists. Limited access for the physically disabled. No toilets.
Advantages: Lovely village, tourist attraction, nice place for walks, nice shops, easy access. Disadvantages: Few shops for children, expensive, not enough parking on busy days.
J4M1721 30.03.2004 (30.03.2004)
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