I lived in Haworth for 6 years up until recently. As a local I was lucky to be able to take advantage of a Community rail pass which allowed myself and my family cheap tickets to go there and back or discount on an all day ticket.
You might think that having this available to you to ride up and down on all day as quite boring and to some I am sure that would be the case, but if you are in need of a lovely relaxing time with no limits on your time then this is a place for you to go and enjoy. The people who use this kind of service and experience are always decent and considerate folks who care about preserving life and autheticity generally and this in itself creates a nice warm atmosphere and environment. The staff are all volunteers and add to a special feeling ...its like stepping back in time with old fashioned courtesy and sociability that is hard to find these days. You will find yourself chatting to the guard or any of the ticket inspectors up and down on the train. Even when you go in to the refreshement rooms eg at Oxenhope or on the platform at Keighley you receive intimate and friendly service.
I am not going to go into detail regarding the journeys up and down the line [albeit a short 5 mile trip] as I believe another author has covered that well. Suffice to say the scenery is lovely and one can relate to the railway children film scenery and also to recognise some of the scenes that you may have seen in Sherlock Holmes adventures [Keighley railway station ] amongst others.
The staff do go out of their way to make it special and if you have children I recommend the Christmas Specials that KWVR run annually although even if you do not have children the run is quite special. Book early to make sure though!
On a special note I recall the KWVR setting up a coach especially for my wife and I when we got married at Keighley in 2002. We only asked them if they would set aside a few seats for a party of us but upon arriving at Keighley Station they announced that the wedding party should use a special coach at the back of the train. They had it set up with all tabled with white cloths and intimate table lighting. They had even supplied champagne glasses to go with the bubbly my best man brought along! Following that they went out of their way to allow some fantastic photo opportunities and we had the engine driver asking us where we would like him to put his engine at the Oxenhope end during his turn around!
On a more personal note as you might know I like my ale! The KWVR puts on a buffet car most of the time [check timetables online] and they have 3 Real ales on which are usually local independent beers...well kept and very reasonably priced too.
Every October KWVR has its own beer festival which is set up in the sheds at Oxenhope station and of course the train has its own running festival up and down the line at the same time.
Incidentally they do a lovely hot chocolate!
Enjoy it !!
Alan