Archive Series Volume 10 - West Riding Steam Part 3

Castleford's Central Station is the starting point for this journey through parts of the former West Riding of Yorkshire in the 1960s, when, despite the increasing presence of diesel traction, the steam locomotive was still an everyday sight. Leaving Castleford, the next location is Normanton, which was still a busy location although many of the depot’s locomotives were in store, a scene mirrored at nearby Wakefield Depot. Wakefield's Kirkgate Station witnessed an almost endless procession of steam-powered freights, whilst at Westgate Station the Bradford portions of services to and from London were joined to those serving Leeds. Film of this rarely recorded, but everyday operation, is complemented by views at nearby Ardsley, where the Bradford line diverged from the Leeds route. The final sequence at Wakefield features a fascinating high-speed journey from Dewsbury Central via Ossett, completed in only two minutes! Leaving Wakefield behind, Healey Mills marshalling yard is passed before a pause at Mirfield, then Brighouse, before travelling onto Sowerby Bridge, where views of the depot show one of the last ex-LYR 3F 0-6-0s still in steam. The final sequence at Wakefield features a fascinating high-speed journey to Ossett and Dewsbury Central: the journey taking a mere two minutes! The final section of the programme features Church Fenton and the branch to Tadcaster in 1966, including the town’s last scheduled freight working and film of the line’s demolition and removal.