K E I G H L E Y   &   W O R T H   V A L L E Y   R A I L W A Y

 Keighley - Ingrow (West) - Damems - Oakworth - Haworth - Oxenhope

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is a 5-mile independent branch line in West Yorkshire, Great Britain.  Keighley is 6 miles (10km) from Bradford and 15 miles (25km) from Leeds.  Keighley Station is also served by frequent Regional Railways North East (BR) services to Leeds and Bradford in the south and Skipton, Settle and Carlisle to the north.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway was built by local mill owners and opened in 1867.  It was bought by the Midland Railway which was absorbed into the London, Midland Scottish Railway in 1923.  Following nationalisation the Line closed in 1961.  A Preservation Society was formed to re-open the Line with the intention of operating a commuter service Monday - Friday and a tourist steam train service at weekends.  The Line finally re-opened in 1968 and has operated train services every weekend and daily in summer ever since.

The volunteer Members of the Society worked long and hard in negotiations for this first-ever purchase of a B.R. branch line and in restoring locomotives, trackwork and rolling stock to a condition that would satisfy the Railway Inspectorate of the Ministry of Transport.

From the mid-1960s the line became a haven for all sorts and conditions of rolling stock. Many cherished items were brought to the Railway from storage all over the country and others were bought by individuals and by the Society, from its hard-earned funds. Since this happened at the same time as both the replacement of steam by diesel and the massive cutbacks in the national network. it has meant that many of the items are now unique and important representatives of the age of steam.

The 5-mile line has six superbly-restored stations, many of which have won awards in national competitions.  Most famous station is Oakworth, the setting for the film 'The Railway Children' and is still entirely gas-lit. Keighley Station was use for the film 'Yanks'.  Haworth is world famous as the 19th century home of the Bronte family and is the location of the Locomotive Works while Oxenhope at the southern terminus is the location of the carriage workshops.

Over the past twenty years a great deal of effort has gone into repairing, restoring and rebuilding virtually all the locomotives and other rolling stock of this huge collection.  Even some that were considered hopeless cases that would never run again have been successfully tackled and have taken their place in the Fleet which operates the regular services. The Worth Valley Railway has continued to provide an ever-changing variety of motive power on its trains. Not only have newly-restored or newly-purchased locomotives made appearances on service trains. but also many visiting locomotives. Some have been on the basis of exchanges with other preservation schemes and others have been stopovers of days, weeks or months in between working railtours on the national rail system.

The Worth Valley's situation as a branch off the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle route has made it ideal as a watering, stabling or even repair facility for the large locomotives working trains over the reprieved Settle-Carlisle line. It is increasingly providing such facilities as well as added
interest for passengers and visitors.

Carriages and wagons are another essential part of an operating railway and tend to be overshadowed by the locomotives in many museums. Since relatively soon after its inception, the Worth Valley Railway has been relatively well-off for maintenance and storage facilities for such rolling stock. Historic coaches and the luxury "White Rose Pullman" coaches are on display, when not in use, in the Oxenhope Museum. It is very pleasing to he able to report that since the previous edition of this publication, further accommodation For the historic coaches has been provided on the railway at Ingrow by an associated group, the Vintage Carriages Trust. This has taken the form of a newly-constructed, six-coach museum, which should be a most interesting attraction to visitors.

What of the future? As well as the continuing restoration and repair of the present fleet. and the increasing variety of visiting locomotives, it is likely that there will be additions. During 1990, the Railway was pleased to welcome the "Bahamas" locomotive Society, formerly of Dinting, who are now in the process of establishing their own museum, also on the Ingrow site. Many types of diesel locomotive are being phased out on the national system. A whole generation of railwaymen and enthusiasts has grown up with these over the past twenty years without experiencing steam in everyday use - the present fleet of six diesel locomotives has become increasingly popular and is likely to grow by the addition of carefully selected examples.

Running a railway is an expensive business - the annual coal and oil bill alone comes to over £100,000. All income is ploughed back to maintain and improve the Railway's rolling stock, track and buildings.  The preservation society has over 5,000 members and 400 working members responsible for safe operation of trains. If you wish to take this your interest in the KWVR further contact the Railway at the address below. 

The Line has grown to become one of the best-known and highly-regarded independent railways in the UK.  Today the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway operates services on 200 days per year and offers local residents travel at 'bus' fares on all regular service trains.

In addition to regular timetabled services the KWVR operates prestigious dining trains 'The White Rose Pullman' and 'The West Riding Ltd'.  The KWVR gives you the chance to take the controls (and shovel!) of a steam loco on a one hour journey on the Line in 'The Footplate Experience'

For a free copy of the current information leaflet / timetable contact;

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, The Railway Station, Haworth, Keighley West Yorkshire BD22 8NJ   UK

Office		+44 1535 645214 (0900-1730 GMT)
Fax		+44 1535 647317 (24hrs)
Timetable info	+44 1535 647777 (24hrs)
CompuServe	100410,1051