Oakworth back to Haworth

The Railway Children Walk #4

Our route then took us down to Oakworth Station, which is the focal point for a lot of the 'railway' elements of the Railway Children film. Mr Perks, the station porter who befriends the children, lived in the cottage right beside the level crossing. (Now white painted. The adjacent cottage is a more recent addition.)  

Oakworth Station itself featured in many scenes, most notably the tear-jerking bit where the children's father returns from wrongful imprisonment as a spy, and Bobbie (played by Jenny Agutter) runs to him shouting 'Daddy, my Daddy!'  It always makes me cry! (Watch the clip HERE - oh, do watch it!) 

We walked along Station Road, past Vale Mill, the former cotton spinning mill. The road passes under part of the mill and has some sharp, narrow bends. Vehicles are instructed to 'Hoot!' at the worst corner - which I'm sure is an ongoing delight to those still working in the mill's business units! The steps in my photo lead up and under the railway. 

The attractive row of cottages called Vale Fold Cottages, which I assume once belonged to the mill, also featured in the film, during the 'paper chase' scene. 

At this point we found ourselves alongside Bridgehouse Beck again, with some obvious relics from the time when it powered the mills. 

We were just alongside the railway line when we heard a train coming. It was a steam locomotive, though for some reason it was hitched to the carriages backwards (probably because there is no turntable at Oxenhope Station?) Unfortunately we were in deep shade from the surrounding trees, peering through a small gap in the foliage. I didn't have time to reset my camera so I didn't capture the movement sharply but I was pleased nevertheless to have seen the train and got a picture of it, albeit imperfect. It being a hot day, there wasn't much steam! There's something about steam trains that I love though, and to see one when we were doing this iconic walk was 'the icing on the cake'. 

On the way back into Haworth we walked past Ebor Mills, now converted into a residential complex.

The beck in front of the mill might once have been a mill dam and now it is a nature reserve, though currently overgrown by our old friend, the Himalayan Balsam. 

From here it was uphill and then a slow downhill back to Haworth Railway Station where we had started our walk. It had been about six miles of interesting walking through a variety of landscapes - but very hot and humid walking. My shower when I got home was a blissful experience!

All aboard for 'The Railway Children'

I had an exciting adventure with my daughter and grandies the other day, when we went to see a production of 'The Railway Children', one of the Bradford City of Culture 2025 events. Closely modelled on the original 1906 novel by Edith Nesbit, and the film that was made in 1970 (rather than the more recent sequel), it all took place on the Keighley and Worth Valley heritage railway, where both films were made. The story is of a family who have to move from London to the countryside when their father is (wrongfully) imprisoned as a spy. 

We boarded a steam train at Keighley station (all part of the show) and were transported up to Oxenhope. The girls were excited to spot deer from the train windows, animals that I imagine are quite used to the steam trains passing regularly along the line. There was plenty of time to look around Oxenhope station and buy merchandise and refreshments before the actual performance began. 

My youngest granddaughter was invited to climb into the loco's cab and the engine driver explained what everything was and how it all worked. 

Then we went into the engine shed, which had been turned into a theatre with seats along both sides. The performance took place on moveable staging along the tracks in the centre, which doubled as both rooms and trains, depending on the narrative. It was hugely imaginative and very well done. There were even subtitles on an app on my phone so that I could actually follow the dialogue, which added a great deal to how much I enjoyed it. 

We weren't allowed to take photos during the performance, of course, but I did snap a couple when the cast first came in. They walked up the side stages and chatted to the audience, even singing 'happy birthday' to one little boy! 

The story was faithful to the original, and included the most dramatic episodes. At the end of Act One, the landslide on the railway line was recreated using a massive pile of suitcases and trunks (instead of rocks!) that crashed down with a roar. Then came the famous scene where Roberta (Bobbie) and Phyllis take off their red flannel petticoats and wave them to stop the oncoming train crashing... at which point a REAL steam train came chuffing into the theatre! 

The same train returned at the end, bringing home the children's father: 'Daddy, my Daddy!'  And yes, I did cry... as I always do when I watch the film - much to the amusement of my grandies.  

It was a wonderful evening, memorable and magical. I'm so glad we went - and I recommend it to anyone local (if you can afford it, anyway; these productions are not cheap). It's on until 7 September. 

That train again

I was meeting friends at Leeds rail station and the timing just happened to coincide with The Flying Scotsman locomotive coming through, hauling the Waverley Excursion from York to Carlisle and return. These heritage Railway Touring Company journeys are scheduled all over the UK, all hauled by steam - though not always this grand old loco. People pay hundreds of pounds for tickets (between £165 and £335 on this tour) and you can have breakfast and dinner on the train too, in rather lovely old dining carriages. 

It may be difficult for non-Brits to understand but it's hard to overstate the affection for this locomotive in our national psyche. Now owned by the National Railway Museum, it celebrates its centenary this year. Built in Doncaster and designed by Nigel Gresley, it was the first locomotive of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). It made regular runs between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. Its chequered history can be read HERE. It became famous as the first train to reach 100 mph on 30 November 1934.

I've seen it several times, most notably photographing it when it came through Saltaire in 2021 (see HERE). It's a beautiful machine and great to see it close up and stationary for a few minutes as it picked up passengers in Leeds. Then, with a toot of the whistle and a huge burst of steam at the front, it was off again. Wow. 

Sleights to Whitby

Sleights holiday 5

On the first full day of my holiday, I set off fairly smartly after breakfast to walk from Sleights (pronounced Slites) to Whitby, part of the Esk Valley walk, about 4 miles. It promised to be a very hot day so I wanted to make the most of the cooler morning. The path follows closely beside the North Yorkshire Moors Railway line, which runs from Whitby to Pickering. It is a heritage line, run by volunteers, and normally runs a regular steam train service. As a result of the restrictions caused by Covid and now the recent dry weather, I gather it is struggling to be sustainable. The drought conditions meant that they were only using diesel locos this summer but then tourists, on which the line depends, are less interested in travelling... so, after a few rain showers, they brought back some steam-hauled services, with enhanced fire-watch precautions. The week that I was on holiday there, there were several trackside fires (caused by sparks from the engines) so they have once again had to stop using the steam locomotives. Having said that, I was lucky enough to catch sight of one of them as I was walking. I find the familiar chug-chug as they pass heart-warmingly nostalgic. And yes, the loco was travelling backwards... 

The drought was evident from the very low water in the River Esk too. Further along in Ruswarp (pronounced Russop) it was a little deeper, so the boat and paddleboard hire business was doing good trade.  It was hot by now, so I made my way along to a riverside café and gratefully sat in the shade with a drink for a while. 

I resumed my walk, choosing to walk along the more shaded and more direct path alongside the rail line down to Whitby. Near Ruswarp, the 13-arch brick-built Larpool Viaduct, constructed in 1882, used to take trains on the Scarborough to Whitby railway. That closed in 1965 and the bridge is now a cycle path. 

Much nearer to Whitby, the high level bridge, built in 1980, carries the A171 road across the Esk. Before this was built all the traffic used to have to go over a narrow swing bridge down in the old part of Whitby, by the harbour, which must have been a nightmare! The slender columns frame views of Whitby Abbey and St Mary's Church on the headland above the town. 

 

Such a thrill!

I was thrilled beyond measure to catch a pretty decent photo of the famous Flying Scotsman locomotive, just coming out of Saltaire. (You can see the URC tower in the distance). Lots of steam too, as it got up speed on the straight stretch by the pedestrian crossing. There were a few other photographers waiting but we each managed to find a good view and luckily I had time to set up my camera. Of course, down here there are the electric overhead wires in the shot. Further up the line in the Dales you can get free of them but it's a long drive and I'm not that much of an enthusiast. 

The locomotive was pulling one of the Waverley excursions from York to Carlisle and back. Steam excursions happen quite regularly on the main line in summer but it's not usually this famous loco hauling it.  You can read its history HERE.

 

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Yorkshire holiday 4

I was walking down the steep hill towards Goathland Station when I heard the unmistakeable sound of a steam train coming. I had to run to catch the view of it arriving and I didn't have time to adjust my camera settings so they were a little too slow for a really sharp photo, which was annoying. However, I was lucky to get there at the right moment. 

The station is on the North Yorkshire Moors heritage line, and featured as Hogsmeade Station in the film of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. It's therefore a very popular tourist spot - and it was heaving with people. I didn't have a train ride this time. One day I will. 

Our lost heritage

I have driven past this building many times but I had never really studied it before. It sits alongside the road out of Shipley through Windhill towards Leeds, just past Shipley railway station and not far from the old and now decrepit Carnegie Library (see HERE). Walking past one day, I stopped to photograph it. I was speculating that it might at one time have been a school. Just as I was pondering, I bumped into a former workmate, a life-long Shipley resident. She told me it used to be a railway station. I've looked it up and apparently there used to be a branch line of the Great Northern Railway linking villages to the north-east of Bradford. Passenger services closed in 1931 and goods services on the line ceased in the 1960s. The unit is now used by some businesses but, like the library, it looks increasingly decrepit, though it was once a handsome building.  By contrast, the station only a quarter of a mile away that was part of the Midland Railway is still used, linking Shipley with Leeds, Bradford and Skipton. 

This area is full of history, some of it (like Saltaire) spruced up and celebrated and some of it quietly and gently decaying; our heritage almost lost, apart from in the memories of a few older residents and in obscure books and documents. 

Showers at Shibden

I met my daughter and granddaughters (and their dog!) at Shibden Park recently, for a couple of hours. We had a great time, exploring the park and the playground. There was opportunity for that ageless tradition of 'feeding the ducks' - and yes, we used proper bird food, not bread. It was a windy day and there were some very sharp showers but we managed to dodge the worst of them.

Then we had a ride on the little train, which happily has started running again with suitable modifications to promote hygiene during this time of coronavirus. They were spreading families out in separate carriages and staff were disinfecting the seats between trips. It is quite hard, I find, to remember to keep sanitising hands and so on. The little ones are better drilled in it than I am - but then, I rarely touch things when I'm out, whereas they were using the play equipment and so on.

My youngest granddaughter, in particular, has always been super-excited by this little train, ever since she was tiny - but for all of us, it was refreshing to do something 'normal' and joyful for a change.

We tried a 'selfie'... It wasn't especially successful as I had the phone on the wrong setting - doh! But then, these days, I am better a little blurred!