The route was closed as the result of the Beeching Axe in 1965 – passenger services were withdrawn on 22 March, whilst the remaining through goods services ended on 5 July; the route eventually closed to all traffic east of Embsay Junction in January 1966 (though access to the Haw Bank quarry sidings at Embsay station survived until 1969).[1] The last section west of there was retained as part of the freight-only branch line from Skipton to Swinden Quarry (the old Yorkshire Dales Railway) and remains in operation to this day.
Heritage railwayedit
Since its closure in 1965, a 4-mile (6 km) stretch of the disused railway line has been restored and reopened as the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.
The remainder of the old route beyond Bolton Abbey is disused but mostly intact as far as the outskirts of Addingham, but the former station there has been demolished, levelled and the site redeveloped for housing.
Much of the trackbed east of Addingham itself, as also been redeveloped (or returned to agricultural use), with little trace remaining of the line's course through the western part of Ilkley – as the old embankments, bridges and viaducts were demolished in 1972–73.[2]
West of Embsay, the section of the line down to Skipton is still open, serving the branch line to Swinden Quarry.
Referencesedit
^Lost Railways West Yorkshire; Retrieved 15 September 2020
^"Ilkley Viaduct demolition in 1973" Ilkley Gazette 4 April 2014; Retrieved 15 September 2020
External linksedit
Skipton to Ilkley line, pictures in a book
Railways in Ilkley
This England rail transport related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
skipton, ilkley, line, route, that, midland, railway, took, link, towns, skipton, ilkley, villages, embsay, bolton, abbey, addingham, overgrown, viaduct, across, lobb, ghyll, skipton, ilkley, line, between, bolton, abbey, addingham, stations, vteskipton, ilkle. The Skipton Ilkley line is the route that the Midland Railway took to link the towns of Skipton and Ilkley via the villages of Embsay Bolton Abbey and Addingham The overgrown viaduct across Lobb Ghyll on the Skipton to Ilkley Line between Bolton Abbey and Addingham stations vteSkipton to Ilkley LineLegendLeeds and Bradford Extension RailwaySkiptonLeeds and Bradford Extension RailwayLeeds and Liverpool CanalHaw Bank Tunnel 220 yd201 mYorkshire Dales RailwayBow Bridge sidingsEmbsayHaw Bank QuarryHolywell A59Bolton AbbeyAddinghamIlkleyOtley and Ilkley Joint Railway Contents 1 Opening 2 Closure 3 Heritage railway 4 References 5 External linksOpening editThe route was opened by the Midland Railway in 1888 as an extension of the former Otley and Ilkley Joint Railway through the upper part of Wharfedale to rejoin the main line along the Aire valley at Skipton Closure editThe route was closed as the result of the Beeching Axe in 1965 passenger services were withdrawn on 22 March whilst the remaining through goods services ended on 5 July the route eventually closed to all traffic east of Embsay Junction in January 1966 though access to the Haw Bank quarry sidings at Embsay station survived until 1969 1 The last section west of there was retained as part of the freight only branch line from Skipton to Swinden Quarry the old Yorkshire Dales Railway and remains in operation to this day Heritage railway editSince its closure in 1965 a 4 mile 6 km stretch of the disused railway line has been restored and reopened as the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway The remainder of the old route beyond Bolton Abbey is disused but mostly intact as far as the outskirts of Addingham but the former station there has been demolished levelled and the site redeveloped for housing Much of the trackbed east of Addingham itself as also been redeveloped or returned to agricultural use with little trace remaining of the line s course through the western part of Ilkley as the old embankments bridges and viaducts were demolished in 1972 73 2 West of Embsay the section of the line down to Skipton is still open serving the branch line to Swinden Quarry References edit Skipton to Ilkley 1888 1965 Midland Railway Lost Railways West Yorkshire Retrieved 15 September 2020 Ilkley Viaduct demolition in 1973 Ilkley Gazette 4 April 2014 Retrieved 15 September 2020External links editSkipton to Ilkley line pictures in a book Railways in Ilkley nbsp This England rail transport related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Skipton Ilkley line amp oldid 1082194528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
