How Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was saved and reborn

Every year it attracts tourists in their thousands, not least due to its central role in one of the most watched films of all time The Railway Children.

Yet this picturesque line could easily have gone the way of many local services after being closed by British Railways in the early 1960s, prior to the infamous Beeching report.

In June 1969 'USA' tank no. 72 approaches Haworth station on its way to Keighley. Picture: John Worley/Online Transport Archive

Thankfully, the line was saved by a dedicated band of supporters. Services were restored in June 1968 and the railway and went on to become the much-loved heritage attraction it is today.

Its story is now being told in a book by Bradfordian and author of a number of books on transport systems Peter Waller.

Evening Star crossing Mytholmes Viaduct on the way to Oxenhope in 1974. Picture: Peter Watson Collection/Online Transport Archive

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a glossy hardback packed with details about the history of the line, accompanied by dozens of black and white and colour photographs.

In his introduction, Peter explains how the line came to be rescued.

People flocked to visit the yard at Haworth in May 1966, to look at the rolling stock prior to the line reopening. Picture: Phil Tatt/Online Transport Archive

‘It was the closure of another line - the ex-Great Northern route to Bradford or Halifax - that inspired the founding fathers of the Keighley & Worth Valley Preservation Society. It was witnessing the demise of that line that encouraged the pioneers, led by people like the late Bob Cryer, to vow that a similar fate would not befall the branch to Oxenhope.’

The book examines the background to the closure, a period when there were lengthy gaps in the timetable of services. ‘There were no services departing from Oxenhope on weekdays between 8.20am and 1.50pm and none from Keighley between 8am and 1.15pm.

East Midlands' Trains HST on a charity special from St Pancras. seen at Haworth station (Image: Gavin Morrison)

‘The gap in service was even more pronounced on Sundays, with no Down services from Keighley before 5.20pm and no Up services to Keighley before 5.40pm.'

The tourist potential of the line had been demonstrated as far back as 1895 when the Midland Railway operated a special train to Haworth to mark the opening of the Bronte Museum,’ writes Peter, ‘but it was the creation of the preservation society that gave an impetus to the line’s survival.’

Following two years of negotiation, it was announced at a meeting on 22 September 1964 that BR had agreed to sell the line to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society and that the society 'hoped to introduce weekend services in June 1965 with the intention of introducing a weekday commuter service soon thereafter.’

One of the more unusual vehicles - British Rail's LEV1, the result of a project with British Leyland.at Oxenhope in 1982. Picture: Harry Luff/Online Transport Archive

The book details locomotives and carriages that travelled the line, and from where they originated.

One of the most bizarre liveries to appear in the preservation era was the wallpapering of an engine to demonstrate how good a type of glue was at sticking things.

And one of the most unusual vehicles to have run on the preserved line looks more like a bus. It was British Rail’s LEV1 - the result of a project between BR and British Leyland to produce low-cost railcars to replace ageing diesel multiple units.

This beautifully-produced book is a joy from start to finish, even for those with only a passing interest in preserved railway lines. The photographs alone, by a number of different photographers, are stunning.

On the day of reopening, June 29, 1968, crowds gathered at stations and on arrival at Oxenhope, the train was greeted by a brass band playing Congratulations.

The line was officially reopened at Keighley station by the Mayor of Keighley Alderman James Henry Waterworth, who cut a ribbon in front of the train. He was accompanied by his wife and Bob Cryer, the chairman of the preservation society and later MP for Keighley.

Ironically, across the country, no British Rail trains were running that day due to industrial action.

‘In many ways, 1970 was the year that saw the line achieve national - if not international - fame as the classic children’s film The Railway Children, starring Bernard Cribbins, who sadly passed away whilst this book was being written, and Jenny Agutter, was shot on the line,’ writes Peter, going on to describe the locomotives that were used. Two were repainted in different liveries, with the letters GN & SR - for Great Northern & Southern Railway, added for the dramatisation of EE Nesbitt’s story.

The weed-strewn track through Oakworth, September 1965, around three years before services were restored. Picture: Charles Firminger/Bob Bridger Collection/Online Transport Archive

The author looks at the last 30 years of the railway through a series of photographs showing a selection of the locomotives that have appeared at special events, as well as covering other aspects of the line’s recent history.

In November 2012 ‘a rare visitor’ to the line came in the form of East Midlands Trains’ HST on a charity special from St Pancras. It’s appropriate, writes Peter, that the power car is named The Railway Children - after the charity that supports vulnerable children found at railway stations.

The variety of locomotives that have visited the line, and attracted visitors, is staggering.

Now based in Shropshire, Peter Waller is now a director and secretary of the Online Transport Archive, which is credited, along with the photographers, for many of the book's photographs.

*The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway by Peter Waller is published by Pen & Sword, priced £25.