An Ilkley bookseller is exhibiting original 1861 plans for railway lines to connect Ilkley to the national rail network – plans which changed life in Wharfedale forever.
Christian White will be exhibiting two books of Midland and North Eastern Railway lithographed plans at the Ilkley PBFA Bookfair this weekend.
The plans detail the route of the new line from Otley to Ilkley and the line connecting Ilkley to Apperley Bridge.
“This is Victorian engineering on a grand scale,” said Mr White.
“Every house, every plot of land and its owner is named – you can calculate the exact depth at every point of the embankments between Ilkley and Burley in Wharfedale.”
Historians will be also be able to look at jottings by Midland Railway staff detailing land sales.
“When you look at the effort that went into the creation of the lines, it only serves to reinforce the loss when Dr Beeching closed the Ilkley to Otley line in 1965,” Mr White said.
The two books, worth £500 each, will remain on display at the bookfair, which takes place at the King’s Hall and Winter Garden on Friday, noon to 6.30pm, and Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm.
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