Lost Railways of South and West Yorkshire

This illustrated and meticulously researched book takes you back to the golden age of railways in Yorkshire. This was a time when gigantic viaducts were built to cross valleys and tunnels were cut through hills, as industry boomed and passengers flocked to the Yorkshire coastal resorts.

Using archive photography, maps and accounts from the time, the book brings to life the history of these railways, the reason for their construction and their closure.

Today's counties of South and West Yorkshire were among the first to witness the birth of the Railway Age. The need to link local mills, mines and quarries with their customers, both at home and overseas, soon led to a high density network.

The story began in 1755 when a Leeds estate owner, Charles Brandling, got permission to build a horse-drawn wooden wagon-way from the nearby coal mines at Middleton to the River Aire. In July 1840 the first steam rail route opened. This passed through Swinton, Cudworth and Normanton, the latter station later being dubbed 'The Crewe of the Coalfields'. Many more routes were to follow with the Dearne Valley Railway being the last to open to passengers in 1912.

But this golden age was not to last. Competition from electric trams, lorries, buses and cars, plus a duplication of lines, began to take its toll. Lines began to close to passengers as early as 1917 and the decline continued through later decades.

This fascinating book vividly recalls the story of the region's railways. Modern photographs accompany those from earlier times when the lines were open and busy. There are also details of what can be seen of these lines today.