Burley-in-Wharfedale Railway Station
A brief history of the various plans that led to the Wharfedale Rail System & that later became the Wharfedale Line.
For current train services on the Wharfedale Line - see bottom of page.
For current train services on the Wharfedale Line - see bottom of page.
Related web page - History of Public Transport in Burley District
Research suggests that the earliest official public railway projects that involve Burley in Wharfedale are in 1844.
The following info from "The Railway Shareholders Manual" by Henry Tuck (Published 1845).
1844 - Leeds and Carlisle Railway (also called the Northern Trunk Railway of England).
From Arthington, via Wharfedale, Otley, (Burley), (Ilkley), Kettlewell, Hawes, Kirby Stephen, Appleby and terminating at Penrith. With a branch from Otley to Bradford.
Estimated costs including Parliamentary fees, engineering & survey fees, land purchases & construction £2,000,000. Offices 33 Gresham Street, London. Secretary C.L Webb Esq. Engineers G. Rennie and J. Rennie Esq. Solicitors S. P Hook Esq., Tokenhouse Yard and Messrs Kiddell, Baker & Co., 34 Lime Street, London.
1844 - Lancashire and Yorkshire North Eastern Railway
To commence in junction with the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway at Skipton, passing through Bolton Bridge, Ilkley, Burley, Harrogate and Knaresborough, terminating in junction with Ripon branch of the Great North of England Railway. 1845 May - Announcement in The Leeds Times concerning the formation of a railway company called "Leeds & North Western Wharfedale Junction Railway".
The route of the proposed railway line went from Horsforth via Rawdon, Yeadon to Guiseley onwards to Menston, Burley in Wharfedale, Ilkley, Bolton Bridge & Skipton. From Menston there would be a branch to Otley & Pool / Arthington.
1846 - An Act of Parliament was obtained by the Lancashire & Yorkshire North Eastern Railway (incorporated as the Wharfdale Railway Company) in July 1846 to build a line from Skipton through Ilkley, Burley and Otley to Arthington.
The scheme failed as the company could not raise the necessary capital and was wound up in 1852.
1856 - A second proposal was made by a company called the Wharfedale Railway to construct a line on the same route as that authorised in 1846, but the promoters of this scheme could not get support from the major companies, the Midland Railways and the North Eastern Railways, who operated the lines into which the Wharfedale Railway would connect. 1856 - Another proposal has come to light, found in "The Engineer" journal of July 4 - December 26, 1856: Vol 2.
The "Wharfdale and West Riding Railway" - from Stanningley where it commences taking Calverley, Yeadon, Guiseley, Menston, Burley, Ilkley, Addingham, Bolton-bridge, Draughton and forward to Skipton, in connexion with the North Western Railway; with a branch from the main line at Menston, by way of Otley to Castley, where it forms a junction with the North Eastern Railway; and another branch from the trunk line near Stanningley, through Eccleshill and Idle to Shipley, to join the Midland Railway. 1859 - "The Midland & Wharfedale Railway" proposal connecting Shipley to Baildon, Guiseley, Menston & Otley.
1860 - Publication of documents & plans detailing all the land owners & land occupiers for the line of the proposed Otley & Ilkley railway extension by the Midland Railway. These documents are in the Burley Archive.
1863 construction begins of the Otley & Ilkley Joint Railway.
1865 - Otley & Ilkley Joint Railway completed & opens for services.
Arthington to Otley completed by North Eastern Railways;
Apperley Bridge to Guiseley completed by Midland Railways. Spurs to Menston & Guiseley completed by Midland Railways. John Crossley acted as engineer for both companies, whilst Rennie & Co built it. All stations open including Burley in Wharfedale Railway Station. 1865 - An attempt at extending the Wharfedale railway from Ilkley to Skipton. Parliamentary Bill proposed by William E Forster (Greenholme Partners) & others. The line was initially called the "Skipton, Wharfdale and Leyburn Junction Railway", it was renamed to the "Skipton & Wharfdale Railway". The bill was withdrawn in the same year.
1867 - Another attempt at extending the Wharfdale Railway from Ilkley to Skipton. Again William E Forster & others submitted the bill. This too was withdrawn in the same year.
1870 - Skipton to Ilkley railway line re-surveyed.
1873 - Otley to Ilkley - block telegraph system installed.
1873/4 - Skipton to Ilkley railway line parliamentary bill submitted – Thomas Emsley a director, along with William Fison (Greenholme Partners) amongst others.
1874 - Ilkley Local Board (predecessor to Ilkley UDC) opposes parliamentary bill for construction of Skipton to Ilkley railway line.
1876 - Guiseley to Shipley via Baildon completed by Midland Railways.
1885 - Commencement of the construction of the Skipton to Ilkley Railway. Contractors Messrs. Mousley and Co., of Bristol.
1888 - Skipton to Ilkley Railway completed by Midland Railways.
1894 - Guiseley, Yeadon & Rawdon branch was planned to go from Guiseley to Headingley via Rawdon, but only got as far as Green Lane, Yeadon. This would appear to be a similar route to that proposed in 1845 (see above) for the "Leeds & North Western Wharfdale Junction Railway" proposal.
The branch opened to goods traffic in this year. There was no passenger service, as such. The only passengers were on excursion trains to the likes of Blackpool, Morecambe & Scarborough. Info courtesy of John Whitaker in 2007 on secretleeds forum:
"A siding was put in 500 yards on the Ilkley side of Burley-in-Wharfedale station for the building of Scalebor Park hospital. It was inspected by the Board of Trade in June 1899 but the steepness of the gradient incurred the Inspecting Officer's displeasure and opening was postponed until 28th July 1899. Known as Gould's Siding, after the builder, it was closed in June 1903. I haven't been up to have a look but I understand there are a few remains visible." Additionally someone who used to work at Scalebor Park Hospital before it closed and the houses were built, said "there was a trace of the route that the siding took. As it came off the main line it curved up towards where ward 9 was, it then had a siding and went along to the hospital boiler house. The wooden building which was the "station" come builders office was still used up to 15 years ago as the gardeners mess hut." One loco is known to have been used, called "Hannah" named after Isaac Gould the hospital builder's wife. 1900-1902 - Construction of the Yorkshire Dales Railway to Grassington.
1914-1919 - On the outbreak of war the Government took control of the railways; they remained privately owned but were operated as a single system under the control of the
Railway Executive Committee (REC). Otley & Ilkley Joint Railway Monthly Return 3rd Class Ticket.
Douglas (Isle of Man) to Burley in Wharfedale via Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Boat, via Heysham & Skipton. Fare 23 shillings and 9 pence. Unknown date. 1921 - The Railways Act would compulsorily merge one hundred and twenty three existing railway companies into four regional corporations. The 4 created were Great Western Railway (GWR); London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS); London and North Eastern Railway (LNER); Southern Railway (SR).
1923 - London & North Eastern Railways (LNER) and London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) combined operations on the Wharfedale System.
1948 - Nationalisation of the Railways, creation of British Rail.
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(Class 3 2-6-2T 40149 of 20E Manningham shed passes Burley Signal box with the
12-30pm Ilkley to Bradford train on Sunday 6th July 1952). (Class J39 0-6-0 64706 passes Burley-in-Wharfedale with the afternoon Heysham to Tees yard tanker train on Bank Holiday Monday 2 August 1954.
In the right foreground porter Arthur Laycock takes a barrow to pick up parcels deposited on the down platform). 1956 - Third class rail travel was abolished in Britain and renamed second class.
1959 - Diesel traction replaces steam.
1963 - Beeching 1st Report - The Reshaping of British Railways
- (a) Report, (b) Maps - both pdfs, courtesy of the Railways Archive. 1963 - Closure notices issued for all of the Wharfedale Rail System. 1963 - Campaign started by Ilkley Railway Supporters Association (IRSA) to keep Ilkley lines to Leeds & Bradford open. 1964 - Burley in Wharfedale Goods Yard closed 27th April, but sidings retained.
1964 - Yeadon branch closed. 1965 - Beeching 2nd Report - The Development of the Major Railway Trunk Routes - Report pdf, courtesy of the Railways Archive.
1965 - Last day of passenger services on both the Leeds to Ilkley route via Otley and between Ilkley and Skipton - Saturday 20th March. 1965 - Closure of Arthington to Otley, Milnerwood & Burley Junctions & Menston spur. 1966 - Demolition of buildings & removal of tracks from Arthington to Burley Junction & Menston spur.
Cine film (no sound) courtesy of John Wright of the demolition of the Milnerwood stretch of the line.
https://youtu.be/Gy3Pb1LV9Z0 1966 - The lever frame at Burley Junction Signal Box reduced from 32 to 10 levers.
1966 - Closure of Skipton to Ilkley Line. 1966 Spring - removal of the metal railway bridge (connecting Burley with Otley) on Bradford Road, Burley in Wharfedale.
1967 - Last steam locomotive to pass through Burley in Wharfedale 4th September, engine 8F 2-8-0 48070 came to retrieve a failed diesel unit.
1968 - Second closure proposal for the remaining part of the Wharfedale Rail System.
1968 - Burley in Wharfedale Railway Station staff withdrawn & pay train operation commenced. 1972 - Ilkley to Leeds via Guiseley reprieved.
1972 - Guiseley to Shipley marked for closure. Decision never implemented, Bradford Corporation (BMDC) began subsidising the line. 1973 - Burley in Wharfedale Railway Station buildings demolished. 1974 - Line taken over & managed by West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (WYPTE) and is now called the Wharfedale Line.
1979 - Work started on the construction of "The Robins" housing estate on the old railway sidings.
1981 July 25th - Night-time demolition of the 120-year-old 3-arch railway viaduct on Bradford Road, Burley in Wharfedale. The bridge had been condemned as unstable & was blown up using 50lbs of dynamite set in 612 charges & electronically detonated. All that was left was 400 tons of sandstone rubble.
1984 - Maps of national railway network before & after the Beeching Plan.
1985 - Wharfedale Rail Users Group (WRUG) formed. Direct successor to the IRSA.
(A view taken at a very wet Burley-in-Wharfedale of Metro-Cammell Class 101 DTCL 54090 and DMBS 53257 approaching through the gloom while working the 14:50 Bradford Forster Square to Ilkley service).
1986 - Burley Junction Signal Box closed & signal arms removed 23rd January.
1994 - Privatisation of British Rail. (Completed by 1997).
More info on wikipedia. 1994/5 - Wharfedale Line electrification.
2013 - Wharfedale Rail Users Group (WRUG) disbands.
2018 - Milner Wood as it is now. View towards Otley. Possible course of Wharfedale Greenway or reconnect Otley to the national rail network at Menston?
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Train timetable for the Wharfedale Line (Route 39)
Ilkley to Leeds & Bradford Forster Square (Wharfedale Line) Services
Live Wharfedale Line Service Link - Train Times, Arrivals & Departures Burley-in-Wharfedale Railway Station (BUW).
An alternative source for train information about Burley-in-Wharfedale station can be found at trainline
Wharfedale Line (Route 39) - Ilkley to Leeds & Bradford Forster Square train services.
Timetable pdf: 10th December 2023 to 1st June 2024
Stations: Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Menston & Guiseley served by all trains.
Ilkley to Leeds service - additional station Kirkstall Forge.
Ilkley to Bradford Forster Square service - additional stations Baildon, Shipley & Frizinghall.
Ilkley to Leeds & Bradford Forster Square (Wharfedale Line) Services
Live Wharfedale Line Service Link - Train Times, Arrivals & Departures Burley-in-Wharfedale Railway Station (BUW).
An alternative source for train information about Burley-in-Wharfedale station can be found at trainline
Wharfedale Line (Route 39) - Ilkley to Leeds & Bradford Forster Square train services.
Timetable pdf: 10th December 2023 to 1st June 2024
Stations: Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Menston & Guiseley served by all trains.
Ilkley to Leeds service - additional station Kirkstall Forge.
Ilkley to Bradford Forster Square service - additional stations Baildon, Shipley & Frizinghall.
Thanks to David Hey, Frank W Smith, Don Gatehouse, David Spencer, John Wright, Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Sally Gunton, Mike Ashworth for adding to the story of Burley-in-Wharfedale Railway Station & the Wharfedale Line.
Burley Community Library & Burley Archive, Grange Road, Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire England LS29 7HD
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Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us
Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us