Hellifield is a village on the borders of North Yorkshire and the Craven district of Lancashire. It was just a rural and agricultural community on a wiggle of the A65 between Leeds and Kendal.
Although the station was shared, each company had their own engine shed and sidings. (click on the map below to enlarge it)
Although local boarding and alighting traffic was never great, there was plenty of interchange between the two routes and much activity in the freight and loco yards.
Surprisingly, in recent years of wanton destruction, the station buildings remain, but almost completely unoccupied.
The track layout is astride one large island platform with disused central bays at each end. But the only section in use is at the Leeds end of the main structure, just long enough for the diesel trains that serve the line. A refurb was instigated by the flawed Railtrack ...
... but in 2013 Notwork Rail refurbished the impresssive Midland Railway canopies which remain in very good condition throughout.
The picture above shows the subway access via a double-slope ramp ...
... although the subway entrance is hardly an impressive gateway to such a splendid piece of well-preserved architecture.
Correspondent Roy (from Sheffield) visited recently and sent fbb a collection of detailed pictures which give some idea of the mangnificence of the Midland Railway design.
Thy made "proper" station back then.
Back in the day, it used to have a well-stocked newsagents ...
... but the highlight of any visit today must be the station caff.
It has an excellent menu and pleasant ambiance ...
... plus a fascinating collection of photographs and railway memorabilia.
But if you like the quirky, the station has got one of these ...
... whatever it is; and it used to have one of these.
fbb thinks it is for weighing stuff. Amazingly it is still there (but probably not working).
The Settle and Carlisle line has become increasingly popular over the years and, after a recent interruption due to landslides, is now back in full operation. There are also Sunday connections from Lancashire via Clitheroe so a number of out-and-back schedules are possible then.
Hopefully you might get something better than a Pacer! Sprinters are better, but try to get a seat that matches a window.
Travel out from Leeds at 1049, have a two hour break to explore and have lunch ...
... and continue to Carlisle. Or, if you do not wish to travel far ...
... you can return to Leeds after a similar two hour repose.
Either way, Hellifield station is worth a visit.
Next weekend collection : Saturday 10th March
Cough splutter! I've had to comment right at the outset!
ReplyDeleteHow dare you suggest Craven is in Lancashire. It was bad enough that they stole Diggle, Delph, Dobcross & Denshaw in 1974, but now fbb makes a craven fool of himself.
Put it back where it belongs!
If we are going back to 1974 then we should point out that Hellifield is in the West Riding, not something called "North Yorkshire"
DeleteWhoops!
ReplyDeletePandle, surely?
ReplyDeleteSorry to add to FBBs woes but;
ReplyDeleteIf my memory is correct the S&C came AFTER the Leeds to Morecambe and Blackburn lines were there.
Indeed I think giggleswick station was origionaly called settle.
One reason why Hellifield station was so large was that before the concept of corridor or donning coaches.
Long distance expresses stopped here so passsngers could use the dining room and other facilities.
A lot of the local roads dip into and out of both counties in this area.
I hope the above information is correct , however , the station is worth a visit with the cafe a must visit.