Pictures from the Halifax High Level Railway, Taken February 2014.

The Halifax High Level Railway is a remarkable piece of Victorian engineering that stretched from Holmfield Railway Station to Halifax St. Paul's Railway Station as part of a more ambitous scheme to build a new central station at George Square, Halifax, connecting Holmfield with Huddersfield and beyond. The plan by the Hull and Barnsley Railway started in 1884 was abandoned by 1886, with the line being opened to Halifax St. Pauls on the 5th September 1890.

The construction of the railway was a major undertaking, with a 740-metre tunnel and 10-arch viaduct built at Wheatley, large cuttings either side of the tunnel, in addition to stations with large goods yards at Pellon and St Paul's.

The line was never popular with passengers, with services not reaching the centre of Halifax in any direct route and often needing to change at Holmfield Station on the Queensbury Line. The High Levels main business was freight traffic due to the numerous mills around the north and western areas of Halifax. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1916, with the line singled and signalling withdrawn shortly afterwards. Freight traffic continued until the 27th June 1960. 

Walking the line now, there is still evidence that the line was there, with Wheatly Viaduct still standing, although blocked off and abandoned, and Wheatley Tunnel too, although the eastern portal has been infilled and a housing estate built upon it. Wood Lane, Brackenbed, and Pellon Lane Bridges still stand in similar condition to when trains ran under and over them. The large stone-walled embankment at Pellon remained too, as did many of the bridges along the route towards King Cross after passing Pellon, although many of these have long since been infilled.

 

The railway station at Pellon is now part of an industrial estate known as High Level Way. The former Halifax St. Paul's Station site is now a retail park. For many years, a car dealership and petrol station stood here, but recently the site was redeveloped.

These pictures were taken over two weekends in February 2014 using a Polaroid IS2132 bridge camera. They can also be seen on Clickasnap in full size, resolution, and unwatermarked.

Pellon Lane Bridge

The High Level line used to run over the top of the tunnel

Brackenbed Bridge

Wood lane Bridge

The previous 4 pictures are all of Wheatley Viaduct

Wheatley Tunnel entrance, the other side has been infilled and a housing estate built upon it

Inside Wheatley Tunnel, I went no further than the entrance

Wheatley Viaduct, the Maltings building can be seen beyond, once part of Webster's Brewery

Wheatley Tunnel Airshaft

Keighley Road Bridge, Wheatley Tunnel used to exit close to here, the large cutting has now been infilled and houses built upon it

Former railway cutting now boggy and partially flooded

All that remains of Shay Lane Bridge is that the lines crossed the road here before entering Holmfield Station.

 

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.