The Pickle Bridge Line, West Yorkshire.
The Pickle Bridge Railway, a short-lived line connecting Bradford and Huddersfield via the outskirts of Brighouse, operated from 1881 to 1952. Its closure was attributed to significant subsidence. While two stations along the route, Bailiff Bridge and Clifton Road, ceased operation well before the line's final closure, remnants of the railway are still visible between Clifton Road and Pickle Bridge, Wyke. Unfortunately, little trace remains between Clifton Road and Anchor Pit.
The line diverged from the Calder Valley Line at Pickle Bridge Junction, situated between Norwood Green (closed 1953) and Lightcliffe (closed 1965) stations. It then traversed the impressive Wyke (Red Lion) viaduct, originally boasting 22 arches, but now reduced to 8 after the northern 14 were demolished in 1987 due to ongoing subsidence. Bailiff Bridge station (1881-1917) served this section. Continuing southward, the line crossed the still-standing 5-arch Thornhills Viaduct, followed by a now-demolished viaduct at Clifton. The 3-arch Clifton viaduct led directly into Clifton Road station (1881-1931). Beyond Clifton Road, the line bridged the A644 Wakefield Road and the River Calder before reconnecting with the Calder Valley Line at Anchor Pit Junction, between Brighouse (1840-1970, reopened 2000) and Cooper Bridge (1840-1950) stations.
Photographs documenting the line's former route, captured in 2014 between Clifton Road Station and the main line at Wyke using a Polaroid iS2132 bridge camera, have been compiled into a YouTube slideshow. The slideshow is accompanied by William Rosati's musical piece, "Reception".
