RAILSCOT | North Western Railway

North Western Railway

Introduction

This line is partly open. The section between Wennington and Skipton is still open. The section between Wennington and Lancaster is closed and the branch to Ingleton is closed. The company was also known as the Little North Western to differentiate it from the London and North Western Railway.

Dates

26/06/1846	North Western Railway Act passed.
31/12/1846	North Western Railway First sod cut.
30/07/1849	North Western Railway Skipton to Ingleton opened.
/06/1852	North Western Railway Line worked by Midland Railway.
/ /1859	North Western Railway Line leased by Midland Railway.
/ /1868	Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway) An agreement with the London and North Western Railway is reached over use of the Ingleton Branch (London and North Western Railway) and Lancaster and Carlisle Railway by the Midland Railway. The route would involve the North Western Railway. The Midland Railway tries to abandon the Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway). The North British Railway and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway block the abandonment.
/ /1890	North Western Railway Wennington Junction signal box opened.
31/04/2006	North Western Railway Wennington Junction signal box demolished.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.

Skipton to Lancaster

Skipton North Junction

More details

See also
Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway

DRS 37218 + 37716 topntail respectively 3S29 York Thrall Europa to Hellifield RHTT working crossing the River Aire near Niffany west of Skipton. ...
Stephen Willetts 06/11/2022

1 of 1 images.

Gargrave

This is a two platform station. ...

142013 calls at Gargrave with the 10.24 from Leeds to Lancaster on 17 March 2019. The former goods yard is in the background. ...
Bill Roberton 17/03/2019

142013 nears Gargrave with the 10.24 from Leeds to Lancaster on 17 March 2019. ...
Bill Roberton 17/03/2019

Gargrave station looking east. ...
Ewan Crawford //

45596 'Bahamas' approaches Gargrave on 16 February 2019 with the second railtour of the month from Keighley to Carlisle. ...
John McIntyre 16/02/2019

4 of 10 images. more

Bell Busk

Hellifield [1st]

Hellifield

More details

See also
Chatburn to Hellifield Line (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway)

35018 'British India Line' waits in the up loop at Hellifield with support coach to take over the 'Dalesman' tour from Chester to Carlisle on 8 ...
John McIntyre 08/09/2020

56 051 Survival + 56 094 head 6J37 12:52 Carlisle - Chirk Kronospan, The Logs passing Goosemere Heights shortly after passing Hellifield. It is good ...
Stephen Willetts 17/07/2023

66101 slowly draws into Hellifield, with the Mossend - Clitheroe empty cement tanks, on a very cold and wintery 23rd January 2013. ...
Stephen Willetts 23/01/2013

DRS 66425 top n' tailed with 66429 heads 3S29, the 08:27 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa via Hellifield seen on the return leg just after ...
Stephen Willetts 05/11/2023

4 of 57 images. more

Long Preston

GBRF 66730 approaches Long Preston with empty wagons heading to Arcow Quarry from Hunslet on 8 September 2020. ...
John McIntyre 08/09/2020

Trains pass at Long Preston in January 2016. On the left is a service to Leeds formed of a Class 144 and 153 diesel units. On the right is 142018 ...
John McIntyre 23/01/2016

A Northern service from Morecambe to Leeds, with 153351 leading and 144022 on the rear, sets off from Long Preston in May 2013 ...
John McIntyre 25/05/2013

DBC 66102 passes Long Preston on 8 September 2020 with a New Biggin to Tees Dock gypsum train. ...
John McIntyre 08/09/2020

4 of 23 images. more

Settle Junction [Station]

This was a short lived station at Settle Junction, just to its south.
...

Settle Junction

More details

See also
Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway)

An unidentified Class 31 approaches Settle Junction with a Carlisle to Leeds service around 1983. Taken with a Yashicamat 124G on Kodak Ektachrome ...
Stephen Willetts //1983

Colas 70814 working 6J37 Carlisle New Yard to Chirk (Kronospan) 'The Logs' passing Settle Junction. At first glance this is unremarkable as this train ...
Stephen Willetts 02/12/2021

Empty coal train takes the Settle and Carlisle Line at Settle Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford //

The signal box at Settle Junction, photographed in July 1986. ...
David Panton /07/1986

4 of 9 images. more

Giggleswick

46100 'Royal Scot' climbs at Kettlesbeck, just after Clapham on the Bentham line, with 1Z40 07:23 Rugby to Hellifield, Saphos Trains 'Pennine Moors ...
Stephen Willetts 21/10/2023

Giggleswick looking west. The was the site of a station called Settle until the opening of the Settle and Carlisle Line. ...
Ewan Crawford //

With the autumn colours appearing in the trees a Northern service from Morecambe to Leeds departing from Giggleswick towards Settle Jct late in the ...
John McIntyre 16/10/2014

Standard 4MT 4-6-0 75019 hauls a short freight towards Settle Junction on the Little North Western line from Carnforth in the summer of 1968. ...
David Hindle /06/1968

4 of 5 images. more

Clapham

Once a junction but on a smaller scale than its southerly namesake, Clapham in North Yorkshire is rather quieter and in a more rural setting. A ...
John McIntyre 16/10/2014

Early morning sunshine at Clapham station on 21st March 2015 as Brush Type 4 47760 runs through with the Wensleydale and Durham Coast rail ...
Mark Bartlett 21/03/2015

A Morecambe to Leeds service leaves Clapham station (just visible far left) and crosses the substantial viaduct over the River Wenning. The river is a ...
Mark Bartlett 23/03/2016

Northern railcar 153 360 on the Leeds - Morecambe route approaching Clapham, North Yorkshire, on 17 April 2011. ...
Andrew Wilson 17/04/2011

4 of 15 images. more

Bentham

This is a two platform station. The main station building is on the eastbound platform, a 1950s replacement for the original main building. The goods yard was to the west of the station, on the north side of the line. ...

A Leeds to Morecambe service calls at Bentham on 16 October 2014. ...
John McIntyre 16/10/2014

3-car Pacer 144020 calls at Bentham with a Morecambe to Leeds service on 25th April 2019. Bentham station is in first class order these days, not ...
Mark Bartlett 25/04/2019

3-car Pacer 144014, on a Leeds to Morecambe service, clatters along jointed track at Greystonegill Bridge in the Wenning Valley near Bentham on 2nd ...
Mark Bartlett 02/12/2017

Jubilee 45690 Leander running tender first with a support coach on the return test run from Hellifield to Carnforth on 16 October 2014. The ...
John McIntyre 16/10/2014

4 of 9 images. more

Low Bentham

Wennington

30 April 1983 and ex S&D 2-8-0 No 13809 is completing its run past at Wennington, whilst hauling the Cumbrian Mountain Pullman between Carnforth and ...
Colin Kirkwood 30/04/1983

Northern 144013 approaches Wennington on 30 July 2011 while working from Leeds to Heysham Port. After a further nine years of service this Pacer is ...
John McIntyre 30/07/2011

Oh move please. The 'Cumbrian Mountain Pullman' was graced by S&D 2-8-0 No 13809 on 30 April 1983. With steam cocks wide open, it made a noisy ...
Colin Kirkwood 30/04/1983

3-car Pacer 144020 calls at Wennington on its way to Morecambe from Leeds on 24th January 2019. The population of Wennington is only 138 but the ...
Mark Bartlett 24/01/2019

4 of 14 images. more

Wennington Junction

More details

See also
Furness and Midland Joint Railway

142024 leaves Wennington heading for Lancaster on 4th November 2019. The recess where the signalbox once stood is filling with vegetation and it is ...
Mark Bartlett 04/11/2019

150205, on a Leeds to Morecambe service, leaves Wennington and heads for Melling tunnel and Carnforth. This view was taken from the nearby bridge over ...
Mark Bartlett 04/02/2010

Hurried Pacer substitution? Heading for Morecambe, 150275 was still displaying Manchester Victoria on its rear destination blind as it left ...
Mark Bartlett 27/04/2011

On May 1st 1976, Hardwicke and Flying Scotsman spent much of the day on display at Settle before working a second S&C centenary special. ...
Bill Jamieson 01/05/1976

4 of 13 images. more

Wennington [1st]

This interesting five arch bridge spans the trackbed, and the River Wenning, a short distance to the west of Wennington station on the old direct line ...
Mark Bartlett 31/12/2009

1 of 1 images.

Wray

Hornby

Station Court at Hornby, and a small industrial unit behind it, occupy the site of Hornby Station and the trackbed of the North Western line from ...
Mark Bartlett 20/08/2019

The partly blocked off cutting on the right carried the former Wennington to Lancaster Green Ayre line just west of Hornby station. The line crossed ...
Mark Bartlett 20/02/2019

The view Southwest along the Wennington to Lancaster trackbed from the A683 main road at Hornby in February 2019. The railway crossed the road on a ...
Mark Bartlett 19/02/2019

Hornby station closed in 1957, nine years before the line itself. Once the line had closed completely a small housing development was built on the ...
Mark Bartlett 14/07/2009

4 of 5 images. more

Claughton

The garden on the trackbed of the old Lune Valley line is looking well established these days. The replica Midland signal cabin installed by the ...
John Yellowlees 22/06/2021

A slightly hazy view of the Claughton Aerial Ropeway, top to bottom, looking across from the Aughton side of the Lune Valley in August 2019. Claughton ...
Mark Bartlett 20/08/2019

Looking towards Claughton Moor from the A683 road in August 2017, with a succession of clay buckets on the move to and from the brick works behind the ...
Mark Bartlett 11/08/2017

Inside the boundary of the clay pit at Claughton Moor the aerial ropeway runs at a much lower level. One of the shorter pylons can be seen here with a ...
Mark Bartlett 09/05/2014

4 of 16 images. more

Caton

Two views of the Caton to Lancaster trackbed cycle path from the access point at Crook o'Lune. The upper view looks towards Lancaster with the ...
Mark Bartlett 11/01/2019

Caton station closed in 1960, six years before the line itself, and this picture is of the site, looking towards Hornby. The extended station house ...
Mark Bartlett 10/05/2009

Trackbed view west from the easterly Crook O Lune bridge. Immediately beyond the over bridge the westerly bridge can be seen showing how close the two ...
Mark Bartlett 10/05/2009

Caton closed in 1961, six years before the line from Lancaster to Wennington. The station itself has been heavily modified as a private residence and ...
Mark Bartlett 29/08/2008

4 of 6 images. more

Crook o' Lune Viaduct [East]

Crook o' Lune Viaduct [West]

Just to the Halton side of the westerly Crook o' Lune viaduct the old railway cutting was filled in after closure and had to be partially excavated ...
Mark Bartlett 26/02/2021

What a view of the railway this house must have had prior to 1966. 22834 This is the westerly Crook o' Lune viaduct in February 2021. The east ...
Mark Bartlett 26/02/2021

2 of 2 images.

Halton [NWR]

The old railway from Lancaster is a nicely surfaced cycle track and footpath through the old Halton and Caton station sites almost to Claughton. From ...
Mark Bartlett 19/02/2021

Looking towards Lancaster along the old line from Wennington in February 2021. This point, just to the south of Halton, is where the line passed under ...
Mark Bartlett 19/02/2021

Immediately on the Lancaster side of Halton station the trackbed cyclepath is carried over the Denny Beck by this substantial bridge. The deck appears ...
Mark Bartlett 19/02/2021

Since I last photographed the M6 bridge over the Lancaster to Wennington trackbed (see image 23392) the Bay Gateway road has been completed and ...
Mark Bartlett 19/02/2021

4 of 12 images. more

Ladies Walk Siding

Lancaster Green Ayre

More details

See also
Morecambe Bay Railway

The site of Lancaster Green Ayre station and shed in 2012. The station was top far left, alongside the river, in what is now public open space. From ...
Mike Burke 28/08/2012

View west along the River Lune at Lancaster - September 2014 see image 44262. ...
Ken Strachan 06/09/2014

The approach to Green Ayre station site on the trackbed from Halton is quiet and feels very rural but is close to Lancaster centre and the busy one ...
Mark Bartlett 07/08/2008

A short single track line from Lancaster Castle dropped down to Lancaster Green Ayre, alongside the River Lune. Originally electrified it closed to ...
Mark Bartlett 13/12/2010

4 of 10 images. more

Ingleton Branch

Clapham

Once a junction but on a smaller scale than its southerly namesake, Clapham in North Yorkshire is rather quieter and in a more rural setting. A ...
John McIntyre 16/10/2014

Early morning sunshine at Clapham station on 21st March 2015 as Brush Type 4 47760 runs through with the Wensleydale and Durham Coast rail ...
Mark Bartlett 21/03/2015

A Morecambe to Leeds service leaves Clapham station (just visible far left) and crosses the substantial viaduct over the River Wenning. The river is a ...
Mark Bartlett 23/03/2016

Northern railcar 153 360 on the Leeds - Morecambe route approaching Clapham, North Yorkshire, on 17 April 2011. ...
Andrew Wilson 17/04/2011

4 of 15 images. more

Ingleton (NWR)

Ingleton had two stations, one on either side of its end-on junction between the MR and the LNWR. The site of one of them is now a community centre, ...
Ken Strachan 10/05/2009

Scene of a very expensive argument. The bridge at Ingleton should have provided a through link from Yorkshire to Scotland. However, because it ...
Mark Bartlett 31/01/2009

2 of 2 images.

Ingleton

More details

See also
Ingleton Branch (London and North Western Railway)