Oakworth railway station

Oakworth railway station serves the village of Oakworth, near Keighley, and within the City of Bradford Metropolitan District, West Yorkshire, England.

Oakworth
Oakworth railway station
Location
Place	Oakworth
Area	City of Bradford
Coordinates	53.841430°N 1.941600°W / 53.841430; -1.941600
Grid reference	SE039383
Operations
Managed by	Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Platforms	1
History
Key dates	Opened 1867 Closed 1962 Reopened 1968
Stations on heritage railways in the United Kingdom
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

History

The station was built by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) and opened with the rest of the line for passengers on 15 April 1867 and for goods traffic on 1 July that year. The Midland Railway leased the line and absorbed the KWVR with effect from 1 July 1881.[1] The London Midland and Scottish Railway absorbed the Midland Railway from January 1923 and took over operation of the line. British Railways took over the UK's railway system on 1 January 1948 and the line was closed to passengers on 1 January 1962 and to goods traffic on 18 June 1962.[2]

Operations

Originally there was a signal box at the station which controlled a goods loop giving access to the goods yard and the level crossing. This was removed in the 1950s and control of the level crossing passed to the station staff, although it is still noticeable that the level crossing is still double track width, even though there is only a single line through the crossing.

Preservation

Oakworth railway station sign and vintage advertising boards

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society took over the line and re-opened the line and the station on 29 June 1968.[3] Milk churns displayed on a hand cart and old railway posters bring back images of a former age. The platform fencing is used to display old enamel advertisement signs for period products such as Virol.

The station is famous for being the main location used in the film The Railway Children. The Station can still be seen much as was in the period 1905–1910. It is still lit by gas lights both inside the buildings and on the platform.

The station foreman on duty at Oakworth also has responsibility for the level crossing at the end of the platform, which is controlled by interlocked signals.

References

Notes

1. Awdry, 1990, p. 83
2. Butt, 1995, p. 176
3. Butt, 1995, p. 176

Bibliography

• Awdry, Christopher, Encyclopedia of British Railway Companies, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1990, ISBN 1-85260-049-7
• Butt, R.V.J., The Directory of Railway Stations, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1995, ISBN 1-85260-508-1

Preceding station	Heritage railways			Following station
Haworth		Keighley and Worth Valley Railway		Damems