Category Archives: West Yorkshire

TRU: Checking out progress between Mirfield and Ravensthorpe.

27 Thursday Nov 2025

Posted by in Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, TRU, West Yorkshire

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On Tuesday the grey skies which have bedevilled us here in West Yorkshire took a day off, allowing me to get out with the camera and record progress on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade between Mirfield and Dewsbury.

Having caught a Northern service from Sowerby Bridge we joined the Trans-Pennine route at Bradley Wood Junction, where earthmoving continues in order to create space for the new Fast lines. I’ll visit here again soon. My first stop was at Mirfield, where progress is steady but slow. Work on the new footbridge and lifts continues, as does the rebuilding of the island platform which is gradually creeping West towards Huddersfield. The most noticeable change since my last visit is that a long length of the Down Huddersfield line through the old platform 1 has been laid, although it remains unconnected and has yet to be ballasted. Here’s some pictures.

Much of the scaffolding around the lift tower has disappeared. Meanwhile, work continues on rebuilding the platform 1 side of the island.
Grand Central’s 180108 working 1A63, the. 10:29 Bradford Interchange to London Kings Cross slows to stop at Mirfield. You can see work continue on rebuilding platform 1 to the right. This scene will look very different in a few years when all four tracks are reinstated and electrification masts and wires abound!
Newly laid track in place on the formation of the Down Huddersfield which serves platform 1. This is looking East towards Ravensthorpe.

Moving on, I caught another Northern service to Dewsbury before walking back to Ravensthorpe.

Dewsbury is having platforms extended to cope with 6-car trains. Here’s progress on the Eastern (Leeds) end of platform 1.
The overbridge on George St has been replaced by a new concrete structure. The original (life-expired) structure dated from the opening of the line in 1847, so it had a good innings! Note the detailing on the concrete undersill in an attempt blend in with the original stonework.
Early embankment work on the River Calder seen through one of the arches of the double-span Butler bridge. A new river crossing will be constructed at this point with the original 1847 railway alignment and bridges being abandoned. The footpath along this stretch of the Calder is blocked off at this point. This is as far as you can go.

Walking back along the Calder to pass under the Spen valley greenway I walked down the (still open) footpath along the Calder and Hebble navigation to this point where the new railway bridges are beginning to take shape. A Northern service from Bradford to Leeds crosses the 1847 bridge in the background.
Another view of the new bridge. The different spans are because the Fast and Slow lines will converge near here. The (double track) Fasts are in the centre whilst the Up and Down Slows join on either side.

Walking on along a very muddy towpath I moved on to Ravensthorpe. Here’s the view of the station from the soon to be replaced Calder Rd bridge.

It’s difficult to appreciate how this scene will look in the future – or how it looked in the past. Here’s an artist’s impression curtesy of TRU. Everything here will disappear under a flyover and dive-under! The station will move behind the camera, to the other side of the bridge.
The current view from the station platform as workers pour concrete to build one of the retaining walls for the flyover and the line to/from Healy Mills (seen in the background) which will be diverted to pass underneath.
A TPE service from York via Healy Mills speeds past workers levelling a fresh pour of concrete.
Retaining walls for the new flyover are beginning to rise.
The existing main line towards Dewsbury curves away in the distance whilst cranes are at work constructing the bridges for the new line. This section of track will be abandoned once the new lines open. To the left of the picture is the site of the old goods yard and coal-fired power station which provided a lot of rail traffic in the past.
Here’s a 1937 map (published in 1942) showing the mass of freight lines and sidings that existed in the area. Ravensthorpe station is bottom left.
The very first of the Class 150s, 150001 arrived to take me back to Dewsbury for my connecting train to Halifax. The station will close from the start of the new timetable on Sunday 14 December 2025, so if you want to visit – be quick!

I’ll be adding another TRU update shortly. I’ll also be visiting Ravensthorpe again before it finally closes.

NOTE: All photographs in this blog are my copyright.

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26th November picture of the day…

26 Wednesday Nov 2025

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Pubs, West Yorkshire

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I’d hoped to have had another (different) blog written and published, but today’s run away with me. I was out and about yesterday, looking at some of the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) work around Mirfield and Ravensthorpe. There was a lot to see which means it’ll be a longer than usual blog with plenty of pictures. By the time I’d finished editing all the shots I’d taken, then carried out my usual duties here at Bigland Towers the day had almost gone! However, all’s not lost. I’m having another day working from home tomorrow which will give me time to get it written and published whilst still having time to sort out other work.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with one image taken yesterday – which has nothing to do with railways! One of the towns I visited was Dewsbury. It’s a bit of a sad place nowadays. Like so many Northern towns the closure of traditional industries like the woollen trade and coal mining have had an enormous impact on their prosperity and prospects. It’s sad, as there’s still some lovely old buildings but many are vacant or half-used. On my way out of town I passed a derelict pub. A faded Tetley’s huntsman sign outside caught my eye. Initially it was difficult to pick out the pubs name due to the missing letters. Then the penny dropped. It was named after assassinated American president John F Kennedy – an unusual choice for a pub.

Today I did some searching and found this interesting 2019 newspaper article about the pub, its unusual name and the story of its landlord, Ted Rushworth. I’ve no idea when the pub closed its doors for the final time…

Somehow, I doubt we’ll ever see a pub named after Donald Trump (assassinated or not)…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

6th November picture of the day…

06 Thursday Nov 2025

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Sorry for the lack of blogging recently, but it’s been a dull but busy week here at Bigland Towers. I’ve been going nowhere fast due to work commitments which have kept me tied to home. Now’s the time of year when I put my sorting hat on as one of the Community Rail Awards judges. There’s a huge amount of entries in the two categories in which I’m a member of the judging panel so it takes a lot of time to sift through them, giving our individual scores before we convene for the full judging panel.

Mind you, the weather’s been utter crap here in the Calder Valley. Most days I’ve not even been able to see the opposite side of the valley. Taking my daily stroll through the woods has been ‘fun’ too as some major branches have been brought down by the wind and rain, so you take your life in your hands. Fortunately, I’ve never been in the wrong place at the right time!

The evenings have been entertaining in a different way due to it being the week of Bonfire night, which has meant we’ve had fireworks going off every day so the place sounds like living in a suburb of Beirut or Damascus (only without the ricochets). Still, the valley’s looked very pretty with a fusillade of fireworks lighting up the sky each evening.

Now the week’s winding down. I was hoping to get out and about tomorrow but I fear I still have too much paperwork to do – and the weather’s not looking much better, even though it’s been incredibly mild for the time as year. That said, Dawn’s taking next week off as it’s our weeding anniversary and we’ve just booked a few nights away in Shropshire – so all’s not lost.

Hopefully, I’ll have time to catch up on some more blogging tomorrow, in the meantime, I’ll leave you with a taster of the weather here today. For much of the day we’ve been living just below cloud level…

The Wainhouse tower above the end of our road disappears into the clouds.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

28th October picture(s) of the day…

28 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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There’s been another quiet day here at Bigland Towers and in the Calder valley. I’ve spent most of it working from home, having had the place to myself whilst Dee’s been over at her parents to sort out the aftermath of the car accident.

Mind you, the weather here this morning was spectacularly awful, with high winds and driving rain, so being cocooned in the cottage was ideal. This afternoon, the weather changed. We had a spell of glorious sunshine and clear skies, so I thought I’d nip out with the camera to get shots of the railway crossing the Copley viaduct surrounded by trees in their autumnal colours. Only it didn’t quite work out that way. By the time I got down to the river the weather had changed again, with leaden skies and rain heading my way. However, I did find Network Rail contractors who’d been busy clearing trees along the embankment of the line to Greetland. This has opened up a couple of new photo locations, with more in the offing as the work is continuing.

I made my way up the other side of the valley through a lovely green tunnel which has formed over an old sunken track. Then, sheltering from a sudden downpour under some Oak trees, I surveyed the valley. Here’s the results.

The green tunnel, and old track which is slowly being reclaimed by nature.
A train bound for Halifax passes the site where contractors have denuded the embankment of trees to open up this view which has been hidden for decades. In the background is a modern housing estate which has been built between the River Calder and the canal.
The same train crossing the Copley viaduct, surrounded by trees which are slowly gaining their autumnal finery. The widest arch to the right is where the railway crosses the Calder and Hebble Navigation (canal).

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If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

Happy birthday to me!

27 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in Food and drink, Musings, West Yorkshire

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Today Dawn and I were meant to be celebrating my official ascendency into old-fartdom as today’s the day I become a state pensioner. The plan was that we’d be up and out early to head to Chester by train, where we’d have lunch, a drink and a wander around the city walls before retracing our steps as far as Manchester where we’d go out for an evening meal to celebrate my new status (or drown my sorrows, depending on your viewpoint).

Unfortunately, the Gods had other ideas. Yesterday evening Dawn’s mum rang to say that her and her husband had been in a car accident. Whilst they were driving back from a day out along a country road a pedestrian appeared out of nowhere in front of their car. John (Dawn’s father) reacted in time and swerved to avoid them but the car hit a drystone wall and was a write-off (the drystone wall’s not looking too healthy either). Needless to say, Dawn dropped everything to be with her parents and stay with them whilst they were checked out in A&E, then get them home. Thankfully, neither of them were hurt, but the NHS staff at Huddersfield A&E were taking no chances and gave them a through check, which meant that Dee didn’t get back to Bigland Towers until after midnight, then had to spend much of today helping to sort out stuff with the car insurers.

So, no Chester (or Manchester) for us…

Instead, I’ve had a quiet birthday at home, wondering where the hell the last 66 years have gone! The day’s not been entirely wasted as I had time to nip out for a walk, do some shopping and cook a fiery Thai Red Curry, ready for when Dee got home. Now, I’ve time to write this whilst Dawn’s taken over the kitchen to bake a chocolate birthday cake in my honour, having already baked some stunning chocolate puddings. Thai curry and chocolate pud’ – sounds like a birthday treat to me!

Dawn’s stunning homemade chocolate puddings, with a melted filling.

Tomorrow, whilst Dawn’s back at her parents sorting out a hire-car, maybe I’ll apply for my bus pass…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

21st October picture(s) of the day…

21 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Another day that didn’t quite turn out to be as expected. The day’s plans were changed by two events which diverted my time. Firstly, I’ve been invited to be a judge in a photographic competition run by one of the UKs train operating companies. They contacted me at short notice, asking for a biography and a mugshot. Having sorted those out I then received a phone call from a magazine asking for potential pictures for their next cover. Searching through my archive for the subject matter and sending them links kept me busy for a while. Still, it should help my bank balance! As I sat at my computer I was enviously watching the sun breaking through the racing clouds to send rays of light scudding across the valley like searchlights hunting for a fugitive. The scene would have made for some great moody photographs. Sadly by the time I was free to pick up the camera the sun had lost its battle with the clouds which swamped the valley with more mist and rain. Bugger!

When I did manage to get out for a walk conditions were less than ideal as light levels were set to full dull, but – I did manage to find something of interest which gave me chance to exercise my 105mm micro lens. Here’s the results.

If anyone can ID these two types of mushroom, feel free to drop me a line.

I’m no mycologist, so I’ve no idea what types of mushrooms I’m looking at here (all I know it – don’t be daft enough to try and eat ’em). A single old tree stump in our local woods is home to several different types which attracted my attention.

As the rain worsened I retreated back to the cottage to dry out before preparing food for this evening. Poor Dawn had a dental appointment to fix her tooth where she lost a filling last week. Now the hole in her tooth’s fixed, but there’s an even bigger hole in her purse! Our dentists are excellent and have managed to save the tooth, but have recommended Dee gets it crowned to ensure there’s no further issues. Both filling and crown will set her back over £1000 in total. Even so, it could have been a lot worse (and more expensive) if the tooth couldn’t have been saved. After the fun and games with the car, it’s been an expensive month. Fingers crossed the rest of the year is more of a breeze…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Brighouse interlude.

21 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Brighouse, Photography, Railways, Travel, TRU, West Yorkshire

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On Friday, despite the weather being grey and autumnal I needed a break from staring at computer screens, so walked into Halifax for a trip to nearby Brighouse to indulge in a spot of rail photography. Due to the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) construction at Huddersfield drastically reducing the number of platforms available, Brighouse is currently a railhead for services from my neck of the woods. Instead of hourly trains to Huddersfield, a two-hourly shuttle service runs from Bradford Interchange to Brighouse, where it connects with buses to Huddersfield or to Leeds via Mirfield, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury and on to Leeds as the local service from Wigan Wallgate to Leeds via this route has been diverted to run through Halifax.

Brighouse is also a good location for photographing freight services running via the Calder Valley. Hence some of these pictures…

150004 was doing the honours on Friday. After reversing at Bradley Wood Junction it’s returned ready to work 2J66, the 14:30 to Bradford Interchange.
66431 approaches the station with a trainload of ballast from the quarry at Shap. The service is 6E73, the 0910 Shap Summit Quarry to Doncaster Up Decoy yard. The train runs Tuesday to Friday.
Heading in the opposite direction was DBs 66017, hauling 6M16, the 05:40 Wilton to to Knowsley Freight Terminal empty ‘binliner’

Brighouse station’s a well-kept place with a very active friends group who’ve worked wonders over the past few years, transforming a basic station with a profusion of colourful flower and shrubs – both in planters on the platforms and actual gardens. Adding to the interest are a series of history boards which tell tales of local people and industries, including the story of one local man who inspired a well known song by breaking the bank of Monte Carlo. Yes, it really happened!

Here’s someone else with a local connects and famous in a very different way. I doubt he’d have approved of gambling for a start!

I suspect William wouldn’t have approved of another institution that’s nearby. The Commercial Railway Inn is right outside the station and offers a range of real ales, wines and spirits, as well as snacks. It’s an ideal place to bide a while in-between trains. This multi-room pub has one dedicated to music.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

20th October picture of the day…

20 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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There’s been a dank and dismal start to the week here in the Calder valley, which is hardly surprising as that’s how last week ended so set the tone. Sunday was miserable weather-wise as low clouds and rain obscured the sides of the valley and made walking a very damp experience. Today’s been little better, the only bright spot being the fact the weather’s still mild, for now at least.

I’ve spent the majority of the day at home, ploughing through yet more picture editing and filing. I’ve only a few more left to do now before I’m up to date. All but a handful of the Portuguese pictures have been uploaded to my Zenfolio website. You can find the railway ones here and the travel pictures here.

With the weather looking the same for tomorrow I’m planning to have another day working at home and staying warm and dry – although with the autumn leaves starting to take on some dramatic colours I’m hoping there may be an opportunity for some pictures in the surrounding woodland when I get out for a walk. If not, I’ll be able to catch up on some blogging as I did manage to get out last Friday, even if was only as far as Brighouse!

In the meantime, here’s an illustration of how the Calder valley looked yesterday.

Wet and windy, with Norland moor on the opposite side of the valley hidden by low clouds.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

15th October picture(s) of the day…

15 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Flag shaggers, Huddersfield, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, Railways, Travel, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Another day that didn’t quite go to plan – although that was more for Dawn than me. Dee’s outbreak of the lurgi meant she had a restless night and felt crap this morning, so her dental appointment was the first thing to be cancelled. Then a phone call to Honda about the fun and games with the car meant they came and collected it within an hour, taking it away for diagnostic checks. So, with no car, no Dawn and me still with a dental appointment it meant I was bound for our dentists in Huddersfield by bus!

That was no big deal, I had plenty of time and managed to get in a long walk to a bus stop that was convenient for some railway shots whilst I waited. As chance would have it, one of the seasonal railhead treatment trains was due just before my bus. Hence this shot.

A pair of Colas Class 66s top and tail the RHTT over Dryclough Junction. This train began its journey in Grimsby and ended it in York after going around the houses to reverse at Halifax. The spray from the powerful water jets mounted on the rear wagon is evident.

My dental appointment was a breeze. I’m not one of these people who’s frightened of visiting dentists, so it’s not a stressful experience at all. The dentist gave me a clean bill of health and the hygienist confirmed his view after giving me a clean, so that’s me done for another 6 months!

As I was close to the centre of Huddersfield I decided my walk to take in a detour to the station to see how the place looks now it’s reopened after the month-long blockade. The answer is – very different!

150007sits in the extended Sheffield bay platform whilst a TPE 185 calls at the widened and extended Westbound platform. The Northern side of the station has vanished. Both platforms and tracks have disappeared with the area becoming a building site.

Catching the bus back we passed through Elland, where the ‘flag-shaggers’ have been busy. Most lamp posts on the main road have had flags cable tied to them. Let’s face it, nothing says ‘patriotism’ more than cheap Chinese-made Union or England flags draped like limp rags around the place. Still, it’s a good indicator of places to avoid. Elland’s always been a shithole with a reputation as a place where the far-right hang out. The flags merely confirm it. I’m sure they’ll do wonders for house prices…

Back in Halifax (where flag-shagging is very much a minority sport) I strolled home, finding Dawn feeling better. Her car had been returned, complete with new rear offside wheel sensor as the old one had failed, causing all the problems. Fortunately, the £280 cost was covered by the extended warranty Dee had been smart enough to take out. Sadly, the fun and games weren’t over! No sooner had we eaten supper than poor Dawn had a large filling drop out! Today of all days!

Looks like the dentists haven’t seen the back of us yet…

Tomorrow I plan to spend the day working from home. Hopefully there’ll be no more excitement and I’ll be able to catch up on blogging and picture editing. Watch this space…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

14th October picture of the day…

14 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Transport, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Tuesday’s the new Monday here at Bigland Towers, at least for this week due to a long weekend. I’ll blog about our final day in Chester and environs tomorrow. I’d hoped to have written it up today but I’ve been up to my eyeballs in picture editing, paperwork, fixing lights in the house and keeping an eye on a poorly wife! Poor Dawn’s coming down with some form of lurgi, so I’m dusting down my nurses uniform…

To add insult to injury, her car is playing up too. We started getting error messages from its computer yesterday, but they cleared and we drove back without an issue. This afternoon they returned – with a vengeance! Everything that could flash red did – and then some. Yet again, they mysteriously disappeared and we were able to complete our mission of picking up a new light-switch to replace the one that had blown the other day. But tomorrow the phone line to Honda is going to be buzzing. Dee’s only spent over £1600 on a new timing belt and other gubbins for her Honda Civic but it’s been a PITH ever since and had to go back for rectification once already after it started burning so much oil you’d have thought someone had elected a new Pope! Ho Hum…

We have another ‘treat’ in store for tomorrow – a trip to the dentist and hygienist, so it won’t just be the car getting some attention. So, as you can see, today’s not quite gone to plan…

I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is from yesterdays explorations. I’ll leave you guessing where this was taken until tomorrow. Unless you want to post a guess?

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312