The Lost GOMERSAL Station - What Remains?

Join me as we explore the different sections of the abandoned Leeds New Line Railway.
In this video we explore the abandoned section of railway line from the Gomersal Tunnel, covering Gomersal Station and onwards through Oakwell Hall Country Park. We look for anything left behind, or any relics still remaining to this day.
*PLEASE NOTE* The Western Portal of the Gomersal Tunnel with the staircase is on private land and not accessible to the general public. It is apparently dangerous at this side and you should not attempt to access it. The Eastern Portal is accessible to anyone if you would like to see the tunnel.
VIDEO INFORMATION CREDITS & THANK YOU'S
Leeds New Line Appreciation Facebook Page
Richard Conley
Lost Railways West Yorkshire
National Library of Scotland
Google Earth
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A special thank you to all video content film makers and photographers who's footage or pictures are featured in this video. These videos are made under Fair Use for educational purposes. All contributors and available links to their work can be seen in the videos description.
#adventureme #exploration #history #abandoned #leedsnewline #gomersal #tunnel #oakwell

[@techtipsuk]

I'm 46 we used to go through that tunnel regularly as kids. That end with the stairs, the Fanwoods end was completely open when we were kids. The Summerbridge Crescent end had some basic fencing but was easy to get through. Had many good nights in the Shoulder too in the late 90's

[@WmDavidHarrison]

Thanks again for another 20 minutes of "escape to the past". Keep on vlogging before more of our past is obliterated by tarmac, concrete and bricks.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

It's amazing to see what our ancestors did in building the railways of West Yorkshire. Unfortunately, they were filled-in or built over by the destructive years of road building. Darren, your videos are fantastic reminded of the past. In addition, they should help us recover as much as possible for building the promised low energy mass transit system.

[@sfoster1561]

Thank you for this. I am 71 and as a child I lived in one of the houses shown at 12.21. At 6.55 p.m. we regularly watched the double header pass by.

[@l.b.fulatryxthenarcoleptic8120]

I'm 47 & also used to go through the tunnel as a kid, remember how scary it was the first time, especially climbing over the rubble in the middle where the ceiling had collapsed. Great video

[@stephenrobinson3128]

I'm 62. From age 10 until we got bored of it my mates and I used to walk across the aquaduct that carried the stream across the track. Before it was filled in it must have been 40 feet. It was quite scary but you daren't show it. I remember playing on the old Birstall Town station wreck. It was burnt out. I remember when they knocked the bridge across Gelderd Rd down - I lived near it on Gelderd Rd.

[@andrewkershaw7497]

As kids, we used to walk through Gomersal tunnel. In the middle there was a large heap to climb over the story then was that the roof had collapsed. Obviously didn't stop us kids exploring though ...

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I heard something similar

[@christinepattinson5871]

Amazing facts and knowledge. I am fascinated, this is right up my street! The sad thing is I need surfaces which are accessible for wheelchair users, so miss proper exploration. But now I know I can see so much in these videos means I can still explore but in a different way I guess

[@Dwaine-ej7nm]

Great video I remember the birstal cutting wen it wasn't filled in and my god it was deep I used to play there and nearly fell in to the cutting one day while riding my bike on the path at the side when my brakes failed I thought it was game over

[@suesmith4366]

Very interesting, didn’t know about the aqueduct that was intriguing. I’ve never seen the viaduct in its splendour before, when I lived at Lowood Lane you could see where line went then before the new houses were built too. 😎 It all ended too soon 😔

[@MrOVERANOUT]

Another excellent look back in time. I have often walked the paths in Oakwell Hall Park and wondered about that old railway cutting. You have answered all my thoughts. Brilliant vlog.

[@davidjtyas8388]

Remember travelling on this line back in the day on the 6 car DMU Transpennine set which used this alternate route. Most of the stations had closed unlike the Leeds via Dewsbury line which remained open.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thanks for the video and chat. See you on the next. Cheers Darren.

[@craigsouthwell3484]

Came across your channel purely by chance the other night. Loving your video's mate.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Craig. Welcome aboard.

[@michaelmiller641]

Fascinating that a huge viaduct like that is almost entirely buried! Interesting video as usual!

[@TheOceanBeneath]

Great piece of film and brought back some memories. Could walk through the tunnel with no real issues up until them putting the fence up, a little damp and a pile of rubble about half way through you had to climb in the pitch black but was a good laugh 👍👍

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

10:20 Beautiful dainty looking yet seriously strong Victorian filigree ironwork supports on the aqueduct. Like a seaside pier's ornate columns.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Great find with the viaduct still working. Amazing all these things you are finding. Great filming as always and so interesting. Thank you again for such an entertaining vlog.

[@leebarlow5815]

Again a brilliant video I remember in the 70's as a kid I lived on Priestley sq, Oakwell hall right upto Fieldhead lane was our playground, I remember walking through "Gummy" tunnel and along all that route it looked nothing like it did now, and even walking across that little iron aqueduct there was also something what we called the Giants steps very near there and when we got to Feldhead we climbed up the massive rocks to get to the top.Thanks lee

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Lee

[@andy1983uk1]

Used to play in that tunnel as kids a bit as collapsed in the middle and the staircase end used to fill with water which we used to wade through was not restricted to go through in the 90s apart from basic broken fencing on the other end

[@andie_pants]

My God, I would love to have a few pints in a British pub called "The Shoulder of Mutton". That sounds like something straight out of The Hobbit.

[@martin-mi3cg]

Or Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show.

[@davidmarsden8008]

Was a nice pub indeed. It’s quite near a pub called The Scotland

[@andie_pants]

@@davidmarsden8008 Wonderful! If I ever save up enough to visit, I don't want to see the touristy big city stuff, I want to visit towns like my own and compare/contrast the experiences.

[@gaffzilla]

Well, it was not successful as a funeral parlour. I don’t think it performed a single funeral and now it’s up for sale for 500k. It’s fully kitted out and there’s 2 new hearses in the garage.

[@MrDazvere]

You’d like the Slaughtered Lamb then!

[@bobingram6912]

Blimey, that was some infill to bury that viaduct. Lots of interest on this one👍🏻❤

[@clivebroadhead4381]

The footpaths and cycle routes can be restored alongside the new mass transit lines with wooden footbridges next to the restored viaducts for the trains.

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

You should see Brunswick Tunnel under Harrogate. It has a blocked off end in a similar way and also had an air raid shelter built into the town end with a brick staircase in a similar fashion.

[@AdventureMe]

I will check it out one day soon. Thanks.

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

I'm really enjoying catching up on these videos of yours and learning and seeing how Leeds railway has changed over the years, I've been to Leeds a few times but would never know anything about this.

[@classictraction1744]

Back in the year 2000, I asked a work colleague, who lived near Gomersal tunnel, if he had ever had a look inside the structure and he said "no" but then went on to say, that sitting in the Shoulder of Mutton was quite an experience when trains used to come along because the noise was like the train was inside the pub ! I'm guessing the tunnel portal was pretty close to the pub cellar ?

[@Wedgedoow]

Very interesting video Darren, and the explanation of the double headers through the tunnel I now know why. Thank you

[@andy1983uk1]

Also the viaduct on fieldhead Lane all three arches where pumped full off concrete in the 90s was only a young lad but from what I can remember was a huge drop lol

[@johnneild6145]

Brilliant just found your channel my decendents are called gomersall and come from hunslet

[@carlwilson1772]

Great video. The way our heritage is being destroyed is shocking.

[@MarthaMansbridge]

Imagine if everything any person ever made, built, lived in had to be preserved - we’d have no space to move. Understanding our heritage is one thing, living in the past is another. Someone, somewhere will object to you replacing your 1980’s kitchen...

[@carlwilson1772]

@@MarthaMansbridge How could you possibly know I just replaced my 1980s kitchen?!

[@anthonyellis987]

I don't know how you do it, but you make railways interesting. Loving the series.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Anthony. I try

[@leegoor2199]

Bloody hell thisn brings back some good memories. We used to going through gummy tunnel when I was younger

[@douglasthompson296]

Flaming hell Darren, you done it again-all my childhood came flooding back!!!! The Shoulder of Mutton pub and about 1/4 mile away? Is where the M62 was cut through the landscape and a pub (can't remember its name) was demolished to make way for the cutting. The road at side of S o Mutton pub ran down to Bradford Road and that bridge top removed you featured. I mentioned this a couple vids back. Where those newer houses are were built on the old Dawson's bottling manufacturers works. Also a former? chapel which had a dancing school in it was by that Bradford Rd bridge. Also a few metres up from the bridge was an old toll house cottage (now demolished?) . There is a cottage a bit further up with a stone roof and an owner put stone carved cat ready to pounce on stone pigeons. As I said its all my childhood memories of my dads family past. Cheers DougT the Mancs pensioner

[@hilarycooper3870]

Pub was the Peacock, Coach House is still there just a bottom of Moor Lane junction. You can see it on Google maps

[@douglasthompson296]

@@hilarycooper3870 thanks Hilary, I couldn't remember the Peacock name for that pub as it was demolished so long ago. So was the tollgate house incorporated into the Coach House or pulled down for the building work? I checked Google maps as an uncle lived in Moor Lane and his old house still shows. An aunt used to live at the top of Moor Lane near the hotel near the hotel. Most of my uncles/aunts etc were Birkenshaw folks before it became an uber smart Village for money folk's to live 😎 my gran lived in Town Street? Just up from the George 4th pub. Happy days (through Rose tinted specs!!!)

[@anthonymoore6009]

Another well researched well delivered railway film. Nice one.

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you so much 😀

[@clivebroadhead4381]

It's crazy to build houses over the tracks. The houses should be next to the lines with new stations for the families to use, i.e., school kids to use and people without electric cars!

[@tooexplore]

Great video Darren. I am really enjoying this series.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate.

[@Mittac001]

I went through the tunnel, when I was a kid, and remember a partial cave-in in the middle (roughly).

[@seany84uk]

Great stuff again! :) well done for 12k ! :)

[@johnlumley-moore2079]

Excellent as per usual ....

[@philipsmith2995]

I never knew there was a tunnel under the Shoulder of Mutton Pub back in the day when I used to go in. This is really interesting thank you and keep up the good work.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@judithdrake9688]

So interesting. Thank you 👍

[@billmmckelvie5188]

I recall leaving Birstall St Peters school back in 1967 at the end of steam and climbing the cutting with my friend as we made our way home to the newly built part of Fieldhead Estate. I seem to recall that either prior to our the last coal train had run on the line or it was about to. It is interesting to note your comments about steam engines getting stuck in Gomersal tunnel. I was told by a driver that when the Liversedge Oil Depot link on the LNWR was connected to the L&Y line that the class 47s in the 80s, hauling oil at 4 to 5 am in the morning used to have a green light on the approach to the junction so they could get a run up the LNWR branch so it seems that both in the diesel and steam era the gradient was a problem for locomotives, even more so if they had a red light.

[@cedarcam]

I am pretty sure that is the mile post you found and will have a look on my walk round there. The whole area was just woodland years ago with no paths like today and is a place we used to go exploring, we played around the aqueduct and walked along the track bed under the viaduct right through to a place you may show in your next update. I am not sure when the underpass bridge was demolished but think it was more to do with Oakwell Park than the building of the M62 as I remember it being there when we used to go to see the motorway being built. It was a severe gradient all the way up there and must of been a sight when the line was open.

[@cedarcam]

I had no luck finding the mile post Perhaps you buried it or it is now over grown I did find another post broken in two and what looked like some red brick wall that was possibly a cabin, also a signal stay rod

[@braggelbak]

WOW WOW WOW!

[@jonathanhall7334]

Excellent Film as always

[@EmptyBallsOfSteel]

Hi AM, thanks for the videos. I used to live on Queen Street in Gomersal (pronounced Gumersl to locals) in the 80's.There is a bungalow on Queen Street with a massive garden, our family friends lived there and we used to play in their garden. I once got out through the railings to discover a HUGE drop, which is the entrance to the Gomersal Tunnel. It's not really behind the pub but a bit further on. I nearly crapped my pants and the memory lives on :)

[@AdventureMe]

Sounds scary.

[@kennethstill5945]

Good show once again. Re slipping in Gomersal tunnel that wasn’t a problem with a diesel loco. The English Electric 4s fared very well over the whole route when introduced in 1961 with a ten coach train, though it was a steep gradient route in both directions. I used to regularly travel in the locos

[@Dan_Whitehead]

Never knew Oakwell Hall Country Park existed and it's just down the road, great place for a walk...thanks!

[@cedarcam]

There are lots of paths in the country park. Some are rather steep, you can see wild animals and birds. Many people enjoy exploring them and visiting the cafe there. There is also a mountain bike trail.

[@johnymcmahon7286]

Best part was rubble in middle when you shine a torch above you see the shaft which is halfway between

[@a11csc]

fantastic vid

[@rickparkinmoto]

Another brilliant informative video. I regularly see parts of abandoned structures when I'm out walking, so it's great to learn about identifying them.

[@johnymcmahon7286]

The stairs used to have a cap on top I took this off years back with my mates with a big adjustable spanner and some brute force

[@AdventureMe]

Glad someone did.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Gomersal Tunnel wasn’t wet at all when went through it back in 2007. It should be reopened and linked to the green way.

[@amp6887]

Another interesting video : )

[@nigeltift6335]

Love the details! Wonder if the houses on the opposite side of the viaduct realise that 50ft below them "was" a railway!😔

[@JaneOO]

I drove over that yesterday and wondered if it would be on this video!

[@brigoose7945]

We used to go through there when I was young.. Maybe in 2000. With torches was pitch black, looks sealed now. I dnt remember bricks there they are new

[@clivebroadhead4381]

The council planning departments should put a stop to contractors building on old rail tracks, when they can easily build next to the tracks.

[@jeria985]

Hi, thank you for this. I’m actually visiting Cleckheaton area soon. How do I access the front of the tunnel where I am allowed to access. Please.

[@freddiebozwell7049]

Off topic but have been driving up and down M1, what are they doing with Crigglestone tunnel?

[@ste4bz]

If you could ever do one on the woods in guiseley that'd be class, not trains but have a feeling it would have been a load of mills/water powered factory's on the stream, remains are everywhere.

[@AdventureMe]

Brilliant. I'll put it on my list to take a look.

[@ste4bz]

@@AdventureMe nice one! I find these videos really interesting, all this local stuff beneath our feet and evidenced around us that we never would have known existed.

[@edwardwilson7485]

Are you talking about down Esholt?

[@steveblick168]

Fantastic vlog as always but have you any idea on what that burnt out contraption was at 1:03 please Darren...it looks like a go-kart ?

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I think it was a kids toy burnt out .

[@steveblick168]

Brill, cheers mukka

[@fatlad5090]

that red brick structure was going to be a inspection manhole. Cause they was going to fill the cutting in rite upto the tunnel but it never happened

[@WakeyRC444eYupLad]

Beeching has a lot to answer for.

[@UKRailTrips]

We tried to visit the tunnel today but could not see how to access the east portal, is it possible?

[@AdventureMe]

Yes but it is on private land.

[@everydayyorkshireman7859]

I’ve been in Gummy tunnel. It used to have a burned out car in the middle.

[@braggelbak]

LOOK 3 54! ik deel dit! ow mijn hemel so f...lkng good!

[@ericholmes8665]

Gomersal tunnel built of blue brick throughout,apart from the portals,was 819 yards long and being very shallow,was reputed to be the second wettest tunnel,on the LNWR not a nice place to work for the gangers,being very draughty and cold as well, you missed the 1899 engraved above the tunnel on the eastern end, when the estate was built they removed the base of the goods yard crane, they had to go down ten foot,it was pulled out with its base a mass of old rail concreted to it the builders took a day to get it out.

[@urbanAngler_Bigfoot]

Climb over the fence and get your wellies on!

[@AdventureMe]

Easier said than done with a tonne of equipment and vandal paint all over the place. lol

[@dabrik4901]

That's the mail post.

[@marcdavies-hall616]

your good

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@DaleSteel]

It is filled in at fieldhead I saw them do it.

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah. I cover the infill in the next few videos. What a shame.

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

A question from my mum "Was Richie a rugby player (referring to his legs)?"

[@AdventureMe]

Not that I know of. But he is a regimental man.

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

@@AdventureMe Thanks.

[@fatlad5090]

you should of walked under that bridge you can see were the steam trains have eroded the steel

[@philipcroft9857]

The cutting under fieldhead Lane viaduct was very deep about 100ft in places??if I remember rightly a child fell into the cutting in the late eighties and they filled it in for safety reasons.

[@JeffinBville]

You Brits confuse me as it seems you use miles and feet but not interchangeably with meters and kilometers but sometimes you do. What's the deal with that?

[@AdventureMe]

I think it's the whole European and American influences means we have no consistency. We get so used to fluctuating between that we just use whatever is comfortable these days. I'm terrible at fluctuating between systems.

[@JeffinBville]

@@AdventureMe At least you're not using hectares, chains and rods.

[@cedarcam]

@@JeffinBville The railway is still measured in miles and chains New work is measured in metres and then converted into miles and chains to update the signalling plans

[@JeffinBville]

@@cedarcam What a mess! Next up: removing unnecessary "u"s from words and driving on the proper side of the road and standardizing pronunciation of "ciester" is English place names.

[@cedarcam]

@@JeffinBville LOL We have some odd place names Not far from me is one even the local news almost always gets wrong so what chance anyone else. Some things will never change, deep in our history. As for the railway it would simply cost too much time and money to change over all the lineside 1/4 1/2 3/4 and mile posts electrification mast ID plates bridge ID plates and all the thousands of track side equipment cases not to mention all the plans to update.