The Lost MORLEY TOP Station - What Remains?

Join me as we explore the different sections of the abandoned Ardsley to Laisterdyke Railway.
In this video we explore the abandoned Morley Top Station. We look for anything left behind, or any relics still remaining to this day.
VIDEO INFORMATION CREDITS & THANK YOU'S
Old Maps Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland
Lost Railways West Yorkshire.co.uk
Simon Edgerton
Andrew Dickinson
Barbara Ward
Morley Archive
SOCIALS
★ Like our Facebook Page - adventuremeyt
★ Follow our Instagram Page - adventuremeyt
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Please support AdventureMe in one of the following ways, so we can bring you the best content and upgrade our equipment for future videos. Our supporters get access to member benefits.
★ Become a Patreon - patreon.com/adventureme
★ PayPal One Off Donation - paypal.me/adventureme
★ Subscribe to the Channel
EQUIPMENT USED
GoPro Hero 8 Black Camera - amzn.to/3fes2Dp
RØDE Lavalier GO - amzn.to/2BLuN0F
RØDE Wireless Go - amzn.to/2ClPsbe
GoPro Mic Adapter - amzn.to/2CghHZ0
Telesin Tripod - amzn.to/3iKPeLF
Telesin Batteries & Charger - amzn.to/2W1FmDC
Chest Camera Mount - amzn.to/3gNvdCx
Camera Backpack - amzn.to/2ZSvDQX
Video Editing Software Guide Book - amzn.to/3gzWsAi
TITLE TRACK
Song: Rameses B - There For You [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.
Watch: • Rameses B - There For ...
Download/Stream: ncs.io/ThereFor...
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER
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

[@AdventureMe]

SOUND ISSUES: I am aware of some sound issues in this video. I now know what was causing it, and it's all down to a wind reduction setting on the camera. This has since been amended on future videos. But as I film many weeks ahead, it has meant that it's taken a while for it to be brought to my attention. I find if you watch the video on any device other than a mobile phone, it sounds much better. Due to the audio processing limitations on a mobile phone.

[@MrChadwicj]

The sad realisation about this really good historical video is what wonderful transport infrastructure Britain had in the past. Our sad philistine Political hooligans, against the people’s wishes, demolished and wrecked £trillions of Victorian investment and left us in Leeds with the worst public transport system in Europe.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes exactly, it's sad to see. London prospers, and the inventors of the railways, have the worst in the country.

[@ericholmes8665]

@@AdventureMe The old Leeds metro system was great in the Eightys,you could travel all over West Yorkshire with the family,all day on one ticket,the red trains were financed by the council for the benefit of the people,of course the Tories could not stand seeing a labour exercise working so well, so it was deregulated,along with the privatisation of BR,to be left with what we have now,a overpriced system the worst in europe by a country mile.

[@toforgetisagem8797]

Privatisation has been disastrous but the Government we have now are not fit to run a race never mind a railway.

[@MARKMANIATT]

Very well said sir! Leeds, the largest major city in Western Europe without a Tram or fast transit system. Abysmal!

[@MARKMANIATT]

Very well said sir! Leeds, the largest major city in Western Europe without a Tram or fast transit system. Abysmal!

[@desertdocker]

Well done Sir, I live in Morley and didnt know any of this. Keep up the good work.

[@AdventureMe]

Much appreciated

[@alisonwilson8606]

I have not been watching the videos for a few days and I m watching a couple 2 night

[@russellwaite5874]

Over the road from the tyre place my dad had a corner shop right up to the bridge and I used to stand at the railings round the back and wave at the steam engine drivers as they went under the bridge. I must have been about five years old (1964 ). there were some back to back houses behind our shop on "Little Fountain street" The street is still there, but back then it was cobbled. Keep up the good work. 🙂

[@stepheno889]

Excellent lived in Churwell 30 years never new there was a top station. Brilliant thanks

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thanks for the video and the chat. Always a interesting tour in the past. Thanks buddy.

[@PeterBloomfield]

Thanks for the fascinating video. I live behind the old railway wall on Chartists Way (at 5:00 in the video). Apparently there was an old textile mill on the site from around 1876, owned by Watson Bros Ltd. It closed in 1966, but wasn't demolished until the houses were built in 2014.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the info

[@stevewright7745]

I did exactly the same as you a couple of years ago in regards of looking for that bridge in Gildersome. I used to walk under it on my journey to & from Bruntcliffe school back in the 70s. Hudson's foundry used to be there. I knew there was still an air vent somewhere around there but never saw it, there used to be 2 down in Dean Wood, but they were knocked down & capped off. When they knocked them down they didn't seal them off or anything like that straight away, they just left them open, my brother was messing about around one with his mates one day, he fell in but managed to grab the edge as he went down just enough to break his fall, if it hadn't been for one of his mate's quick reactions to grab him by his hair & pull him out he wouldn't be here now. You're a hero Dennis Buckley.

[@AdventureMe]

Wow. Scary thought. I will be going looking for them when I cover the story of the gildersome tunnel. And also the rumoured 5th tunnel vent that wasn't mentioned on the maps.

[@stevewright7745]

@@AdventureMe I don't think there's any in Spring Wood, me & my mates didn't go in there as often as Dean Wood, but I don't remember seeing any. I remember the old station (or what was left of it) still being there. The 1st air vent was just off Asquith Ave, there used to be 2 entrances into Dean Wood off Asquith Ave, the main one is still there, but the 2nd one was further up as you headed towards Branch End, it used to be just a field area where people would picnic, all grown over now, the other one was where you entered the wood from the other end (College Rd entrance), it's been a while since I went around there, but just as you entered the wood from that end there was a bit of a hill on your right hand side, it was at the top of that. Good luck, look forward to seeing the clip.

[@DeepakVerma-cd4fe]

Thank u for telling me about the old railway lines that used to run on top of Morley . I didn’t know anything about it I live in cramlington . My stomach was churning when u said the railway closed. I love old train goods yard . I used to live near one in Oldham clegg street parcels depot in the 1970s . That was a exciting train she’d to see a diesel shunter shunting parcel vans in the 1970s

[@David_K_Booth]

There was a Morley Top station? So that's why the station on the Leeds-Manchester route was called Morley Low! Never knew that. Thank you.

[@vincentgledhill4777]

I grew up in Middleton, and now live on the "bird" estate in Morley. I have recently walked my dog along a lot of this section from Morley to Ardsley. You mention the beeston branch line, which is on part of the circular route that I take with the dog. I basically walk from my house, up to what was the line, then follow it all the way along where you did on your second video, and come out at Thorpe lane. I then walk along thorpe lane, along the back of the houses in Middleton, then back down under the broken bridge that was the Beeston Branch line, under the Leeds to london current line and come out at the relatively new roundabout on Dewsbury road at the bottom. The reason for telling you all this, is that the "five arches" as we called them as kids (seven arches actually), is the large viaduct that goes over the london line, is still there. I remember going across it as a kid. Is it still accessible? I say that, because we would like to try and avoid thorpe lane on the dog walk. It's a busy fast road, and it is difficult to negotiate with a German Shepard and Border Terrier.

[@AdventureMe]

Apparently it is still accessible, but a bit of a jungle to get to it. But I will find out soon.

[@chipking6036]

Very good

[@bigmonkey999888]

Hi, must say another superb video and the pictures at the end absolutely stunning! Well done, thank you Steve

[@AdventureMe]

Many thanks!

[@bobhargreave2119]

Used the station regularly in the 1930s to travel to Grimsby, on my own aged eight first time, changing at Doncaster and Retford. Return journey the train split at Wakefield, half to Leeds, half to Bradford. You had to be sure to be in the back half for Morley.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching Bob.

[@nixtax3526]

Great explore mate, loved the old pictures, although sad to see the demolition of the line.

[@AdventureMe]

Thank You. Yes it was.

[@chriswalker619]

Good video. The picture of the passenger train entering Morley Top station is dated 1960. I started school in Morley in 1961 and cannot recall ever seeing a passenger train so that tallies.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@tonywilson6850]

Next to the station where the large wall is behind that wall is houses, That used to be the coal yard for the station. The remains of a wall in the grass shown was a building as kids this was our play ground, the station you could explore the ruins still remember it

[@carlsaint6101]

3:08 That's me on the bike. I live just round the corner from this! Crazy!

[@AdventureMe]

That's a good spot of yourself.

[@carlsaint6101]

@@AdventureMe Its the bright yellow shoes I always wear. I watched it twice before randomly spotting it and realising!

[@southleedsmemories2686]

I will be in baker street on Tuesday, so I will be retracing your footsteps. Your LS10, WF3, and LS26 videos were brilliant, methinks. This is right up there with them. THANK YOU.

[@AdventureMe]

Cool, thanks!

[@carolunderwood3771]

I lived where the line crossed Bruntcliffe lane to Gildersome. Spent many a happy hour knocking about the bridges on rope swings. I also remember the wooden bridge where the rail crossed Scatchard Lane.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the memories.

[@DaveinLeeds]

Living in Gildersome I must have been down Bruncliffe Lane thousands of times but don't know whereabouts the old railway crossed. Would it be somewhere just below the cemetery?

[@dayvw]

@@DaveinLeeds I used to live on Bruntcliffe close between 1980-87 and can confirm the fields below the cemetery was were the the tracks were. I know this from the bmx track me and the kids on the street built we found sleepers and discarded tracks buried in the hillside.

[@carolunderwood3771]

@@DaveinLeeds the tracks were where bruntcliffe drive is built now

[@DaveinLeeds]

@@carolunderwood3771 Thanks for the replies. I've had a look on Google Earth and am presuming therefore that the houses on Bruntcliffe Lane were built after the line closed and that the line would have crossed into what is now that Leeds27 industrial estate. I'd love to see a photo of the bridge crossing Bruntcliffe Lane; I bet there'd be one somewhere!

[@christelbraune4530]

Dankeschön Darren.

[@davidjtyas8388]

At 16.48secs is how I remember what was left of Morley Top Station last time I visited there. At least what was called Morley Low station ( now Morley) still exists.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks David

[@nigelmellows1]

Great thank you i drive that way most days

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@80s_guy]

Brilliant video i used to play in the ruins of the train station round about 86 to 88 there was still some evidence of the train station i remember seeing a sign saying ticket office I know many years ago there was also a churwell train station i'd love to see you do a video of that too

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. It's coming soon. Keep watching.

[@bklufc]

hi mate, thanks for the video post, managed to see my stone house off bridge street in the black and white clip at the end. lived here 20 years and didn't know that clip existed. i am a train driver and before that was a duty station manager at leeds so this video is very interesting to me. thanks again.

[@AdventureMe]

No Problem, Thanks for watching.

[@davidbond1519]

I remember going on a supporters club outing in the late 50s from Morley Top. They put wooden steps up to the carriages for us to climb up.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

Another Great video tour, so much History gone. You really have done your homework on this. You do need your own TV programme, I would definitely watch!

[@Wedgedoow]

Exceptional Darren, you could see on the old pictures where ATS was, a difficult line to access theses days, ld appreciate a showing of more old maps or a link where I could view what you put on. Roll on Sunday!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching Pete. I'll bear that in mind for future videos. Google, National Library of Scotland Maps.

[@richardwills-woodward5340]

Came here via Martin Zero's channel too. Thanks ever so much for what you do. Shows a lost world and gives narrative to the carbuncle urban landscape we see so much of there today. It upsets me the loss that was all self-inflicted. As the famous line goes - not even the Luftwaffe could do the damage our planners did. The post-war pain and depressing landscapes and lives have been mostly to do with the destruction of communities and a pleasant community life and aesthetic that is part of that. Today so many disjointed and jarring buildings with roads and derelict land then a garage or breakers yard, 4 houses that clearly used to be part of something more, then overgrown banks and more dereliction. It is just so frustrating how much of the cities they destroyed. How much money did Beeching save? Virtually none after that destruction the numbers show! Now we're wanting to rebuild a small amount of it to higher cost. Our post-war story is a sad one.

[@AdventureMe]

It is depressing, the more I see it get's even more so. And yes they are regretting it now, and spending more money to put it back.

[@None-zc5vg]

We're in a country that's always been controlled by powerful vested interests and a self-serving political caste that controls the farce of party politics: as in the U.S., there's no chance of the little people ever getting an even break because no-one will never come along to bat for them.

[@RichardBrooke1971]

Thank you for another great explore. It's interesting to note, that since this video was filmed, the plumber's merchant on the site of Morley Top station has been demolished & replaced with a smaller building that is an Aldi supermarket, the site of the actual station is now taken up by the Aldi car park.

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I know. Just in time for this then.

[@ericholmes8665]

Very nice video the remains of the booking office,subway entrance,shown late in the film lingered on long after the station buildings had gone,it was tiled throughout with the white faced glazed bricks with the direction signs marked on,i am not sure but i think the station masters house is still there,it was across the road from the entrance,the goods sheds were large to cope with the textile markets.best wish Eric

[@christinaburton9297]

Brilliant! You are a true railway detective!

[@andykopgod]

Sorry late viewing, but very interesting video, thanks for sharing 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching

[@buthe1979]

Great work as always. Another enjoyable video 😀

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrTom7x]

Right at the start of your video where you are at the Ravenheat building (opposite the controller's house), where you said you could see some of the old platform. The site is currently under construction and have leveled it all ready to build a discount supermarket. My mum has watched your videos before and has taken me on this trip showing me around and all the old photos. She believes that the ATS building is going to be turned into a bus depot, or bus station. Glad you got to see the development before it was leveled! Another great video 👍👍

[@AdventureMe]

Yes an aldi I heard. Glad I got there first.

[@mattlong6331]

Looking forward to seeing greenside tunnels in pudsey soon 👍 Great videos mate.

[@AdventureMe]

Don't get too excited lol. We got there, but didn't get through. All securely locked up.

[@mattlong6331]

Yup it has been for awhile now, I remember walking threw in 2006 when there was no gate.

[@simonrichardson5077]

great work,thanks

[@AdventureMe]

Welcome!

[@lauralaura8115]

The wooded area you went to is the start of the wooded area where the bunker is/was I mentioned on the Gildersome Drighlington video. Instead of going back up into the industrial estate you turn left into the wooded part. The bunker is on the left hand side further from the path. Its also near another ventilation shafts

[@AdventureMe]

Oh yes, that will be the gildersome tunnel shafts. I will be covering those soon.

[@cedarcam]

My workmate lived in the station masters house We have searched for a good photo of it when the station was open but have never managed to find one yet. I used to walk home from school on the old track bed most days. It is a shame the line closed being an area with so much new housing and the top station being so close to the town centre it would be well used now and a lot quicker than driving into town, unlike the low station that is a very long walk.

[@tomhiggins4124]

What a crying shame its all gone !!!!!!!!.

[@angelsone-five7912]

That was a wicked tunnel vent, never seen one that tall before. Be great to use it for access. Ha, I say that but I know my head would spin!

[@AdventureMe]

Apparently the maintenance team use this as a way inside, they abseil down to the tunnel.

[@GENERALWA5TE]

There is another Ventilation shaft near Chippendale Motors in Morley, it has puzzled me for many years, and even more so when I found another one not far from where you started the video. I think there is another just off the M62. I ended up asking the garage and they told me is was a ventilation shaft for a tunnel and I didn't believe them 😂 thought they were pulling my leg.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes plenty around Morley. The m62 one is a different tunnel. That's the one still in use.

[@GENERALWA5TE]

@@AdventureMe amazing, my friend lives in Morley only a stone's through from the bridge, and his houses used to be an undertaker and the stones in the cellar are still there to keep the bodies.

[@edgey2001]

One or two errors Darren, the road up To the station on high street was incorrect, it’s actually just next to it, the stone pillars are still there , check it out on google street view, also the remains of the platform don’t exist at all, completely demolished, cheers

[@AdventureMe]

I wandered what those stone pillars were. Thanks for clearing that up.

[@trevormegson7583]

'Back in the Day' I've started saying that now in conversation.

[@AdventureMe]

I know, I have noticed how many times I say it.

[@trevormegson7583]

@@AdventureMe Don't stop saying it though, It's you being you.

[@AdventureMe]

@@trevormegson7583 I won't, probably my slogan now.

[@UKDroneAdventures]

Great, as usual. I used to walk over the remains of Morley Top Station on The way to school. I’ve just shared the video on a Morley group, so you may get some more views :-)

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for sharing!

[@martynscargill5845]

That was probably to the lovely Elmfield school. Also destroyed by the mindless " planners "🏤

[@chrisrobertshaw]

Seen pictures inside gildersome tunnel which is blocked up where the M62 but came out at Birstal

[@AdventureMe]

Yes now next to the Showcase cinema. I will be covering this in a future video.

[@andymiles5658]

Right at the start when you are at LP Supplies plumbers merchants where you say there is the concrete edge of the platform, over the road you missed the station masters house. You can just catch it on your video.

[@andymiles5658]

I was premature, you walked back. Oops

[@AdventureMe]

Ha ha, I was going to say I saw it.

[@jetcat120]

At 7:40 in this video where you pointer out to towards Autocare garage (i once worked there) opposite there on bridge street in the early 80's i saw some old railway buffers which could have be part of some sidings.

[@AdventureMe]

Most probably. Lots of goods yards around there then.

[@michellewilson1694]

That ventilation shaft in this video.....I think there's one on the housing estate just around the corner....

[@michellewilson1694]

Haha just reading thru comments....it seems im right... I was born n bred in morley....I now live in casvegas and hate it ....miss morley but there's lots I dont know bout my hometown it seems.....Great thanks keep em going xx

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Michelle, yes there's a few around there for the same tunnel. I will cover them one day.

[@suesmith4366]

Great 😎

[@AdventureMe]

Thank You.

[@Leemhero69]

Loving the vids. Ive lived in pudsey all my life (I mean, I'm only 30) but I know just from exploring myself, most of the route where the line used to run, though a lot of it is easy to figure out anyway. Can't wait to see when you get to this side, would be happy to meet up if you struggle with finding any of it!

[@AdventureMe]

I was brought up round there too, and played in the Greenside Tunnel. Not long to go, i'm getting there. I'm still yet to do the Greenside Station onwards to Stanningley.

[@timstephenson4520]

found you thru your video with Martin Zero. interesting videos.

[@AdventureMe]

Welcome aboard! More martin stuff to come.

[@DeepakVerma-cd4fe]

It’s sad the railways went . They are still in decline . Is there any betting shops near we’re the railway shed used to be

[@leetemple1033]

So I'm a bit confused. The lines running up through the station on what is now Chartists Way, I believe - where did they they then go when they hit Fountain Street? Did they run overground through Morley or did they go underground to Gildersome through this now defunct tunnel? Also, the line over Bridge Street presumably did not pass through Morley Top Station, given the direct in was running in? I found the video very interesting but it gave me a bit of a headache 🤣.

[@AdventureMe]

See the next video Lee. All explained

[@keithclough9396]

You went up Great northern street to top station. Now aldi

[@andysmith699]

Absolutely fascinating! Born in morley, now live in churwell. Do you have any plans to do a video on the churwell and morley pits?

[@AdventureMe]

I will eventually yes, still got plenty of other projects in the pipeline. But hopefully one day.

[@jasinere35]

they have been on with that construction site for years

[@giroman85]

I have the original plans for Pudsey railway in my family had professional photographs made of it a few years ago as the maps is very fragile.

[@AdventureMe]

I would love to see that.

[@giroman85]

@@AdventureMe yeah no worries we can sort something out

[@jetcat120]

I am sure there is a ventilation shaft in Morley Town Centre as well.

[@AdventureMe]

There are a few, it's a big tunnel.

[@cnocspeireag]

Pedantic point at 6:15, those are setts, not cobbles.

[@AdventureMe]

Noted. Thanks lol

[@jonathanhall7334]

It's true what they say.....you don't know what you've got till it's gone

[@sarahillingworth2718]

Is this where the Aldi is in Morley as I passed it on bus earlier 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Yes it is

[@sarahillingworth2718]

@@AdventureMe thought so, just followed route on bus into Morley 👍

[@a11csc]

i knew about the goods shed but the countless number of times i have passed the abutment on high st i could kick myself

[@AdventureMe]

Yes, sometimes not always noticeable.

[@jetcat120]

Is the track bed that can be seen between the M621 and Geldered Road where the Jewish Cemetery is accessible to explore?

[@AdventureMe]

Yes I think it is. I will find out soon when I get there too.

[@7474lad]

The title to this was click bate to me 😂😂 it’s all unrecognisable to me now… I can’t believe that big shaft is still there rising in the bushes. 😁