Exploring The Abandoned Castleford Viaduct | What's On Top?

[@normandunford5747]

It's bloody disgusting how the bridge and viaduct have been forgotten. What a fantastic walkway and cycle track it could be

[@FlyingFun.]

Such a shame, needs money spent on it though and we are in Yorkshire lol. With some foresight could have been saved and some touristy cycle routes with shops ice cream parlours pubs etc etc would make it worthwhile .

[@FlyingFun.]

@Beater Bike Channel 100% agree there.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

Again a great video. It is said to be easier to technically/legally re-open a line where the track is still intact. The possible re-opening of the Kippax line would allow easy access from the East into the Leeds City Station to reduce congestion from the West.

[@tonymarchant9083]

We used to truant school in the summer and swim in the river there, we would use the iron bridge as a diving platform ...Me and my cousin also rode our trials bikes along the old railway and over the pit stacks when it first closed. Great video.

[@AdventureMe]

Bet it was a great place in summer.

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

I wish places like this could and would be preserved for history, we have lost so much to the morden way of life. This is a gem of a video. Thank you as always for letting us join your journey to the past.

[@AdventureMe]

Couldn't agree more!

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Thanks so much that was fabulous. Love everything train. Gosh that via duct was in bad shape hey, so pleased you didn’t go on it. Thanks so much for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@terryansell6641]

Very good video and drone shots always a pity to this bridge rusting away, would make a great cycle track

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Terry

[@chipesh]

I left Hickson in 1999 and we had land under the "Iron Bridge". Remember the trains going over. Amazing the state it is in. Came over on the steam trains from Kippax Central Club to the coast in the 50/60s with my bucket and spade.

[@debs7679]

When you found the track bed I said WOW out loud… I’m such a railway geek 😂😂

[@lukewebber5665]

Loved the fact you found some old rails mate and I'm gobsmacked that that bridge was in use 20 odd years ago!! Also a very nice surprise to see my name in the credits ☺☺

[@AdventureMe]

Of course, you're a Member. Thanks

[@shirleylynch7529]

Excellent as always. Great footage and very interesting. Thank you.

[@AdventureMe]

Very welcome

[@bobmoorcroft8447]

Thanks so much for this fascinating series of videos. I really enjoyed it.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@251hanomag]

Another great video, of my local area. And thanks for the mention.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the footage

[@jim8202]

Worth waiting for that 3rd part. I walked that section from Ledston Station to the viaduct and then from the Castleford side of the girder bridge and across the Wheldon Road bridge as far as the junction with the main line about 20 years ago. Everything was in much better condition than it is now. That object you reffered to as something railway related which was looking in danger of falling down into the water is a fixed distant signal. It told train drivers to slow down and proceed at caution and be ready to stop at the next signal which protected the Junction with the main line ahead.

[@AdventureMe]

Brilliant, I knew someone would know.

[@ianmorrison9715]

@@AdventureMe I am a train driver 😃👍

[@havingalook2]

As you pointed out numerous times - it is VERY hard to believe that this line was still running only 25 years past. What nature can do when left to its own devices. Well done. Thank you once again for a fun and informative journey.

[@deanbetteridge5927]

Great vid as always. I remember the bridge on wheldon road - we drove down one day and a double decker bus had drove into the low bridge trying to take a shortcut to the bus depot further down. It’s an image that has stayed with me.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Great to see your new video. Always a great trip back to the glory days of railroads. Enjoy the week ahead. Cheers Darren! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🙂👍🇺🇸

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@blackbirdmark495]

Another great video Darren. I believe the railway sign on the slopping post that you came across (horizontal yellow stripe with a wedge shape at one end) , was actually what is called a “fixed distance signal”. This would slow the trains down to a slower speed. Keep up the good work 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@paulweeks2006]

Spot on Mark, that's exactly what it was - a fixed distant signal board

[@Sim0nTrains]

Enjoyed this mini series and some of the old Railway relics that were left behind, great video

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@Wedgedoow]

Cracking stuff Darren I can remember the line still in use at Ledston early 90's

[@paulslavin1465]

Keep meaning to go & have a look at the viaduct great video & thank you.

[@AdventureMe]

Go check it out on this fine day.

[@paulslavin1465]

@@AdventureMe I reckon this weekend could be a good one. Keep saying ill go and look haven't yet. Can't believe it ran until late 90's. Walked last section of the Methley joint line last Sunday upto where the cutsyke station was.

[@paulslavin1465]

@@AdventureMe if you ever venture that far, the old Portishead line into Bristol is a good one still has the track down & the platform for Clifton Bridge Station, loads of other stuff including a tunnel.

[@saraclayton-smithson5083]

Another great mini series of a local disused line and full of interesting information and facts! Keep them coming, you are going from strength to strength

[@tracya4087]

yes he is , top bloke is nt he

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Sara, plenty more to come.

[@williamross2579]

Bridge across Wheldon was taken out in 2008. I’ve wandered across the viaduct 10 years ago, the rails used to go all the way up to Wheldon bridge, but the majority was stripped back when the Ings reserve was created, what was left, a few hundred foot or so, was angle ground in small sections and lifted for scrap by travellers in between 09-12… fittings as well. The viaduct was in good state until the heavier flooding over the last decade has shifted the foundations somewhat… and the area blocked and painted off was used extensively for wire burning (secluded, plus a sleeper made good, long burning, fuel to strip insulation off via fire. The viaduct though..it was walkable upon where the track was still in place, but the decay is irreversible now.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks William

[@julianlane8313]

Great informative video Darren, really enjoyable, like you said hard to believe how recently trains ran over the structure. 👍🏼

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@barrieshepherd7694]

Great video, shows how quickly rail infrastructure can decline and how much effort & money would have to be spent to keep it in good repair. Oh and thanks for the return of Emley Moor 😎

[@AdventureMe]

Return of emley moor??

[@barrieshepherd7694]

@@AdventureMe Opening title sequence 😎👌

[@richardidle1289]

Another great vid. Loved to see the remains. Thanks Darren

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@rach_laze]

we used to go 'adventuring' on the old rail line as kids, we'd go down to play on hartley's field and find our way across to the other side of the tracks via Skew Bridge and follow it back down to the viaduct, none of us were ever brave enough to attempt a crossing but underneath it was all sorts of things; a pirates den, a treehouse in the jungle, a super secret spy base, a victorian facotory and a prison. We had years of fun down there in the early 00s before Bridge to Terabithia came out and we were all terrified that one of us would fall in and drown, we never went back after that

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@AK-fl3nc]

Love the small details, the picture overlays, the investigative approach to geographical clue and pace of the videos. Amazing!!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks so much!

[@hoppinonabronzeleg9477]

That was ace! - That old shot of the bridge, you could do a fade with a still from that onto Weldon Rd now, or even drive the same route now, at the same speed, and do a moving fade! HOABL

[@AdventureMe]

You trying to make my life hell? Lol

[@tracya4087]

hiya darren that was a belter , thank you , our whelley loop line in wigan , in part has lots of remains knocking about , even signal box rubble too . our douglas viaduct or twenty bridges as we call it in wigan is crumbling very badly over the valley . but at least the pillars of the viaduct that over that viaduct seem ok , please come and see it if if pay a visit to wigan , great pies and wigan kebabs too , all the very best always from nick and tracy in wigan , still in lancashire

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@fhwolthuis]

Great video. I really don't understand why they leave an apparent dangerous construction standing there. People will get hurt when it collapses!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@catbreath007]

I can relate to local history, it's far more enjoyable when you can recall how our area used to be & how it's become 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Absolutely

[@howardgibson]

There is also another branch line coming off the main York to Castleford line just beyond the Castleford ground which runs on an embankment parallel with School St which also crossed Wheldon Rd on a bridge, this line served Hickson nd Welch's Chemical works and other industrial works. There were other lnes below the bridge which crossed Wheldon Rd with level crossings. Towards Castleford on this same line just before the dual carriageway was the original Castleford Railway Station constructed in 1840. Nothing at all remains of this station and there are only a few images of it, it was approached by a stone staircase from Bridge St. The present railway station was opened in 1871 of which there are no remains apart from the listed signal box. Works are underway to reinstate Platform 2 at the current station to allow services to resume to York Manchester and beyond and cover for the Leeds to York line during maintenance shut downs.

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I looked into the other bridges. Future video there I think.

[@tonymarchant9083]

A up H .....long time no see.😁

[@JohnPaulFoster]

brilliant, cheers

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@stephenharper9961]

It's such a shame, it's a beautiful structure that's been left to rot, even the track is still up there, I've gotta say personal this has been the best walk you've done, ended with the most amazing part of it and that sign in the overgrowth is railway related definitely and I believe it's to do with signalling in some way

[@AdventureMe]

Yes apparently a speed restriction

[@manmeetsinghmahajan6183]

Amazing one.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Manmeet

[@raccabird8889]

Awesome mate

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@raccabird8889]

@@AdventureMe welcome mate 😊 I grow up on wheldon road my dad still lives there 😊 I remember when they take the bridge down too

[@trainsinkansas576]

Excellent. Meriden, Kansas

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Jerrry

[@magdelayna]

Yeah i mentioned this viaduct to you a while a go - i was amazed aswell that there were still tracks there! You can also see remains of the old Wheldon Colliery,near to where the old road bridge was,just further up through the trees. Looks like a runway,but it mustvebut been the old roads the coal trucks used to use. Would make an another interesting vid!

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah you did. I was looking at the colliery on the day. It's well secured and fenced off. Still an operating business it seemed.

[@AccessEuphoria]

Great Videos as always. Just an FYI the image shown at the end is not for the junction of this line. That is actually castleford Junction where the lines go either towards Leeds/Sheffield or around the corner to Cutsyke Jn and towards Pontefract. I work for Northern and sign this route so worked over this on a very regular basis. The junction where the line you are covering would come in is at the other side of Castleford station :)

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@laszlofyre845]

There is a book on the Ledston branch, I have a copy. Well worth a read. The later truncated line was one of the very few places where the NCB used to have running powers with their engines and private spoil wagons to waste tips near the river. (The wagons were referred to as 'dirt cans'). It shows how quickly railways can go downhill when not used. I used to see it from the Castleford end when passing on the main line from Crewe to York and later Wilton with container trains. Useless info- the eastern end of Castleford down platform was the exact half way point between Crewe and Wilton.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@glennferguson2833]

Excellent videos

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Glenn.

[@Atari-stfm]

Good video mate. I used to go to fairburn ings all the time when I was a kid.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@Chuby123]

Amazing video as usual, love these fascinating pieces of history

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching! More to come

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Amazing to see the corrosion of that bridge in such a short time Darren.

[@AdventureMe]

I know, so fast

[@WmDavidHarrison]

Great stuff Darren. This series has been really interesting. The item of railway ironmongery leaning into the shrubbery is a "fixed distant" signal which basically means stop at next signal.

[@tracya4087]

great little find

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@amc5966]

The Castleford viaduct is certainly not up to the usual standards of Victorian build quality. Another fascinating vlog. Thanks

[@AdventureMe]

No it's not. I think this was done on the cheap by the railway.

[@amc5966]

@@AdventureMe Ah wiki says built in 1868. Thought it looked far to modern and ugly

[@benlang7322]

I've walked across this as a young kid around 12/13 year ago. It had a fair few holes in back then

[@AdventureMe]

It's knackered

[@winkingwolf]

used to walk across the viaduct (we called it the iron bridge), wheldale colliery was near by, we used to walk over the middle arch, stupid things you did when you were a kid, used to walk to fairburn from airedale and come back the 3 bridges way near fryston colliery

[@Mr_Yorkie]

great video.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@ste.h9825]

Another good series.👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@driving_all_over]

What a shame about the bridge and viaducts. Hopefully one day they get restored

[@AdventureMe]

Yes hopefully

[@davidjtyas8388]

Great work on here! Just looked up WB and S Co Ltd that you found on some ground structures. Its Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks David

[@fatlad5090]

Nice one daz I went down to tunnel on new Leeds line today

[@AdventureMe]

Any good?

[@fatlad5090]

@@AdventureMe very wet and deep in places muddy only good thing no vegetation

[@huxleypiguk]

In a bit of a mess. But great to see it via the drone. Looks beyond help, I wonder how long it will stay up? Thanks for the video.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@adrianhudson9473]

There were plans as recently as 2009 to reinstate this line to allow additional traffic from Castleford to Leeds. The Thorpe Arch viaduct across the wharf (as featured in a touch of Frost) was in a far worse state of repair back in the 90’s but that has been brought back to life as a cycle / walking route

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Adrian

[@livyjade2816]

You definitely need to go down parlington in garforth and find the abandoned train down there and the ground is all bricks from where the old the track use to be it’s actually pretty cool

[@AdventureMe]

I will be soon. Hopefully I will find it.

[@michaeldibb]

Good explore,. I videoed people climbing on the top of the arches last summer!!

[@maxwalton1710]

That could have been me I have climbed it's several times

[@a11csc]

oh dear the scrap man lurks darren,shame it cant be made into some sort of trail

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I think it's days are numbered

[@captdanford3841]

Awesome video as always . such a shame our rail.network is slowly dissapearimg.very sad ..keep the vids coming mate

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@IC225]

im surprised they didnt pull the viaduct down due to saftey rather than try and fail to keep it supported. my guess is that back then in use it would have been seen to and strengthend and maintained, but due to location just leaving it has caused it to be in state it is now. its important to document these long forgotten railway remains as deteriation and development often sees an end to these places. when i used to stay with pals in glasgow we'd go old railway walking, and in 2004 at clydebank (the old line) i stood on the remaining platform with a signal (semaphor) still partly intact if i remeber correct. this i think has since gone due to development, which highlights why such needs to be documented. sadly that explore was before i had a video camera or even thought about taking photos....more so as it was always more of a spontanious thing really, one of those we're off out ..meet us so and so type of thing. while on my own in 2006 i did try refind it when i did have a camera, but couldnt remember where it was (only found recently via google earth & britain from above), thus never re-found it again...but i did get photos along the way. at a guess i did find it but it had been torn up thus didnt recognise area.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@siccodierdorp6947]

10:35 that's a fixed distant signal As for the state of the viaduct and embankment, it seems the lot is slowly sinking due to the marshland. I guess it was too expensive to reclaim the sleepers and rails from that bit.

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah. Probably safer to leave them.

[@KeithHambidge]

Real shame how the viaduct has deteriorated Great series

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@andrewripley7461]

10:35 Distant board - advanced warning of a stop board.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@lennyfisher4803]

We used to jump of that bridge into to the river in the early 2000.

[@AdventureMe]

Would you now? Lol

[@lennyfisher4803]

No defiantly not. It was in a poor state back then. The stupid things you do when your young 😬

[@caroldave4037]

When this country in the future looks like one big housing estate 🤔people of the future will marvel at your films of the past👌

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks guys

[@maxwalton1710]

I walked over this last year and it wasn't this bad

[@AdventureMe]

I nearly braved it, but no

[@maxwalton1710]

@AdventureMe I walked up and over the arch there were parts of the bridge that was rusted though, but I just walked on the tracks was solid

[@caleblindley7142]

Great video, will you be covering the old railway lines around Calderdale?

[@AdventureMe]

Of course. I will get there eventually. Which ones do you have in mind?

[@caleblindley7142]

@@AdventureMe Around the Luddenden Foot area from Halifax. Also West Vale to Ripponden and Rishworth old line. Great videos you do, watched all of them now.

[@daddyandsonsadventures8526]

Tool the kids hear last week came from the castleford side loads of rail and sleepers left found some old photos and took new to see how it has changed

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you like them! More to come

[@sarahillingworth2718]

It's a good job I don't intend walking on that bridge lol, was gonna walk by fairburn ings sometime lol.. like the word "abutments" lol

[@AdventureMe]

Yes it's worth a look from a safe distance.

[@Design2winLew]

Very good Vid Darren . That viaduct is scary , needs to either be repaired or removed . Did you manage to spot any birds on the day ?

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching. No birds, but I wasn't looking lol

[@johnlumley-moore2079]

Excellent .time flys..remember the coal.trains ..

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I did this on a tour in 1996! I thought it might not cross this bridge but it did. If there’s a pipeline on it someone should be responsible for it and the bridge.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes there is. It's sturdy enough to carry a pipe on one side. But nothing more

[@nigelkthomas9501]

@@AdventureMe Shame. I believe Sustrans want to making into a foot/cycle path. Let’s hope they do.

[@njkip]

A few years ago that pipe must have ruptured with the movement of the the bridge I guess. I remember it been cordendend off it was spewing water out ...I think that blue collar is the repair they did...I used to go down side of canal with dog and onto the ings...

[@AdventureMe]

Yes I remember that

[@jetsons101]

The last train across must have been like a rollercoaster. Would be nice to do a restoration to make the viaduct and bridge strong enough for bikers and hikers. Build in stone for long life, build in cast iron and steel and have a lot of maintenance and a shorter life. Top notch work......

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@BlaiddLlwyd]

If you hadn't said anything I would have assumed the line over the viaduct closed back in the 60s or 70s given the state of it. Maybe they were skimping on maintenance even before the line closed. Metal viaducts need more than stone ones, that's why we lost Crumlin Viaduct. Nobody in government was willing to pay to preserve it as they should have. The stone abutments are still there though.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate.

[@richardpowell1344]

Yet another cracking video,the drone shots of the bridge are brilliant. Still hard to believe, heavy coal trains once trundled and rattled across it. Thanks again for a very informative video 😁😁😁 What's next Darren🤔🤔🤔

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching. Not sure yet

[@douglasthompson296]

Hi Darren, looking at that decrepit bridge and viaduct that unless it has some preservation order on it it needs a final demolition job doing on it before someone is killed or seriously injured.. Sorry but I'm a realist it would too expensive to try and save it for a walk/cycle lane. Cheers Doug T in Mancs

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching. Hope the bunion is ok?

[@douglasthompson296]

@@AdventureMe nah that's Mrs Warboy, remember 🧐

[@andrewward7168]

I'd still go through the gap for a bit of a look. Wouldn't be responsible to do it on camera though so I get it lol

[@AdventureMe]

And I wouldn't fit through that gap. I tried...trust me lol

[@wam2610]

👍

[@peterearl6504]

HI, I worked at Allerton Bywater Pit , and the section of line where the bridge at Castleford is was Closed long before the pit closed if I remember correctly,, So just to let you know . I believe that section of line was closed in the 80s at Allerton Bywater pit or just other side of Barnsdale Road from the pit.. Just to help inform you all .. I hope you can see why that section of line is in so bad a condition.....

[@stevenpage5464]

Great work

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Steven. Hope all is well with you?