Sowerby Bridge Railway Station - 1972

[@garethjones9635]

I don't know why you did it, but you did and I thank you. This footage is brilliant. I used this route many times in the 1970s between Leeds and Manchester, even though it took loads longer than going via Huddersfield. There was something special about the ancient infrastructure and the reversal at Bradford Exchange that kept me coming back.

[@petedenton9434]

Fascinating, having only known the station since the late 1990s. Thanks for sharing.

[@markholroyde9412]

Ha ha, our playground on a Sunday afternoon when we were 12 years old, I lived in Airdale house up Quarry Hill then, still live up Sowerby New Road today and now i'm fkn 60 ! Still visit the places I grew up around today, miss them times and seeing Flylng Scotsman coming through the old station.

[@elwolf8536]

Awww my town 15 years before I was born ❤

[@RickRoper]

I'm coming up 50 (In 2020), and this is a very interesting reminder of how the Station was when I was young... Until BR scandalously burnt the main building down in 1977. I well remember going through the long subway to the Booking Office, which always seemed to be in splendid isolation in an otherwise derelict building. Oh that I could go back now, and explore the building, saving some of the probably many still-existing steam-era items still in there.

[@elwolf8536]

I heard it was a kid that did at arson

[@RickRoper]

@@elwolf8536 Well if it was, it was very convenient for BR, as the building was due to be Grade II listed, meaning that BR would have to keep up to maintaining it... The same fiery fate was met by Dent signalbox on the S&C... BR did that, definitely.

[@elwolf8536]

@@RickRoper dosn't surprise me. the fire brigade should of been there In minutes with the old fire station been just round the corner damage should of been minor. Instead it was totally erased. We now have a turning circle In stead of a heritage station.

[@cedarcam]

A late reply I know but it was a kid who set fire to Sowerby West signal box resulting in it's closure, shortly after he broke a window in the station booking office and poured lighter fuel soaked dead grass in, resulting in a fire that burnt out part of the building. The booking clerk to my amusement opened the safe and retrieved his tea pot and mug undamaged. Not long after BR hastily demolished what remained on a weekend before anyone had a chance to protest. It came as a shock to many of us as we knew the building was going to be listed. Still clearing up the rubble the week after the excavator driver carefully retrieved the Prince of Wales feathers and they were placed on a wall, I do not know if they are still there. He said it was a shame the buildings were demolished they could of been saved. The culprit was caught and was probably told he was a naughty boy and not to do it again. He caused huge delay and disruption and lost us a historic building.

[@nothisispatrick5725]

Wow lot different there to today