The Lost CASTLEFORD CUTSYKE Station - What Remains?

[@nbandpinportugal]

So much of our heritage has been destroyed by short sighted planners. Normanton used to have one of the busiest stations and sidings in the country. It had a lift down to the platforms and the architecture was well worth saving. It also had a pub on the doorstep called the ' Taps ' which was very popular with the young as it opened very early in the evening. WMDC has a lot to answer for.

[@sarahillingworth2718]

I walked this way during lockdown from Whitwood to Castleford. It's a lovely walk x

[@AdventureMe]

It is indeed.

[@anthonyellis987]

Shame the platforms for the Castleford Station were demolished or buried, but seeing those bridges made up for it. Really enjoy this series.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Anthony

[@celebrationballoonsofrothw2706]

Another brilliant video. I would love to have listened to the character who was asking what you were doing - you can't beat a good old broad Yorkshire accent! Whenever I drive home from Castleford I always have a quick glance at the path down below the A639 bridge and then look left at the River Calder to the stone viaduct. A magnificent structure as is the case with all Victorian architecture. I saw a picture of it on the internet a few years ago and the top appeared to be all covered in weeds and moss in fact the whole thing looked green and slippery from above. Good to see that it now has a nice new surface to walk on. The brick built viaduct that carries the mainline is also clearly visible beyond the stone viaduct as you look from the road bridge over the river on the A639. Looking forward to your other projects.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the info. Yes, it looked all abandoned when I last saw it.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you Darren for the trip back in time. Your the best mate! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🙂👍🇺🇸

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Martin

[@elainalatham1179]

@@AdventureMe hi if you look at old Castleford 4 you will find a photo of Cutsyke station

[@AdventureMe]

@@elainalatham1179 I've covered Cutsyke station on here with a few videos.

[@jamesmorgan6408]

I live along this section know as 3 lane ends. I can see this viaduct every day on my way to work. I love walking across this and watching the trains go by on the midland mainline

[@paulweeks2006]

Great video again Darren, fantastic to see the photo of the old bridge during demolition ( before the new top was put in place ) with Whitwood Signal box clearly in the photo - the last time I visited this signal box was around 1982/3 when the bridge was still intact and may well have had the track still in situ as well...... at least it is now a cycle track and being used again which is something .......

[@AdventureMe]

Yes, it's still there which is a bonus.

[@michellewilson1694]

Love yr videos.....been binge watching them all afternoon today....Great stuff keep em coming. ..xx

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you! Will do!

[@simonrichardson5077]

I love your videos Darren,thanks lad

[@Smiles_per_gallon01]

Wow i can't believe how much it's changed. I'm from Cutsyke originally and i remember the line and catching a train with my dad and uncle to Scarborough i think, i was about 5. When the line closed the area left was our play ground as kids. Thanks for the vlog it was great and brought some very nice memories back.

[@traceyjones4092]

Thanks for the videos, very interesting, not only for history or railway enthusiast's etc but for walkers and cyclists, i live in the Castleford area and am discovering more local routes from your videos 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching! More to come.

[@castiger6189]

brings back so many memories

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate. Happy New Year.

[@castiger6189]

@@AdventureMe you too

[@philsmodelrailway232]

Hi Darren, you are doing a bang up job tracking down the history of old railway lines and seeing what remains. I used to live in Leeds and explored the old Leeds avoiding line to Bradford in Wortley, lots to see on that short stretch of line but now live in other country and the only chance I get to see the old country is from guys like you, so keep up the good work

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate, I have the wortley curve on my list. So hopefully soon.

[@alisonwilson8606]

I liked all the mini series of the railway line and other videos has well at the coast and would keep watching your videos over and over again

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching

[@kelly-kx2io]

Am not a train person but my fella is. I decided to click in this video because it had the words Lost Castleford Station. I grew up in Cas back in the 60's & 70's. We lived opposite the civic centre on Healdfield Road. Got to play in the old town hall which was derelict but still had the old gasmask's & other war related things inside. We got to witness it being demolished & the civic center being built on it place. On the walk from thee in to town you went under a very old 3 arch bridge. The arch on the right was some kind of empty building with circular brick opening for window high up. there was some other building just before the arch with a few steps & a green door if i remember rightly. That got knocked down & to the right of the arch was mostly bricks then. We would go play there. We noticed there was a small hole leading underground beneath the train track. So we began uncovering it. Once inside we saw stone steps & some old metal sign on the wall. It led up to the train tracks. If you do a research for Railway bridge Bridge Street, Castleford the 1st photo to come up should be a old black & white photograph. The view is showing from the town side heading out of Castleford. The 3rd arch is hidden by what was Mazies shop. The view from opposite side would give away far more information to what was there in years gone by.

[@andrewcatlin2]

Great video. Only found this recently myself and such a beautiful place. Exploring the area by the track lines is something I enjoy, thanks for showing us all these. So helpful and educational during lockdown. Thanks.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it. Keep watching.

[@jasinere35]

anyone living in the house at the bottom of the embankment where the station use to be?

[@antonyblakeston8541]

Hi enjoyed the videos, where you were at the crossing at the end of your tour, there used to be a signal box, opposite where you were stood, i remember it being demolished, also from where you were stood looking towards adsa there used to be a line that serviced glasshoughton pit there was a large metal bridge with 'ferodo' written on. Hope this helps. Keep em coming!!!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the info!

[@sidewaysaction9983]

Been up there today and mentioned the Ferodo bridge to her that must be obeyed....looked at me like I was stupid!!

[@scott02464]

Hi mate the Cutsyke box at the crossing is the Cutsyke signaller, he controls the crossing an immediate signals in the area 👍 Ps great vid as always

[@jennyw2938]

This was the first video I saw of yours. Have Subscribed now and gone back to part 1 and watched them all in order. Very interesting and informative but would you be able to show a few more maps cut in? Anyway on to more to watch. Thank you

[@AdventureMe]

Welcome aboard! You mean like positioning maps of where I am?

[@evan123455]

really enjoy these videos, especially in these times when I can't get to Yorkshire.Thank you

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed. More to come.

[@timothyhopkins6960]

Very interesting video . I wish they would leave a little more .

[@Geoffreytomlinson24]

Stunning building skills for the age they were built, yet wiped out sadly. Great adventure. Thanks.

[@fenso6664]

Keep up the good work mate, loving these videos 👍🏻

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@inferarkuvio]

Thankyou for the video I live right next to Cutsyke and cycled past Cutsyke Station quite a few times and never even knew that it was a station. Enjoyed the whole series thankyou 🙌

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it! Keep watching.

[@barbarapearce3634]

Stunning views

[@alisonwilson8606]

Another great video and good views and the weather was on your side nice and sunny day

[@michaelkaye9872]

Been over this route as a small lad in the 60s, in the 70s I joined the railway at Holbeck and we came over here with our ‘tripper’ jobs (Newmarket Colliery) joining in at Lofthouse Junction on this route, sad to see it like this, but time marches on (not always progress)

[@sarahbowman7566]

Thanks for the memories of my childhood holidays to Castleford. Now I can finally show these Lancashire folk the bridge of doom that I remember so well.

[@tonydolton4544]

The part where you crossed the new cycle bridge was (the large open area) was a big junction baring off to the left which serviced Whitwood pit.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the information.

[@tonydolton4544]

AdventureMe no problem, great video. I have some pictures of cutsyke station

[@sidewaysaction9983]

Top work yet again sir. Heads up sleepers in situ between moor knoll lane and Ambler's mill maybe related to Ardsley steel works.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. I'll check them out when I do the Ardsley Station.

[@ianrumgay9595]

Great stuff again as you say some parts remain and some just bulldozed away . Parts if the new cycle track are a big improvement I remember parts of it being a dumping ground and covered in litter thrown off the bridges so much better now. Those stone bridges built to last and so different to modern concrete and steel. Like the photos with the music very nostalgic Keep up the good work see where the next video takes you.🚂

[@AdventureMe]

Absolutely. Thanks. The next few Sundays is something a little different.

[@Wedgedoow]

Another interesting video, I can recall the remains of a distant signal visible from the A639 circa early 90's, how things change, looking forward to the next adventure wherever that may be.

[@AdventureMe]

Something different next Sunday, but I think people will like it. And a filler video on Wednesday this week.

[@davidhector1197]

Thanks, Another very informative video.

[@AdventureMe]

Very welcome

[@braggelbak]

MADE ME DAY! THANKS!

[@AdventureMe]

No problem!!

[@joycerigby453]

Thank you Darren, it's the second time I've seen these five videos, (the first time was last year), and I'm not feeling quite as depressed as I did the first time. Not at all happy about the way so much has been destroyed and changed, it's almost as though they want people not to see the history. Have they decided that pits and mines shouldn't be remembered??? My uncle worked in the mines in the '50's and '60's along with many other people, are they to be forgotten too. Also they've completely destroyed most of the stations too. Grrrrrrrrr I wouldn't recognise any of these places now.

[@AdventureMe]

And it will only get worse unfortunately.

[@joycerigby453]

@@AdventureMe Yes, indeed!!!

[@manstu5781]

Well done. Very good viewing.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching.

[@derekdye9501]

Didn't realise that the level crossing gates had been changed to conventional ones. Tend to by-pass Cutsyke now over the new bridge just below. I Think the other gates were unique., with two pair of them slinging open and closed by electric motors driving tyre wheels. P.S. I think there still is a stone pillar with capping stone to the old entrance to the station track at the other side of the bridge by the last terraced house. I grew up in Cutsyke so knew the station well. opposite to where the concrete platform was, the other side was just a timber structure on top of the posts you found. A big drop into the gardens of the houses below.

[@AdventureMe]

I need to go back and have a another look at somepoint.

[@kevinparkin5438]

Hi Darren just watched yet another couple of your fantastic railway video's Castleford greenway one and the Methley one next year going to check them out when better weather hopefully returns fingers crossed also this week i went on a hunt and found the bit of railway bridge cinder oven one then went over to find leeds lost village went over the bridge and followed the path up to the new motel think its called extra well on the way there i think that i came across small pox hospital as lots of red brick all around well keep up the fantastic videos and sorry for rambling on all the best kevin

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you are enjoying the videos and walks. And glad they are useful.

[@matt_armstrong]

I really enjoyed this 5 part series.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@polska.telewizja.internetowa]

Thanks for video ;)

[@AdventureMe]

No problem!

[@TheNugget1986]

I live near the cycle bridge. Great video.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching!

[@nixtax3526]

Great series of vlogs mate

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@edbridges1164]

Sorry for the Delayed Comment but would the Green Bridge over the York - Normanton Line have been required to be higher than the old track bed of the Methley joint Railway incase of Electrification of the Normanton line? as it seems to be at around the correct height to allow the Overhead Equipment to be Installed? Just a thought

[@BigDave2589]

Keep them coming, I'm not familiar with that area but it was an interesting video nonetheless. 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Where are you from? I might have something coming your way.

[@BigDave2589]

@@AdventureMe Rothwell

[@AdventureMe]

@@BigDave2589 i have another in a couple of weeks for rothwell.

[@BigDave2589]

Looking forward to seeing it, I think Skelton Grange power station would make a good video, there are a surprising amount of bits relating to it that are still there (mainly the railway branch line and on the canal where the oil barges used to moor up to deliver oil) and all are accessible without going onto the site, the site itself will be getting bulldozed in the not too distant future to make way for the new station, I have some photos somewhere which I am going to upload to the Rothwell history Facebook group when I find them.

[@alanclark8837]

enjoyed this series, has given me routes to try on my bike that i didn't know were there, keep up the interesting work.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Alan. Yes it's a good route too.

[@showmanpete2805]

brilliant vid, me and my lad cycle this track regular it's simply stunning

[@AdventureMe]

Me too. Always great in summer

[@henriettadaddy105]

I lived there until 2016.. Aketon Road bridge has the original access gate to the platform complete with lock! The other side of the bridge On the same side of the road to the access ramp that you went down just before the terraced houses

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Henrietta, I'll have another look at that on a future video. I never went down that side of the bridge.

[@henriettadaddy105]

No problem. I walked along there a lot before development and there used to be mileposts and even a wagon buffer until around 2016. The platforms at cutsyke were bulldozed entirely. The remnants are actually dumped a few hundred metres before the station to build up the land profile near the access paths down from the housing estate. They May be overgrown now. Cutsyke station was only ever a collection of modest huts and there were loads of bricks from them once. The other platform was on stilts and jutted out into the embankment side, and all the stilts were there until redevelopment by sustrans. I’ve a picture somewhere.

[@michaelkaye9872]

Hi Darren, another great interesting video, I would just like to say a big thank you for using my 1985 photographs, it would of been nicer if you could or would have put a credit on them for me. Hope to see more of your incredible railway journeys in the future. Take care buddy.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Michael. My newer videos always have credits on now, I was a bit slack at doing it in the early days. Thanks for taking them.

[@AdventureMe]

Just noticed I did credit you in the description, but not in the video itself. Like I said, I do now.

[@michaelkaye9872]

@@AdventureMe hi buddy, I’m really sorry if I missed the credits, (a bit embarrassed now) ! Anyway keep up the excellent work, your contribution to these videos is absolutely brilliant , take care.

[@musehic1953]

Enjoy your videos. Have you ever thought to try the Cinder Track from Scarborough?

[@AdventureMe]

I haven't but I'll look into it for the future.

[@bigmonkey999888]

Hi Wow amazing how in a relatively short time how things change at the end of the video the signal box certainly isn’t as I remember it! Steve

[@AdventureMe]

Yes, very different now.

[@angeljones9979]

I searched this up cause I live exactly behind we’re you were exploring

[@AdventureMe]

Hope it answered your question.

[@UKDroneAdventures]

Interesting video, I will certainly be having a Drone Adventure to have a look at the stone viaduct. I found the station a few years ago and it was quite in tact but the last time I went (Jan 2019), there was nothing left (Similar to how you found it). I started to feel a little nauseous by the end of he video, too much panning left and right for me by the end.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the info

[@buthe1979]

Very interesting. The Spen Valley Greenway / old railway line would be interesting to see in a similar way if you're looking for new ideas

[@AdventureMe]

Hi, yes that's on my list for later. Looks fascinating.

[@ptparkinsonable]

Sad that they have removed the platform at Castleford Cutsyke got photos when i walked it.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes it was. I was expecting that to be there.

[@tomsheard0]

Wow, they must have tidied up and laid the gravel in the first section in only the last month or so, it was an overgrown muddy footpath on the Leeds side leading up to the river viaduct until just before lockdown, well timed!. I wonder if the gravel is prep for proper tarmac surface in the very near like the Castleford side has? As a local I’ll have an investigate soon.

[@AdventureMe]

Hi Tom, yes apparently it was new. I saw a photo from last year that showed the bridge in a bad state and the path too so I was surprised. I think they are planning on running a proper cycle way through to join the Castleford one, the workmen were down at Methley today doing some work on the path going backwards towards Methley.

[@Ikkran2]

I have enjoyed your Blackpool videos so much that I am starting from the beginning, I recently visited Blackpool Central and met one of the builders, they have recovered the turntable and terrace foundations. I’d love you to do the Preston to Lancaster line via the villages, Scorton, Bayhorse, Galgate, Garstang, I think the line closed in 1930 but I believe there is quite a lot of evidence and there is one platform at Preston, I think it’s Preston platform one that hasn’t been used since the 1960s, one of the members of staff said it used to be accessible, because they still use the building for storage or something but I think that must’ve been the platform used to go to Lancaster via the villages and also maybe the line to Knott End through Pilling. I believe Garstang had two stations, one of them is definitely a house. Think the Poulton to Fleetwood line is also underway, not sure, but would love to see these things in one of your videos, definitely becoming a fan!

[@DaveHughes-r2u]

the line you was on didn’t merge at the crossing it continued to a bridge further along the road, there is grass bank area which continued onto the bridge. The line came from methley junction to glasshouton colliery and on to the old coking gas works next door, where the ski centre is now

[@stuarttaylor4269]

for some reason when I wrote the summary below I kept referring to the river Calder as the Aire.....my apologies

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Beautiful viaducts, shame about the station though. Great to see that they are using rather than demolishing them.

[@georgehall4358]

Great video! From Castleford where do I start the route?

[@AdventureMe]

On Wheldon road opposite Cas Tigers. You can walk up the embankment.

[@nosas66]

Please come to Normanton, New land Hall and railway lines, old turntables.

[@AdventureMe]

On my list mr, i'm heading there soon.

[@nosas66]

@@AdventureMe the areas are for Newland Hall , stables still stand but hall long gone, years agao you could go in the cellars but no longer and the dovecote and lodge are now demolished but gate posts exist goo.gl/maps/ZYSVyeLLeecD74ScA

[@nosas66]

Old MR railway with bridges , now dissected by the bypass, old bride still visible also in Old Snydale goo.gl/maps/gvQycEhERKbi56iA7 goo.gl/maps/mBg8iPYKVa7LtXXy9

[@nosas66]

Normanton's grand old railway sidings, turntable still exists in ruin goo.gl/maps/Rp9FVfb7Dws7aa1JA

[@nosas66]

Altofts station now abandoned goo.gl/maps/rXSMXvRsf4F4BBhP6

[@catbreath007]

Interesting video 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you 👍

[@MartinFarrell1972]

Really enjoyed all 4 parts. I wonder if there is a book or wensite of all railway walks

[@carolynlennon2615]

There were still bits of the platform there 12 years ago when I used to walk my old dog. Shame they did not preserve the history when building the cycle track.

[@AdventureMe]

Looks like I missed it by a few months. Apparently it was there last year.

[@matthewmorris3862]

You should do Wetherby , Spofforth and Boston Spa , I'm not a train person but there's lots of relics , iI like the half of bridge in someones back garden . Great videos btw

[@AdventureMe]

Cool, thanks! I will get there eventually. Sounds like a treat that one.

[@a11csc]

super vid as usual just could not work out the last wire type bridge location and i know cas pretty well i bet ive driven under it countless times and never noticed

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@richardstewart5360]

Great video, i live in Methley and found this really interesting, thank you. Can I ask, what is the name of the song you play frequently through this series of videos?

[@AdventureMe]

If you look in the video description Richard, it should be in there.

[@richardstewart5360]

Thanks!

[@michaeldibb]

Great video, Darren. The current Castleford station opened in 1871, the original station was built in 1840 and stood about half a mile to the east next to Bridge Street. Do you know if there are any remains of that station?

[@AdventureMe]

Not yet. I will cover it sometime

[@mattpotter8725]

It's such a shame when planners don't incorporate old industrial heritage into new cycle and walkways, just destroying it. Maybe there are times when it's just not possible, but it makes walks like this a lot more interesting and gets youngsters who don't know the history of the area interested in what was there in days gone by. It's almost criminal what they've done here. It all looks very nice now, but it could have been so much more.

[@jimberryman8310]

how beutifull these old victorian bridges are built to last . better than todays concrete ugly looking crap.

[@AdventureMe]

So true.

[@robgaskell2391]

If you'd like to venture to the Peak District, there's a beautifully restored cycle/foot path following the railway from millers Dale to bakewell. Drop me a message if you wanna join me sometime

[@TheWacoKid1963]

I'm not a fan of Sustrans, there only goal is to open up cycle routes but don't seem to give a toss about the routes history.

[@jasinere35]

this path has not long been opened to the public i actually walked this long before the sustrans renovated it

[@AdventureMe]

Yes, it's much better now. Looks like I got there just in time.

[@jasinere35]

@@AdventureMe there is an underpass but it not where you mentioned its 50 yards back from the bit you pointed out

[@waynecheshire7878]

Unfortunately the old guy was right

[@danielsouthern55]

I didn't not now that was a stachon