The Lost CLECKHEATON SPEN 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 Liversedge Spen Station and on towards Cleckheaton Spen Station. We also have a brief explore of the approach to the Gomersal Tunnel.
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
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#adventureme #exploration #history #abandoned #leedsnewline #gomersal #cleckheaton

[@AdventureMe]

**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.

[@Windowgemz]

I lived in this area from 1961-1971 we used to walk through Gomersal Tunnel on a regular basis...it had a pile of rubble bang in the middle which you had to scramble over. There was also a small tunnel called Red Hand Tunnel which went under the railway near to the old station location and accessed through the woods.

[@gandalf2439]

I lived in Cleckheaton from 68:to 91 , and remember the viaduct being closed as there was a dispute over who was responsible for the maintenance

[@CoyoteMTB77]

I’ve now become somewhat addicted to this series. I love all things historical and architecture and trains to boot. A new fan and I came here as a post10 drain fanatic. Love the cinematography and drone footage and music too. Thanks

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate. Glad you like the other stuff too.

[@harri2626]

Another fascinating video. The Rawfolds bridge was, presumably, named because of the adjacent Rawfolds Mill which was famous for being attacked by the Luddites in 1812.

[@davidnaylor7959]

Used to visit in the miniature railway as a kid. Pretty sure it still opens occasionally in the summer months

[@michaelwatterson2965]

What a superb series you are creating here. Absolutely faultless.

[@phildewhirst8415]

I lived in Gomersal In the 1950s and 1960’s. The dam was known as Harry Mann Dam. Not sure who he was though. Great video. Thanks for posting.

[@gemnphil]

I grew up on the dam, lived on valley road as a child then spen lane as an adult, there's not many days of my 32 years that I've not spent on there, it's been left to overgrow for many years and has only recently started being looked after with new footpaths being put in place, which is good to see. It used to be so beautiful and well looked after

[@christelbraune4530]

Is very interesting see how the new replaces the old and thus competly changes the homeland .erzählt auch viel Geschichte. Thanks Darren 👍🤶

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks matey

[@WmDavidHarrison]

Fascinating vlog, but for the Victorian engineering, the Leeds New Line has been reabsorbed into the landscape but the eagle eyes adventurer reveals all. Thank you!

[@Brs-od8mx]

Love the series fella. The Scaffolding has been up for a few years now. Its there to stop falling stone and debris from landing on the footways below. The bridge is listed and owned by The Council but they are reluctant to spend money on it. They had to put the scaffolding in place to make the walkways safe. Unfortunately there are no works being carried out on the bridge to my knowledge.

[@MrDodgedollar]

You have to laugh at the eccentricity of this country’s governance… Wilfully destroy a full railway infrastructure that cost a fortune to build in 1900, cutting up the bridges and selling of the land in 1966… Then in 1984 list a completely useless and hazardous road viaduct to nowhere which they didn’t get around to demolishing- Completely hair brained; No country in the world like Britain

[@CitizenErased11]

Great video as always Darren. I could see my house in your drone footage - fame at last lol. Just for information, the scaffolding on the viaduct is not indicative of work going on, which is a shame. It’s over the parts where people walk underneath and it’s to stop parts of the viaduct falling on them

[@AdventureMe]

Ahh that's sad to hear.

[@michaelmiller641]

Great! Very interesting look forward to the next part

[@familylife3624]

Well I've riden the spen valley greenway lots of times and never knew there was another line , so that's near drub village

[@trainsinkansas576]

Outstanding video, drone footage beyond excellent. Beautiful scenery and narration was A+. Have a great day, a great day in deed. Meriden, Kansas

[@Wedgedoow]

Another goo one master of morph, very enjoyable. Thanks.

[@a11csc]

fantastic keep em coming

[@shirleylynch7529]

Fabulous again. Filming brilliant. Loved the music with the drone over the viaduct. You have a special knack of blending the old and new photos. So educational. Thank you and keep them vlogs coming.

[@anthonymoore6009]

Good stuff sir, love the old girder bridge

[@johnlumley-moore2079]

Excellent as per usual .. Interesting .....carry on

[@kevinparkin5438]

Hi Darren I've seen that viaduct from spen lane when I'm on the bus heading to leeds and never new what it was thank you for covering it and now i know looking forward to your next adventure kevin

[@suesmith4366]

Brilliant well worth the wait as I’ve been babysitting, so only just got to watch it. Didn’t realise how much access there is to the old line, used to go to that little railway In Royds Park in the 1990s it wasn’t open that often then but is still in go as far as I know. (Obviously won’t be at the moment.) was just getting into it when you disappeared into Gomersal Tunnel 🤣 keep up the good work👍🏻 can’t wait for the next one 😎 The Drone shots of Viaduct were brilliant 👍🏻

[@martinmarsola6477]

See you on the next. Thanks buddy.

[@garethharwood7146]

Great video my house backs onto royds park also the miniature railway is open weekends and bank holidays between april - sept ( in normal non covid times )

[@christinepattinson5871]

Amazing informative video! Recently we found a path near the warehouse you mention down the first road to the station. The tree with its roots on show, got a picture of that!! There was also a tiny tunnel enroute. Was a small muddy path which ended by a gate beyond which a big metal pipe going nowhere. Sorry I missed the previous video, but I subscribed so shall follow AdventureMe. So very impressed, thank you

[@oldtykesmith2317]

The Bridge you mention was called the ABC steps As Children our Dad took us up tor Spen to watch the trains Spen Station was made of all wood.

[@you-know-who.]

The red brick monolith at the end of gummy tunnel was supposed to be an inspection portal when the line was scheduled for land fill. But the council refused permission last minute

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I’ve walked through Gomersal tunnel in the past. Last time was 2005.

[@chunkychunks857]

My first memory of seeing a train was at Rawfolds park when I was still in a push chair, I also have a photo of a rake of coaches stabled up at Spen station, I used to wonder why my parents took that picture, perhaps it was Churchill's train but I'll never know as they are now long gone.

[@thebikehanger]

Bennerley viaduct in Derbyshire/Notts is a similar structure and much longer, might be worth a visit for you. It's also known as the Iron Giant.

[@davidcharlesworth9540]

The miniature railway is still operational and is only closed due to covid restrictions!

[@AdventureMe]

Glad to hear it.

[@derrickhobson462]

@@AdventureMe My grandad, William (Willy) Wood, who sadly passed some time ago, helped build that miniature railway including the engines there. He was a wonderfully skilled engineer and would give me long talks in engineering practices and steam theory. I recall he always refused to buy a screw and would make his own using the lathe he had in their spare bedroom. My mum (his youngest child) has some of the working mini trains and parts of trains at my parent's house, his wife (my grandma) used to serve tea while Grandad helped look after the trains. The stands at the far side is where they put all the trains they weren't using so people could see them as I believe they normally take the diesel engine round now. I took my two daughters to ride on the train as unfortunately they never had chance to meet him and I spoke with a gentleman there who had lots of knowledge of my Grandad so it was nice to hear.

[@socklesslad]

I can't help feeling you've left us on a cliffhanger!

[@AdventureMe]

Why???

[@socklesslad]

@@AdventureMe "We're approaching the tunnel." "There's the tunnel." "Let's check this out." "To be continued." ;-)

[@AdventureMe]

@@socklesslad Ahh ok. Purposefully I might add lol

[@stothet2788]

Love you’re program on train lines

[@gazza9463]

When Cleckheaton station finally closed and was set up for demolition, some cheeky bugger actually stole it. I believe it was around 1972 and certainly made the news at the time.

[@gazza9463]

Right I have looked into this. The station was stolen over a period from 30/7/1971 to 6/9/1971. A 33 year old man from Dewsbury Moor was charged with theft in December the same year. Unwittingly, the police at Cleckheaton assisted him by closing off nearby roads when he moved his ill gotten gains. Got to admire his cheek.

[@joeymurphy100]

It was Cleckheaton Central I think.

[@pamelagreenwood8280]

I didn't find this out until recently. Can we have it back now please 😂

[@peterdean8009]

The 'stolen station' was actually Cleckeaton Central, not Spen. See the Wikipedia entry if you're that bothered!

[@christinaburton9297]

I love the names Cleckheaton and Heckmondwicke..sound like wooden bricks being kicked downstairs. Liversedge sounds like an illness. Fab names..they had two stations, now none. Dreadful.

[@RichardBrooke1971]

I believe that structure at the western portal of Gomersal Tunnel was as a result of plans to fill the cutting right up to the tunnel entrance, the brick structure giving access to the tunnel for maintenance workers. Thankfully, this never happened.

[@stevenbrownlee3]

At the bottom of man dam there is a tunnel heading east. Also one just down the road linking the cellular of the old saw & Gomersal Hall on spen Lane but bricked up in the middle.

[@majorpygge-phartt2643]

The old curved freight building in oldham was listed too but it got demolished, and I got to see it just once beforehand. And I've been to cleckheaton and I saw a disused railway route there on an embankment passing through the town centre being used as a footpath. But I didn't know there was another route there.

[@ericholmes8665]

Well a comment on Cleckheaton Spen St,the building still intact was the stable block,just on from where you were standing was the cattle bays and then the six bay goods shed,no 1 signal box used to be opposite,you missed the base of the goods yard crane,which is still there,at the other end of the lorry yard,,just a little further was no2 signalbox,The grade 2 listed road viaduct was put in to allow easy access to the town centre,has the L-Y had the plum spot in town,if you would have explored below the bridge you would have found a lot of the spear fencing on the boundary in good condition has it was sheltered by the trees.But if you want to see the station,and all its surroundings,with the lattice footbridge on New St,only two were made the one you saw at Heaton lodge and this one,plus a view of the L-Y st,Britain from Above,the aerofilms archive,a superb panoramic shot of the town,with the spen station prominant,the one you want is EPW061320 taken in 1939, its free all you do is log in and you can ajust the image as you like,also the bridge you mentioned near Royds park you want EPW048508 you can see it along with the distant Liversedge Spen st,hope this will help,take a trip to see what your grandads saw,with over 28,000 images its a fantastic site and free.

[@l.b.fulatryxthenarcoleptic8120]

Hi,I don't suppose you know what the building was that was just below the viaduct? Just to the right hand side as you face Cleckheaton? My mum & I found the footprint a couple of years ago whilst litter picking around the dam & woodland x

[@douglasthompson296]

G'day Darren, damned looks like its too late in years for me to catch up on all this local history. Even though I was Batley born my dads side are/were all local to this area. As usual the railways were all closed down before I ever knew about them. All the older replies are now gone so there is no one left to ask about this local history, esp my uncle Herman Wells in Birkenshaw, he took my brother and myself on Saturday mornings walk/rambles around Birkenshaw bottoms with his dog. Pity. Once lock down eases and I can cross the Pennines officially I think a few hire car weekends are on the cards so I can reconnect with the past. Cheers DougT in Mancs BTW Mrs Warboys sends her regards and Victor Meldrew grumbles as usual

[@bowlerwildcatGaming1991]

😮Cleckheaton My Old Home Town Moved Away In 2008 Mandam Park Is At Bottom Of My Old Street Use To Go Down On A Daily Basis With My Old Friends After School We Walked Along The Viaduct Alot There Was One Insident Where Someone Jumped Off It And Died

[@gandalf2439]

That brings back a lot of memories of my later childhood . Although I lived in Pudsey I went to school from 1957 to 1959 at Batley Technical School (BTS) And not Borstal training school , which was the local name for it. The pupils came from all over the West Riding area , many from Heckmondwike , Cleckheaton and all point around . One of my friends lived just up Spen Lane and the old station site was our play ground and we used to watch the trains from a bridge over the line . The sidings were still there but the station had gone already . The second bridge from Bradford road was still usable but later was closed as BR stopped the maintainance for it . After a number of years it was open as a footpath only . Another little gem of info for you , Cleckheaton station was still there in 1969 and fenced off until one weekend some enterprising souls took it down and it’s whereabouts to this day is a mistery !!! A bit of a rant but thought you would be interested .

[@ericholmes8665]

You got the wrong station,the one stolen was the ex L-Y station in the town centre.

[@gandalf2439]

@@ericholmes8665 Thst was the station I was referring to , the local swimming pool was on one side and the town on the other .

[@ericholmes8665]

@@gandalf2439 Yes but the article was about the New Line so i assumed you had mixed up the stations,but its sorted now ,Cheers

[@easybeat]

Think overbridge on Cliffe Lane (11:25) was buckled in earth tremor(!) during 1970s and for quite some time was single file traffic controlled by temporary lights. Certainly something happened to it. Bridge at 12:20 was rebuilt for use by lorries - possibly recovering ballast from trackbed. Walked tunnel as youngster, pile of rubble part way through where air shaft was dropped. At that time ballast was still loose and fresh and trackside free from overgrowth. Recall line after closure but before track lifting, rusty rails in place.

[@brianartillery]

Lovely video. Lots of infrastructure still in place. I think that your use of the word 'Abutment' is equal to Geoff Marshall's use of the word 'Allotment'. You ought to do a bingo card like he recently did.

[@AdventureMe]

I am doing a bingo card lol

[@WiggysanWiggysan]

Your photo fading is getting bit good mate !! Wonderful video. Very informative.

[@thomasmann9216]

I love the Mann Dam!

[@gordoncrowther7913]

The bridge you called rawfolds Bridge is actually eddercliffe Bridge, the path you showed leading over the bridge leads to what locally is called the battle wall reputably the site where the luddites fought the troops that chased them after the attack on rawfolds mill as they made their way to gomersal, the rawfolds bridge was at the top of new St on the site of the car park for the miniature railway it was a wooden footbridge known as the abc steps

[@davidhudson8415]

Have you seen wants happened to the embankment on the A650 near Birkinshaw ?

[@gandalf2439]

We used to see the trains on this line in the late 50 s

[@l.b.fulatryxthenarcoleptic8120]

I used to walk across the viaduct practically every time we walked from Gomersal to Cleckheaton. When you were stood underneath the viaduct, just to your left (as you were facing the camera) we have discovered the footprint of a stone building, do you or any of your subscribers know what it was? Thanks in advance 😊

[@AdventureMe]

I don't know. Possibly an old railwaymans hut

[@nigelkthomas9501]

That viaduct is very convenient for walkers and cyclists. It completely avoids the steepest part of the A643 Spen Lane!

[@ericholmes8665]

Thats why it got built,to allow easy access to the out of town station.No expense spared by the LNWR the premier line.

[@fatlad5090]

gill demolition pulled most of the bridges down in the 70s 80s

[@davidboulton6980]

Hi mate, have you done any videos of the greenway , I think it’s from low moor station right through past dewsbury

[@AdventureMe]

Not yet David. On my list though.

[@davidboulton6980]

@@AdventureMe legend, some good relics along the way aswell, certainly down by dewsbury country park, old signal lights in between the trees.

[@clecklass]

@@davidboulton6980 There is the odd, old sleeper and other railway artefacts hidden in the undergrowth at the side of the Greenway and things like the memorial plaque (near Low Moor) to the people who died at an explosion at a munitions factory. We mustn't forget the metal sheep between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike.

[@stevenbrownlee3]

There is a photo of the old station.

[@nuneatontim]

The sun is shinning everyday

[@railwaychristina3192]

Are both lines walkable? That viaduct is so beautiful. I hope it's listed.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes both walkable for most of them

[@willlister9825]

The brick structure at the tunnel mouth was part of a proposal to infill the cutting and leave an access shaft for inspection - www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/tunnels/gallery/gomersal.html (sadly the pictures don't load as the site was built for flash player! :-( ). Love the area, often Camp at the nearby campsite and have taken the Scouts for a walk down the path you took to the tunnel! Keep up the great vids! :-)

[@Reck46]

Yes it was indeed a stay wire tensioner for a telegraph pole .

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for confirming

[@Reck46]

Hi Danny - I was on your live feed the other night I’m from Rochdale , it would be fantastic if in the future you could look at the Rochdale to Bacup branch line - there is so much left behind it’s fascinating and would be a great show for you . Even a station left behind . Take care

[@vandaldanny]

The brick stair case at the western side was built to aid with filling the tunnel in. Thankfully they never completed this.

[@christinaburton9297]

Please tell me they are not going to build on the line at Heckmondwicke??

[@JaneOO]

I think the current plan is for landfill in the cutting

[@AdventureMe]

Looks like it.

[@christinaburton9297]

@@JaneOO ...but what about the effect on the environment, not least the trucks depositing thousands of tons of landfill.. this will not just disrupt residents, but harm them.

[@JaneOO]

@@christinaburton9297 I don’t think the local council care about that......

[@christinaburton9297]

@@JaneOO ...Spen and Batley have just elected a female mayor...could she be prevailed upon to act? Surely, either re reinstatement of the libe or a Sustrans sponsored greenaway are better options?

[@peterfawcett9969]

Full name is the HARRY Mann Dam.

[@algomaone121]

Hope they didn’t forget to raise that metal bridge before running with the kiddies on the miniature rails!

[@sarahillingworth2718]

Was gonna try and walk along that line but it looks a long walk lol

[@AdventureMe]

14 Miles Sarah from Mirfield to Leeds.

[@sarahillingworth2718]

@@AdventureMe blimey lol

[@braggelbak]

owwwwww.......

[@coreyspencer8436]

The scaffolds not there because of work its so because people jump of this bridge

[@davidderbidge8232]

How come you haven't mentioned the other cleckheaton station

[@AdventureMe]

That's the L&Y line David. I'm covering the Leeds New Line. That will be a separate series.

[@davidderbidge8232]

@@AdventureMe LOOK FOR PLENTY OF ARTIFACTS THERE

[@davidderbidge8232]

THERE ARE PLENTY OF ARTIFACTS

[@ChrisBarrow-617]

The viaduct isn't so strange it would have been traffic access for the freight sheds and sidings

[@AdventureMe]

Yes but such a huge expense and engineering project for another access route on a small station. That was my point.

[@ericholmes8665]

@@AdventureMe This was the LNWR the premier line,god the very line you are looking at was only built because the company hated having to use a stretch of the L-Y line to get to Leeds,the whole line was a mad expensive vanity project,which in normal times would never have been built!

[@carlharris2808]

The railway hopes to open 11th july again.

[@RinnRua]

🤣

[@davidmarsden8008]

Roman Tin Mine there

[@suzannewilkinson8936]

never walk over that bridge at night

[@l.b.fulatryxthenarcoleptic8120]

Why?

[@magdelayna]

We need to get Jean Claude Van Damme to go across the Mann Dam viaduct.

[@AdventureMe]

Imagine the news reports on that one.

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

The viaduct should be better used.

[@michaelwalton-ii1ch]

there vids are mint