We Accidentally Found a Hidden Tunnel & Quarry on Skipton to Colne Railway

I start off in Skipton in Yorkshire and head down a disused line towards Colne in Lancashire. On the way Oliver and I discover an abandoned Limestone quarry served by the Skipton to Colne railway line.
The line is mainly in Lancashire albeit serving both counties. Skipton station opened in October 1848, part of the Leeds and Bradford Railway's Shipley to Colne extension and at a cost of £67,000.
With the East Lancashire Railway reaching Colne from Burnley in February 1849 and the completion of the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston railway in April 1849, a through route from Leeds to Liverpool was then established.
Stations between Skipton and Colne were built at Elslack, Thornton-in-Craven, Earby and Foulridge. A branch from Earby to Barnoldswick was opened in 1871.
We both venture off along the line to discover what's left to find as the Line never gained ‘Trans-Pennine’ Status and the Skipton-Colne line was not listed for closure as part of Dr Beeching's 1963 "The Reshaping of British Railway's" report, however the line closed in February 1970 with the Barnoldswick branch having earlier closed in September 1965.
Script notes and photographs: www.nodrog.uk/...
Book reference: Lost Railways of Lancashire by Gordon Suggitt: amzn.to/3wR3MR8
Nodrog ©️

[@spongebobgrumpypants6862]

Since last March I have found myself watching less and less mainstream tv and more and more KZbin videos. Some of the contributors on here are extremely articulate presenters with a vast knowledge of their subject matter who are as good, or even better than the "professionals". This video is a typical example of some of the quality content I have found here on KZbin. Thank you Nodrog for another excellent and informative mini documentary.

[@seany84uk]

Lets hope this line gets reopened one day!

[@Transpennine]

Absolutely! It would be so much easier than changing at Accrington to go backwards again to colne

[@stevewareing8525]

A Dad and Lad day with a great video thrown in for good measure, can't beat it. Really enjoyed it Gordon 👍

[@mickd6942]

Nice one getting youth interested in history and exploring

[@simonlgould]

Foulridge Station was dismantled brick by brick and rebuilt on the Keighley worth valley line at Ingrow west

[@peterkabrna]

That’s because people in Foulridge wouldn’t use the train. The sooner this line goes back into service the better and to Hell what the Earby and Foulridge lot think about it

[@AndrewSmith-ug8tz]

Used to play in that quarry as kids! Lived in Barnoldswick! Thanks for the memories!

[@timmoontransported.6385]

One thing you may not know, the line was closed by a mistake in accounting. As the Midland met the L&Y the accounts were separate. This persisted through the LMS period and BR. Sadly a London account looked at income between Skipton and Colne in isolation, when it’s solid income came from through tickets using it rather than just that section. This it was decided it must close, despite its heavy usage. All strength to the reopening plans.

[@Ashworth-Media]

One of the other reasons why it closed when it did was that the route from Accrington to Ramsbottom was shut due to line duplication with the Blackburn to Manchester line via Bolton, which meant that through trains from Skipton were stopped, why they could have not got via Blackburn I don't know. This line should not have closed, as it allows a lot more route availability to the whole area and region, it also happens to be one of the flattest Trans Pennie routes and when rebuilt should be electrified along with the East Lancashire line, and would be cheaper to do from the outset.

[@dansrandomvideos2515]

@@Ashworth-Media I can't remember when or where but I beleive they unfortunately have already said that all lines through Burnley which I would have thought includes this line if brought back aren't viable for electrification. However that then creates a chicken and egg situation if you don't invest, increased passenger numbers won't come but if passengers wont come they wont invest.

[@dansrandomvideos2515]

That makes its closing even worse. There is also a belief locally that the cut report actually wanted the line to York from Burnley shut not this line.

[@Ashworth-Media]

@@dansrandomvideos2515 The electrification when rebuilt comes from talking with NR who said that if rebuilding from an already electrified line then consideration should be given for the rebuild to continue with the electrification as doing this would allow existing rolling stock utilisation on the extension. They said that electrification works carried out at rebuilding gave cost savings of 25%, if the rebuild was to connect elsewhere on the network that was not electrified then that connection would be assessed as a higher priority case. With the push for de-dieselisation of the rail network full electrification makes sense as it's a proven technology over batteries and hydrogen. Today on a reduced Covid timetable there has been 70 train movements, usually around a 100.

[@Ashworth-Media]

@@dansrandomvideos2515 That would have been the Copy Pit line from Burnley to Todmorden, NR reinstalled the cord at Todmorden to allow trains from Burnley to Manchester. I have never heard of any report to shut it, and infact when the oil train damaged the tunnel at Summit Tunnel the Copy Pit line from Burnley to Todmorden was used to divert services. Railways need more route availability, full stop.

[@fidgetspinner343]

Great research effort out into this and great video editing as always. Really hope I see this line opened in my lifetime. It is really needed to get to North Yorkshire from Manchester in a fraction of the time.

[@JB-ek4yx]

3 disused railway videos in one day! (kind of). Oop North with you, darn sarf with Mr. Marshall & an announcement from the Whitewicks. It's like all my christmasses come at once!

[@MartinZero]

Great explore #TeamNodrog

[@bloodrave9578]

Walked it from Colne to Skipton, lovely walk

[@pauldavies917]

On magic mushrooms 🍄

[@ReubenAshwell]

Very nice vlog. :) There has been talk for quite some time about reopening the Skipton to Colne route, hopefully it will happen someday. :)

[@four_makers]

On my patch today, but you've shown me sights I've never seen :) The trackbed is protected, and the long standing campaign group to get the line reinstated is called SELRAP.

[@dansrandomvideos2515]

So far I have actually agreed with most of what SELRAP want to do apart from closing down Burnley Barracks station.

[@demobbed688]

Love it! You might want to venture into east Lancs again and follow the old line from Accrington to Manchester. The secton from Accy to Baxenden has been converted into a greenway and most of the remaining section from Haslingden through Helmshore and onto the junction with the ELR at Stubbins can be walked and crosses a few impressive viaducts.

[@naui_diver9290]

The U.K. is so rich in history. I hope to visit it one day.

[@trek520rider2]

When I went to Keighley Boy's Grammar School 1956 to 1963, thanks to some daft local authority boundary business, there were lads who came by train from Barnoldswick via Skipton every day on this line!

[@russellb1212]

Excellent video, be great to have this reopened, would deliver many benefits

[@jasonlittlewood3874]

Glad to see Nodrog on the right side of the pennines, even though it was only for a short hop. FYI Barnoldswick is pronounced by the locals as "Ba'wick"

[@BritainsAbandonedRealms]

Nice video i used to go down to that quary alot when I was younger I've not been for afew years lovely place, that tunnel pretty spooky too.

[@Conan500]

Is someone trying to out Whitewick the Whitewicks? Great video Gordon, very enjoyable watch! 👍

[@walt-sh7ju]

Great video I only found it when I was searching for somewhere different to take my son on his bike thinking we could ride from Carleton to Earby. Since leaving school I've worked in and around the area but never gone exploring on the old line.

[@nodrog]

Thank you for watching and your feedback. Enjoy your bike ride 👍

[@waynepaxford7263]

Great to see you and thunder buddy out and about doing another amazing video great information too keep up the hard work up Gordon hope you and your family and friends are well and safe 👍👍👍👍👍

[@johnlaw3323]

A very interesting vlog Gordon I wonder if it will ever come back, it has been voiced many times over the last 30 years but nothing happens. Many thanks.

[@stephenphillip5656]

"When all is said and done,.... There'll be a lot more said than done." SELRAP have done a great job promoting the reopening of the line and to be fair, the local authorities have been very supportive but now comes the hard yards- persuading and cajoling The Powers That Be to agree on the project. I wish them luck.

[@stewriley1183]

Some good breakfast time viewing there Gordon. The quarry is stunning, what a cracking place. Probably too far out of the way but what a great green-space it would make with lit access through the tunnel.

[@chrisnicholls8636]

Great vlog mate, interest to see the railway history of the northwest and how many track beds still exist 👍

[@alistairshaw3206]

Great explore, Gordon. Nice to see father and son quality time! I have heard much talk about reopening this line, but to no avail. Here in Scotland, we started reopening lines with much success, it's time to reopen lines everywhere now!

[@nodrog]

Thanks for the info!

[@euromodellertrainz]

An outstanding production! You are really good at making these mini-docs, (as well as quizzes and news updates), please keep them coming. Cheers and stay safe!

[@nodrog]

Glad you like them!

[@flashbangelectrics7705]

Great video as usual Gordon, very interesting and you narrate it well. Keep up the good work. From Tom in Freckleton fylde.

[@nodrog]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lynnthrop7544]

Another railway/station lost in time we're missing out on all these beauties they're essential parts of our history :( 🤔

[@PNEKarl]

7:39 I thought I was watching a Martin Zero video. He'd love it in there.

[@a11csc]

im sure he would

[@wrightys1]

Always worth watching. A hive of information. Thank you.

[@jaketel]

Very interesting video full of great information let’s hope the line will reopen.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes Thornton Station in Bradford too. Hence the "in Craven" addition.

[@Guard_Amos]

A proper boys day out. Looks like a good day was had. Hope tha liked the taste of that Yorkshire Wata. I've seen around the Foulridge area. Quite a decent amount of trackbed there. Shame the bridges are missing. There's an old canalside warehouse that's now a cafe/restaurant that has a painting of the railway crossing over the canal

[@timwalton4486]

Great video. I travelled on this line from Skipton down to Manchester on a special train, the week before the end of steam in 1968. The two steam Engines pulling the special train from Skipton to Rose Grove were 45073 & 45156. I have photos of both if anyone is interested.

[@Gibbymyson]

Awesome Video mate. That tunnel was amazing.

[@_wood]

Dad and lad -- urban explorers! Great stuff.

[@DannySapko]

Would love to see you do some West Yorkshire-based videos!

[@Guard_Amos]

He'll have to make sure his passport is in order

[@MatthewRailways50033]

Nice video 5⭐😎

[@frankfitzgerald5832]

Great video this .. love the quarry weve covered quite a bit of this area So quite familiar with it .. but still found this fascinating ...glad your lad enjoyed his self too theres nowt like emptying your wellies on a cold day when its snowing mate .. lol ..Thanks for this Gordon ....regards Frank & Lee......

[@oldfart6318]

Great video. Cheers to you and your helper.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Brilliant video on the Skipton to Colne Railway. The Quarry was amazing to see. Never been to Colne however.

[@trek520rider2]

Frankly you haven't missed much. Did you know that the band leader on the Titanic came from Colne?

[@davidcook380]

Great Video Gordon

[@jacobporrett]

Great video Gordon. I found this interesting. Keep up the good work.

[@44662dc]

An excellent video Gordon most interesting.

[@willlister9825]

There was a Thornton on the Great Northern Railway's 'Queensbury Line'...

[@alanbaldwin3881]

I'm 7 miles from Colne, and enjoyed the Vlog a great deal. In the eighties we could walk from just outside Colne Station through to just before Foulrigde (the bridge across the Canal had been removed) along the track bed for a pub lunch. If you ever get back this way and knowing you love for Fish & Chips, you have got to call into Kelbrook Fisheries chippy, which is in between Foulridge and Earby.

[@barefootboxyjo]

That wasn't the tracks bed that is the sidings when you find the platform through the first gate on the right is the track . I was on the last train through Earby and lived by the old line most of my life ...

[@MG-COFFEE]

top job :)

[@Tom-gr6nx]

excellent video great footage no fish and chips again lol

[@markfoster6391]

Excellent video buddy 👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

As Class 333 electric trains terminates at Skipton. And Diesel trains can continue further. Was there plans to extend the electrification including to Carlisle and/or Manchester. Plus I do hope that the railway line to Colne does reopen if it does get the approval. Do keep up the good work as always Gordon.

[@G7CDA]

The bridge over the canal at Foulridge was still there in the 1990s then one day I went there and it had just disappeared!!

[@nodrog]

That’s the thing. Infrastructure does disappear over night. Good point 👍

[@karenashworth5743]

Elswick is pronounced EL- slack, and Foulridge is pronounced Foal - ridge. Great shame our local railway line closed to Yorkshire. I often travel to London and for speed go to Keighley or Skipton to get a connection. Going via Preston is so much slower and more expensive. How much time would a line from Colne save?

[@bhtrains6869]

Never knew about this area live nearby skipton as well

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I can’t understand why this hasn’t reopened by now. There’s a huge amount of support for it yet it appears to be falling on deaf ears. Instead of all the talking it’s high time to get some men and equipment on site and do it! It should never have been closed in the first place.

[@Mousyfox]

I doubt it will ever get reinstated, unless you knock down several new dwellings built on the land in Earby, not to mention other industrial buildings in several other places. The cost of repurchasing the land, and also the, roughly, £2m a mile, for re-laying the track, with foundations and sleepers, is more than local authorities are willing to invest. Where the land can't be repurchased there will have to be alternative routes, which involves surveyors and probably other unknowns. Who knows, maybe in another 100 years things might have changed?

[@a11csc]

lets hope one day gordon

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

If you check ‘The Missing Link’ part 1, produced by SELRAP includes a flight along the route filmed from an aircraft flying between Colne to Skipton.

[@chrissmith3215]

I live in Skipton and although I know all about the line I didn't know about the quarry

[@BritainsAbandonedRealms]

Its Thornton rocks

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

Blackburn Skipton via Hellifield using the east end bay platform, rather like Bradford Exchange.

[@wam2610]

#thumbsup

[@ianheard1675]

Hi there I think there members club trying open skiption to coine line if want to join I can find out more

[@mickd6942]

Strange , when I was a kid the class 76’s spent all day taking South Yorkshire coal over the Pennines to fiddlers ferry power station near Warrington, now they want to take coal or biomass from Liverpool to Yorkshire

[@jasoncandida]

Great video, how long dod it take to walk through tunnel.

[@nodrog]

Thank you. About 10mins. Not very long.

[@Jimyjames73]

Hiya From @7:40 - just don't drop your camera into the water now!!! Also when going into old water filled tunnel - BEWARE of sudden deep drop of drainage holes!!! 😉🚂🚂🚂

[@TheSEAFARER7]

any chance of doing the birkenhead disused dockrailway?

[@nodrog]

Love too!

[@peterkabrna]

Does anyone remember if there was a level crossing at Slipper Hill and who operated it Thanks

[@wmattinson]

I am not sure there was! I do remember there was an underpass under the line on the Foulridge side very close to where the Slipper Hill road crossed the line but cannot recall if it was big enough for vehicles.

[@peterkabrna]

@@wmattinson Thank you for replying. At Slipper Hill crossing literally where the canal tunnel starts towards Foulridge if you walk towards Colne and about 50 yards to the left there’s a remains of a structure that looks like a crossing man’s box

[@MonopodMan]

Those freight trains should not use that line when it potentially reopens

[@peterkabrna]

It’s the freight trains that want it re-opening to cut journey times.

[@peterkabrna]

It’s next to no chance it open but it would have a slim chance if freight ran on it. Nobody used it in the 60s and there are only a few want it re opened now That’s why the government keep fobbing them off in the hope they all die and no one would know trains used to run between Colne and Skipton

[@wmattinson]

@@peterkabrna To me its a 'no brainer' If this link was reopened it would open up the economic prospects for the whole of NE Lancashire. You only have to see how the Aire Valley line has brought prosperity to the rail corridor from Skipton to Leeds / Bradford partially due to having fast modern rail links. If the 'missing link' was restored and the line down to Preston was electrified (or just just modernised) the social and economic benefits to the region would follow.

[@ABCDEF-yf4yu]

This line should not have closed being a useful route between Leeds and Preston.

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Are you pronouncing it "reminants", the word that is spelled "remnants"?

[@nodrog]

Think so. My accent my make it sound different 👍

[@lisaparfitt8260]

Hi, I could do with messaging you directly please regarding your video . Thanks.

[@nodrog]

[e-mail] 👍