A last look before closure | Morley Station & Batley Signal Box | Railway Photography
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- Before the closure of Morley Station and Batley Signal Box, I spent an evening photographing the railway activity at Morley Station and Lady Ann Crossing Batley. As part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, the station at Morley is moving away from the Tunnel and Signalling work will close one of the last remaining traditional Signal Boxes in West Yorkshire.
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Yet another enjoyable film , very well produced.
Many thanks, Peter.
Wow!! Brilliant video!! Used to hangout in mid 70s as kids on that footbridge and lady Ann crossing. Such a shame these victorian are going, hope they preserve the signal box. That footbridge used to shake when trains ran under it 😂😂😂 Happydays
Glad you enjoyed it Philip, the line would have been different back in the mid 70's, I didn't travel along here regularly until the mid 80's.
A moral to Morley! Wonderful video, brilliant photography. Ah yes Morley Low. I remember a dank gas lit waiting room on the down platform which brought to mind Charles Dicken's The Signal Man. All change again.
Many thanks, Indeed all change, the old waiting room is before my time, I past through the station plenty of times but didn't take much notice, my local was on the other side of Leeds which had much character, now sadly all that character is lost.
Another excellent 12m 07s
Really appreciated Mark!
Well done for recording some things that will soon be history Andrew. Your technique and style is top notch!
I must keep on top of the changes locally, there's going to be lots going on on the Transpennine line over the next few years. I've just seen a photo of an old bridge being removed at Mirfield this weekend.
Thank you very much for this upload.
Many thanks, Stephen, that's appreciated.
wish you were our teacher at school, love to listen to your voice...so relaxing....were you ever a teacher?
It is sad to see all these old boxes go but the railway has to progress and we cannot have the biggest heritage railway in the world. This box was due to close years ago but like many things on the railway it has hung on until now. York ROC spread its tentacles even further taking over Huddersfield. The problem here was the manual gates which would be costly to replace. The box only has 4 levers and two of those are spare, these interlock a switch panel that controls the signals and in turn have a key in them to unlock the gates. I hope the box is saved being one of the last on the route. I passed it on 10 06 2023 and the door was open. I guess it may go on 18th when Morley station closes
Many thanks, I do believe the box will close during the next blockade in June, and the replacement footbridge is progressing. Interesting bit of information regarding the levers, I noticed the signalman controlled the interlock of the crossing gates. I welcome progress, but it is nice to observe what's left of the historical infrastructure still operational on the network.
@@AndrewShenton I went in the box many years ago as a trainee signal maintainer We fitted a new tamper proof lock on the gates after someone had managed to unlock and open them. Obviously a very dangerous and foolhardy thing to do as the signals were unlocked and free to clear to green, quite why they did that we never found out. I forgot to mention I noticed the new footbridge towards Huddersfield with high solid green sides is now in place, whether that old one towards Leeds will be replaced I do not know. Progress saddens me as well seeing old ways of working being lost and you do right to record things like this before it is gone for ever. Looking back I regret not taking a few photos of boxes I visited in my early days. I did take photos in later years but those I first knew were all gone by then
Great vid mate
Thanks Andrew, another great video and a very true sentiment at the end, nothing lasts forever.
Many thanks, indeed nothing lasts in the long run, today’s normal is tomorrow’s history, I think that’s the saying. Need to make the most of the Transpennine before the big changes come.
Very interesting and very well presented, thank you!
You're very welcome.
Another amazing video, Andrew. We really do need to start photographing things that seem so normal more often.
Indeed, but I guess it’s alway been true, nothing stays the same, what’s the saying, today’s normal is tomorrow’s history.
Morning buddy. Some lovely pictures of Morley station and Batley signal box 😊 It’s a modern world we live in now and at least we’re not closing the line just making modern 👍🏻 I’m a 70s train enthusiast and loved the BR blue grey era and can remember travelling on that line in the original class 124 TPE DMUs and loco hauled trains lol 😆 Keep the coming 😊
Many thanks, Stevie, my era was BR Blue, late 70’s early 80’s it was peaks on the transpennine when I traveled regularly on that line in the mid 80’s. Anything for a Time Machine to go back to about 1978!
Another excellent video Andrew, thanks for sharing your ideas and locations
It’s my pleasure Steve, many thanks for watching, there’s a few more locations along this line I need to visit before long.
Great video, like the very last shot with the bridge fantastic
Many thanks, yes, it was pleasing to get that last shot against the sky, thanks for watching and commenting.
Enjoyed watching the video; thanks Andrew!
My pleasure, Chris, I’m really pleased you enjoy watching them.
Hi Andrew, I have to say you have a winning formula here. You’ve managed to combine two of the things I enjoy; railways and landscape photography. I also really like the way you insert the processed images with the live video footage. Oh and a Yorkshire accent is the icing on the cake. Keep producing the videos, I really enjoy them.
Many thanks, Ian, I really do appreciate your comment, I do enjoy producing the videos, not only for myself in documenting some of my photography trips, but it also adds an extra creative challenge trying capture not only an interesting photograph but trying to get interesting video too, don't often succeed though.
@@AndrewShenton That’s what really impressed me. Combining the video and the resulting photograph means the weather, trains and timing all have to come together which is no mean feat! I’ve watched all your videos now and the standard is really high. I’d much rather prefer watching you take images of trains in the landscape than watch mainstream TV. Perhaps you should approach channel4 or 5 and see if they would commission a series? Keep up the great work sir. And again, thanks for the great content.
Great to capture what will soon be history Andrew 👍 couldn't agree more with the moral of "getting things while you can". Everything seems to dissappear suddenly and quickly without warning
Indeed Ben, I guess the railway especially is constantly evolving, todays normal is tomorrow’s history, we just need to get what can.
Cracking that
A great video Andrew, a shame we’re losing this signal boxes, but thank you for sharing 🎉🎉🎉
Many thanks Mark, yes the old mechanical signal boxes are now becoming a real rarity.
Another superb video, very much appreciated!
My pleasure Philip, glad you’re enjoying them.
Another great video 👍🏻 I hope Batley signal box will be preserved,I like how you showed the old photos and some of the history of what it was like from the book I might have to check some of those books out,that guy at 5,26 -brilliant 😂
Many thanks David, I’ve no idea about the future of the box, many just get left to rot these days. Yes, some of the Railway Memories books are very good, mostly based on Yorkshire and the North East, plenty of second hand available on eBay for not much money.
5:26 that really made me chuckle! Wouldn't be surprised if that footbridge would disappear and replaced with a modern one. I heard that the current station is closing on the 18th June. Will pay a visit before they relocate the station. Also would visit Cottingley Station as well as that Station is planning to be closed and replaced by White Rose Station. Great video Andrew.
Many thanks Simon, the chap was totally unprompted and I though I’d leave it in. Good idea to go to Cottingley, you should plan to visit Ravensthorpe too, that station will be relocated when the new junction is constructed.
@@AndrewShenton you just gave me a great idea.... thanks Andrew
Nice video especially the footbridge. We travel to Leeds from Brighouse and you kind of just not notice it. They are really getting on with the station. As always Andrew a lovely video of a really busy station
Many thanks Adrian, yes, it’s coming along quite fast, big changes during June I gather.
Huddersfield though is gonna be a tricky one as NR can't use traditional gantry's or stanchion's through the station.
Nice video Andrew, What a shame times have to change, my moto is, if it's not broken, why fix it, but then I'm old school.🙂
I’m with you, I do enjoy the old infrastructure, but mustn’t complain too much with the ongoing improvements, at least it’s not closure.
@@AndrewShenton That's true Andrew.
Nice video but surprised you didn’t film from to Road/footpath just off the station footbridge that gets both stations in,luckily I got some Morley stations shots with strike day RHTT last year which were a added bonus but sadly the weather wasn’t.
Many thanks Rob, there’s a few shots I should have done, I should have got one looking straight into the tunnel from the platform, that available shot will disappear when the station moves. I need to check out Cottingley before that goes too.
@@AndrewShenton I’ve never looked at Cottingley probably cos of said area it’s in but I can’t believe the new Morley station will be closer to White Rose than the new White Rose station cos that’s how it looks when you drive down Churwell Hill,if the 68s get a good on the TPE route it might be a time to nip back up,same with the footbridge at Garforth cos that goes very soon.
There was one (non railway related) composition I found towards the end of last year. I had missed its best autumnal colours so decided to leave it and try again this year. Unfortunately over the winter a large area of trees where all of the best colour had come from was felled, leaving a rough bare patch on the side of the valley. I believe this video is further consolidating the fact that it is important to get a shot while you still can, which is something that I’ve been forced to learn very early on in my photography experience.
Many thanks, the same has happened to me, there's numerous times when I've spotted something that would make an interesting composition, but returning its gone - there's a lesson somewhere.
Were have you been sir 😅
more criminal damage in the name of progress , i went to the site of late grandads signal box , peelwood siding . could nt get near due to huge nettles and the network rail fence , but at least i walked in his footsteps of the wonderful gentle man , regards from wigan , lancashire
Many thanks, Tracy, It's good trying to follow in the footsteps of the past, but can also be a bit disheartening how derelict things are, I've attempted similar with my ancestors. Oh for a time machine, I'd love to go back and witness the past. Thanks for commenting greatly appreciated.
@@AndrewShenton anytime mate
Notwork Fail don't care about heritage and if they say they want rid of it they'll get rid of it, unless the box is listed because then it cannot be demolished. The one on my patch in Birkdale is listed so cannot be demolished, other's I know of include: Parbold, Carnforth (original box), Canterbury West (that huge one that spans over the running lines), Garsdale, Hexham, Princes Risborough North, Runcorn, both boxes in Shrewsbury & im unsure but a few on the Settle and Carlisle Line.
@@MasterMoyle nice one , parbold cabin is not far from us , but the wonderful gathurst cabin , was lost forever , what a box
@@tracya4087 atleast we know for certain that Parbold won't be going at all, although it might be a different story for the semaphore signals at Parbold though. However we won't be loosing those either as things are looking presently because Notwork Fail aren't planning to electrify the route through Meols Cop and Burscough at present, this route really needs improvement work aswell as a better service frequency as it's f**king rubbish at present. That OR reinstate the Burscough curves.
I thought the Huddersfield line wasn't getting electrified.
Thanks David, the line will be fully electrified between York and Manchester, but it looks like the project is split into separate projects- Colton Junction to Church Fenton, Manchester to Stalybridge, Huddersfield to Dewsbury all have the go ahead and are progressing, Morley Station is a separate project in readiness for electrification.
@@AndrewShenton It might be a few years until OLE's go up in Huddersfield because the roof there is grade 1 listed & they're not allowed to use traditional overhead wire stanchion's through the station.
@@AndrewShenton Electrify standedge tunnel will be a big job .
Hope they don't knock the signal box down been they years
Thanks John, I've no idea what will happen to the Signal Box, some of the other closed ones just seam to be left to rot. Thanks for liking the video and commenting, keep any eye out there should be a few videos coming along in the next few weeks.
@@AndrewShenton I hope it is saved but am doubtful about this one. Others were closed and due to be demolished but were saved for track staff welfare facilities as it was pointed out there was nowhere staff could use, sadly many of those saved have become targets for vandals and are now boarded up.
Why are they wasting all that money just to move the station just a short distance
Maybe to allow for the the overhead gantries. Will the tunnel have enough clearance? Might have to lower the trackbed.
I’ve read it’s something to do with future electrification work and the close proximity of the platforms to the tunnel.
@@AndrewShenton think there's a few about which are close to the tunnel mouth, isn't there one on the route to Sheffield via Chinley.