Grew up in Cudeth in the 70s\80s and have cycled along the current route a lot. That’s the best video I’ve re seen of the area - and there’s a lot! Thank you. Great musical score as well.
I live quite near on the Wakefield locality and although I am 59, I lived in the Dewsbury area till my mid forties but I do remember looking over the Doncaster Road Parapet with the Midland going under at Crofton in the 80’s when there was a signal box just to the north. Thanks for the info on the reason for shutting- Namely the subsidence- Makes a lot of logical sense. I just took it was simple rationalisation and penny pinching but I think by this time they probably were worried about lack of capacity. The network was and is stripped to the bone. I wonder if there is a present preservation theme in network rails mentality ( they probably still own alot of the route to Barnsley still. I heard a rumour they might be interested in a future passenger service)
Hi Just found your video and it was fascinating. I was born just down the road from the station at what was then 12 Midland Terrace, my mother still lives there. My father was a relief signalman and Cudworth Station South was one of his regular boxes. The station and surrounding area was my playground during the sixties and seventies. The bridge over Small Bridge Dyke, we just called it the dyke, had a rope fastened as a swing. We often followed the Chapeltown Loop line as far as the viaduct. Happy Days Thanks Dave Baker
When I did a very deep study of the history of Cudworth I covered the whole period from when the manor was first formed in the late eleventh century through to the current day (now a few years ago!). I was living in Cudworth at the time. When I got to the rapid expansion of the local population with the steady onset of the industrial Revolution and all its local impacts one of the more notable points was the building of the Midland railway in 1840. I was quite impressed by how much money the railway buidlers spent on ensuring that they kept the locals on-side (This was a period of intense change, the turnpikes arrived in Cudworth in the early 1830s, the canal was built not far away a bit earlier, and then came the railways - this being the first locally! - even the road network was altered in way not seen during the previous 800 years! The railway disrupted the ancient packhorse route at Storrs Mill, a route linking Doncaster, via Darfield, Cudworth, Royston and Sandal to Wakefield, then on via Skipton to Kirkby Lonsdale in Westmoreland - a very important mediaeval trade route). In defence of the railway though, the packhorse trade had pretty much ended by then and the diversion of the Cudworth to Darfield road at Storrs Mill probably helped to protect the remnants of the old packhorse stairs which rise up through the woods from the old packhorse bridge. You mentioned in the video of a parapet. I do not have an answer to the identity of that structure, because your description was a bit vague, but, the builders did what very few, if any, railway builders have done since. Rather than send locals further on foot where the railway was intersecting a traditional way, the builders of this railway spent a fortune on bridges, tunnels, and other means to ensure that the time-honoured routes to various important locations like outlying farms or even more especially the church, were given a safe and direct passage. The church, incidentally, was the one in Royston since Cudworth was not yet a parish. The kirkway from Cudworth to Royston was protected in 1840, but not by any other railway builder after that line was completed.The tunnels under the railway line towards Royston when they were first built were of sufficient height to allow passage on horse-back or in a cart as well as on foot. That was a very expensive bit of investment for little gain for shareholders. It did, however, make the arrival of this disruptive engineering more palatable to the locals. Sadly, within 20 years the kirkway was diverted by the arrival of another railway running in the gap between Cudworth and Royston, their builders clearly had no problems with upsetting the locals! Network Rail still own all the land around the old railway and several adjoining bits along its length. The packhorse briidge at Storrs Mill was replaced by a modern version fiteen to twenty years ago - all at the cost of Netwrok Rail. The modern signs that you mention are precisely that, modern Network Rail signs on their land. I note that you did not mention the great Cudworth Rail disaster, you walked right through the site of it. On 19th January 1905 two trains collided and six people were killed.
I can remember passing through cuddy on the way to Sheffield on Saturday train spotting in 1959 pulled by the Seaforth Highlander royal Scot class 4-6-0 a fine steam engine.
I can remember when we lived in Wakefield in the 1970s cycling from home along Chevet Lane and Common Lane to the footbridge just south of Walton, and watching the trains going by. And I once went by train from Leeds to Birmingham by that route, in 1980, I think. Shame I didn't pay more attention, since it closed to through trains (and completely, south of Monk Bretton) not long afterwards.
Just found this excellent video ,as a local lad i remember spending many a happy day "spotting" at Cudworth station in the 70/80s ,it was a VERY busy place ,coal traing ,expresses and the very first HSTs on test from Derby to Neville Hill .A couple of rumors are that it was going to be the HS2 line to Leeds ,and also the latest one is a possible re-opening anyway as NR have been doing work in the part between Goose Hill and Oakenshaw
Very interesting; looking forward to when you get to Wath Road junction, somewhere I used to go train spotting well over 50 years ago! In the late 70s I used to travel from Leeds/Bradford down to Derby, the line cut through the massive Manvers Coking Plant site where you passed the coke ovens quite close to the line, quite a sight. I can still remember Peaks rattling through what was Wath North in the 70s - you had a good uninterrupted view of them from the road bridge on Moor Road in Wath (which was over the the Great Central line/marshaling yard throat)
Thanks for the comment and memories! Me too, I'm going to use side by side maps to try and walk as close to the old trackbed at Manvers as I can in the industrial estate and show just how much its changed, its incredible, and quite sad too really.
@@TrainSim_TV Yeah it is sad, I grew up in Wath - all that industry and railway infrastructure has disappeared, its quite hard to believe it was ever there now and so many younger people that live and work there are probably unaware of how much used to exist there.
platform 5 at cudworth station, was still there in 1964./65, still being used for engine and guards van, waiting for the messenger boy, with the mail and parcels, for the carlton sidings yard masters office, just north of cudworth.
@@TrainSim_TV i started as a messenger boy in 64, started at cudworth station, picked up the mail and any uniform parcels, waiting for me on platform 5, was an engine and brake van, which took me to the Carlton sidings, were the YARD MASTERS office was, on the H & B, line , deliver the mail, then come back with mail or any parcels, to take back to cudworth station. some days, there was just a loco, so you can imagine, the crew, guard, me, push bike, mail , parcels, inside the cab of the loco. the loco and van, were always waiting on platform 5, i dont know after 1965 ,
@@leslieparsons3780 That's fascinating Leslie, thanks for coming back with the rest of it. I can only imagine the sight of all of that in the cab of a loco!
The Network rail sign at 34:14 is probably new if NR still own the line of route/ infrastructure it’s to stop people claiming it’s is a public right of way should the line be built on sold or reinstated
27:53 it’s probably not listed but due to being out the way and middle of no where, would cost more to rip it down than just leave it standing and rip the guts out of it
Grew up in Cudeth in the 70s\80s and have cycled along the current route a lot. That’s the best video I’ve re seen of the area - and there’s a lot! Thank you. Great musical score as well.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I live quite near on the Wakefield locality and although I am 59, I lived in the Dewsbury area till my mid forties but I do remember looking over the Doncaster Road Parapet with the Midland going under at Crofton in the 80’s when there was a signal box just to the north.
Thanks for the info on the reason for shutting- Namely the subsidence- Makes a lot of logical sense. I just took it was simple rationalisation and penny pinching but I think by this time they probably were worried about lack of capacity. The network was and is stripped to the bone.
I wonder if there is a present preservation theme in network rails mentality ( they probably still own alot of the route to Barnsley still. I heard a rumour they might be interested in a future passenger service)
Hi
Just found your video and it was fascinating. I was born just down the road from the station at what was then 12 Midland Terrace, my mother still lives there. My father was a relief signalman and Cudworth Station South was one of his regular boxes. The station and surrounding area was my playground during the sixties and seventies. The bridge over Small Bridge Dyke, we just called it the dyke, had a rope fastened as a swing. We often followed the Chapeltown Loop line as far as the viaduct. Happy Days
Thanks Dave Baker
When I did a very deep study of the history of Cudworth I covered the whole period from when the manor was first formed in the late eleventh century through to the current day (now a few years ago!). I was living in Cudworth at the time. When I got to the rapid expansion of the local population with the steady onset of the industrial Revolution and all its local impacts one of the more notable points was the building of the Midland railway in 1840. I was quite impressed by how much money the railway buidlers spent on ensuring that they kept the locals on-side (This was a period of intense change, the turnpikes arrived in Cudworth in the early 1830s, the canal was built not far away a bit earlier, and then came the railways - this being the first locally! - even the road network was altered in way not seen during the previous 800 years! The railway disrupted the ancient packhorse route at Storrs Mill, a route linking Doncaster, via Darfield, Cudworth, Royston and Sandal to Wakefield, then on via Skipton to Kirkby Lonsdale in Westmoreland - a very important mediaeval trade route). In defence of the railway though, the packhorse trade had pretty much ended by then and the diversion of the Cudworth to Darfield road at Storrs Mill probably helped to protect the remnants of the old packhorse stairs which rise up through the woods from the old packhorse bridge.
You mentioned in the video of a parapet. I do not have an answer to the identity of that structure, because your description was a bit vague, but, the builders did what very few, if any, railway builders have done since. Rather than send locals further on foot where the railway was intersecting a traditional way, the builders of this railway spent a fortune on bridges, tunnels, and other means to ensure that the time-honoured routes to various important locations like outlying farms or even more especially the church, were given a safe and direct passage.
The church, incidentally, was the one in Royston since Cudworth was not yet a parish. The kirkway from Cudworth to Royston was protected in 1840, but not by any other railway builder after that line was completed.The tunnels under the railway line towards Royston when they were first built were of sufficient height to allow passage on horse-back or in a cart as well as on foot.
That was a very expensive bit of investment for little gain for shareholders. It did, however, make the arrival of this disruptive engineering more palatable to the locals. Sadly, within 20 years the kirkway was diverted by the arrival of another railway running in the gap between Cudworth and Royston, their builders clearly had no problems with upsetting the locals!
Network Rail still own all the land around the old railway and several adjoining bits along its length. The packhorse briidge at Storrs Mill was replaced by a modern version fiteen to twenty years ago - all at the cost of Netwrok Rail. The modern signs that you mention are precisely that, modern Network Rail signs on their land.
I note that you did not mention the great Cudworth Rail disaster, you walked right through the site of it. On 19th January 1905 two trains collided and six people were killed.
I can remember passing through cuddy on the way to Sheffield on Saturday train spotting in 1959 pulled by the Seaforth Highlander royal Scot class 4-6-0 a fine steam engine.
I can remember when we lived in Wakefield in the 1970s cycling from home along Chevet Lane and Common Lane to the footbridge just south of Walton, and watching the trains going by. And I once went by train from Leeds to Birmingham by that route, in 1980, I think. Shame I didn't pay more attention, since it closed to through trains (and completely, south of Monk Bretton) not long afterwards.
Just found this excellent video ,as a local lad i remember spending many a happy day "spotting" at Cudworth station in the 70/80s ,it was a VERY busy place ,coal traing ,expresses and the very first HSTs on test from Derby to Neville Hill .A couple of rumors are that it was going to be the HS2 line to Leeds ,and also the latest one is a possible re-opening anyway as NR have been doing work in the part between Goose Hill and Oakenshaw
Glad you enjoyed it
Nicely put together thank you.
Great Documentary. Bravo Mark. I'm guessing Tom wasn't allowed out
No gingers was allowed out of BLKPOOL 😂😂
Toms banned from going out
Very interesting; looking forward to when you get to Wath Road junction, somewhere I used to go train spotting well over 50 years ago! In the late 70s I used to travel from Leeds/Bradford down to Derby, the line cut through the massive Manvers Coking Plant site where you passed the coke ovens quite close to the line, quite a sight. I can still remember Peaks rattling through what was Wath North in the 70s - you had a good uninterrupted view of them from the road bridge on Moor Road in Wath (which was over the the Great Central line/marshaling yard throat)
Thanks for the comment and memories! Me too, I'm going to use side by side maps to try and walk as close to the old trackbed at Manvers as I can in the industrial estate and show just how much its changed, its incredible, and quite sad too really.
@@TrainSim_TV Yeah it is sad, I grew up in Wath - all that industry and railway infrastructure has disappeared, its quite hard to believe it was ever there now and so many younger people that live and work there are probably unaware of how much used to exist there.
Yeah, I never saw it myself and certainly even knowing it was there it's hard to believe it ever existed!
platform 5 at cudworth station, was still there in 1964./65, still being used for engine and guards van, waiting for the messenger boy, with the mail and parcels, for the carlton sidings yard masters office, just north of cudworth.
Cheers for the info Leslie! Is there some of the comment missing though, seems to end in the middle of the sentence??
@@TrainSim_TV i started as a messenger boy in 64, started at cudworth station, picked up the mail and any uniform parcels, waiting for me on platform 5, was an engine and brake van, which took me to the Carlton sidings, were the YARD MASTERS office was, on the H & B, line , deliver the mail, then come back with mail or any parcels, to take back to cudworth station. some days, there was just a loco, so you can imagine, the crew, guard, me, push bike, mail , parcels, inside the cab of the loco. the loco and van, were always waiting on platform 5, i dont know after 1965 ,
@@leslieparsons3780 That's fascinating Leslie, thanks for coming back with the rest of it. I can only imagine the sight of all of that in the cab of a loco!
@@TrainSim_TV it was a choice, between a 4F ,8F, black 5, or Austerity, what ever royston loco shed allocted for the days workings,
@@leslieparsons3780 That must have been a fun experience. At some point I'll take a wander up the old H&B too hopefully.
The Network rail sign at 34:14 is probably new if NR still own the line of route/ infrastructure it’s to stop people claiming it’s is a public right of way should the line be built on sold or reinstated
27:53 it’s probably not listed but due to being out the way and middle of no where, would cost more to rip it down than just leave it standing and rip the guts out of it
Bumps are not subsidence it's 35 of off road bikes because the path at the side is a lot flatter bikes move the shale