Superb video Darren - great to see how Methley looks today - the last time I was there was around 1980 - back then the signal box at Methley Junction was still very much in use on the Midland and Lofthouse Junction signal box was also in situ, although the lines and box were not in use ..... I remember clearly getting off the bus early one morning at the bus stop/bridge you show in your video and walking up to the signal box ( Methley Junc ) which can just be seen in the old photo you use ( on the far right ) ...........
Great videos, took me back many years as I grew up in Three Lane Ends Castleford and as a child spent many happy hours wandering along the riverside crossing under or over so many railway bridges. I never then appreciated the beauty in these old bridges, such a shame that so many have been destroyed. .
Came here on the recommendation of the Whitewicks. I suggested Methley to them some time ago as they are so close to each other. Great to see you have done them and so nice to see the stations on video rather than Google Earth. As I grew up close by, in the 60's, 70's and 80's, I'll be binge watching all your videos.
Definitely spaghetti junction fascinating look at Methley .The work that must have gone in to the viaducts and the track laying must have been a right challenge for the surveyors back in the day and blood sweat n tears of the workers . Brill that the three stations survive in one form or another .Good you showed the map to explain it all .Hope its sunny for you on the next one and maybe take Barney.🐕
Very well researched Darren, it's grown (methley) since I last took a look, that would be mid 90's. It was indeed a complicated junction and you were right to show the map as it was. Looking forward to the next section. The concrete post with pulley wheels would have been a signal. Keep up the sterling work.
At 3:26 that is a railway fence post with the wire fence tensioner ratchets still fitted at the end of a run. The wires on these types of fences were pretty tight to keep the farm animals off the lines.
I walked part of this route today and found the rails in the ground near Methley South Station have now been covered with a fresh layer of tarmac, so well done Darren for capturing those on film, just in time! It would have been nice if they could have left the top of the rails on the surface. On the plus side, the bridge just down the lane (that crossed the branch line) has had a fresh coat of paint.
On the subject of the intact South station,you got the location of the signalbox right,but it was demolished,it was called Methley Junction, brick built with ornate bargeboards,the station was quite a large layout,with the line coming up from Cutsyke,in the fifties and early sixties this line did not have much passenger traffic,most came via Cas Central,Whitwood jct,and Methley joint junction,going to Wakefield Westgate,and Leeds Central,in the fifties, most trains were hauled by the Ivatt N1s with gresley and thompson suberban coachs,later replaced by the early dmu.s,the station was kept in good condition right up to closure and for a few years after,complete with a lot of semaphore signals,and gas lights on the platforms with the name embossed on the front of the glass,the platforms were on a sweeping curve,with the platforms not opposite due to the curve,with one waiting room on the outer platform.Its amazing how time has altered this location,its hard to believe such a complex and busy place once existed here!
How it’s all changed in 41 years since I worked at Lofthouse Junction signal box at the bottom on the Methley Joint line. which the location will be on the next video. When he walked down from the station and looked over a bridge, one side was a new housing estate and the other side was overgrown, it is hard to believe in the winter of 78/79 I remember getting stuck in a snow drift at that spot as I headed to Methley Junction signal box where I think I was going to collect my wage. Happy Days.
AdventureMe remember that picture I sent you of the DMU taken from Lofthouse Junction? In the background you will see on the left Methley station then at the back of the DMU the bridge you was stood on.
Well done on explaining that swirl of railway lines. I have been going under that bridge (Pinder Green Bridge) all my life, but only found out its name watching this video. It still carries an ancient advert for a company in Doncaster, although it is now partially obscured.
Another great video, Darren. Fascinating to learn about the three Methley stations with their associated bridges, viaducts and branch lines. Looking forward to Part 5. What do passengers do now if they wish to travel from Methley to Leeds or Wakefield?. I presume they have to go by bus.
Hi adventure and how are you and your family and I am trying to follow the last series from last year from Robin Hood bay but I only watched about 3 of them
I'm guessing that it had 3 stations because the different lines were built and run by 3 different companies who were in competition with each other and hence why there wasn't just one station at the junction, like say Clapham Junction in London. It does seem like a waste that there were 3 stations in such a small area of land, but that's what happens when you don't have a national strategy for railways and cooperation to minimise costs, but that's how things were back then.
The crossing you pointed out at approximately 11.45 into the video, you were supposed to over that at 10 mph but because of the weight of the trains the drivers went over a bit quicker, otherwise you would have got stuck 😉
My heart sank when you said you weren't including the Whitewood line as some of my ancestors worked in the Whitewood Colliery, which I assume that line served (on a lane called Railway View)!!! I think the pit is completely gone now and under a theme park called Diggerland!!! I think that kind may still be active though. Great video though. Still getting through all your videos. I am finding it great that even if a lot of these railways are gone they are still used as cycleways and walks so aren't totally forgotten and are used by runners like me, and cyclists too!!!
The reason for the survival of the bridges must be because it's rural and undeveloped. If they had build on the site then they would have vanished too like towards Stanley.
Superb video Darren - great to see how Methley looks today - the last time I was there was around 1980 - back then the signal box at Methley Junction was still very much in use on the Midland and Lofthouse Junction signal box was also in situ, although the lines and box were not in use ..... I remember clearly getting off the bus early one morning at the bus stop/bridge you show in your video and walking up to the signal box ( Methley Junc ) which can just be seen in the old photo you use ( on the far right ) ...........
Cheers paul.
Great videos, took me back many years as I grew up in Three Lane Ends Castleford and as a child spent many happy hours wandering along the riverside crossing under or over so many railway bridges. I never then appreciated the beauty in these old bridges, such a shame that so many have been destroyed. .
Thanks for sharing!
Came here on the recommendation of the Whitewicks. I suggested Methley to them some time ago as they are so close to each other. Great to see you have done them and so nice to see the stations on video rather than Google Earth. As I grew up close by, in the 60's, 70's and 80's, I'll be binge watching all your videos.
Thanks, plenty more to come. And welcome aboard.
Nice to see the station buildings still intact
Yes, for a change.
Another wonderful little video. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
It was amazing to see the tracks still in the road, what a find!
It was, very lucky to see them. They are tarmacked over now.
Definitely spaghetti junction fascinating look at Methley .The work that must have gone in to the viaducts and the track laying must have been a right challenge for the surveyors back in the day and blood sweat n tears of the workers . Brill that the three stations survive in one form or another .Good you showed the map to explain it all .Hope its sunny for you on the next one and maybe take Barney.🐕
It was very complicated, It confused me when trying to explain it. I had to record it three times.
Oh the weather vastly improves for the final part.
Very well researched Darren, it's grown (methley) since I last took a look, that would be mid 90's. It was indeed a complicated junction and you were right to show the map as it was.
Looking forward to the next section. The concrete post with pulley wheels would have been a signal.
Keep up the sterling work.
Thanks for the info! It confused me when trying to explain the junction. And that was only the bit I showed.
So lovely and refreshing to see all 3 stations are still upright and used as homes , I wonder if the owners knew what their house was originally.
I think they all do. You can't mistake it. With the platforms outside lol
@@AdventureMe Haha, yes I didn't think the point through.
At 3:26 that is a railway fence post with the wire fence tensioner ratchets still fitted at the end of a run. The wires on these types of fences were pretty tight to keep the farm animals off the lines.
Excellent video's. We have added a link from the Methley Archive Website to part 3 and 4.
I walked part of this route today and found the rails in the ground near Methley South Station have now been covered with a fresh layer of tarmac, so well done Darren for capturing those on film, just in time! It would have been nice if they could have left the top of the rails on the surface. On the plus side, the bridge just down the lane (that crossed the branch line) has had a fresh coat of paint.
Glad I got there just in time then, shame I wasn't quick enough for the Cutsyke Station platforms.
This is really, really good stuff. Thanks for taking the time to put this stuff together and sharing it.
No problem, plenty more on my channel and yet to come.
Well done Darren.
On the subject of the intact South station,you got the location of the signalbox right,but it was demolished,it was called Methley Junction, brick built with ornate bargeboards,the station was quite a large layout,with the line coming up from Cutsyke,in the fifties and early sixties this line did not have much passenger traffic,most came via Cas Central,Whitwood jct,and Methley joint junction,going to Wakefield Westgate,and Leeds Central,in the fifties, most trains were hauled by the Ivatt N1s with gresley and thompson suberban coachs,later replaced by the early dmu.s,the station was kept in good condition right up to closure and for a few years after,complete with a lot of semaphore signals,and gas lights on the platforms with the name embossed on the front of the glass,the platforms were on a sweeping curve,with the platforms not opposite due to the curve,with one waiting room on the outer platform.Its amazing how time has altered this location,its hard to believe such a complex and busy place once existed here!
It looks so different now. But you can still see traces. Which I like.
Great vlog mate, great to see the station and bridges still intact.
Glad you enjoyed it. One more to come.
There is more confidence to your videos. I enjoy them so much. Thank you & Carry On.
Thanks. Yes I am getting there. I have noticed myself.
Oh Darren, i was just watching Abandoned engineering, now what Am I going to do? lol ;-)
Thanks for the video and chat, Darren. Cheers mate.
Well done , enjoyed your video of the Methley area , onto cutsyke, very informative.
Thanks 👍
Wonderful to see the old mud track, now its all widened & tarmac'd. I live in the estate where the track ends near the train line.
How it’s all changed in 41 years since I worked at Lofthouse Junction signal box at the bottom on the Methley Joint line. which the location will be on the next video. When he walked down from the station and looked over a bridge, one side was a new housing estate and the other side was overgrown, it is hard to believe in the winter of 78/79 I remember getting stuck in a snow drift at that spot as I headed to Methley Junction signal box where I think I was going to collect my wage. Happy Days.
Thanks for sharing that. Hard to imagine how quickly things change.
AdventureMe remember that picture I sent you of the DMU taken from Lofthouse Junction? In the background you will see on the left Methley station then at the back of the DMU the bridge you was stood on.
AdventureMe have you seen this site? www.methleyarchive.org/methley-railway-stations/
@@rodneyhutchinson1495 Yes. I got some of the pictures off them.
Well done on explaining that swirl of railway lines. I have been going under that bridge (Pinder Green Bridge) all my life, but only found out its name watching this video. It still carries an ancient advert for a company in Doncaster, although it is now partially obscured.
Yes on the other side. Something "Oils".
@@AdventureMe Great video again, really enjoying this series. The advert on the bridge was for Thelson Oils.
i do hope your channel grows, very interesting well presented video's
I appreciate that, thank you.
Another great video, Darren. Fascinating to learn about the three Methley stations with their associated bridges, viaducts and branch lines. Looking forward to Part 5. What do passengers do now if they wish to travel from Methley to Leeds or Wakefield?. I presume they have to go by bus.
Many thanks! Yes bus or car unfortunately. Did you manage to watch part 5?
Hi Darren most fascinating video
Steve
Thanks.
Another great vid. Thanks for enlightening us 😄
My pleasure!
Looks like a nice walk 👍
Looking forward to next bit 😎
Hope you enjoyed it.
Great video,thanks
The blue line you drew seems to be the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway.
Yes it was because my signal box at Lofthouse Junction was a Lancashire & Yorkshire railway box with a Lancashire & Yorkshire railway lever frame.
Yes it was. Known as the Midland Railway L&Y on the old maps. I just abreviated it, to avoid further confusion.
Why can't they re open Methley North? So sad when nasty cramped housing estates are built over trackbeds.
Hi adventure and how are you and your family and I am trying to follow the last series from last year from Robin Hood bay but I only watched about 3 of them
Amazon video bro keep up the good work... what's your band called? Are they on UA-cam
Cheers mate. No mate. Just a function band.
I'm guessing that it had 3 stations because the different lines were built and run by 3 different companies who were in competition with each other and hence why there wasn't just one station at the junction, like say Clapham Junction in London. It does seem like a waste that there were 3 stations in such a small area of land, but that's what happens when you don't have a national strategy for railways and cooperation to minimise costs, but that's how things were back then.
Yeah three different companies and the junction was too big for one station in the middle. But now none.
Good video and I like watching your out and about videos because I have got learning difficulties
Glad you like them. More to come.
@@AdventureMe cheers mate
The crossing you pointed out at approximately 11.45 into the video, you were supposed to over that at 10 mph but because of the weight of the trains the drivers went over a bit quicker, otherwise you would have got stuck 😉
My heart sank when you said you weren't including the Whitewood line as some of my ancestors worked in the Whitewood Colliery, which I assume that line served (on a lane called Railway View)!!! I think the pit is completely gone now and under a theme park called Diggerland!!! I think that kind may still be active though. Great video though. Still getting through all your videos. I am finding it great that even if a lot of these railways are gone they are still used as cycleways and walks so aren't totally forgotten and are used by runners like me, and cyclists too!!!
been under pinder green bridge countless times and never knew its name
me neither, until i saw the picture
Were these stations close to the closed Altofs station? I went to Altofts once by train, early 1990s, cannot remember there being much there.
Yes very close
And that building probably was a signal box as there was a very similar design at robins hoods bay on the old Whitby to Scarborough line
Thanks mate
I wish all the old stations where repurposed when the lines closed
When are you going to do a LIVE?
As soon as I am allowed. UA-cam won't let me until I get enough subs or views.
@@AdventureMe that's so sad shame on UA-cam
The reason for the survival of the bridges must be because it's rural and undeveloped. If they had build on the site then they would have vanished too like towards Stanley.
Yeah that's probably true
its a fence post
Oh yes