115-year-old Yorkshire railway bridge to be removed and retired

A vintage steam crane will lift the bridge into place

Bridge 11 crosses the River Worth near Ingrow West Station, which is now part of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway heritage line.

It was built in 1904 as part of the Midland Railway's branch from Keighley to Oxenhope, which opened in 1867 after an engineer visiting Charlotte Bronte's home village of Haworth after her death was surprised to find it was not linked to the railway. The route was shut in the Beeching cuts of 1962 and re-opened as a preserved line six years later.

The KWVR will remove the Edwardian bridge, install a new concrete deck and re-lay the track as part of a £150,000 restoration project.

Most of the work will be carried out by the railway's volunteers, who have given their time to the scheme alongside their full-time jobs.

A steam crane supplied by the Bahamas Locomotive Society will lift the new bridge into place on March 24.

27-year-old civil engineer James Barlow has been managing the project in his own time and volunteers have battled heavy floods caused by Storm Ciara in February, which left the engine shed in Haworth under water and damaged several diesel locomotives.

"We’re extremely lucky to have a dedicated and qualified group of volunteers helping with this project; we wouldn't be able to deliver this project for £150,000 without them. Planning for the project began over a year ago, with volunteers starting physical preparation work on site during the first weekend of 2020. We’re looking forward to watching the first train cross it on April 4,” said James.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a charity. Staff, volunteers and contractors work hard throughout the year to repair buildings, engines, carriages and more, which is all made possible by donations and visitors coming to the railway to keep the past alive.

The railway have been fundraising to help cover the costs of the project, If you would like to support the Ingrow Bridge Appeal, donations can be made via: https://kwvr.co.uk/ingrow-bridge-appeal/, by calling 01535 645214, or at any station.