West Yorkshire North and South Union Railway (1871)

The West Yorkshire North & South Union Railway (also referred to as the North & South Union Railway) was a proposed new line announced in 1871. It was one of a number of failed schemes that intended to improve Halifax's rail connections and to provide a more direct route between Halifax and Huddersfield.

The intention was to construct a new line that would provide a more direct route between sections of the Midland Railway, passing through Halifax and Huddersfield. The proposed route (north to south) was:

  • diverge from the Midland Railway south of Skipton at a junction near Glosburn
  • link to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway at a junction near Oxenhope
  • Halifax
  • Elland & Stainland
  • Huddersfield

From Huddersfield, the intention was to construct a new line along the Holme Valley, initially running near to the existing Huddersfield & Sheffield Junction Railway (H&SJR) as far as Thongsbridge. From there, the proposed line took a more westerly route climbing south through New Mill, Scholes and Hepworth. After crossing the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, & Manchester Railway (SA&MR) at a point approximately 4 miles west of Penistone, the line then ran south-southeast roughly parallel to the SA&MR but approximately 6 miles to the west of it, passing to the western side of Sheffield before eventually reconnecting to the Midland Railway at the junction near Dore & Totley Station.

Although the promoters could have sought running powers over the existing H&SJR southwards from Huddersfield to Sheffield, their preference was for their new line to open up access to the Flockton coal fields.[1]

An early meeting of the scheme's promoters was reported in the Bradford Daily Telegraph (21/Oct/1871):

WEST YORKSHIRE NORTH AND SOUTH UNION RAILWAY.

On Friday evening an influential meeting was held of the promoters of this contemplated line, at the White Swan Hotel, Halifax. The Mayor of Halifax (Mr. McCrea) presided. Mr. J. Bowman spoke of the advantages which the proposed line would confer on Halifax and the district through which it would run, and concluded by moving "That this meeting approves of the projected line of railway, and commends it to the inhabitants of this town and of the districts through which it is proposed to pass, as worthy of support, and pledges itself to promote the success of the line."

Mr. William Morris, of Triangle, seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously.

Mr. Edward Crossley moved "That the solicitors and engineers be instructed forthwith to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the standing orders of Parliament, so that a bill authorising the construction of the line may be submitted to Parliament in the ensuing session."

Mr. B. Foster, of Denholme, seconded the motion, and said that he and his brother would take shares to the amount of £20,000.

The motion was carried unanimously. After the meeting a very large number of shares were subscribed by several gentlemen. The capital is to be £100,000, in £10 shares.

The Leeds Mercury (23/Oct/1871) reported that the line would be 39 miles in length and the estimated cost would be £1,000,000. In their coverage of the meeting, the Huddersfield Chronicle (28/Oct/1871) noted that the promoters "had anticipated some difficulty with an important landowner" in the Huddersfield area — presumably Sir John William Ramsden — "but having had a conference with him, they had now every reason to believe that he would be satisfied with the scheme."

The prospectus for the company read:[2]

The proposed Railway commences southerly by a junction with the Midland main line at Dore, passes through the westerly part of the city of Sheffield, and thence through Huddersfield, and by way of Elland through the westerly part of Halifax; the line then proceeds via Mixenden and Oxenhope and again, northerly, joins the Midland main line near Skipton. It is intended to connect, and it is anticipated, will form part of the Midland main line between London and Scotland, as it will secure a saving of distance for that line of about 20 miles, and will make the Midland shorter between London and the North than either the West Coast or the East Coast route. This saving of distance is also locally most important, as that effected between Huddersfield and Halifax alone, is between 4 and 5 miles.

The line will pass through very populous districts — the city of Sheffield with a population of 350,000, the county borough and parish of Huddersfield 200,000, the county borough and parish of Halifax 200,000, and with other places reaching a population of nearly 1,000,000. These districts, which, as is well-known, arc largely engaged in manufactures, are capable of much development, and have been prevented during the past 30 years from much greater progress than they have made by the need of a Railway such as is now proposed.

Most important coal fields and valuable stone abound in the lands traversed, and a large trade is already done with London and the North, which, with the facility this line will afford can be increased to an enormous extent. The railway will be made with gradients adapted for a main trunk line, and would place Huddersfield, Halifax, and other important manufacturing centres in a position of railway communication to which they are geographically entitled between London and Scotland. Junctions can easily be made with the existing railways at Sheffield, Halifax, and Oxenhope for Keighley.

Consideration to this scheme is invited, and all suggestions by persons interested and willing to co-operate in the promotion of it, addressed to either Messrs. Utley & Gray, Civil Engineers and Land Agents, 10, Waterhouse Street, Halifax; or to Messrs. Wavell, Kerr & Kerr. Solicitors, 26, George Street, Halifax, will receive prompt attention.

Following the meeting, interest seems to have quickly waned, perhaps due to the high cost of the scheme.

According to Ian Dinmore of railarchive.org.uk:[3]

However, while confident the promoters were somewhat unaware that their engaged engineers has poorly advised them on the geography of the proposed route. This would mean many steep gradients, tunnels, viaducts and cuttings through the Pennines - all very costly. Like many Railway Mania plans the prospectus paints a rosy picture fronting many hidden truths about the true cost and likely returns on investments - this proposal never even made it to the second house before being thrown out as a ridiculous proposition!

One of those involved in the scheme was civil engineer, architect and surveyor Samuel Utley, who was born on 27 May 1836 at Sowerby Bridge. Before his death in 1900, Utley attempted to revive interest in the scheme in a letter titled "North and South Union Railway" published in the Halifax Evening Courier in February 1896.[4] Utley had been involved with the construction of the 200-mile Great Indian Peninsula Railway in 1859 and had then partnered with George Wilson Stevenson on designs for the Halifax & Ovenden Junction Railway (opened 1874).[5]

Gallery

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Route

The following is a general approximation of the route, based on the prospectus map, and is not intended to be accurate.

Notes and References