Huddersfield Chronicle (10/Jul/1869) – Opening of the Branch Line of Railway to Meltham

MELTHAM.

Opening of the Branch Line of Railway to Meltham.

After innumerable predictions, the opening of the Meltham Branch Railway is an accomplished fact. On Monday morning the line was opened for passenger traffic, and although no public demonstration took place, the inhabitants of the valley were highly delighted with the event. The first train consisting of engine, tender, and eleven carriages — with a large number of passengers left Huddersfield station — for Meltham. The engine was under the care of Mr. McConkey, who was accompanied on the engine by Mr. Normanton, the assistant superintendent of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company ; Mr. Thornton, superintendent of the locomotive department ; Mr. Goldstraw, the contractors’ engineer ; Mr. Thompson, the Huddersfield station master ; and other officials. As the train moved from the platform fog signals were fired. At Lockwood about a score of passengers were taken up, and fog signals were fired as the train left the station. At Netherton a large number of persons congregated and welcomed the arrival of the tram with hearty cheers. Flags were flying at the station and across the line, and a large number of fog signals were discharged. Hundreds of the inhabitants flocked into the train, the first ticket issued being obtained by Mr. James Wrigley, who has taken a lively interest in the construction of the line from its commencement. At Healey House station flags were hoisted and signals fired. At Meltham thousands of persons lined the side of the cutting above the station, and in various ways demonstrated the pleasure they felt at the opening of the line, which had already been productive of great benefit to them by a reduction in the price of coal by at least 3s. 6d. per ton. On the arrival of the train a large number of fog signals were discharged. The first ticket issued at this station was to Master Walker, son of the station master. During the whole of the day the trains were well filled with passengers, and ample provision made for their comfort and entertainment at the Rose and Crown, the Swan, Victoria, and other inns in the town. The line, although a short length, has been very expensive in its construction owing to the many difficulties which beset the contractors, Messrs. Barnes and Beckett. The first sod was lifted by Charles Brook, Esq., of Enderby, on the 4th of April, 1864, and Monday being the fifth day of July, the line has occupied five years, three months, and one day in its construction. The difficult portions of the undertaking were at Dungeon Wood and Netherton tunnel. From the junction at the Lockwood viaduct to Meltham is a distance of three miles and a half, and the gradients are very heavy. On leaving the main line at the above junction the gradient is one in 100; at Dungeon Wood to Butternab it is one in 60 ; at Netherton it is one in 95; and from Healey House it is one in 120. The line is level at all the stations. The line passes through picturesque scenery, the Netherton valley being one of the finest for miles round, and presents a fine opening for the erection of villa residences. Emerging from the Butternab tunnel, a magnificent gorge is opened out on the right hand side, which, for beauty and variety of foliage, can scarcely be equalled in this part of the country. Leaving Netherton station, a fine, extensive panorama is opened to view. The picturesque valley, the beautiful silk mills of Messrs. Charles Brook and Sons, overtopped by the extensive thread works of Messrs. Jonas Brook and Brothers, flanked by the Spink Mires Mills, with the pretty church of St. James and the parsonage in the centre, and the extensive view of pasture, wood, and moorland forms a picture rarely met with, and this will be much enhanced when the Convalescent Home is erected. There is little doubt but that the Meltham line will prove a great attraction for pic-nic parties to Harden Moss, the Isle of Skye, and other places in the locality.


1869.07.10 Opening of the Branch Line of Railway to Meltham - Huddersfield Chronicle 10 July 1869

Huddersfield Chronicle (29/May/1869) – Meltham: Inspection of the Branch Line of Railway

MELTHAM.

Inspection of the Branch Line of Railway.

The long anticipated inspection of the branch line from Huddersfield to Meltham has at length taken place, but with what result remains to be seen ; nor will that result be known until after the inspector (Col. Yalland) has made his report to the Board of Trade. The inspection took place on Wednesday, and at 12 minutes past two o’clock a special train, consisting of engine, tender, and three carriages, one a first-class and the others second-class, containing the Government Inspector (Captain Binstead), a number of the directors of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, their engineers, the contractors, and others left the Huddersfield Station. Arriving at the Dungeon Wood junction, a second engine was attached, and with the additional weight the numerous bridges on the line were tested as to their capabilities of sustaining the weight intended to be sent over them. Every part of the line was minutely inspected, and the company did not return to Huddersfield till a quarter-past six in the evening.

Huddersfield Chronicle (06/Aug/1859) – Magistrates in Petty Sessions

Magistrates in Petty Sessions.

A Midnight Rambler.

Ann Elder, a gipsy looking woman, was brought up charged with wandering abroad at Almondbury, and behaving in a lewd manner. The policeman on duty in that locality, about eleven o’clock on Tuesday night heard a female scream in a field, and on going to the spot he saw seven men and the prisoner there ; he also found an apron belonging to her on the ground. At one o’clock the next morning he found her laid under a hedge two field lengths from where he first saw her, and two men were laid with her. The magistrates enquired why he had not brought the men as well ? to which he replied they made their escape. Magistrate — Then why not let the woman escape also ? On promising to return to Dewsbury and not come here again she was discharged.

A Boniface in Trouble.

Mr. Joseph Smithson, innkeeper, of York, was charged with being drunk tho previous Tuesday. Superintendent Priday stated that he found the defendant lying on the flags near the Railway station, in St. George’s Square, in a helpless state of drunkenness, and took charge of him till sober. Ho was fined 5s. and costs.

A Pitiable Spectacle.

Mary Shaw, a poor half-witted creature, was brought up by Police Constable Lumb, charged with being drunk. The officer stated that the previous evening he had his attention called to her, when she was lying saturated with the rain that had fallen, in Dungeon Wood, and was quite drunk. On reaching the lock-up and being searched, a bottle of gin, half a bottle of brandy, and some money was found upon her. She was evidently insane, and Police Inspector Haworth requested the bench to remand her, in order to make enquiries after her friends, but the court would not accede to the request except by the answer, “She is fined 5s. and the expenses.” The inspector again urged, but the magistrate replied, “We have nothing more to do with it : she is fined 5s.”

Bradford Observer (16/Nov/1843) – Branch Railway

HUDDERSFIELD.

Branch Railway.

We are given to understand that is now definitively arranged to have a branch railway from this town to join the Leeds and Manchester Line at Cooper Bridge, and that the work will be commenced forthwith. In one point of view, the intended line will be hailed with satisfaction, as it will entirely do away with the almost intolerable nuisance which is felt by the public in consequence of the present unregulated omnibus system ; but, on the other hand, it is feared the speculation will be anything but a profitable one, the distance being only three and a half miles.