Arch Railway Bridge Over Westgate - Cleckheaton, UK
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member dtrebilc
N 53° 43.385 W 001° 42.913
30U E 584773 N 5953478
This bridge originally carried the Spen Valley Railway Line over Westgate, but now carries the 'rails to trails' Spen Vally Greenway.
Waymark Code: WMQ1J7
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/29/2015
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Sir Lose-a-lot
Views: 1

The rail line originally connected Low Moor with Dewsbury and opened in 1848.

At this point the line was close to Cleckheaton Railway Station, but this is now the site of a supermarket.

The line closed to passenger traffic in 1965 together with the nearby station. The line continued to carry goods traffic until this finally ceased in 1981.

In 2001 a stretch of the line between Dewsbury and Oakenshw was converted to a cycling and walking route called the Spen Valley Greenway. The bridge is now used to carry cyclists, pedestrians and horseriders along the route. link.

In 1928 the bridge was the site of a disaster when coal wagons being shunted decoupled and crashed over the side of the bridge. Fortunately althouh a butcher's shop was crushed there were no injuries.

Also in 2001 the site of the crash was cleared by the Spen Valley Civic Society. link
Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire

Road, Highway, Street, etc.: The Spen Valley Greenway cycle, pedestrian and horse riding route

Water or other terrain spanned: Westgate

Construction Date: 1848

Architect/Builder: Not listed

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