
Before the Railway came to Town
During the early 1840's there were an astonishing number of projected railways and Henry Tuck in The Railway Shareholder's Manual detailed all that was needed for prospective investors including lists of the built and prospective railway lines. In the 1845 6th Edition - Click on the picture to access the 1845 6th Edition There was one proposal including Ilkley that was so short lived that it never made the list of prospective lines and two prospective lines that were detailed in the Manual.
LEEDS AND NORTH WESTERN WHARFDALE JUNCTION RAILWAY
In May 1845 there was a proposal to create a direct line from Leeds towards Carlisle, Glasgow, and the West of Scotland as advertised in The Leeds Times, through the creation of a company. However by June 1845 the plan was abandoned as the Provisional Committee of the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company had given instructions fo the immediate preparation plans up the Valley of the Wharf, and thence to Skipton.
LEEDS AND CARLISLE OR NORTHERN TRUNK RAILWAY OF ENGLAND
Prospective Railway 266 - Leeds and Carlisle, To commence in junction with the Leeds Thirsk Railway, passing through Wharfedale (Burley and Ilkley), Otley, Kettlewell, Hawes, Kirkby Stephen, and Appleby, terminating in junction with the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway at Penrith, with a branch from Otley to Bradford. In the Yorkshire Gazette on Sep 13 1845 the line was promoted as "Being the completion of a direct communication from the Midland, Southern, Eastern, Western Counties of England to the Northern and Scottish Lines". In Oct 1845 The Leeds and Carlisle or Northern Trunk Railway of England advertised itself for share applications. In January 1846 it was reported under the title "Defunct Schemes" that Leeds and Carlisle, and Northern Trunk Railway had failed to deposit their plans (two of 879 such companies out of 1,263 registered companies) by 31 December 1845 and are therefore not prepared to proceed in the present session.
WHARFDALE RAILWAY COMPANY
(previously LANCASHIRE & YORKSHIRE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY)
Prospective railway 80 - Lancashire and Yorkshire North Eastern Railway - To commence in junction with the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway at Skipton, passing through Bolton Bridge, Ilkley, Burley, Harrogate and Knaresborough, terminating in junction with Ripon branch of the Great North of England Railway.
In July 1846 an Act of Parliament was obtained by the Wharfdale Railway Company (late the Lancashire & Yorkshire North Eastern Railway Company) to build a line from Skipton through Ilkley, Burley and Otley to Arthington. The route was surveyed in 1846 by Joseph Locke and Alfred S. Jee, the company's engineers and "Map of the Lancashire & Yorkshire North Eastern Railway shewing its connection with the existing and projected lines of the district. 2006-7104 Science Museum Group Collection Online. Accessed 15 August 2024. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8066221/map-of-the-lancashire-yorkshire-north-eastern-railway-shewing-its-connection-with-the-exisiting-and-projected-lines-of-the-district" is shown below.
At a meeting of the Company in February 1847 (The Leeds Times 27 Feb 1847) it was reported that little had been done since the Leeds to Thirsk line had not yet opened and works would commence in July. The following year (Herapaths Railway Journal 18 March 1848) the directors as a consequence of severe monetary pressure considered it inexpedient to proceed with the formation of the line. The line for the first nine miles had been set out. A resolution was passed to "cease paying interest on deposits until active operations for the formation of the line can be commenced". The scheme finally failed in 1852 as the company could not raise the capital required.


1856 - 1859
WHARFEDALE AND WEST RIDING RAILWAY and
WHARFEDALE RAILWAY
A second proposal was made in 1856 for a company called to be called Wharfedale and West Riding Railway to construct a line from Stanningley, where it commences, taking Calverley, Yeadon, Guiseley, Menston, Burley, Ilkley Addingham, Bolton Bridge, Draughton, and forward to Skipton, in connexion with the North Western Railway; with a branch from the main line at Menston, by way of Otley to Castley, where it forms a junction with the North Eastern Railway; and another branch from the trunk line near Stanningley, through Eccleshill and Idle to Shipley, to join the Midland Railway, similar as that authorised in 1846. Although a provisional committee was formed and a considerable sum agreed to be subscribed the promoters of this scheme could get no support from the major companies (the Midland Railway and the North Eastern Railway) who operated the lines into which the Wharfedale Railway would connect.
In 1859 the Midland Railway proposed for the 1860 Session a Wharfedale Railway. The proposal was placed in the Derby Mercury 16 November 1859 detailing four new branches - 1. Thackley Tunnel to Ilkley, to terminate at the East side of the Skipton and Otley Turnpike Road, at the Junction of Little Lane. 2. Foolscar to Burley. 3. Burley to Otley. 4. A linking branch between 1 and 3.
1860-1865
THE RAILWAY COMES TO TOWN
By the 1860's Ilkley's Lord of the Manor, Peter Middelton, whose family had objected to a Railway coming through their land, was in financial difficulties and realised that a railway coming to Ilkley would lead to him being able to realise monies through land sales that the railway would give opportunity for. His agent Constable stated ‘The railway will open Ilkley up as a favourite and improving water place to the manufacturing districts …the value of the estate will be immensely increased’ and now that the llkley estate was to be sold the family's opposition to railways was transformed into enthusiastic support.
On 9th November 1860 the Midland Railway and the North Eastern Railway agreed to build a joint line between Otley and Ilkley in the 1861 Session. Both parties advertised separately this proposal in various newspapers. Included in the announcement was that the new line would terminate in Ilkley "at or near the boundary wall dividing two fields, which adjoin and are on the east side of the town of Ilkley, one of such fields being known by the of Garth, belonging to Peter Middleton, and in the occupation of Thomas Lister, and the other being known by the name Garth and Calf Croft, belonging to the Governors of the possession and goods of the Free Grammar School of King Edward the 6th, in Sedbergh, and in the occupation of William Bolling...".
The Midland Railway would make a connection with the new line by building a branch from the Leeds to Bradford line at Apperley Bridge to a junction at Burley in Wharfedale. The North Eastern Railway would build a new branch line from its Leeds to Harrogate line at Arthington to Otley. The connection from Otley to Ilkley via the junction at Burley was a joint venture. The necessary parliamentary powers were granted in 1861 with the passing of two acts; the Midland Railway (Otley and Ilkley Extension) Act 1861 and the North Eastern Railway (Extension to Otley and Ilkley) Act 1861. To obtain its Act the MR had to agree to demands from the residents of Bradford who felt aggrieved that with the construction of the line there would be two direct routes between Ilkley and Leeds (Ilkley—Guiseley—Leeds & Ilkley—Arthington—Leeds) and none between Bradford and Ilkley. The act therefore stated that "equal facilities and advantages as regards trains and the conveyance and accommodation of passengers on the Railway shall be afforded to or from Bradford as those to or from Leeds".

Midland Railway Study Centre, Derby - ref RFB30090

Midland Railway Study Centre, Derby - ref RFB30090

Midland Railway Study Centre, Derby - ref RFB30090

Midland Railway Study Centre, Derby - ref RFB30090
Construction began in 1863 with the Midland Railway taking responsibility for building the line between Otley and Ilkley. The North Eastern Railway branch from Arthington was finished first, and the first train from Otley to Leeds, via Arthington, ran on 1 February 1865.
1 AUGUST 1865
ILKLEY STATION OPENS



The Midland Railway line from Apperley Junction and the joint line itself were completed a few months later after many delays - the Bradford Review saying "The delays in the opening of this railroad have been frequent, and the truth of the words 'Hope deferred maketh the heart sick' have most certainly realised with regard to it, for we and many other Bradfordians, had almost ceased to expect that it would be opened this summer.". The first passenger train from Ilkley to Otley ran on 1 August 1865 with freight services starting a year later, in October 1866.

No photographs of the opening have been seen, however the Leeds Mercury on 2nd August recorded the event, the opening made the news in the London Morning Post on the 4th and the Leeds Express in 5th reported: "The opening of the line on Tuesday was very successful, hardly a hitch occurring during the day. A number of the officials of both companies accompanied most of the trains, those of the Midland Company being under the management of Mr Needham, and those of the North-Eastern under the vigilant guardianship of Mr Usher, the local superintendent of the company.
The trains everywhere received a hearty welcome, and at Ilkley, in particular, large numbers of persons assesmbled to meet them. Two bands - Marriner's of Keighley, and the Silsden-performed during the day, and the Burley Volunteers turned out to add to the honours of the opening, firing salutes at both Burley and Ilkley Stations.
The inhabitants and visitors in Ilkley, determined that there should be some commemoration of the event which was to be the herald of a new era to the village, raised upwards of £50 by subscription. This, it was decided should be expended in providing all the poor women and children of the place with a substantial tea, and on Tuesday about 300 of these sat down in a large marquee near the station, inlcuing 50 patients from the Ilkley Hospital. The inhabitants and visitors were admitted at a uniform charge of 1s. and nearly 500 partook. Afterwards a gala was held, at which the beauty of the district was fully represented."
1876
A DIRECT SERVICE TO BRADFORD
The need to provide no disadvantage to travellers to and from Bradford gave the Midland some problems as the journeys involved reversing trains at Apperley Junction. To alleviate this the Midland sought powers to build a further line from Guiseley Junction (near Shipley) to Esholt Junction (near Guiseley). The line opened in December 1876 and the North Eastern Railway quickly negotiated running powers over the new section of line. This allowed the North Eastern Railway to run trains from Harrogate to Bradford without going via Leeds.
1888
SKIPTON - ILKLEY LINE OPENED
There were a number of attempts to extend the line to Skipton. In 1865 an Parliamentary Bill to extend the Wharfedale railway from Ilkley to Skipton was proposed by William E Forster (Greenholme Partners) & others. The line was initially called the "Skipton, Wharfdale and Leyburn Junction Railway", it was renamed to the "Skipton & Wharfdale Railway". The bill was withdrawn in the same year. In 1867 another attempt at extending the Wharfdale Railway from Ilkley to Skipton as again submitted by William E Forster & others and this too was withdrawn. In 1870 a route was surveyed from Ilkley to Skipton, and another bill was proposed in 1873/4 with the Ilkley Local Board opposing it's construction.
The crossing over Brook Street to facilitate the line had been a debate for many years. When the Midland and North Eastern Railway companies first contemplated plans for a bridge across Brooke Street, it was so low a loader wagon scarcely could pass. Mr Henry James Cooke (1839-1884), who built Summerfield on South Parade, roused local public opinion by erecting across the street a calico model to show proportion. The railway extension to Skipton and eventual bridge were built years after Henry’s death, where its level was raised as a result of his efforts.
The Midland Railway finally got approval for a line with construction starting in 1885 and opening 1888. The details of the route and the lands that were required to be purchased are available at Ilkley Library.

Ilkley Station Staff - Sally Gunton Collection

1911 Coronation Celebrations - Sally Gunton Collection

Ilkley Station Circa 1900 - Sally Gunton Collection

Ilkley Station - Sally Gunton Collection

Ilkley Station - Sally Gunton Collection

Ilkley Station - Sally Gunton Collection
1963-73
ILKLEY STATION SAVED
From the end of 1963 Dr Beeching's axe had hovered over railway stations in Wharfedale and Aireborough with recommendations to close Apperley Bridge, Addingham, Arthington, Ben Rhydding, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Guiseley, Ilkley, Menston, Horsforth Newlay, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Otley stations. Closure notices first appeared in December 1963, inviting objections to the Transport Users Consultative Committee. The committee met in Ilkley in May, 1964 to allow objectors to speak. The meeting heard that a total of 22 stations were under threat, including Ilkley. The only users who made an impact at the public hearing were commuters from Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Burley, Menston and Guiseley - who together had formed the Ilkley Railway Supporters Association.
Dr Beeching's decision was announced in September 1964 - 17 of the threatened stations were to close as well as the Ilkley to Skipton line, but a decision was deferred on the services between Leeds, Bradford and Ilkley via Guiseley due to the vigorous local efforts of the Ilkley Railway Supporters Association. In the end, the decision was deferred for eight years during which time trains continued, but with only the barest of essential maintenance work.
The last regular passenger trains ran between Ilkley and Skipton on March 20, 1965. Another change was that all trains ran non stop from Guiseley to Leeds and from Shipley to Bradford because of the closure of all the stations along the route. And in Easter 1965 for the first time ever there were no excursion trains to or from Ilkley.
Ilkley Station reverted to a terminus in January 1966 when buffer stops were built at the end of one of the platforms and the next year the last steam engine visited the town when it was dispatched to retrieve a broken down diesel.
In 1968 a fresh closure notice for the line between Bradford and Ilkley was issued and stations at Menston, Burley and Ben Rhydding all became unmanned. Only Ilkley and Guiseley kept staff to handle parcels. Proposals to close the station at Ilkley again fought by the Ilkley Railway Supporters Association which helped produce more than 2,500 objections. A second public inquiry was held in 1969 and three years later rumours continued to circulate that the station was to close. Campaigners took their fight to the top and met with the minister of transport. Their efforts were partially successful - in 1972 it was announced that the Ilkley to Leeds line had been saved, although the route between Guiseley and Shipley was to be closed - however, the closure never went ahead. Instead, local authorities joined together to subsidise the service with Baildon Urban District Council agreeing with the condition that its station was re-opened - which it was in January, 1973.

Ilkley Station Skipton Platform Demolition - Bill Smith (F W Smith) 8 Dec 1987

Ilkley Station Skipton Platform Demolition - Bill Smith (F W Smith) 8 Dec 1987
Ilkley Local History Hub would like to hear from people with pictures or information about Ilkley Station - localhistory@civicsociety.ilkley.org
