Historian on track for Ilkley railway talk (From Ilkley Gazette)

Historian on track for Ilkley railway talk

9:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in Local news

Historian Mike Dixon will be exploring the little-known rail route to Otley in a talk at Christchurch, Ilkley, on February 20.

From 1865 until the 1960s there were two ways to travel by train from Ilkley to Leeds.

One way, the former Midland route through Menston and Guiseley, is used by many commuters today, but it was also possible to travel by the old North Eastern Railway route from Burley through Otley and Pool to join the Harrogate-to-Leeds line at Arthington.

In aid of Christchurch’s Raise the Roof campaign, local historian Mr Dixon will present a talk tracing the origins of the Burley-Arthington link, its working from 1865-1965, its demolition and its gradual disappearance.

Using little-known archive photographs, old maps, satellite views and on-the-ground exploration, he will take the audience through a nostalgic story that embraces railway and social history, geography and industrial archaeology.

By Rail T^o Otley will appeal both to rail enthusiasts and the general public. Tickets cost £4 and are available from Christchurch Cafe (open 10am-4pm weekdays and 10am-noon on Saturday). The talk begins at 7.30pm.