Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is a preserved standard gauge line which joins the national railway network at Keighley and runs 5-miles up the valleys of the River Worth and Bridgehouse Beck to Oxenhope. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society was formed upon the closure of the line by British Railways in 1962 with the aim of returning a daily passenger service to the Worth Valley area.
The Society reopened the branch line from Keighley to Oxenhope in June 1968, just weeks before steam finally ended on British Railways in August of the same year. Despite the original aim of the Society to reinstate a daily service on the branch, it soon became clear that a full-time commuter service would not be possible, certainly in the first instance, and probably ever, although this has not stopped the subject of commuter trains being discussed at some length in the last 50 years or so.
The KWVR in Preservation
The Railway is perhaps most famous for its role in the 1970 film version of Edith Nesbit’s story The Railway Children. The Railway has published a book describing the making of the film and includes many photographs along with the recollections of many volunteers involved. The Railway has played host to many film crews, the most notable in recent years has been the World War 1 drama, Testament of Youth and the children’s classic, Swallows & Amazons and the successful TV series Peaky Blinders.
Whilst offering scheduled steam train journeys every weekend of the year, daily during the Summer, the Railway also offers special events such as locomotive galas for the enthusiast and, for our family visitors, Santa Steam Specials, and visits by popular children’s TV characters.
Every October, the Railway holds one of the north’s finest Beer & Music Festivals. Add to this a variety of dining trains on selected dates, catering for all tastes and the Railway offers something for all the family throughout the year.
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society Policies