Wharfedale Lines Part 3: Ilkley to Arthington via Otley and The Yeadon Branch

Part 3 of the Wharfedale Line Series: This time looking at the Ilkley to Arthington via Otley section aswell as the short lived Yeadon Branch that was once planned to connect with Headingley Station.
Some images taken from www.poolinwharfedalehistory.c...

[@simonrichardson5077]

always good work,keep `em coming,thanks

[@hectorthorverton4920]

My great grandfather worked for the North Eastern, as a guard between Ilkley and Leeds via Otley, and also to Harrogate. I have somewhere a picture of a train at Ilkley with the train crew, my ancestor included. My mother grew up in Ilkley, and if when we were visiting we needed to go to Leeds, we would always have to take the longer and less frequent route via Otley, out of respect for my great grandfather. My last memory of the line was sitting at the front of a DMU, savouring every inch of the journey to Leeds. You don't mention that the line to Skipton via Ilkley was often used as a relief route; the Thames Clyde Express would often be sent this way en route from Leeds to Carlisle.

[@paredding]

This so evocotive for me as my mother would take us from Leeds to Ilkley swimming baths in the summer along this line, I loved the sight and sounds of that DMU - was it class 108?

[@davebutterworth7414]

Yes 👍