WEST RIDING MINIATURE DELIGHT

The Kirklees Light Railway (KLR) is laid on the trackbed of a much earlier railway, constructed by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) as part of the second railway boom. West Yorkshire during the latter half of the 19th century was a significant industrial centre, with industries mining raw materials such as coal and manufactured goods like textiles, providing immense wealth for investors and necessitating the construction of a raft of communication channels. First came canals, and then railways.

The L&YR was particularly prominent, competing with companies such as the London & North Western to exploit the rich trade pickings first. A large number of schemes had been explored to put Clayton West, the modern KLR’s main station, and local coal mines on the rail map, but had failed to gain traction. When the 3½ mile branch line to the village from the main line at Shepley finally achieved parliamentary approval in the late 1860s, the L&YR had lost interest in the scheme and construction did not commence until late 1872. Amazingly for such a short railway,