The Cross Gates–Wetherby line is a former railway line in West Yorkshire, England, between Cross Gates, near Leeds, and Wetherby. The line opened 1876 and closed 1964.
History and description
Construction began in 1871, with the work contracted to Thomas Nelson of Carlisle. Works on the line included over a dozen cuttings, and a similar number of embankments, with the cutting between Thorner and Scarcroft being 40 feet (12 m) deep with a volume of 1,370,000 cubic yards (1,050,000 m3); the largest bridge on the line was over the River Wharfe with twin spans of 120 feet (37 m) with a central pier of two cast iron columns.[1]
The 12 miles (19 km) from Cross Gates to Wetherby took four years to construct and it was opened on 1 May 1876.[3] The line was doubled in 1901 and a new south-west curve was built at Wetherby;[4] running from West junction to North junction, forming a wye junction north and west of both the Wetherby stations.[5]
