Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

Westfield Lodge Apartments are situated above the Worth Valley in which runs the the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, probably one of the best preserved steam railways in the country, which was brought back into passenger service in June 1968, six years after it was closed by British Rail.

The railway runs from the village of Oxenhope to Haworth, both of which are in reach of Westfield Lodge, and then down the valley to Oakworth, Damems and Ingrow West, terminating in Keighley.  At Keighley there are connecting services with the main line railway network.

The line, a standard gauge branch line, was built in 1867 and operated by the Midland Railway along with the neighbouring Bradford, Leeds to Skipton line, eventually to be part of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway in 1924 and the nationalised British Railways in 1948.

After closure in 1962, the preservation society was formed, the line was bought, access to part of the main line station at Keighley was secured and trains began to run again in 1968.

The railway, operated entirely by volunteers, runs most days during the summer months and most weekends during the rest of the year, usually operating a diesel service at the start of the day and steam for the rest of the time.  Timetables are available on the KWVR website.

Although the line is mostly single track there are some areas of double track and this combination, along with bridges constructed to mainline standards, the 75 yard long Mytholmes Tunnel, the 150 yard long Ingrow Tunnel and extensive rolling stock and scenery that illustrate a range of historic periods has made the railway popular with television and film companies ever since it reopened. Most notably in the early days was the railway's role in the 1970 film "The Railway Children" staring, among others, Bernard Cribbins and Jenny Agutter.