In the 1960s as diesel locomotives took over from steam, many of the major express trains to
and from London, the Midlands, and the West Country were diesel hauled. Here an unidentified
Sulzer Type 4 passes through carrying a headboard, and a headcode which appears to be 1S48,
suggesting its the northbound Thames Clyde Express passing through at about 2.30pm. The train
reversed at Leeds City station before continuing its journey to Scotland via the Settle and Carlisle
line. The southbound train also ran through Leeds at about the same time and passed through
Woodlesford about 3pm. The locos which were introduced in 1960 as part of the "modernisation"
of British Railways were called "Peaks" by trainspotters because the first in the class were named
after British mountains. Photo by John Wright.
Here D30 runs light engine through Woodleford on a sunny but cold
winter's day, 28 December 1967. The headcode 0N00 indicates that its a light diesel engine to the North Eastern Region, most probably returning to Holbeck shed in Leeds after a trip to Sheffield or possibly Toton marshalling yard near Nottingham. Photo by Gerry Firth.
Another Peak passes through enroute for Leeds on a
gloomy Sunday morning in the early 1960s. The round objects infront of
the station building windows are wooden barrels cut in half and used for
growing flowers which were part of the entry into the annual North
Eastern Region station garden competitions. Photo by Derek Rayner.
A freight train, probably originating from
Leeds Hunslet Lane, heads south through Woodlesford hauled by a Type 2
diesel electric locomotive. The headcode 5Z47 indicates that its a special class 5 freight, which was defined as "an express freight, partly fitted, with the automatic brake operative on not
less than half the vehicles". The station was manned and the signal box
was still open when this photo was taken by Gerry Firth. The poster says
"Go Inter-City to London," and just visible in the foreground is a
metal framed parcels barrow. By this time the station buildings and
signal box were all painted in the distinctive British Railways North
Eastern Region orange, white and blue colour scheme.
Another Type 2, pictured slightly later by Bill
Holliday, heading towards Leeds on the embankment between Woodlesford
and Methley.