Jamie Guest is an expert on the Midland Railway and is well known for his models based on the line. His largest is an "O" guage layout of Long Preston on the line between Hellfield and Settle Junction, but one of his first featured Woodlesford. He built it in the 1970s when he worked for the West Yorkshire Constabulary as a local "bobby" in the Rothwell area. (Jamie is also involved with the project to restore a Leeds horse drawn tramcar. You can find out more about it by clicking here. Leeds Horse Car )
A British Railways Standard Class engine arrives from Leeds with four Stanier carriages from the LMS era. The date is 6 November 1960 and the train would have been a local stopper from Leeds Wellington Street station to Sheffield via Normanton and Cudworth. The photographer was standing in the siding next to the Down Line. One of the wagon turntables described by Jamie Guest was situated to the left behind the "dolly" signal. Photo copyright R K Blencowe collection.
A 1920s postcard view of the Midland Hotel serving Fine Ales from Bentley's Yorkshire Brewery less than half a mile away along Aberford Road. The sign above the door gives the landlord's name as Herbert Sheldon. The man standing at the junction of Midland Street is one of Jamie Guest's predecessors although there seems to be very little traffic for him to direct! Its likely that the vehicle is a delivery van from the bakery which still exists.