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Whistlestop Valley (formerly Kirklees Light Railway)

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  1. Little railway, Big adventures! Whistlestop Valley is home to the Kirklees Light Railway's real-life narrow-gauge steam engines, outdoor playgrounds, a jumping pillow, a café, a miniature ride-on railway, dessert parlour, gift/toy shop and loads of good old fashioned family fun.

    A return ride along the scenic 3.5 mile line can be completed in just over an hour or you can extend your visit by hopping off for a bite to eat or a play in one of the two fabulous playparks.

    Whistlestop Valley is open to the public most weekends, Bank Holidays and local school holidays, with special toddler/preschooler days on selected Mondays and Fridays.

    Please check our website for opening times www.whistlestopvalley.co.uk

Contacts

Whistlestop Valley

Park Mill Way, Clayton West, Huddersfield HD8 9XJ

01484 865727

Organisation last updated

  1. 28 February 2023

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Whistlestop Valley (formerly Kirklees Light Railway) image

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You can then Publish your activity straight away or choose Save and edit to add more details first. You can add more activity information at any time, including:

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Venue

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History

  1. The Clayton West Branch line was opened on 30th June 1879. The railway's main function was to serve the coal industry but the line also provided a well used passenger service. By the late 1970's many of the mines were closing and passenger numbers had dwindled.

    In the late 1980s the idea of re-opening the line as a narrow gauge railway and visitor attraction was conceived. In 1990, the site was acquired. With the help of many enthusiastic volunteers, a new era dawned for the line. The first steam train ran to Cuckoo's Nest on Saturday 19th October 1991.

    Since then the line has extended to its present destination, Shelley, some 3.5 miles from the Clayton West site which has been developed into one of West Yorkshire's favourite visitor attractions with a café, gift shop, outdoor adventure playgrounds and a miniature railway around the duck pond.

    The Engines..
    .
    Hawk: 0-4-4-0 articulated 4 cylinder super-power lcomotive Kitson Meyer design.
    Owl: 0-4-4-0 Avonside Engine Company Hiesler design articulated.
    Badger: 0-6-4 saddle tank, a freelance design similar to a Kerr-Stuart design.
    Fox: 2-6-2 Side Tank engine, half scale Hunslet Locomotive.
    Jay: Diesel - fitted with an engine from a 1947 Blackpool Pleasure Beach locomotive.
    Katie: 2-4-2 engine. Built in 1954 by Trevor Guest for the Dudley Zoo Railway to designs by Ernest W. Twining. Katie was acquired by the KLR in 2015
    Tram No. 7: Built in 1991 by Brian Taylor to help with the construction of the Kirklees Light Railway

Facilities

Use this field to give more details of items relating to your meetings or premises, such as parking, public transport, disabled access and toilets, crèche, computers.

NameDescription
Gift Shop-
Cafe-
Tea Room-
Miniature Railway-

Information not correct?

If any of this information is incorrect please email community.directory@kirklees.gov.uk with details including amendments if you have them. *Please note: you can't contact the above organisation on this e-mail address.*