Oxenhope Station

     This steam locomotive, pictured at Oxenhope Station is a visitor to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Steam Gala Weekend.  The locomotive, which is normally housed at the East Lancashire Railway at Bury was built in 1945 and is one of twelve preserved examples.  It was withdrawn in 1968 when British Rail ended its steam service.
     The Keighley to Oxenhope branch line was opened in 1867 and paid for by local mill owners who needed to bring coal up the valley to power their mills.  The line joined the Bradford/Leeds to Skipton line at Keighley and  initially ran under a franchise agreement with the Midland Railway.  It closed in 1962 and was purchased in 1968 from British Rail by a group of rail enthusiasts.  The station at Oakworth was used in the making of the classic film 'The Railway Children' starring Jenny Agutter.