Exploring The Abandoned Leeds City Viaduct - What's On Top? 

SOUND ISSUES: I am aware of some sound issues in this video. I now know what was causing it, and it's all down to a wind reduction setting on the camera. This has since been amended on future videos. But as I film many weeks ahead, it has meant that it's taken a while for it to be brought to my attention. I find if you watch the video on any device other than a mobile phone, it sounds much better. Due to the audio processing limitations on a mobile phone.

Travelled into Leeds City station many times via the Viaduct route in the early 1960,s from Huddersfield. They redefined the route into Leeds eventually so making the viaduct route redundant. Also because of the curves on it there was an obvious speed restriction and trains were always slow in to City station.

I never thought I would have the opportunity to see the top of this Viaduct. Thank You Darren. It's begging to be a cycle way. (If the Railways don't want it back)

viaducts are generally made of blue engineering brick which is extremely hard. the one at Mirfield bankrupted the contractor who won the bid to demolish it. his big jack hammer resorted to chipping out one brick at a time before he went bust and abandoned the project.

Was great to meet you Darren. Lesson learnt though Never ever wear shorts on an explore 😂

This video turned up in my feed this morning - I live in Leeds and had no idea about this. Thanks for taking the time to put this together, a really interesting video!

Interesting video The viaduct was built by the LNWR and was part of their trans-Pennine upgrade works, spread over many years; when completed, there were four tracks from Stalybridge to the western entrance to what became Leeds City station - City was dropped and it became just Leeds sometime after Central closed. The four tracks comprised the present line east from Stalybridge and the Micklehurst Loop on the other side of the valley as far as Diggle Junction, then four tracks through Standedge Tunnel and down through Huddersfield to the junction with the L&YR Calder Valley line near Mirfield; two tracks comprised the Leeds New Line to Farnley Junction, the other two tracks comprised running powers over the L&YR to Ravensthorpe and then via Dewsbury to Farnley Junction. At that point, the route split into two; two tracks followed the present route (which also gave access to Central station), and two used the viaduct, ending on the station approach. Closure of Leeds Central station was first proposed in the late 1950s - pre-Beeching - and some published plans included a flying junction at Holbeck for trains using the old GNR line from Wakefield; however, at some time in the 1960s a new connection was constructed between the former GNR line and the one over the viaduct, and it started at a location called Geldard Road Junction. At the time that junction was constructed, the former LNWR line from Farnley Junction onto the viaduct was severed by the earthworks for the new connection to the GNR line, and the alignment of this new connection is that which is visible on the aerial view shown; the solum west of the former GNR line has disappeared under an industrial estate (or something similar), but if a straight line extension is imagined from the viaduct's alignment to the Huddersfield line, the approximate location of Farnley Junction can be plotted. Back in the early-mid 1960s, my trans-Pennine departures from Leeds via Huddersfield always took the viaduct; however, after Geldard Road Junction was constructed, whenever I used the former GNR route between Wakefield and Leeds, I always travelled over the viaduct. From my personal experience, the viaduct seemed to be the prime route between Wakefield and Leeds, and not a relief one as suggested in the film Geldard Road Junction was removed and the only route between Wakefield and Leeds became the current one as part of the ECML electrification scheme; however, an electrified storage siding was constructed on the viaduct, and I think this was removed at the time of the last Leeds station reconstruction/remodelling. I don't know what is planned for the immediate vicinity of Leeds station at the west end as part of the trans-Pennine upgrade programme, but the restoration of the viaduct to railway use has great potential to ease congestion around Holbeck and at the station's west throat; many of the trains from the Huddersfield route either terminate at Leeds or pass through towards Hull/York, and the restoration of Farnley Junction and the removed route to the intersection with the former GNR line and widening of the bridge over the canal (close to the station) to eight tracks, has the potential to vastly increase capacity at minimal cost by separating them from those using the routes to Wakefield, Bradford (both), Castleford, and Harrogate Thanks for sharing your walk with us

Thank you for your very interesting video. i am an old lady 0f 82 but originally from Leeds not really interested in railways but I loved it. It was something quite unexpected and something really different. I hope you make many more videos of this calibre. I do hope they renovate it and make it a lovely walkway, with cafes along the way. I think it would do very well.

A great use of merging old photos with the current scene, & interesting use of scary music ! I am glad it is not just me who likes looking at old railway formations & structures. A great series of videos & many thanks for making it. I

Just come across this video. My senior school I attended from September 1968 to June 1975 was Matthew Murray, in Holbeck and had good views of the Viaduct. On mornings whenever I was in a class looking out towards the Viaduct, I would always keep a look out for the 10.00am departure from Leeds to London Kings Cross which was always hauled by a Deltic class 55 diesel locomotive. Even if I wasn't on the right side of the building to see the train, it was often the case you would hear it accelerating once it had reached the embankment stretch of the line. Those were the days. It would be great if the monies could be found to develop the Leeds version of the New York Hi Line. The latter is well worth a visit if you happen to be on a visit to New York.

Reminds me of the new york high line before renovation. Could easily be an attractive footpath.

I watched this last night and thought I'd pop up today myself for a wander along and surely enough, the gate is wide open. Makes for a nice stroll along and some great photos. Thanks for another good vid, Darren!

Amazing how much history in our home town is lost or hidden good to see these videos 😀

That was great. Subscribed! Every time I drive up Domestic Street I tell myself that need to go up and explore the viaduct, but never got round to it. Would be great as a cycle track in to the city centre it it had a few entrances/exits along the way.

This would be a beautiful quiet place for the homeless to pitch up. I like the idea of it being a safe place for anybody without a roof 💚

Wow what a transformation thank you Darren and Ashley 👍

Can't get enough of these videos Darren, thanks for sharing.

In the late 70,s/early 80's, I was a timber rep with a customer who had his workshop in the arches under the line in Bath Road. i can remember seeing Deltics taking London trains over the viaduct.

I've watched two of your videos so far and I really love them. Especially love them as I'm from Leeds so nice to see somebody who knows what they are talking about.

Hi Darren, I watched the trains on the embankment from my Mathew Murray Brown Lane classroom window in the early 60’s and latterly my office window Sweet Street when I worked at Kay & Co in the early 1980. Seems an age ago now. Steve

Thanks for sharing Darren, seen the viaduct many times but never knew what it was used for, really interesting. I'd love to see it renovated and be used once again.👍

Loved it . Thank-you………. keep exploring

Thank you Darren for another great video I especially liked the black n white photos at the end

Fantastic little video (thank you, Whitewicks, for the link!) Back in the late 70s/early 80s I regularly had to work in our London office commuting weekly and leaving Leeds on Sunday evening to head back south. The train usually went over the viaduct, slowly and noisily, though the return journey on Friday afternoon always seemed to use what is now the only line. I suspect electrification in the late 80s finally killed off the viaduct route.

Thankyou for this trip down memory lane, I can relate to it having worked as a fireman on the footplate on both local and express trains through to Manchester and beyond from Leeds. The sharp curves and incline and speed restriction made it a challenge for any steam locos over that route.

Fantastic stuff, I've always fancied walking along there. Nice view of the top of East Stand at the start of the video.

What a great vid, thanks for taking the time & trouble to record this. Been wanting to walk this for years. V interesting 🤝

Walked the full length of this a few years ago. The fence had a gap in it. Last time I looked there wasn’t. So couldn’t do it the second time. A friend who used to work for BR said going on there was ‘trespassing’. I remember seeing Deltics going over there in the 1980s.

Great videos very interesting will definitely watch others you've made thanks 👍

just come across leeds city viaduct great to explore these relicks cheers mate

Thanks for another trip down memory lane. Cheers buddy.

Really enjoyed that thanks it was very interesting. Thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe

really pleased that there are plans to bring this great engineering is to be saved and used for future generations to enjoy

Thanks Darren! Nice work.

What a super little film! I knew about Holbeck viaduct, but never knew what it actualy was and your explanation is very clear. Thank you. Interesting to see the grafitti on the inside of the bridge where no-one can see it. (not that I'd want to!) The idea to landscape the route and make it user friendly is great, good for locals and also for tourists to see a different angle of Leeds, but I hope they retain the tracks, telephone box and any other remains, and as much of the ecological value as possible. As well as New York, there is a similar walkway along tracks in Jerusalem. The railway line between Jaffa and Jerusalem was opened there in 1892, and after it closed, the length of track from the still existing old station building was landscaped and it is a super area for walking, sitting, cycling, quietly, and without traffic interference. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the great videos. We checked this out today and found the gate is still unlocked!! It looks like they have been doing some pruning up there too. We got all the way to the gates at the station end.

I scaled those side spikes on the fence a few years back, pretty interesting, lost my bottle when I got next to the working lines and train drivers started very obviously noticing me ha. The culvert from Meanwood to the armouries under Leeds is really good too although not really allowed either...

Schönes Video. Die Hintergrundmusik ist absulut toll gemacht ❤️👍

Love the videos to me you are amongst the many modern day historians on you tube keep up the good work

This is my favourite viaduct! I pass under some part of it everyday. Thanks for showing us. For some reason I thought it was the route to the original Leeds station that is quite obviously now, to the north of the existing mainline and nothing to do with it. Very interesting. Like the graffiti on the bridge and the phone would be for a driver or second man to call the signal man if he was hey up a stop for too long. 👍😁👊😎

When ever travelling to and from Leeds. I’ve always wanted to know where this viaduct went to. Very interesting video

Great vid mate , have driven under the viaduct but never thought about what's above , it's actually a remarkable piece of engineering when you realise the length of it , such a shame it cannot be restored and used again , great stuff fella , respect .

Brilliant that this is still here. I’ve taken a look on Google maps and often wondered what it was like ... now I know. Pity that it’s in too much of a built up area for a Drone Adventure.

Me and my sis went for a mooch down here after seeing this video. Cheers for the dl. Nice work kidda 🙂

Fantastic film again Darren and Guest. I'm a wagon driver and deliver to Leeds quite a lot. I noticed on Jack Lane they are railway tracks still on the road xx

Remember travelling on that coming home from our Devon holidays in the 80s.

The line was I'm use till resignsllimg and electrification work started on Leeds Station in 1989 after which it was severed at the Elland Rd end.... All signalling and cabling was recovered and one line lifted.....the remaining track you saw was retained during the major works on the station for engineers to stable their trains out of the way....after this it was disconnected at the city end.

I travelled on this line regularly in the sixties, it was very busy while the main line through Holbeck was being rebuilt. Trains always seem to stop at the last curve before entering the station and you could look down on a view of old Leeds, back to back terrace houses, small yards and factory's. I know that it was proposed to reopen it as a working line but it should be put to some use what ever it might be rather than being an eye sore.

I seem to remember coming back from London this way. I would think about 1981 from a school trip to the Science Museum. I hadn't got a clue where we were at the time but your video definitely caused a few flash backs.

What a great place for a stroll above the hustle and bustle of the city...hope this idea comes to fruition!

I was only staring at this line in the past week in my travels to Yorkshire thanks for sharing :)

There should be more cycle / walking tracks into Leeds, can’t believe it’s not already been done!

Truly an epic engineering relic. It would cost to much to pull down and re-engineer the area. Easier to leave it and occupy what's beneath,. Thanks for sharing. Mark

Thanks for this video! I'm looking for abandoned viaducts for a possible metro in Leeds, and having something other than Google Earth is particularly helpful!

Another good interesting video Darren Thank You and the Green Way you mentioned perhaps rather like the Spen Valley Green Way which I have enjoyed cycling on 👍

Great video. I hope they do make it into an elevated walkway. It would a tragedy not to do something with it.

This is great work in marking the extent of our industrial archeology in Britain, well done. Can you recommend any enthusiast groups I should be supporting? You have a potential supporter here in Manchester. Our industrial past is one of the thrills of living in a northern city, keep up the good work.

I was on a 125 to London which used that route out of Leeds in '87. Thought it was unusual at the time. Remember it being bumpy and going at around 20mph

Great video, just watched you on The Whitewicks channel. you gained a new subscriber. 😀

Fascinating video.

This is down for conversion to a high level walkway and cycle track whenever they get round to it!

Very enjoyable. It will be a wonderful Green way or whatever they call it.

Live right next to this so weird to finally see it 👍

It's highly interesting, and well documented, moreover pedagogic with the use of 3D Maps. I definitively enjoy it

Darren Bootland, you took the words right out of my mouth

i used to go up there about 20 years ago when i was a teenager, i walked the full length of it many times, the gate was always locked but one if the railings was loose and you could slip through.

Always wandered about that bridge went passed it on way to leeds was heading to the worth valley railway 😀😀😀

I definitely need to see this and explore

I pass this on the train and I always thought it would be good to try and walk along this.

Took train which used this viaduct in December 1978, the service was diverted onto this route due to engineering work, If my memory serves it was class 47 Loco hauled

There's also another stretch of railway line near there that's not used anymore that goes over oldfield lane in lower wortley. That's high up like that with great views of elland road football stadium. The train tracks are still there also.

I hope the green way gets made, that would be so cool. I've seen this disused viaduct many times on my way in to Leeds.

Great spot, just next to Holbeck red light district 😀 Head there for unforgettable memories

That a great plan :) to convert it into a greenway. Could you do more videos showing what abandoned and if any plans are being made or confirmed to renovate it

Another great vlog 👍🏻, you should do a video on the line which connected to the colliery on wheldon road In Castleford

I can’t get enough of these videos! I know it’s not your neck of the woods but I’d recommend taking a moment to check out Parkinson’s Walks (Gloucestershire mainly) If you ever venture this way, get in touch! 👍🏻

great videos to watch

Another architectural wonder lying forgotten, thanks Darren. Be good to see it from the outside?? 👍🏻

Just noticed this viaduct while looking on the OS map where Farnley is in Leeds (found some bricks today with Farnley Iron Company on while exploring the old Derwent village at Ladybower, Derbyshire). Always interesting to find disused railways and thought what a massive disused structure so checked out RU-vid and your video came up... Excellent they are turning it into a greenway, can never have too many disused railways get turned into greenways, would be good to visit it sometime once it's finished.

Damn.. first the Bielsa Effect, now this... if you take me I am moving to Leeds now :D

over the years, whilst arriving at and departing Leeds station, i have wondered if it was my imagination or a real memory of travelling to Huddersfield as i did on many a Saturday, along that route in the mid 1980s. i guess if it ceased to be used in 1988, then its quite probable that i did. Another thoroughly fascinating episode Darren, thank you.

In London near the Docks many bridges and viaducts have been reused by Docklands Light railway Overground and also Crossrail..

Used to be a scrapped brake van on there years ago near the bridge on domestic street this should be added to the rail network or a urban tram way

Pass this every day in traffic and always wanted to do this 👍👍

I remember going past the other end of this viaduct on trains many times; been wondering what it looks like up there. I think there is another locked gate at the other end so you wouldn't be able to get onto the live track anyway.

I'm enjoying your videos of old railway lines around Leeds. Can I suggest a video of the Cross gates to Wetherby line which closed in 1964, and there was also a short branch line that went to the old gas works where the Arndale shopping center now stands.

very interesting indeed

We have a lovely long tunnel built into the Norland hillside where I live in Halifax (near to) I dont think anyone even knows a railway line ran to Ripponden from Sowerby Bridge, never seen it mentioned. Thanks for that .

This is rhe video that brought me ro the channel 🤙🤙🤙

Love this, is this the end of Leeds New line? I lived by that line where it began at Batteyford.😎

I used to look out onto this from my office and often thought it was a shame to be unused.

Great video, its a shame its taken so long to look at converting this into a pedestrian and cycle way, they could have various exits along the way with a view to get people parking up at the Geldard Road end and walking / cycling into the city to work or shop, this could be a great tourist attraction too

never mind the walkway it should be part of a mass transit system and extended to Elland road Park and Ride where it would also cater for the football crowds on matchdays. Drop it underground into a central circular route that could be the start of an underground/overground with tram trains to serve the suburbs.

I been there, you should go to armly park, go down a little path where the bridge is. there’s a ton of abandoned railway tracks!

I always thought it went to Wellington Street station? But I could be wrong! Cheers Peter T

I love a good explore. I would've gone down a bit further (naughty me!). Thank you.

A brilliant explore.Often seen the viaduct on the way home from Leeds to Normanton .All that work in the past that went into building the arches Would be brilliant to open all this up as walkways and cycle paths .🐕🛺

Bet it is full of wildlife like a refuge in the sky... Thinking Bats Foxes Stoats Weasels etc.. plus odd plants

The High Line in New York is fabulous. I hope the money is available to do something similar here.

Really interesting video! How did you manage to get up to the gate though?