We visited this delightfully restored 5 mile steam railway in the heart of West Yorkshire on a rather gloomy spring day. One would have thought the dull skies would maybe have diluted our appreciation of the aesthetic merits of this line, its stations and locomotive fleet, but on the contrary the all-too-typical northern weather was in fact the perfect backdrop!

With its majestically imposing fleet of thundering locomotives and blackened ‘Pennine’ stone station buildings framed by the austerely bleak and undulating Brontë countryside, peppered with crumbling dry-stone walls and precariously perched cottages it is not surprising that this undeniably dramatic heritage railway has been the deserved winner of many an accolade, including one of ‘Britain’s Top 10 Train Trips’ (The Sunday Times) and ‘Best Tourist Attraction’ (Yorkshire in Bloom).

The strikingly barren environs of the line are ‘softened’ by the gentle finishing touches that have been caringly bestowed upon each of its six stations. All enjoy the same distinctive and incredibly smart trademark KWVR burgundy and cream paintwork on their signs, benches and lamps and boast handsome buildings of a similar architectural style, however they all have their own individual character and ambience to enhance the common denominators.

The visitor commences their journey at Keighley; the bustling ‘flagship’ station at the head of the line and the point at which heritage railway meets the national railway network, with excellent connections to main line stations throughout the north of England.

As the visitor descends from the ‘world’ of modern rail travel into that of yesteryear, simply by changing platform, they are immediately struck by the dignified resplendence of Keighley station. Its myriad of original features ooze charm and nostalgia. Superb glass canopies, immaculately painted wrought ironwork and perfectly restored waiting rooms adorned with authentic old signs and posters bid day-trippers a warm welcome.

There is plenty to delight on the tracks too - just at the end of platform 3, lies a stunning turntable, acquired in 1990 from Garsdale where it used to turn engines on the ‘Settle to Carlisle Line’. A signal box occupies the site of the original ‘Keighley West’ box - the lovely old cabin standing there today was inherited from Esholt Junction on the Ilkley line.

The next station stop up the line, Igrow West, is the proud home to the ‘Museum of Rail Travel’ (entry is free to KWVR Day Rover holders); a fascinating depiction of rail travel through the ages with a superb collection fine Victorian carriages.

The station itself was so badly vandalised when the ‘Keighley to Oxenhope Branch Line’ was closed in 1961 that for many years it just served as an unstaffed request stop after the line was re-opened seven years later. However, thanks to donations from KWVR members and visitors and substantial funding from one particular benefactor, the station was re-opened fully in 1989 having been rebuilt, stone by stone, from the Midland station building from Foulridge on the ‘Skipton to Colne Line’, which closed in 1959.

Ingrow (West) is followed by delightful Damems, the smallest station in Britain with its one-coach long platform and daintily pretty as a picture. The line then leads to possibly the most famous station on the entire line and one which has many times won the ‘Best Restored Station’ prize too, namely Oakworth.

The KWVR is perhaps most famous for its role in the 1970 film version of Edith Nesbit’s much treasured tale ‘The Railway Children’ and Oakworth station was the one chosen to ‘star’ in the film (the KWVR even persuaded the film-makers to keep with the name Oakworth). Money earned from the making of the film was insignificant compared to the passenger revenue which has been generated for decades after its release.

We adored this wonderfully nostalgic station; with its fabulous white-gated level crossing, vast array of old-worlde signs and adverts, wonderfully cosy waiting room with open fire and, above all, a Station Master’s Office authentically recreated to last minute detail to suit the era of the film.

Haworth, a handsome station on a much larger scale, comes next right at the bustling centre of ‘Brontëland’ (the town being the location of their famous ‘Parsonage’ home). Finally, the visitor reaches the line’s southern terminus station at Oxenhope; a great little station with a welcoming buffet car serving refreshments, purchased from BR in 1982, permanently positioned between its goods shed and station building.

Founded in 1968, the KWVR was one of the first ‘heritage’ railways in the country and is indisputably one of “Britain’s finest”. With its professional and intricate attention to detail throughout, it has obviously been passionately and lovingly nurtured by its dedicated team of volunteer staff for over forty years now, with spectacular results!