THE RELIEF OF THE CAST IRON BOG

From Garforth we head south into what was once an important coal mining area. At Kippax we come across our first colliery.

Kippax was an intermediate station on the Garforth to Castleford line of the North Eastern Railway. The gardens won a prize.

A Leyland National of Four Seasons was photographed in the centre of Kippax in 1992.

Our next stop is beside the Aire & Calder Navigation at Allerton Bywater, the Boat Inn.

In the yard of the Boat was its own brewery.

And so to the town of Castleford, where All Saints Church looks down on everybody. (Creatve Commons License).

The River Aire flows through the town, over the weir and past the flour mill.

Here' a moored barge on the canalised section, part of the Aire & Calder network.

Castleford station, in NER times.

Back in 1984, semaphore signals still controlled train movements.

Northern Rail runs services today. Most trains reverse at Castleford.

West Riding trams arrived in Castleford in 1906.

West Riding later ran most of the buses in town.

Arriva is today's main bus operator.

There have been various independents since deregulation. One was White Rose, long since gone.

Other independents include Stringers, Ross Travel and M Travel. The first two are still in business, but the other one has ceased trading.

No visit to any town is complete without calling in at a few pubs. First, the Wetherspoons, not a bad one as t happens.

On Lock Lane is the Griffin, seen as a John Smith's house.

The nearby Old Mill is with us no more.

The Eagle is believed to be still trading, but no longer serves Tetley real ales.

Another casualty, the Shoulder of Mutton, once a great boozer.

Leaving the best until last, we arrive at the Junction, with beers from the wood.

Now we head south along Pontefract Road.

Glasshoughton comes next, with its large colliery.

The NCB's Coal Products Division established a coking plant at Glasshoughton, where steam locos shunted.

The Houghton pub, seen in John Smith's ownership, is still thriving in Glasshoughton.

The Rock Inn is also still trading, though no longer serves Darley's beers.

Before the bus, there's time for a pee!

Well, that's it for now. Where next? Find out in the next post. Don't forget, you can follow the route here.