UP THE NIDD VALLEY

We're still in Knaresborough and it's time to look at the buses in the town. Harrogate & District was the main operator back in 1991.

Transdev is now in charge.

Eddie Brown once ran buses into Knaresborough.

Some beer is being delivered!

There we once plenty of Sam Smith's pubs in Knaresborough. The Borough Bailff has since closed.

The same fate has befallen the Wellington Inn.

Ye Gods! The Marquis of Granby has also gone!

So much for the Sam Smith's pubs. The Mother Shipton Inn is a bt of a tourist trap, but at least it's still open.

So! Bar & Eats is a trendy place with a couple of real ales.

The George & Dragon is also known as the 'Top House'.

The Cross Keys is not to be missed, now owned by Ossett Brewery.

Our final Knaresborough pub is a great little free house, Blind Jack's.

To the north of Knaresborough is Scotton. Here we have St Thomas's Church.

Scotton was once home to Guy Fawkes during his teenage years. This was his house.

We now head west and reach the North Eastern Railway's Pateley Bridge branch at Birstwith station.

Further up the line was Dacre.

At nearby Dacre Banks, there's the Royal Oak.

The NER terminated at Pateley Bridge.

A connection was maintained between the NER and the Nidd Valley Light Railway (NVLR) at Pateley Bridge, with the stations being separated by this level crossing.

Here's the NVLR establishment. 

A pasenger train for Lofthouse awaits departure. You can learn more about the NVLR here.

Substantial stations were built on the NVLR. Here is Wath-in-Nidderdale.

Then comes Ramsgill.

The Yorke Arms in Ramsgill is seen in the 1920s. Today it's a VERY posh restaurant.

The NVLR's passenger service terminated at Lofthouse.

One of the company's locos is seen at Lofthouse.

A steam railmotor was later used on the passenger service.

Beyond Lofthouse the NVLR continued, to serve the construction and maintainance of the reservoirs in the upper valley. Some fearsome gradients were encountered and locos had to work hard.

So, I leave you in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by moorland. Don't worry, we'll find civilisation in the next post. Meanwhile, follow the rather convoluted route here.