Community Screening Celebrates the Calder Valley Line Through Film

The Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership was delighted to welcome guests to a special community screening of Travelling the Calder Valley Line Through Film at Hebden Bridge Picture House as part of the national Railways 200 celebrations.

The event brought together local residents, railway enthusiasts, project partners and community organisations to celebrate the rich heritage, landscapes and communities that make the Calder Valley Line so special.

The highlight of the afternoon was the screening of the award-winning documentary Travelling the Calder Valley Line Through Film. Created using more than 50 years of archive footage captured by railway filmmaker David Roy Ball, the film takes viewers on a unique journey along the line, showcasing how the railway has evolved over the decades while continuing to connect people and places across the region.

The film highlights both the history and present-day importance of the Calder Valley Line, showcasing archive footage that captures the railway’s evolution over the decades alongside the communities it continues to serve today.

The event also featured Ghost Train Trails, a collaborative project involving students from Calderdale College, the Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership, storyteller and illustrator Howard Priestley and Phoenix Radio. The project explores local ghosts, myths and legends from across the Calder Valley through a collection of creative audio stories and illustrations, providing a fascinating insight into local folklore and heritage.

The Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership would like to thank everyone who attended the event, as well as all those who helped bring the projects to life. Special thanks go to David Roy Ball, Andrew Ball-Shaw and Assiduous Productions, Andy Low, Marco Iannello, Northern, Community Rail Network, Calderdale College, Phoenix Radio and the team at Hebden Bridge Picture House for supporting the event. We would also like to thank the New Pioneers Project for kindly providing refreshments for guests during the event.

Events such as this demonstrate the power of community rail in bringing people together, celebrating local heritage and encouraging new audiences to discover the places, stories and experiences that can be found along the Calder Valley Line.

The full documentary, Travelling the Calder Valley Line Through Film, is available to watch on the Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership YouTube channel Calder Valley Line CRP – YouTube.