Sowerby Bridge Railway Station Celebrates 150 Years at Its Present Site

On Tuesday 1 September 2026, Friends of Sowerby Bridge Railway Station welcomed approximately 100 visitors to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the station’s re-siting.

The station was moved to its present location by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1876. A century and a half later, volunteers, railway partners, local representatives and members of the community came together to celebrate this important milestone.

A day of railway history and community celebration

The station was decorated with bunting, while the main celebration took place inside the historic Jubilee Refreshment Rooms.

During the event, members of Friends of Sowerby Bridge Railway Station gave an illustrated presentation about the station’s fascinating history. Visitors learned about the station’s Brontë connection and the memorable visit of the world-famous steam locomotive Mallard in 1961.

Guests also watched Travelling the Calder Valley Line Through Film, a documentary produced by Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership. Created using more than 50 years of archive footage filmed by railway filmmaker David Roy Ball, the documentary explores the history, landscapes and communities connected by the Calder Valley Line.

Watch Travelling the Calder Valley Line Through Film on YouTube.

Marking an important milestone

Virginia Lloyd, Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, attended the celebration and unveiled new commemorative information boards and station totems.

The Mayor of Calderdale, Councillor Andrew Tagg, also joined the event and had the honour of cutting the special anniversary cake, which was enjoyed by visitors throughout the day.

Thanks to support from Northern, guests could enjoy free tea or coffee and a celebration cake. Souvenir badges and commemorative tickets were also available as special reminders of the occasion. Cupcakes were kindly provided by Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership.

Celebrating the station’s volunteers

Councillor Mike Payne, Chair of Friends of Sowerby Bridge Railway Station, thanked the volunteers for their continued hard work.

The group looks after the Brontë Garden, flower tubs and other areas around the station. Their dedication helps to keep Sowerby Bridge Station colourful, welcoming and connected to the local community.

This anniversary celebration showed that a railway station is much more than a place to catch a train. It is part of the town’s history and a place where people, stories and communities come together.

Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership would like to congratulate Friends of Sowerby Bridge Railway Station on this important anniversary and thank everyone who helped make the celebration such a memorable occasion.