Steam Memories

Low Moor MPD

The view is looking towards Bradford with the station behind the train, the two tracks to the right go off towards Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike and formed a triangle with the line from Bradford that ran behind the carriage sidings in the distance....Photo. D. Holmes.

The engine by the way is 'Jubilee' 45688 'Polyphemus'.

Photos by D Holmes

Low moor was one of three MPD's serving the city of Bradford, the others being Hammerton St and Manningham. Originally a Lancashire and Yorkshire railway engine shed it grew in importance with the growth of the iron and steel works at Low Moor. Low Moor suffered a very serious explosion in a munitions works during the first world war. No real explanation has ever been given for it, was it sabotage??
Here a brief description
Detonations loud and small continued and at about six o'clock the upper sifting and packing shed exploded. The explosions went on for two days. There were about twenty-two on the Monday, and the fires had not all been extinguished three days later. The munitions factory was extensively damaged and Sharp's Dyeworks, which caught fire after the first expolsion, was almost gutted. Two gasometers at the Corporation Gas Works on Cleckheaton Road were destroyed and there was also much damage at the Low Moor Iron Works. Property belonging to the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, including a row of cottages called Railway Terrace, suffered considerably, and rolling stock on the sidings was severely damaged by fire. According to an estimate made by the City Engineer and Surveyor's Office (about 2,000 dwelling houses and premises of all kinds in the neighbourhood were affected, about 50 houses being virtually demolished. The cost of the damage, other than to the Low Moor Munitions Company, the BDA and the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, was put at about £40,000. A claim was submitted for property damaged at Hightown Council School, which was 2¾ miles from the site of the explosions.


My thanks to D Holmes for this great series of pictures around the 1960's