Hare Park Junction

| Walton's Neighbours |
HARE PARK JUNCTION
(including Walton Footpath No. 4 & Crofton Footpath No. 8)

In the Neighbours section
Anglers Country Park
Calder Wetlands
Crofton
Felkirk
Hare Park Junction
Horbury Lagoons
Leeds
Newmillerdam
Pugneys Country Park
Rabbit Ings
Sandal Magna
Wakefield

See also
Walton Footpaths

HS2 High Speed Train Plans
HS2 and Walton
HS2 phase two initial preferred route plan and profile maps

Map of Crofton and Hare Park in 1907.

Hare Park Junction is situated to the north-east of the Parish of Walton with road access via Crofton. A public footpath runs from Anglers Country Park to Hare Park Junction and then on to Shay Lane, joining it by Goldwing Farm at the Nine Arches Railway Viaduct. The footpath crosses the railway line near Hare Park Junction, this line is primarily used for goods trains. Things could get a little busier in the area if the proposed HS2 High-Speed Rail Link is built.

Hare Park Junction is where the main line from Leeds and Wakefield Westgate is joined by the goods line, which also joins the line from Wakefield Kirkgate nearer towards Wakefield.

Once upon a time when railways proliferated, both of these lines were operated by the West Riding and Grimsby Railway. This was was a joint railway linking Wakefield and Doncaster. The companies involved in the joint company were the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and the Great Northern.

The line was inherited by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1923, and the Wakefield Westgate section is still the main route for the East Coast Main Line from Doncaster to Leeds, as well as carrying trains from Sheffield to Leeds. Of course, British Railways, the Great North Eastern Railway (GNER), Northern Spirit, Arriva Trains and Virgin Cross Country have all come and gone on this line over the years. The current main line train operators (2009) are National Express for East Coast Main Line, and Cross Country (XC) for trains from Leeds and further north to the Midlands and further south. Local trains are run by Northern.

The station at Hare Park & Crofton was situated just to the east of the junction of the two lines; it no longer exists. The station was opened in November 1885 and closed on 4th February 1968. Its re-opening in the near future seems unlikely.

Hare Park Woods, Hare Park Farm with neighbouring New House Farm are located in Walton, albeit on the outskirts of the parish, close to the boundary with the Parish of Crofton.

Click on these pictures to enlarge.
View from the Anglers Country Park to Hare Park Junction footpath. Public Footpath Walton No. 4 runs from Hare Park Junction towards Anglers Country Park where it meets Wintersett FP No. 2.	View from the East Gate of Walton Park (Public Footpath Walton 18). Hare Park is directly in front, Public Footpath Walton 3 runs to the left (to Shay Lane near Drain Beck at Brooklands) and right towards Anglers Country Park and Haw Park (Public Footpath Walton 17). Click here for more information about public rights of way in the Parish of Walton and area.
At the boundary of the parishes of Walton and Crofton. View towards Hare Park Junction road bridge over the East Coast Main Line (Doncaster - Leeds) from the direction of Crofton. Hare Park Railway Station was to the right in a cutting. (Photographed from Public Footpath Walton 4).	A Green Shield Bug and Elderberries from Crofton Public Footpath No.8.
Hare Park and Crofton Railway Station in the Age of Steam. Probably a L.N.E.R. train.	Site of the former Hare Park and Crofton Railway Station (Hare Park Lane Bridge). There does not seem any prospect of a new station being built.
Another early view of Hare Park Station. View towards Wakefield.	Hare Park Lane and bridge across the railway line.
The old railway station was in this area.	Passenger train on the East Coast Main Line passing a stationary freight train at Hare Park Junction.
View towards Hare Park Junction road bridge over the East Coast Main Line (Doncaster - Leeds) from the direction of Crofton. Hare Park Railway Station was in a cutting to the left of the road bridge (Hare Park Lane).	View towards Wakefield city centre from Hare Park Junction, showing the Clock Tower (Town Hall), County Hall tower and the Cathedral spire. [18 Sep 2010, Hare Park Junction pedestrian crossing - Public Footpath Crofton 8.]
View towards Hare Park Junction from the bridge near the former Hare Park Railway Station. The line to the left is the East Coast Main Line to Wakefield Westgate and Leeds, the righthand fork is used by freight trains and connects to Wakefield Kirkgate and other lines. (Hare Park Lane Bridge)	View towards Highfield Farm and Walton from the footpath linking Hare Park Junction and Nine Arches Viaduct at Shay Lane. The East Coast Main Line runs across the picture. Public Footpath Crofton 8 provides a link via Hare Park Junction with Walton FP No. 4. At Anglers Country Park, Walton FP 4 links with Wintersett FP 2 providing access to Haw Park and Walton (Waterton) Park.
Information sources about Hare Park and the railway include Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Riding_and_Grimsby_Railway and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Park_&_Crofton_railway_station (External links, treat Wikipedia information with caution.)