Notes: Despite the difficulties encountered in building the Halifax - Bradford - Keighley lines, the appetite for building further lines in the district was not diminished. In 1883 plans were put forward for a short branch to the west side of Halifax. The original plan had been to extend the line through to Huddersfield, but this idea was officially abandoned on July 5th 1887.

The Halifax High Level Line as it came to be called, was only just over three miles long and left the Halifax - Queensbury line at Holmfield, terminating at Halifax St. Pauls station. Pellon was the only intermediate station on the line; a further station at Wheatley was planned but never built due to low passenger expectations.

The first sod was cut on February 8th 1888 and a workforce of over a thousand men ensured that the first section to Pellon was opened to goods traffic 2 1/2 years later on August 1st 1890.

Upon opening, the line was operated by the Halifax High Level Railway, but this was absorbed into the joint ownership of the Great Northern and Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway in July 1894.

Passenger traffic suffered upon the introduction of electric trams just over a decade later; it took over half an hour for trains from St. Pauls to reach Halifax (Old) station to connect with trains to London & Manchester - a distance of two miles as the crow flies (or walks!).

Passenger services were withdrawn as a wartime economy measure on 1.1.1917, but surprisingly, were reinstated after the war, only to be withdrawn for good on 1.1.1927. Occasional excursion traffic did, however continue to run until the mid 1930's. The last passenger train to use St. Pauls was a RTCS special in February 1954. Even then, the train had to be propelled carriages first from Pellon due to the poor condition of the points at St. Pauls. Goods services continued to use the line until 27.6.1960 when the whole branch, plus the remnant from Holmfield to Halifax North Bridge was closed completely.

To see the other stations on the Halifax - Bradford - Keighley lines click on the station name: Pellon, Halifax North Bridge, Ovenden, Holmfield, Queensbury, Clayton, Great Horton, Horton Park, Manchester Road, St. Dunstan's, Bradford Adolphus Street, Thornton, Denholme, Wilsden, Cullingworth & Ingrow East