Bradford 2025: I travelled on the 1950s Keighley and Worth Valley Railway steam train made famous by The Railway Children and Peaky Blinders

Snaking around the vast region’s moorland is Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR), a five-mile train line that was once used to serve many of the woollen mills around the area.

Here, reporter Sophie Mei Lan Malin recounts her experience travelling on one of the 1950s steam trains, made famous by The Railway Children and Peaky Blinders.

Bradford 2025 is shining a light on the cultural heritage of the district and what better way to experience this rich diversity from the industrial heartland of Bradford city centre and its bustling bazaars into the vast moorland of the Worth Valley.

Last time I passed this way the line had been closed for refurbishment which gave me the opportunity to jump on a Brontë Bus to head to Haworth. This had been the ultimate indulgence for literary lovers.

I was keen however to venture further through the Worth Valley aboard the steam train; this time paying homage to Bradford being the first UNESCO city of film and a captivating location for film crews globally.

I wanted to experience some of the stunning scenery I'd seen on screen up close.

You can buy a day rover to enjoy the five mile railway line which means you can hop on and off and enjoy the engine shed, cafes and museums at your leisure for £22 or just a return from Keighley to Oxenhope for £16.

With limited time and mobility in our family, we chose the latter.

We drove from Wakefield to Keighley through Saltaire, a Victorian model village, and into the industrial heart of Keighley.

We parked up at Keighley Station car park. The station itself feels like a gateway into the past and present. Platforms 1 and 2 are your modern mainline trains and Platforms 4 is where you board the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway steam trains.

Platform 4 is oozing 1950s memorabilia from the iron canopies sheltering the station as well as the booking office which is a new addition, originally used as a telephone box at Wakefield Kirkgate.

After purchasing our tickets we jumped on board.

Only then did I spot Platform 3, a slightly bare platform in contrast to Platform 4 which has been restored by KWVR, whereas Platform 3 fell victim to the decline of British Railways who were forced to make cutbacks in the 1950s and 60s.

We walked down the ramp onto Platform 4, leaving the busy traffic behind us as we entered the slower life of the steam railway.

We hopped on one of the vintage carriages with tables and springy seats. After a slow start the train set off in the direction of Oakworth and Haworth before terminating at Oxenhope. The countryside swept past as the train chugged along. From end to end it's a 25 minute trip,

Last of the Summer Wine, Peaky Blinders, The League of Gentleman and The Railway Children have all been filmed on the KWVR. Oakworth is the best place to hop off to see where The Railway Children was filmed.

The second to last stop is Haworth, which is well worth the uphill trip from the station to the main street.

We stayed on until Oxenhope where there’s a tea room inside a former carriage which is now on the platform. There's a range of hot and cold food available - all hearty and value for money. On board you could have even got a hand pulled cask ale if you wanted.

Basking in the sun, with a cuppa, sitting on the platform, it really did feel like we were in some quaint British 1940s film. Better still for those who want to stay onboard they run a range of experiences such as Steam Galas, 1940s weekends, Beer Festivals and the Elf Express Christmas experience.

This is the perfect gentle weekend indulgence for all ages. Our youngsters loved the Harry Potter-esque style of train whereas us older folk enjoyed pottering around Keighley and Oxenhope.

When the train arrived back in Keighley we had a quick look at the gastro pub on the bridge overlooking the tracks, the Old Parcels Office. It’s full of locomotive paraphernalia as well as a decent breakfast and lunch menu.