THERE is no known photograph of Keighley’s first railway station of 1847.

But this artist’s impression shows an attractive ornamental building situated on the northern side of Bradford Road.

When the first “directors’ opening” train arrived from Shipley at the beginning of March in 1847, the notabilities aboard could inspect only the foundations of this “stone station-house”, as a “neat, and yet substantial” temporary wooden structure was in use, decorated with flags and bunting.

The passengers included directors, contractors, engineers and some of our more important Keighlians. They celebrated their arrival with a meal at the Devonshire Arms. Later that year, the line opened to Skipton.

That first engine was called Camilla and was bedecked with Union Flags and olive branches symbolising “the peaceful triumphs of this mighty power of steam”.

Some years later, the Crimean War – and more especially the American Civil War – were to prove the effectiveness of railways in conflict too.