KEIGHLEY’S part in one of the world’s biggest railway empires is to be portrayed for the first time.
A planned new visitor centre at Keighley station will put the former Worth Valley branch line at the heart of the Midland Railway’s story.
The Midland Railway Society will be heavily involved in running the attraction, which is expected to open next year, if funding can be found.
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society plans to restore the water tower and chairman Matt Stroh said it would be looking for a "six-figure sum" for the work.
Mr Stroh said: "The tower is a special building. It’s largely unchanged inside since when the Midland Railway was using it, and it’s still used today.
When we took Midland Railway Society members on a tour of the line they were excited when they realised we still had a building like that.
"They’re very interested in using the building to tell the Midland Railway story, and displaying artefacts that tell people how a real branch line was run."
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