A Northern station’s volunteers came together to celebrate the anniversary of the station’s opening.

Bentham station in Yorkshire, opened in May 1850, and remains a popular stop on the scenic line that runs between Leeds and Morecambe.

The Leeds-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership, Friends of Bentham Station (FOBS), Mytholmroyd Station Partnership and Northern staff marked the station’s 175th anniversary last week.

The line is 75 miles long and is one of the oldest in the country. Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 guide named the Bentham Line as a top 10 best ‘train hopping trips in the world.

Previously, the line was used to transport raw materials from mills along with livestock and coal. Previously run by British Railways in 1948 when the railways were nationalised, Bentham station was demolished and rebuilt only 6 years later.

The station was renovated in 2008, where the lease was transferred in 2013 to Leeds-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership and FOBS.

FOBS celebrated their own anniversary a few years back, gaining a new defibrillator for the station whilst they were at it.

“Passenger services first came to Bentham on May 2 in 1850 and it was pleasing to welcome so many guests for our 175th anniversary celebrations.

“Bentham station and the line are vital transport resources for our small community, with the number of passenger journeys growing from 11,000 to 37,000 over the past 15 years.”

Gerald Townson, chairman of FOBS