Lake Lock Rail Road Company Above Ground Railway
In 1798, the Lake Lock Rail Road Company constructed a rail route from Lake Lock to Outwood. It is reputed to be the first ever above ground railway.
First Above Ground Railway
The primary purpose of the line was the carriage of coal with horse powered wagons from the various coal pits surrounding the line to the Aire & Calder Navigation for shipment.
The initial route opened to traffic in 1798. The started at Lake Lock, near Stanley, Wakefield on the Aire & Calder Navigation encompassing the River Aire and the River Calder in the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England. The route ran broadly for a 3 mile stretch in a westerly direction toward Outwood.