Another of the haunts of my youth was Hopton, just east of Mirfield in the Calder Valley. A lovely reminder of those days was to see a 'Black 5' crossing the River Calder this morning, albeit in less than sparkling weather. 44871 is on the outward leg of its journey from the east coast resort of Cleethorpes to the historic city of Chester. Once in the Calder valley, the train crosses the Calder four times, initially at Fall Ings, Wakefield, then again at Healey Mills, Ossett then twice more in Mirfield. Firstly at Hopton (as here) and finally in Newgate adjacent to the town centre. The train then bears left up the Colne valley through Huddersfield and onward to Lancashire and Cheshire.
