sought powers to make a short single track line leaving the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway just north of Gisburn station and connecting with the Barnoldswick branch. It was scotched by the L&YR's refusal to allow a junction at Gisburn. Baughan explains: Actually, the L&YR pulled a fast one over the engineer to the line, E O Ferguson, by appearing to agree to all the clauses and then turning up at the inquiry, held by two of the Light Railway Commissioners in the 'Ribblesdale Arms' at Gisburn, and denying that it would permit the junction. The company had, it appeared, been too busy to look at the scheme properly. Shattered by this bland effrontery, the promoters withdrew the scheme. Nine years later, presumably having had enough time to reason out where they had gone wrong, the idea was again put forward, on a slightly amended route, and without the junction to the Midland. This time the L&YR was all smiles, provided it was permitted to work the line. The Order was granted but World War I prevented any actual construction. Heating in the trains On 16 November 1922 the Midland Railway traffic committee authorised the fitting of steam heating apparatus in the nine carriages and two engines working the Barnoldswick branch service, nearly twenty years after the main line coaches had been so fitted and barely a month before the Midland Railway ceased to exist, due to the Grouping of 1923. Closure Declining use led to the closure of the branch, to passengers on 27 September 1965 and to goods on 1 August 1966. Location list Barnoldswick Junction; Barnoldswick; opened 13 February 1871; closed 27 September 1965. See also Barnoldswick railway station Earby railway station Notes References Early British railway companies Midland Railway Transport in the Borough of Pendle Railway companies established in 1862 Railway lines opened in 1871 Railway companies disestablished in 1899 Barnoldswick 1862 establishments in England 1899 disestablishments in England British companies disestablished in 1899 British companies established in 1862