Travellers on the A639 to Leeds cannot have missed the metal track laid parallel to the railway line at ground level (Feb 2009). It would appear that Railtrack, or is it Network Rail have examined the bridge under the elevated embankment some 400m from the main road and declared it unsafe .  AMCO a civil engineering and mining contracting firm have been engaged to fill the bridge and make the arch safe.
The bridge has not been in use to my knowledge for more than 50 years, possibly longer, being only an occasional way through for the inquisitive.    The bridge is known as Harrison’s Bridge and little if anything is known as to how it got this name - could it have been a tenant farmer requiring access when the line was constructed around 1840 on the Leeds - Normanton section of the London - Edinburgh line?  Does anybody know?
A brief scan at the Methley Census 1841 extracted in Jim Melvin’s book Methley 2000 indicates a Mrs Harrison aged 75, a lady of independent means and with two house servants who lived at Churchside in what could be the cottages at the rear of the Cedars.
There were some 23 bridges in this village; what with two rivers and two canal systems, three railway lines, a major A road and the more recent construction of the M62 motorway.   Right now (April 2009) there are 22 following the above construction works and the filling in of Harrisons Bridge.  Not very well used but certainly of architectural character and in keeping with the style of other under embankment bridges here - and its been here for 170 years.   The end product is a breeze block fronted closure covering a liquid concrete fill which looks absolutely appalling.
A photo shot was held today (30th April 2009) of people gathered to challenge the outcome of this work and question the decision on safety.   They were led by the triumvirate of Councillors Wakefield and Lewis and local enthusiast Terry Waite who are to proceed further with the matter.

Methley North station was opened on the 1st July1840 on the Leeds - Normanton section of the London - Edinburgh LMS line.   The station finally closed on the 16th September, 1957.

As with Methley North station, both  the Methley South and Methley Junction stations are now closed - Methley South opened on 1st May, 1869 and closed on 7th March 1960 and the Methley Junction station which  opened on 1st October, 1849 closed on the 4th October, 1943.

The Junctions at Methley

Information source : The Railway Magazine 1957 K Field and JP Wilson

The first railway to be constructed through Methley was the North Midland creating a working connection from Derby to Leeds commencing 1st July 1840.  Engineer George Stephenson was attracted to this route because of the advantageous geographical levels along the Aire valley.    Further railway development was carried out in this village utilising both river levels and the area was to be recognised as of strategic importance as a route into the developing city of Leeds.   Construction of the York and North Midland line quickly followed with the Leeds - York service.  The next company to run through Methley was the Manchester and Leeds Railway.
The next stage in the history concerned the Great Northern Railway which shortly became the Gt Northern who were seeking access into Leeds.   The threat of competition drove the Midland to contest this but the Gt Northern purchased access via the Wakefield - Goole line.   As a consequence the Midland offerred the Gt Northern authority to run from Methley Junction on contract in 1847 becoming effective in 1849.       A situation described as ‘a  difference’   occurred between the Midland and the Gt Northern.     After developing misgivings regarding the possible effects of the proposed competition, it would appear these differences had  leaked to the workforce level at the Midland and on the first day of operations it had been reported that some metals had been taken up.    The Leeds Mercury of September 15th 1849 reported ‘ the  public narrowly escaped a frightful catastrophe on the opening day  -  the Superintendant at Doncaster had heard a whisper that something was afoot with the line at Methley, sent over a single tender and found that the points had been removed. Had the train proceeded at speed it would surely have left the rails.’
The Gt Northern must have made an immediate and forceful protest, as on the following day they were able to introduce their race specials from Leeds and Peterborough to the St Leger horseracing meeting at  Doncaster.

Further junction work was completed in 1869 and the new line known as the Methley Joint Line was the product of the Gt Northern, the Lancs and Yorks and the North Eastern Railway.
Platforms were installed on the fork to Lofthouse junction (L & Y) but remained unused, the connection being utilised for mineral trains only.    This portion between Methley joint junction and Methley Junction fell int disuse for passenger services and the track finally removed in 1943.    The LYR station was also closed at that time.   One thing that is clear is that before the development of tarmacadam and improved road transport, those railway platforms would have been hives of activity giving direct passenger access to Leeds and local towns not to mention the incoming migration of miners and their families from other areas of the country.