[11] Upper Barden is an upland freshwater reservoir, being 1,168 feet (356 m) above sea level,[12] and was built at the confluence of Hethersgill Beck and Padmore Syke.

[4] The scheme received royal assent in 1875, however, the necessary surveying and preparatory work took some time, with the design and construction down to the newly appointed (1875) Bradford Corporation Waterworks engineer, Alexander Binnie.

[20] The Dam's cut-off (the lowest part of the wall designed to prevent seepage) was constructed from concrete, one of the first to be made from this material in England.

[21] The cut-off trench was dug and completed by May 1879, and because of the "exceptional use of concrete.." (at that time), the event attracted much attention, especially in engineering circles.

[36] The transhipment yard and navvy camp was located on the road between Embsay and Barden which is at 1,020 feet (310 m); this site is now a car park.

[37][38] The railway extended for 2.5 miles (4 km) along the edge of the hills to reach the dam head,[34] and ascended by 200 feet (61 m) from the road at the navvy camp.

[18] The railway was worked by three 0-6-0 saddle tank locomotives (named Bruce, Jingo and Wallace), made by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds.