The Former Freight Only Barnsley Avoiding Line - Worsbrough
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- We're continuing our journey down the disused Wath to Penistone railway, Barnsley avoiding line. Once part of the historic Woodhead route which saw countless tonnes of coal and freight head westbound from the coalfields of Yorkshire to the hungry power stations of the west. We're on the section of the line between Dodworth and Wombwell today that was made famouse for it's unusually steep gradient, which caused a few interesting workings - the Worsbrough Incline (or Worsbrough Bank as it was also known).
We pick up our story at Gilroyd near Dodworth, just to the West of Barnsley. We cross the M1 and make our way towards the village of Worsbrough (shows as Worsborough on some old maps). We pass over the first of many level crossings at Kendall Green Crossing. As we pass through Worsbrough we pick up the parallel route of the also disused and abandoned Worsbrough Branch of the Dearne & Dove Canal. Several more level crossings, Worsbrough Bridge, Glasshouses, Worsbrough Dale, before we reach Lewden Crossing.
At Lewden we head up to some nearby bridge abutments that we passed on our travels this morning. It is here that we find the remains of the Dovecliffe Railway Station on the also abandoned Woodbourne Road Junction to Aldham Junction line.
We end todays video at the Swaithe Viaduct, where the Sheffield to Barnsley railway crosses us.
This line only really served freight traffic and was littered with collieries along the way - the majority with the own branch lines. However, the line closed in 1981 when the full Woodhead route was closed. It is now part of the Trans-Pennine Trail. A long distance network of cycle paths.
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This was excellent I grew up there 50 years ago spent many a happy evening hanging off that viaduct
Thank you for the walking tour this day. Always enjoyable and informative to listen to. See you on the next, Paul. Enjoy your weekend, what is left! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸
Thanks Martin. Appreciated.
Hope you had a good weekend.
You mentioned that Swaites colliery was pretty much completely gone, but the pits to the west side of Barnsley were pretty shallow, getting deeper as you passed further to the east, Armthorpe and Thorne being about the limit of workable depth thus being some of the last to go, meaning those collierys were abandoned quite a long time ago and have had chance to turn back to nature.
I used to work at a factory in Worsborough, that evolved from the sawmill you mention when looking at the map. There was one old building on site where you could see the remnants of a steam engine that powered the factory machinery. Sadly it closed and was demolished, the empty site can be seen on one of the drone shots.
I grew up in a house that overlooked wombwell main junction , none stop all day class 76 coal trains , I would watch them depart westward two 76’s on the front two on the rear plus steel , scrap and tanker trains even box vans also classes 20 31 37 45 47 56 storming up the bank towards dovecliff and barrow colliery , happy days , now I cycle and walk the TPT and other closed lines .
I looked at those houses and thought wow I bet they had a great view back in the day.
Do you have any photos I could use for the next episode where I visit Wombwell junction?
@@WobblyRunner sadly I don’t , as a kid I just took it for granted that it was always going to be there and would go off to Donny on Saturdays to spot Deltics , pity the aldam curve wombwell main to new oaks junction didn’t survive , it had a viaduct a bit like swaith and a bridge over the canal , I used to play on it as a kid , it still had rails held in by wooden blocks , when you get to wombwell main junction take a walk up the former great central line and you’ll see an interesting 1854 South Yorkshire railway bridge with a concrete bridge over the top , it’s called convicts tunnel and is well known by paranormal investigators , it’s got some large subsidence cracks so might not be around for much longer .
@@mickd6942 Ah yes convicts bridge. I was looking at photos of that. Hopefully get to go and film some more bits of that line soon.
The cable going down the side of the bridge is probably the earth cable
Brilliant day captured so well. Loved the old drivers view footage at each crossing. It really brought it to life. I’m so glad we took the route we did on the way and found those massive bridge abutments!!! The hidden old station was a cheeky little find.
So many highlights weren't there?
One of best bits still to come, where we went down into the canal 🙂
Great finale!
Great video Paul, there was almost as much heavy industry on that short section of track as there is in the whole of the uk now!
Cheers Russ. Sad but true.
The footbridge was plated over for electrification and looked very utilitarian , I used to carry a kayak over it as a sea cadet to kayak on worsborough res .
WORSBROUGH IS PRONOUNCED WUZBOROUGH IN BARNSLEY 😊 AND THANK YOU FOR PRONONCING CUDWORTH CUDDUTH AS I WAS BORN THEEA
Another great video so many disused lines to explore liked the drivers view on the train then and before thanx for sharing Paul.
Cheers Chris. That on train footage was great wasnt it.
@@WobblyRunnerBrilliant Paul.
thers a heck of a lot to be seen as you get closer to stairfoot
Worsboro dale crossing was a brick and concrete ARP modern looking signal box , I only saw it once as a kid in about 76 , surprisingly it was first to go unlike the wooden ones .
My AREA as i live in dodworth... Im from Knaresborough really and yes i get corrected all the time for my speech !!! Enjoyed this 1 thanks.... keep up the good work chaps...
Cheers John. Glad you enjoyed it. The next part should be up by next week too
The abutments were for the LMS warncliffe branch which went to barrow , rockingham , silkstone and pilley hills collieries and branched of the current Barnsley Sheffield line .
It's lovely country side round there Paul I always think that when I'm on the M1 going towards Barnsley. Some very nice bridges on this section loved the foot bridge. Loads to see on this disused walk Paul very interesting, nice old video too. ❤😊👍
Thanks Carol. I think that's possibly the nicest footbridge I've come across. I wonder why it was made like that
@@WobblyRunner I don't know but it's very victorian isn't it but nothing nearby ? Stations or large houses, it's like it's part of something if you know what I mean Paul. 🤔
Great video mate, shame I couldn't make it, especially with it being Worsbrough too but you're right there is so much history especially with the coal mines etc. there just isn't enough time to capture all. Keep on keeping on mate and look forward to the journey to Aldham Junction 👍
Cheers Glyn. Much appreciated. It was cracking weather too. Its only ever sunny up your way?
Great video Paul
Thanks Stephen 👍
Swaith main was the site of a massive disaster in Dec 1875 when one hundred and forty three men and boys were killed in an explosion , edmunds , Lund hill , swaith , the oaks in this area of a few miles death is right under your feet , the swaith main site was landfilled in about 79 , the canal was dry but not infilled at that time and I can remember walking the tow path and the stone swaith canal bridge that would have provided access to the colliery , it was demolished as it wouldn’t have supported the weight of the bin lorries .
Thanks for all the great insights Mick. Enjoyed reading them 👍.
Sad to hear about the colliery. Such a waste of life and harrowing numbers involved. The majority of areas I visit have similar stories which is a sad reflection of the dangerous times those men and boys worked in. It makes for unpleasant reading doesn't it.