History
A single track line was built by the South Yorkshire Railway (SYR) from Mexborough to Kilnhurst to serve the pottery and brickworks, and later the colliery, this running alongside the South Yorkshire Navigation. It was not until later, after the SYR was integrated into the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&L), that this line was joined to their Sheffield (Tinsley Junction) to Rotherham line, with a passenger service introduced between Sheffield Victoria and Doncaster, and intermediate stations built, the first being Rotherham Central in 1864. Kilnhurst (the "Central" was added later) opened in September 1871 and closed on 5 February 1968.
The main building of the station, which housed the booking office, parcels facilities, staff facilities and the stationmasters' house, was on the Sheffield-bound platform and was built in the MS&LR "Double Pavilion" style, one of the earliest examples, whilst the Doncaster-bound platform had to suffice with a plain brick-built waiting shelter. Access to the station, for both passengers and goods, was originally from the Hooton Roberts road, but this was rarely used by passengers in latter years when steps to the road overbridge gave direct access to both platforms. A significant amount of the station including the platforms still remains. Kilnhurst goods yard, to the rear of the main station building, had a brick-built shed fitted with cranes. On closure these facilities were bought by Thomas Hill (Rotherham) Ltd, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Limited, who built and repaired industrial locomotives. In the late 1970s the goods shed was demolished and modern buildings erected for the company.
The Kilnhurst stationmaster had control over rail traffic and staff in an area which covered the local pottery and brickworks from the earliest days, and following their sinking collieries at Piccadilly and Kilnhurst (both accessed from the brickworks' branch) and Silverwood, accessed from a new, steeply graded line, built jointly by the MS&LR (GCR from 1899) and the Midland Railway. One unusual siding over which he had control was "Thrybergh Tip", a short spur off the Silverwood line which was a dumping ground for Sheffield Corporation sewage. This siding was usually known by a short but very descriptive title, as were the trains which brought its raw material.
The stationmaster had also control over another station, albeit both small and temporary. In 1959 at the request of the local Working Men's Clubs at Thrybergh a short, about 75 feet (23 m) in length, platform was built near the Park Lane bridge on the Silverwood line to serve the "Children's Outings" - seaside day trips for members and their children which were a regular feature in the clubland calendar. This was known as Thrybergh Tins platform, but it never had a name board to that effect. The platform was used on 3 or 4 occasions each year and closed in the mid-1960s.
The last stationmaster at Kilnhurst was Mr. George Adams, who moved to take over duties at Mexborough and amalgamated the positions at Kilnhurst with those of his new station until his retirement and the position of stationmaster ceasing.
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) was formed in 1847 when the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway joined with authorised but unbuilt railway companies, forming a proposed network from Manchester to Grimsby. It pursued a policy of expanding its area of influence, especially in reaching west to Liverpool, which it ultimately did through the medium of the Cheshire Lines Committee network in joint partnership with the Great Northern Railway and the Midland Railway.
Rotherham Central railway station is in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The station was originally named "Rotherham", becoming "Rotherham and Masborough" in January 1889 and finally "Rotherham Central" on 25 September 1950.
Swinton railway station is a railway station in Swinton, South Yorkshire, England. It has three platforms and a small bus station, and lies at the junction of the former North Midland Railway main line between Rotherham Masborough and Leeds via Cudworth and the former South Yorkshire Railway line to Doncaster.
Barnsley Interchange is a combined rail and bus station in the centre of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. It was first opened in 1850 as Barnsley Exchange railway station and is 16 miles (26 km) north of Sheffield. It is on the Hallam and Penistone Lines, both operated by Northern Trains. On 20 May 2007, the new bus station and refurbished railway station were officially opened by Travel South Yorkshire, with the combined facility renamed to Barnsley Interchange.
Mexborough railway station serves the former mining town of Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England. It is a station on the Sheffield to Doncaster Line 7 miles (11 km) south west of Doncaster.
The Sheffield District Railway was a 3+1⁄2-mile (6 km) railway line in South Yorkshire, England. It was built to give the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway access to Sheffield, primarily for goods traffic, for which a large goods depot at Attercliffe, in Sheffield, was built. The construction was sponsored by the LD&ECR and the Great Eastern Railway together, with the support of the Midland Railway, which agreed running powers over sections of its own lines. The Sheffield District Railway opened in 1900. The LD&ECR operated the passenger service, although the Midland Railway later ran passenger trains too. The SDR did not have rolling stock and did not operate trains itself. The LD&ECR was absorbed by the Great Central Railway in 1907, and the GCR inherited the LD&ECR running powers.
Barnsley Court House railway station was a railway station in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It closed in 1960.
Kilnhurst is a village in South Yorkshire, England, on the banks of the River Don and the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. It grew up around the coal mining, ceramics, glass, brick-making and locomotive industries; none of these industries remain in the village.
Thrybergh Tins platform was a short platform built alongside the Great Central and Midland Joint Railway line between Thrybergh Junction, on the Great Central Railway, Mexborough to Rotherham Central line and Silverwood Colliery, near Thrybergh. A connection was also available to the Midland Railway near Parkgate and Rawmarsh. This line never carried any timetabled passenger service. The operation of the line came under the jurisdiction of the station master at Kilnhurst Central.
Parkgate and Aldwarke railway station was a railway station situated in Parkgate a district of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England on the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway company's line between Rotherham Road and Kilnhurst Central. The station, opened in July 1873, was originally known as "Aldwarke", taking its name from the local manor house nearby which it served along with 8 or 9 servants cottages and a small farmstead. The principal reason for the building of the station, however, was its close proximity to two local collieries, Aldwarke Main and Roundwood. The stopping passenger service fitted in with the requirements of the shift workers at collieries and with many workers living in Rotherham it was recorded that over 100 men would arrive at the station for the early shift alone.
Rotherham Road railway station, named Park Gate until 1 November 1895, was a railway station situated in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. It was built close to the Rotherham borough boundary with access from Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham and served two rows of stone build terraced houses, "Parkgate Row", closest to the station and "Stone Row", actually on Rotherham Road, Parkgate.
The South Yorkshire Railway was a railway company with lines in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Swinton, later Swinton Central railway station was situated on the South Yorkshire Railway line from Sheffield Victoria to Doncaster, between Kilnhurst Central and Mexborough. The station was to serve the community of Swinton Bridge, near Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England.
The West Riding and Grimsby Railway was a railway company that promoted a line between Wakefield and Doncaster, in Yorkshire, England. There was also a branch line connection from Adwick le Street to Stainforth, which gave access towards Grimsby. The company was promoted independently, but it was sponsored by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and the Great Northern Railway, and became jointly owned by them.
John Brown's railway was a line constructed in the Rotherham area of South Yorkshire, England, in order to link Silverwood Colliery to staithes situated alongside the River Don. The line, along with the collieries, became the sole property of John Brown & Company of Sheffield, in 1910, giving the line its local name.
Kilnhurst Colliery, formerly known as either Thrybergh or Thrybergh Hall Colliery, was situated on the southern side of the village of Kilnhurst, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England.
The Dalton Main Collieries Limited became a public company which appeared on the London Stock Exchange in December 1899. The company was set up by John Brown and Company with the aim of purchasing Roundwood Colliery at Parkgate and to purchase land between Thrybergh and Ravenfield, known as Silverwood, and sink a new deep colliery there. By the time production was in full swing at Silverwood in 1909 John Brown were sole proprietors of the Dalton Main Company.
Thrybergh Junction was a junction on the South Yorkshire Railway, Mexborough to Rotherham line situated about 1 mile south of Kilnhurst Central. The junction was originally controlled by a Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway signal box of the earliest design, almost square with a hipped roof built on stilts. The junction was originally known as Thrybergh Hall Junction and served the line to Kilnhurst Colliery, brickworks and another colliery interest at Warren Vale.
Beighton Junction is a set of railway junctions near Beighton on the border between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, England.
Aldwarke Junction at Parkgate near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England is a major railway junction. It was constructed in 1965 as a part of the Sheffield district rail rationalisation plan.
