Killamarsh Junctions, a revisit with shots from 1960 & 2018 - Wynn & Oates

As I have mentioned in the past, Adrian Wynn, who died in August, 2018, had sent me a dozen or so black & white and colour pictures he had either taken himself or, in the main, had scanned from negatives he had purchased on-line, from sellers on eBay. Some of Adrian's shots I have already used, here-
www.flickr.com/photos/vinc2020/50981873633/
from February, 2021, in the 'This Time Last Year' series, this one at Beighton & Holbrook and-
www.flickr.com/photos/daohaiku/11467602856/
from December, 2013, 'A two part photo-essay on the Killamarsh Junctions, part 3 - the Mosaic & Narrative',
and two of the shots from that piece are shown once again here, no.16 with 63841 & no.18 with an English-Electric type 3 diesel at the head. Details about the class 37 diesel electric locos, can be found here-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_37
unfortunately the loco is unidentifiable.

In the 4 years since I took my panoramic shot along the track-bed of the G.C.R. line which, not far off in the distance, crosses over the Midland Line on the large lattice bridge, there has seen a lot of rampant growth of the 'greenery', covering up most of the relics from this bygone time. Apart from the large L.D.E.C.R. bridge which still stands sentinel in the woodland off to the right, see 2nd link above, much of any remaining signs of the complex array of 3 companies lines, G.C.R., L.D.E.C.R. & the Midland, junctions, & signal-boxes have disappeared. Though the difficult to remove bridges remain, the 1st of the 3 maps at lower right in this mosaic, shows the scene in 1953 and where the 3 railway companies' lines crossed over each other. The 2nd link above shows the largest of the bridges still remaining, it 'striding' across the woodland landscape, now connecting nowhere to nowhere!; its location being shown on the central 1953 map, access now blocked off by fencing and one graffiti'd wall (picture 17 in the earlier mosaic).

The only active line remaining in this area is the North Midland, 'Old Road', and is to the west of the once complicated, three rail company formation whose tracks at this point, ran roughly parallel to one another. This can be clearly seen in the trio of map views at lower right, the 1953 OS map to the left, a more contemporary version from 2004 and at right, a somewhat older, Google Earth view, from 1999. The G.E. view date was chosen as this still show clearly, the track-beds of all three railways and the large lattice bridge of the G.C.R's crossing the North Midland at a very skew angle. At the top of the G.E. view, Beighton Junction can be seen where the NOrth Midland continues on towards Masbrough and Leeds and branching off to the left, a section of the old G.C.R.'s line through Woodhouse, Woodburn Junction and on into Sheffield. The old G.C.R. formation, 'The London Extension' can also be seen to the left of the former line, the track-bed now forming a walking track between Meadow Gate Lane, running across the scene at left of centre, the path continues south through the wood and north to the metal footbridge at what was once Holbrook Junction. To the right, is what is now the 'Rother Valley Country Park', the area once the province of 3, east-west railway lines connecting the 3 main, north-south formations, ran across the site. One, the North Staveley Curve came off the Lincoln Line at North Staveley Junction near Beighton Colliery and, in a south-facing junction, connected with the G.C.R.'s line at Beighton Junction. South of the 'Staveley Curve' and the Meadow Gate Lane access into the 'Rother Valley Country Park', another G.C.R. line came off its main line just south of the large lattice bridge over the Midland line, at Killamarsh North Junction. The line then headed due north-east & then north crossing Bedgrave Viaduct over the River Rother, just south of Bedgrave Mill, then crossed Bedgrave Lane. The line finally curved around through a very short tunnel, to join the G.C.R.'s Lincoln Line at Waleswood Junction, just west of Waleswood Station. The third line passing though the area of the Country Park, came off the Midland Main Line at Killamarsh Branch Junction and passed close to the Killamarsh North Junction signalbox, this line now passing under both the G.C.R. and L.D.E.C.R's north-south rail formations just a short distance apart from each other. The lines are all visible in the left-hand, 1953 OS map and evidence for where they were, remains to be seen on the central 2004 OS map and on the 1999 Google Earth view; situated to the south of the lake now covering the ground at the Country Park. Many of the old places, road names and other structures, mentioned above, are shown on the 1953 OS map, very useful indeed. The Midland line leaving the 'Old Road' at Killamarsh Branch Junction turns and heads directly due east, a short section can be seen on the 1953 map and it too passes over the meandering course of the River Rother. This was latterly re-directed to run in a fairly straight course on the eastern side of the Park when the area was given over to recreational activities and the Country Park became a reality when it was officially opened on 27 May 1983, at a cost of £4 million.
The Midland Branch line continues on across eastwards, with a branch line into Norwood Colliery on the eastern side of the Country Park, then around 1km further east, Kiveton West Colliery and a few hundred meters further on, the site is now crossed by the 6-lane M1 motorway. Beyond that, the line ran through a short tunnel, next to the Chesterfield Canal, itself in the much longer, ~2.6km long, Norwood Tunnel, the canal entrance stating at West Kiveton Colliery; both formations then heading east to Kiveton. The line finally curved around to the north and came into Kiveton Park Colliery on its western side, the G.C.R. also had a connection from the colliery on the eastern side, to their own Lincoln Main Line; both railway companies could therefore carry the coal out of the colliery and onto their own main lines, west and east. From a higher resolution, 1:2500 OS map, it also looks like there was a through connection, if needed, between the two companies lines, I have no idea if this was ever the case though... It needn't be pointed out I guess, but the revitalisation of the Chesterfield Canal, by the Chesterfield Canal Trust, see-
chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/restoration/
westwards from the old West Kiveton Colliery site, down to the Rother Valley Country Park, provides some challenges for the Trust in terms of getting through the old, and in places decrepit, Norwood Tunnel. The canal also has to pass under the M1 Motorway and finally, descend to the Country Park basin; none of these are trivial engineering works.

The junctions which are shown in the upper three black & white shots of Adrian Wynn, feature some of the connections mentioned above, notably the North & South Killamarsh Junctions of the G.C.R. and the junction at Kiveton Park Colliery with the Midland's Killamarsh Branch line, mentioned just above. The black & white shots, scanned by Adrian Wynn in 2018/19, form the 'look-back' views to the railway infra-structure, which once existed here amidst what, in these latter days, is now an extensive, liner woodland landscape.

* At upper left, this view looks to the south and shows class 04/8, 2-8-0, 63841 heading towards Wales station on the Waleswood Curve. It is leaving the MSL/GC line here at Killamarsh North Junction and heading north-east to pass under the LDECR line, whose signals can be seen in the photograph, a short way off on the left. The photograph is taken from the 'V' in the junction at the Killamarsh Junction Signalbox, of which there are still brickwork remnants to be seen, see the picture of mine, below. The Victoria Flour Mill is visible to the right, in the distance, and lies just north of Killamarsh Central station through which the train will have just passed. The telegraph post just to the left of the loco, I think was part of the signal box remains which can be see in the shot below, at the top which is an inset, showing the pile of bricks and the post. What look like wisps of steam, can be seen on both the Midland line to the right of the flour mill and, in the distance at far right centre, another wisp of steam which from the elevation, looks to be on the LDECR line, the train heading towards the still extant, Spinkhill Tunnel. The gradient post, to the left of 63841, shows its down-hill along the curve over Bedgrave Viaduct, heading to Waleswood Junction and Wales Station.

* At upper centre, in what looks like fairly countrified scene, and a picture of Adrian's scanning session, not seen before, is another class 04/8, 2-8-0, number 63612?, heading back down the grade to pass the Killamarsh North Junction signalbox. At the same time, passing the box yet another 04/8, 2-8-0, number unreadable, it heading north-east along the Waleswood Curve to Waleswood Junction and Wales Station on the GCR's Lincoln Line between Sheffield, Worksop and Retford.
The bracket signals behind the tender of the reversing loco indicates, at left, a move onto the LDECR, south to Spinkhill and the more important right-hand signals are the distant and main signals for a move continuing south on the G.C.R.'s line through Killamarsh Central & on to Staveley; the light engine is currently at a stand therefore. The similar bracket signals over on the right of the signalbox, on the GCR's main line are for moves southwards, the left-hand signal is for the LDECR's line via Killamarsh South Junction, Spinkhill to Langwith Junction and the right pair are the distant and main line signals for the GCR's line through to Staveley and the south; nothing being due at the time this shot was taken. The LDECR's line from Beighton Junction to Langwith, passes in a cutting on the far left of the scene and the gradient of the Waleswood Curve is such that it will soon pass under this line a short distance away behind the (unknown) photographer, out of the shot at far left.

* At upper right, moving right along the Waleswood Curve to its junction with the GCR's Lincoln Line at Waleswood Junction and just beyond, to Wales Station, the last of Adrian's scanned negatives for this area. Waleswood Curve trails in from the left just this side of 'Pigeon Bridge' and beyond Waleswood Signalbox and Station, set amidst the large Waleswood Colliery on the opposite, south side of the line. Heading a rake of mixed freight is an an EE type 3 diesel heading towards Retford from Sheffield Victoria and is just about to pass through Wales station around the curve on the line, on the right, the colliery sidings. The main road, the A618, from Rotherham to Killamarsh passes underneath on the right and the bridge looks pretty much the same these days apart from some heavyweight protection, in the from a black/yellow painted 'chevron girder' right in front of a more impressive grey steel bar about a foot in diameter, across the road at 15'3" height, warning lorry drivers of the headroom; I suspect there have been lots of bridge 'strikes' in the past; each one then requiring the line to be closed and an inspection undertaken by Network Rail. It looks like Adrian received two closely spaced shots of the area, unfortunately these can't be merged into a smooth panorama, the geometry just isn't correct. Be that as it may, the duo still look good though the quality isn't very good as usual with this epoch of picture. Beyond Wales Station the lines curve around to the south-east heading towards, now, under the M1 motorway, then Kiveton Bridge Station, Kiveton Park Station, Brancliffe East Junction, Shireoaks and then Worksop. The consist seen in the picture looks to be mainly composed of British Railways insulated fish vans whose diagram from the east coast ports on the Humber, brought them through here on the way south to London.; the contents of course being chilled. The two silver tanks towards the centre, look like they may well be oil or acid tanks with the distinctive 6-pointed star on the sides and understandable they would be in the middle of the consist. Unfortunately there is no information at all with the picture and Adrian certainly didn't mention any which may have come with the negative, so the EE type diesel at the front, later class 37, 'Growler', is unidentifiable. The scene here of course is much simplified of course and Wales Station has been closed almost 70years, so the surrounding landscape has changed significantly.

Some history regarding this section of line can be found here, on the 'Kiveton Park & Wales History Society' website, see-
www.kivetonwaleshistory.co.uk/heritage/the-railways/the-w...
it states, regarding the fish van traffic-
'... This was the New Cleethorpes – Banbury ‘Whitland Fish’ – an express vacuum-fitted freight which was always worked by one of Immingham sheds’ top locomotives and, for obvious reasons, was always given priority right of way...'
and
'...Fire destroyed the interior of Wales Station booking hall on May 24th 1953 causing £2,000 of damage. The fire raged so fiercely that traffic was delayed for some time. Waleswood station closed to passengers on the 7th of March 1955, the writing on the wall having been there since the adjacent colliery ceased production in May 1948...'

* Lower Panorama, the scene as the MSLR/GCR line, now a track bed, comes over the North Midland on the large lattice bridge, hidden in the foliage on the left in the left in the distance; there is shot of this bridge, at the link, 'A two part photo-essay on the Killamarsh Junctions' mosaic piece mentioned above. The GCR trackbed now forms one of the two walking paths through the woodland, the most easterly, up on a bank to the east through the trees on the right, is the old LDECR formation, and this one, the GCR formation, heading in the same direction, both south to the Killamarsh area not far off. All the rail infrastructure, apart from section of the massive bridges, associated with these two lines is now all long gone, the Midland over on the left is still in use of course but the GCR, closed in 1966 and the LDECR, the final section to Westthorpe was still in use until a few years ago, as a 'Runaround' loop, see-
www.flickr.com/photos/daohaiku/20927706788/
taken in September, 2015 and-
though one of the tracks is still present, it has now been disconnected at Beighton Junction, see-
www.flickr.com/photos/daohaiku/47006898621/
taken in February, 2019, with N.R. now dealing the final blow to the connection...
The panorama picture also shows where the Killamarsh North Signalbox used to be and as evidence, the brickworks which were used to strengthen the base against bomb damage during the war, are still lying about in the undergrowth. The picture was taken here is also the spot where the line went off to the right from the GCR, over towards, and under, the LDECR bridge, to Wales; the Waleswood Curve. Close inspection of the photograph shows, hidden in the undergrowth off to the right,a tumble of brick-work lying in a clearing which is all that now remains of the signal box. There is also, propped up just beyond the bricks, the telegraph pole which can be seen in front of 63841 in Adrian Wynn's picture at upper left, and which is also shown in more detail in the inset picture here. There is of course no metalwork of any note lying about the place, apart from the heavy sections of the bridges, particularly the skew GCR bridge over the Midland Line off in the distance, all the remaining metalwork was removed either officially or later, unofficially.

Taken on: December 10, 2013

Tags:

Killamarsh Junctions

Beighton Junction

L.M.S.

North Midland

G.C.R.

Great Central Railway

L.D.E.C.R.

Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway

Killamarsh South Junction

Killamarsh North Junction

Class 04/8

2-8-0

63841

63612

English Electric type 3 diesel

Class 37

Westhorpe Colliery

Brookhouse Colliery

Kesteven Bridge

Killamarsh Station

Killamarsh Central

Upperthorpe & Killamarsh

Waleswood

Waleswood Curve

Waleswood Junction

Killamarsh Branch Junction

North Staveley Curve

Waleswood Station

Waleswood Road

Waleswood Hall

Kiveton Park Colliery

Kiveton West Colliery

Bedgreave Lane

Bedgreave Viaduct

Rother Valley Country Park

Chesterfield Canal

Holbrook Colliery

Pigeon Bridge Brook

Wales Court Institution

Meadow Gate Lane

Cow Lane

Victoria Flour Mill

Glovers Sidings

Adrian Wynn

Norwood Tunnel

Spinkhill Tunnel

Pigeon Bridge

Waleswood Colliery

Lincoln Line « less

Sets appears in: • Killamarsh Junctions • Mosaic Narratives

Groups appears in: • South Yorkshire Railway History

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