The railway, which at this point we could hear but not see, was the Kirkless Light Railway. This is a 15" gauge railway which was built along the track bed of the old Clayton West branch of the Penistone Line. The original branch line closed in 1983 and the first section of the narrow gauge railway opened in 1991. Now it runs for almost the entire length of the old branch line, around 3.5 miles and includes a 500 yard tunnel. Interestingly for a steam railway, every locomotive permanently at the railway was built specifically for it and so there is an rather odd mix.
We headed south-west from where we had parked and picked up the railway as it appears out of the tunnel heading towards the terminus at Shelley. We'd been walking by the railway for only 10 minutes or so before we again heard the distinctive sound of a steam engine. Unfortunately we weren't in the best place for taking photographs.
Fortunately all the engines are different colours so I can tell you that the train was being pulled by Badger an 0-6-4ST built at the railway in 1991. On the way back to the car we were treated to another train passing us, this time being pulled by the diesel engine Jay.
Given how close the line is to where we live I need to go back and have a proper look around, maybe on their gala weekend when there will be lots of trains running.
Mark there is an old forge near you that has open days. I went a couple of times and enjoyed it. Can't remember what it is called though it will come to me given time. I never knew this steam line existed. I ought to find a preservation society to volunteer for as I passed two exams on timing steam engine valve gear. The first at Sheffield Polly and the second on Kelvin gear at Glasgow Nautical College. Those heat engine diagrams used to make my brain bleed. You found steam. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing you are thinking of Wortley Top Forge; I could probably walk to it from the house, along the old line from Penistone to Sheffield, but it's yet another local place I haven't got to yet.
DeleteYou have got it. Saved me trawling what remains of my brain. I think it's worth a look.
ReplyDeletePs , It goes way back to Monks and folk in the fourteenth century. Almost the iron age.
DeleteI didn't know about this line...it looks great. From the photos on their site, I would say "Fox" would be my favourite with that lovely valve gear. I'll have to join their "Oily the Owl" club! (If you haven't seen the guy dressed as an owl, you ought to have a look...)
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss the Owl!
DeleteWell I may be lucky ever to see this but I did have a trip on a steam loco pulled train in Northland last week. I'll post on that soon.
ReplyDelete