Steam to Penistone ???

Hmmmmm, I'll have to make sure I'm available for this one as and when it's fully confirmed. \/

 

:-# ... [-o< ... \/ ... \/ ...It' gonna....CENSORED

 

R

U


N


??

:-k

 

Y


E


S


:-#

 

41 years - 5 months and one day - but I was behind 70013 then????

 

I've been dreaming of this tour over the Penistone line for ages. I certainly am up for 2 tickets if the tour comes to plan.
I was on the tour last june behind 45407 through Barnsley. I live at Chapeltown on this branch. This was the first steam through here in my memory. I recon over 40 years.
Just south before Barnsley station is a short bank with a decent gradient. All trains seem to be stopped here for the oncoming level crossing to be set. The two locos will need to be worked hard to accelerate the train up the short bank and through the station before the bank on the Penistone branch. Railway memories book no8 "Barnsley,Cudworth and Royston" has a few photos of the bank in steam days. It's described as a ferrocious curving gradient of 1 in 41/50.
I'm keeping all fingers crossed the tour comes off.
Brian.

 

This bank sounds awesome! Definatly something to see. Someone make sure to get a video at this location and stick it up on the interweb! [-o<

 

Shades of Beasdale Bank then?............... :-k

 

Well, back in the late 60s it brought Scotsman to a stand!

So, won't be a problem for a Black 5 then... ;-)

 

And the 'Pocket Rocket'........... [-o<

 

Some info on gradients from Barnsley to Penistone:
Permissible speed is 40 to 50 mph except where stated.
Mileages are approximate and are from zero at the former Barnsley Jn at Penistone so descend going this way.
OS grid refs are all prefix SE and are approximate.

347068. 6m 44ch Barnsley Station Jn, turnout speed 20mph, 1 in 50 starts, minimum curve radius 13ch.
339068. 5m 70ch Summer Lane, double track becomes single; about 100 yards later gradient eases to 1 in 67.
326063. 5m 00ch, road overbridge, gradient eases to 1 in 100.
322061. 4m 60ch, east end of M1 bridge, gradient steepens to 1 in 42 for about 200 yards.
This short section of 1 in 42 may have been eliminated when the motorway bridge was put in?
320060. 4m 50ch, west end of M1 bridge, gradient becomes 1 in 60.
314057. 4m 11ch gradient becomes 1 in 159 falling then level to 4MP and there is a 25mph speed restriction from 4m 07ch to 3m 75ch.
313056. 4MP. The line begins to climb again at 1 in 96/90/145 to 3MP, with minimum curve radius of 10ch.
311054. 3m 63ch Dodworth station.
298051. 3MP, gradient becomes 1 in 100 to 0m 14ch at SE263027.

I believe this gradient info is (fairly) up to date but see the comment on the 1 in 42 at the M1 bridge.
Please excuse any errors, and my apologies if Martin Bairstow's book (The Huddersfield & Sheffield Junction Railway) has more accurate or more easily assimilated info, I haven't seen a copy.

 

All we need now are some times

Neil

 

Bookings for the tour are now open so get moving quick as I think it will be a sell out!
Brian