VISITING THE SMEATONS

 We start this post at Ryhill, where there was a halt on the Dearne Valley Railway. The passenger accommodation was minimal (photographer unknown - my collection),

The Great Central Railway also had a station at Ryhill.

The nearby reservoir was built to serve the Barnsley Canal. There was once a pumping station.

Close by is Wintersett, where we find a nice pub, the Angler's Retreat.

Moving on now, to Nostell station on the Doncaster - Wakefield line. The station is long closed.

In case you're lost, here's a map of the route. Here's Long Row in Nostell.

The Bridge and the Boat House in Nostell.

Back to the Doncaster to Wakefield and a station that reopened. A DMU calls at Fitzwilliam in 1987.

I found this West Yorkshire PTE coach by the station in Fitzwilliam in 1983.

Just down the road was a United Services depot at Kinsley, where this Leyland Leopad was photgraphed, just after WYPTE took over.

We pass under the West Riding & Grimsby Railway (the main line between Doncaster and Wakefield) at Kinsley Bridge. A GNR freight passes over.

Onwards to the spawling village of Ackworth. Here's the Old Cross.

Ackworth church.

Moor Top, Ackworth.

The early years of the 21st century saw a vintage vehicle rally at Ackworth. Included was a Norton Dominator motorbike.

Ackworth railway station, on the Swinton & Knottingley line, was a long way from the village and became an early casualty.

Further west is Wentbridge, on the old Great North Road. There's a decent pub here, the Blue Bell.

The Hull & Barnsley Railway issued some postcards of the local beauty spots, allegedly walkable from Kirk Smeaton station.

Another postcard - Kirk Smeaton church.

Two views of the village pub, the Shoulder of Mutton. Not a lot has changed over the years.

Kirk Smeaton, situated between Kirk Smeaton and Little Smeaton, an important stop on the H&BR.

One of the domeless 0-8-0 locos passes through, circa 1922 (The Late W Ashton).

The road approach to the station in 1969. The railway closed 10 years earlier.

 Little Smeaton Chapel & Town's Houses.

The Fox at Little Smeaton has sinced closed.

To the north is Womersley. Here we find the historic West Farm in 2005.

Womersley had a station on the L&YR Doncaster to Knottingley line.

The L&YR also served the Northfield Quarry at Womersley.

A hole on the ground is a good place to end this post. Next time, we'll continue our vaguely westward journey.

O'ER TOP O' BARNSLEY

Back on the Woodhead line (now gone), we're about to enter Thurgoland Tunnel.

 On the nearby Barnsley to Penistone line, the newly singled Oxspring Tunnel.

Oxspring Viaduct, on the same line (Dave Bevis - Creative Commons License).

Time for a quick pint in the Waggon & Horses at Oxspring.

If you're a bit lost, the route can be followed here. Silkstone station, GCR, actually in the village of Silkstone Common.

The station is still open and now renamed to reflect its actual location.

Penistone Road, passing the station.

Close to the station was the Silkstone Lodge, now closed.

In Silkstone itself, some relics of a long lost waggonway.

The Ring O' Bells in Silkstone is still open, but is more of an eatery these days.

Next stop is Dodworth. Here's the High Street.

Dodworth Colliery suffered a big fire in 1907.

Dodworth station in GCR times.

Here's the original signal box at Dodworth.

The later one, seen from a passing DMU in1983.

A single platform station has been built to serve Dodworth, photographed in 2007.

The Millers Inn at Low Barugh is a nice pub, but no real ale these days.

Plenty of cask beer in the Cherry Tree at High Hoyland.

Just over the border in West Yorkshire, Haigh station, on the L&YR Barnsley to Wakefield route.

On the same line, but back in South Yorkshire, Darton station.

A fine ex L&YR signal box was here until the 1980s.

Adjacent to Darton station was Woolley Colliery.

Staincross & Mapplewell station was on the ex GCR Barnsley Coal Railway.

North Gawber Colliery was nearby. NCB steam survived here into the 1970s.

Back on the Barnsley Coal Railway, Notton & Royston station.

Into Royston itself. The Cross Inn. Summer Lane Royston. The pub survives, but no real ale.

The Barnsley Canal ran through Royston. It may return one day?

Royston Colliery.

The Chemical Works.

Station Road, Royston.

Royston & Notton station was on the Midland Railway's main line.

The LMS built a loco shed at Royston. 0-6-0 loco no. 3789 takes a rest there.

Modern, for the time, coaling facilties were built.

A general view of the shed in the 1960s.

A variety of locos to be found there in BR days.

A class 37 (EE type 3), no D6949 seen at Royston shed in 1969, soon after steam had gone. The shed closed soon after (Alan Walker).

Mr Sykes, a bus dealer, had a yard in Royston, where vehicles awaited a possible future.

A lot, however, were consigned to the nearby scrapyards.

Right, that's it for now. Next time, we'll head east.