A LOOP AROUND BARNSLEY, THEN FLYING OFF AT A TANGENT

 We follow the GCR route towards Penistone for a short distance to Summer Lane station.

Just off Summer Lane itself is the Moulders Arms.

And on Summer Lane, the George & Dragon.

Not far away, the Miners Rest, a former John Smith's house.

We skirt around Barnsley town centre to the junction of the Sheffield and Doncaster roads. This is where the Dearne District trams terminated, not having a connection with the Barnsley system.

A Yorkshire Woollen District car on loan to Barnsley & District on Sheffield Road.

A "proper" Barnsley tram, no. 10, further along, heading into town.

Upper Sheffield Road was the home of Yorkshire Traction, who maintained a large depot there. Seen here is no. 130c, an ex Camplejohn Sentinel.

Now, a rebuilt Leyland PS2 proudly showing off its new Roe body.

Here are a few scenes from the early 1970s, when NBC red had begun to take over.

Moving forward to 1979 and a Leyland Atlantean had been converted to a trainer bus.

The Old White Bear was a great real ale pub, but has long closed.

Not far away was the famous Barnsley Brewery, sadly brewing no more.

Here's my tribute to Barnsley Brewery.

Down into the Dearne Valley (see the map here) and we would have found Oaks Colliery many moons ago.

The Barnsley British Cooperative Society ran a small fleet of coaches and had a depot around here, where this fine Foden is seen in 1963 (Les Flint).

Our next stop is the Keel Inn, not far from the Dearne & Dove and Barnsley Canals.

The Barnsley Canal crossed the Dearne Valley by means of this aqueduct seen in 1910.

A year later - a little problem!

I had a wander around here in 1991 and here is the former junction of the two canals.

The remains of the old junction lock.

A short section of the canal is still in water. The winding gear of Barnsley Main Colliery can be seen in the distance.

At Stairfoot, the Great Central Railway crossed the Dearne & Dove Canal.

GCR 0-6-2T no. 1607 rests between shunts at Stairfoot.

Another 1911 mishap.

Here's Stairfoot Junction station in pre-grouping times.

Stairfoot Junction in 1935. The Midland Railway crosses over the top, while the Hull & Barnsley veers off to the right.

Doncaster Road, Stairfoot, in the 1920s.

To the north, Cundy Cross, where the 900 year old Mill of The Black Monks no longer serves cask beer.

More monastic history at Monk Bretton - the ruins of the priory.

Here's a bit of old Monk Bretton.

Monk Bretton Colliery, long gone, of course.

Monk Bretton once had a small Midland Railway station, served by Cudworth to Barnsley trains.

That's where I'll end this post. Next time, a return to West Yorkshire.