Popular Post Paolo Coopio Posted September 17, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2022 Not a huge amount left now, but there's still snippets to find. Ones folk pass most days in their daily lives without realising 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History dude Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 I took this picture in the early 80's of a Tunnel at Normanton Springs. Also I found the grave of George Smith who died at the pit January 13 1903 aged 44 at Intake Cemetery. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unitedite Rereturns Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 On 18/09/2022 at 15:12, History dude said: I took this picture in the early 80's of a Tunnel at Normanton Springs. Also I found the grave of George Smith who died at the pit January 13 1903 aged 44 at Intake Cemetery. I think that your tunnel is actually the underbridge for Normanton Hill, which passed over the line at this point, and beyond which was West Birley Pit Yard, where the line more or less terminated, and which, later on, became our "play-ground". The rails here rather surprisingly remained in-place, certainly until the early 1970s, and they were only lifted when the authorities deemed that the site should be "improved". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Coopio Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 Great photo. I've seen very little history on the branch line past the east colliery site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unitedite Returns Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 On 07/01/2024 at 08:05, Paolo Coopio said: Great photo. I've seen very little history on the branch line past the east colliery site. I seem to recall that there are a few photographs on the Picture Sheffield website showing activity in the sidings that existed on the other side of this bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Map of Woodhouse junction area, c. 1855. Includes Green Gate Lane; Birley Vale Branch Railway, Beighton Branch Railway, Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway; River Rother; Woodhouse Colliery; Woodhouse Mills; Shirecliffe Brook; Cinderhill Green Road; Furnace Lane, Woodhouse Junction Station; shaft. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;arc02940&pos=40&action=zoom&id=93148 Woodhouse (extract from Ordnance Survey of 1935, revised to 1948) https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y06745&pos=12&action=zoom&id=59925 Derbyshire sheet XII NE and Yorkshire CCXCV. Birley East Colliery, Woodhouses10732 For more information about Birley East Colliery see: Winding Up a History of Birley East Colliery, A Rowles Ref: 622.33 SQ. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s10733&pos=42&action=zoom&id=13859 Viewed from Hackenthorpe side. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s10735&pos=44&action=zoom&id=13861 East Birley Pit, late 19th century, view from Sally Clarkes. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;t00216&pos=47&action=zoom&id=31083 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Derailed wagons at Woodhouse Mill after the crash. 29th February 1908.s03808 About 12-45 on Saturday morning, a Mineral Train was leaving the East Junction, when an Emigrant Special from Liverpool to Grimsby, containing about 300 passengers, travelling at nearly 30 miles an hour, dashed into its rear.The terrible impact caused the immediate death of Goods Guard Rowley. Fireman Clark was pinned beneath the Engine, and it was two hours before he was released: he succumbed to his injuries the following day.Walter Howell, Driver of the first engine, was very badly injured and scalded. Driver Borland and Fireman Jarred both of Liverpool, escaped without injuries, although their engine was almost overturned. For more information about Birley East Colliery see: Winding Up a History of Birley East Colliery, A Rowles Ref: 622.33 SQ. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s03809&pos=57&action=zoom&id=7398 https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s03810&pos=58&action=zoom&id=7399 Train Crash at Woodhouse Junction. 29th February 1908. Photographer: W. Gothard s03778 Train crash on the Birley Colliery Line. 1919. s03807 Coal Wagon at Birley West Pit. 31st March 1938.s15045 Birley West Pit, unloading coal wagon. 31st March 1938.s02331 PhotographerT.Ws02331. Ward and Co. Birley Colliery Mineral Wagon No. 2494, taken at wagon shop. s15037 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Birley East Colliery No.1, downcast headstock. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00065&pos=3&action=zoom&id=41934 Derelict remains of Birley East Colliery. 17th August 1961. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00067&pos=5&action=zoom&id=41936 Former upcast winding house, Birley East Colliery. 1974. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00070&pos=6&action=zoom&id=41939 Derelict remains of Birley East Colliery showing the south side; concrete building (left) is the washery reserve hoppper (right). https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00069&pos=11&action=zoom&id=41938 Derelict remains of Birley East Colliery. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00068&pos=55&action=zoom&id=41937 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Colliery Engine 'Birley No. 5', most probably at Beighton Colliery Sheffield Coal Co.s15051 Hudswell Clarke 0. 6. 0 ST 'Orient', shunting locomotive built for Birley East Colliery. 1890. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00054&pos=32&action=zoom&id=41924 Colliery Engine 'Birley No. 6, Peckett 0. 4. 0 St' and Coal Wagons at Brookhouse Colliery with Water Cooling Tower in the background. 31st March 1938. s15047 Built Bristol 1925 Works No. 1653 Colliery Engine 'Birley No. 6, Peckett 0. 4. 0 St' and Coal Wagons at Brookhouse Colliery. 31st March 1938.s15046 Steam Locomotive W D G Peckett 0. 6. 0 ST at Brookhouse Colliery. 1956. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00057&pos=9&action=zoom&id=41927 Steam Locomotive Hudsweel Clarke 0. 6. 0 ST 'Orient' at Brookhouse Colliery. 1956. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00055&pos=8&action=zoom&id=41925 Steam locomotive T R G at Brookhouse Colliery. 26th November 1966. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00056&pos=2&action=zoom&id=41926 Reminiscences from John A Thickett: 23 November 1966, a Saturday afternoon, saw me loafing beside the ex-Midland Railway line at Beighton. The reason was to see a railway enthusiast's special (in this context meaning an excursion) on its way towards Rotherham. During my wait I was surprised to see activity on a different line, about a quarter of a mile to the south of my position. An anonymous, shining-green tank-engine hauling open waggons was carefully negotiating a steep descent in the Rother Valley (see the white gate visible in s35507). After a while the same engine stormed sure-footedly back with another rake of waggons, this time empty. The waggons all had the initials 'U.C.C.' (United Coke and chemicals) painted in white on their sides. A minute or so later I heard the engine suddenly shut-off, no doubt because at its summit the climb had eased into level ground. These out and back runs occurred several times during my sojourn here. Mr Thickitt watched this activity for several hours from beside the main line railway/Chesterfield Road. Photo Mr. Thickitt refers to s35507 Beighton Castle area in the 1950s View northwards showing, gently curving away through the centre of the photograph, the largely freight-only, ex-Midland Railway Old Road . (The line running between Chesterfield and Rotherham, which was built years before the route through Sheffield city centre). Note this line has four tracks. On the left skyline a viaduct carried the ex-Great Central Railway's Sheffield to Lincoln line over the Old Road and the River Rother. To the right of the line towards Rotherham, the 'North Staveley Curve' leaves eastwards, perhaps still to access North Staveley Pit. On the 1:25000 Ordnance Survey map, surveyed during the 1950s, the line continued eastwards into Brookhouse Pit yard. (This line should not be confused with the out of picture but nearby, ex-Great Central Railway 'Waleswood Curve). The focal point of the scene, an eye-catching, white gate identified the boundary of a private-owner line. In this case operated (in the mid-1960s) by United Coke and Chemicals and leading (along a short, steep ascent) further east to Beighton Coking Plant. (this Beighton site was beside Brookhouse Pit and some distance from Orgreave Coking Plant). Further left, in the mid-ground to the west of the river was the Ex-Great Central Main Line (not visible) with Beighton Station not far ahead. Observe the bridge over the River Rother; a footpath across this had been reassuringly walled-off from the railway track! The river itself shows a vertical deep bank suggesting the Rother had already been canalized and embanked to prevent flooding. These works possibly occurred during the 1950s. Beyond the white gate, the sheet of water was probably a flash , the local name for a pond or lake formed by mining subsidence. Housing puncturing the skyline was on Park Hill, Swallownest. Information from J Thickitt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Birley East Colliery, London Police were sent to assist in industrial unrest. 1896.s10729 For more information about Birley East Colliery see: Winding Up a History of Birley East Colliery, A Rowles Ref: 622.33 SQ Police at Birley East Colliery during a miners strike. 1893. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00059&pos=33&action=zoom&id=41929 Soup kitchen for striking miners in Woodhouse. 1912. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00060&pos=27&action=zoom&id=41930 Striking miners and their families outside Woodhouse Endowed School. 1926. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;v00061&pos=20&action=zoom&id=41931 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Woodhouse Junction signal box. 1978. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s41720&pos=45&action=zoom&id=81661 Woodhouse Junction Signal Box.13th May 1981.s41716 The wall at the base was built during the war to protect the original structure. 21st February 1989s41717 Woodhouse Junction signal box. 21st February 1989.s41721 Track repair equipment at Woodhouse Junction. 13th May 1981. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s42766&pos=34&action=zoom&id=83648 Diesel locomotive towing coal trucks at Woodhouse Junction. 13th May 1981. s42769 Further information from J Thickitt: Formerly known as Woodhouse East Junction, where trains towards Lincoln or Grimsby had diverged eastwards from the ex-Great Central Railway main line (closed as a through route in 1966). Among the differences to image reference number s42768 (which was photographed on the same day) are the obviously full Merry-go-Round hoppers hauled by a different class of locomotive. Diesels had been re-numbered during the early-1970s, this one becoming a member of Class 47 (the identification is deduced by the presence of a ventilation-cowl above the windscreen, here viewed in silhouette, see u09073) The taller, brown vehicle extreme left on the nearest track was known on the railway as a van (meaning a covered waggon). s42768 Diesel locomotive towing coal trucks at Woodhouse East Junction. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s42768&pos=36&action=zoom&id=83650 Mr Thickitt refers to Picture Sheffield No. u09073. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;u09073&pos=2&action=zoom&id=95913 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLongden Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Lots of information on the above, maps and photographs in these fantastic books!…. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unitedite Returns Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 On 09/01/2024 at 14:33, Ponytail said: Derailed wagons at Woodhouse Mill after the crash. 29th February 1908.s03808 About 12-45 on Saturday morning, a Mineral Train was leaving the East Junction, when an Emigrant Special from Liverpool to Grimsby, containing about 300 passengers, travelling at nearly 30 miles an hour, dashed into its rear.The terrible impact caused the immediate death of Goods Guard Rowley. Fireman Clark was pinned beneath the Engine, and it was two hours before he was released: he succumbed to his injuries the following day.Walter Howell, Driver of the first engine, was very badly injured and scalded. Driver Borland and Fireman Jarred both of Liverpool, escaped without injuries, although their engine was almost overturned. For more information about Birley East Colliery see: Winding Up a History of Birley East Colliery, A Rowles Ref: 622.33 SQ. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s03809&pos=57&action=zoom&id=7398 https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s03810&pos=58&action=zoom&id=7399 Train Crash at Woodhouse Junction. 29th February 1908. Photographer: W. Gothard s03778 Train crash on the Birley Colliery Line. 1919. s03807 Coal Wagon at Birley West Pit. 31st March 1938.s15045 Birley West Pit, unloading coal wagon. 31st March 1938.s02331 PhotographerT.Ws02331. Ward and Co. Birley Colliery Mineral Wagon No. 2494, taken at wagon shop. s15037 If you look over the bonnet of the lorry depicted in image no.S02331, you can see the arch of the bridge in question. As you can see, the road used to descend into Normanton Springs quite steeply at this point. Was brilliant for speed racing your bicycle there. 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysanderix Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Some fascinating information ….especially the use of London police to handle striking miners…shades of 1984! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boginspro Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 I may be wrong here and apologise if I am but the original picture put on by History dude looks to me like the tunnel/bridge at Coisley Hill just below the Block Houses on Coisley Road. If that is so as kids it was always known as The Tunnel though I think it was just quite a long under bridge. It seems to me to have been accepted as the bridge under Normanton Hill into Birley West pit but if you look at the 1938 picture above of a wagon loading coal at the land-sale site of the old Birley West site you can see how steep that hill is and the difference in gradient to the first picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmy117 Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 I always thought the branch crossed Coisley Hill on the level, there's not much difference in level between the road and track bed at that location, but further up Normanton Hill there would be a great difference. The bridge walls can still be seen near the "new" houses going up the hill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLongden Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 The line cut the road at 2 points. 1) Coisley Hill and 2) Normanton Hill. 1) You can see where the track bed was, as it’s now a part of the Trans Pennine Trail. It crosses Coisley Hill just up from Stone Lane, where the kerbs have been dropped either side 2) Just above the end house on the right going uphill, you can see the wall either side and the ‘drop’, where the tunnel cut under the road. Assume the level of the ground was backfilled to accommodate the houses, though if you peer over the wall/fence, it is still well below road level The trace of the line can still be seen in the vegetation, wall and property boundaries Hope this helps to visualise the route and crossing points? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmy117 Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 Thanks to that map it seems there was a bridge on Coisley Hill which I was not aware of. From the current pictures it seems the cutting has been filled in next to Stone Lane to bring the path up to road level. That's the good thing about this site, you learn something new every day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLongden Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 Yes you’re right, the line was in a cutting as it went under Coisley Hill, as you can see from the map detail https://maps.nls.uk/view/125651476 Also, you can see in the image, the photographer must have been stood on the pavement on the bridge, with Stone Lane to their left and the two cottages on the right… the rail line is just out of shot on the right. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s43471&pos=11&action=zoom&id=85665 An aerial view from 1939, taken over Frecheville, looking over towards Stradbrooke Road, you can see Birley West Colliery in the junction of Linley Lane and Normanton Hill. The rail line passes under Normanton Hill, curves right in an arc, through the fields and it disappears off the right edge of the page, before it crosses Coisley Hill. https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW062831 Amazing really that roads and houses have encroached on the area, yet the route it still visible today 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History dude Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 If you look at R Longden's map and at Fields 504 and 505 at the top end, you can see that the cutting cuts away and indicates a bridge over lane/path. If you look in the background of my photo, you can see the school building of City School, which ties in nicely with the modern academy on the modern satellite image and following it down the large green blob of trees might indicate that the bridge is still there. So the "tunnel" is not a tunnel, but a bridge with the railway line on top and the path below it. I have had a look around Google Street View, and modern buildings now block the original view I took in the 1980s. However, there is a footpath at the back which can be accessed via Haxby Street and the cul-de-sac off it. Near where the large building that crosses over the boundary line of the estate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmy117 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I remember when the Mosborough Parkway bypass was built it was possible to see the track bed onthen embankment where the road cut through it just above the roundabout at Coisley Hill. The vegetation has grown up over the years so it isn't possible to see now unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLongden Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 10 hours ago, History dude said: If you look at R Longden's map and at Fields 504 and 505 at the top end, you can see that the cutting cuts away and indicates a bridge over lane/path. If you look in the background of my photo, you can see the school building of City School, which ties in nicely with the modern academy on the modern satellite image and following it down the large green blob of trees might indicate that the bridge is still there. So the "tunnel" is not a tunnel, but a bridge with the railway line on top and the path below it. I have had a look around Google Street View, and modern buildings now block the original view I took in the 1980s. However, there is a footpath at the back which can be accessed via Haxby Street and the cul-de-sac off it. Near where the large building that crosses over the boundary line of the estate. I looked again at your 80’s photo and realised it was the ‘bridge’ in the middle of the loop, where the path went North from the road, up and under the rail line and into the fields - now up the hill to City School, as you can see above the bridge in the distance, as you pointed out. Tracing the line of the path, to where the bridge would be and using a combination of Google maps, Google Earth and Street View, it looks like the lucky owner of 49 Haxby Street has got a very nice garden shed!!! 😆😆😆👍👍👍 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boginspro Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 10 hours ago, RLongden said: I looked again at your 80’s photo and realised it was the ‘bridge’ in the middle of the loop, where the path went North from the road, up and under the rail line and into the fields - now up the hill to City School, as you can see above the bridge in the distance, as you pointed out. Tracing the line of the path, to where the bridge would be and using a combination of Google maps, Google Earth and Street View, it looks like the lucky owner of 49 Haxby Street has got a very nice garden shed!!! 20 hours ago, History dude said: If you look at R Longden's map and at Fields 504 and 505 at the top end, you can see that the cutting cuts away and indicates a bridge over lane/path. If you look in the background of my photo, you can see the school building of City School, which ties in nicely with the modern academy on the modern satellite image and following it down the large green blob of trees might indicate that the bridge is still there. So the "tunnel" is not a tunnel, but a bridge with the railway line on top and the path below it. I have had a look around Google Street View, and modern buildings now block the original view I took in the 1980s. However, there is a footpath at the back which can be accessed via Haxby Street and the cul-de-sac off it. Near where the large building that crosses over the boundary line of the estate. ------------------------------------------------------ Great stuff, I walked that line many times, in the 50s/60s, from The Red Hills / Birley West site all the way to Birley East but had totally forgotten about that bridge. This brought back many memories of this area but looking it up now is very disappointing. Back then you could learn a lot from the historic remains easily found by just walking around., A friend of mine still lived in the valley below Birley East Pit. Now what looks like indiscriminate planting of so many trees has masked a lot of the history. If I ever get back there I would love to search for some of the remains that I do remember. ----------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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