The Former Penistone to Wath Railway, Wombwell Central & Elsecar Junction

Welcome back to this series of the closed Penistone to Wath railway line. Part of the wider Woodhead Route and a super highway for coal traffic in it's heyday. It was also famous for being one of the first UK railways to be electrified, opening in the 1950s. It would have been sooner if it wasnt for the 2nd world war delaying progress. Today we are picking up again after part 4 at Aldham Junction. This is where our Worsbrough branch joined the Stairfoot & Barnsley line. Continuing past Mitchell Main Colliery, 4 tracks wide. This was originally the South Yorkshire Railway. We come across the junction for Darfield Main colliery and sidings. This was the site of a signal box. On the right was the Dearne Glass and Bottle Works, which had several sidings. Today's main feature is the site of where Wombwell Central station was located. The station was opened in 1851 and was accessed from the road bridge above. Nothing remains of the station these days and the running lines through the station and bridge have now been infilled. The passing line which avoided the station is still present as the Trans Pennine Trail passes through. We finish this episode at Elsecar Junction, where the line left to Elsecar and Cortonwood collieries. Again, little evidence of the junction apart from a diverging path. The A6195 road now disects the branch line with a new underpass for the footpath. Elsecar Junction was the start of the well known Wath Yard, or concentration sidings. We will be showing more of this on the next episode. Become a channel member - https://www.youtube.com/wobblyrunner/... Buy me a coffee - https://ko-fi.com/wobblyrunner Facebook -   / wobbly.runner   Instagram -   / wobbly.runner