Home from the front

by

Words and pictures by Brian Sharpe

THE Elsecar Heritage Railway leads a relatively low-key existence, rarely making the headlines, but in a unique collaboration with local university students, during the autumn the line played host to a former main line steam locomotive for the first time.

Built by the South Yorkshire Railway, the branch became part of the Great Central Railway.

Article continues below…
Advert

Enjoy more Heritage Railway reading in the four-weekly magazine.
Click here to subscribe & save.
The Army is in attendance as No. 813 propels its train away from Elsecar.

In a partnership event with University Campus Barnsley, students marked the centenary of the end of World War One by recreating the ‘journey home’ of millions of men and women from the front line.

The event took place on October 31 and November 3, 4, 10 and 11.

Motive power for the service was provided by Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST No. 813 which was built for the Port Talbot Railway in 1901, but taken into GWR stock in 1908 and renumbered 813 in 1923.

Article continues below…
Advert

It was sold in 1934 and worked at Backworth colliery in Northumberland. Normally resident on the Severn Valley Railway, this was the locomotive’s first visit to Yorkshire for many years.

Read more and view more images in Issue 248 of HR – on sale now!


Advert
Subscribe to Heritage Railway Magazine Enjoy more Heritage Railway reading in the four-weekly magazine. Click here to subscribe.

Article Tags:

About the Author