The Penistone Line is the name given to one of the rail services, operated by Northern Rail, in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service connects Huddersfield and Sheffield via Penistone and Barnsley, serving many rural communities. Metrocards (Zone 5) are available at stations between Huddersfield and Denby Dale.
Line details
Hudderfield - Penistone
The first section of line between Huddersfield and Penistone was opened on 1 July 1850 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR). From the joint L&YR/London and North Western Railway Huddersfield station trains ran south to Springwood Junction (south of Huddersfield) on the London and North Western Railway Leeds - Manchester main line, where the L&YR line began; from there the route was as follows:
- here is Springwood Tunnel
- Lockwood
- Meltham Branch Junction where the now disused branch ran to Meltham
- Berry Brow
- here is Robin Hood Tunnel
- here is Howley Tunnel
- Howley
- Brockholes this was the junction for the now closed Holmfirth branch line
- here is Thurstonland Tunnel
- Stocksmoor
- Shepley also serves Shelley
- here is Clayton West Junction for the now closed Clayton West branch Clayton West signal box
- here is Cumberworth Tunnel
- Denby Dale also serves Cumberworth
- here is Wellhouse Tunnel
- here is Penistone Viaduct
- Penistone The original station was opened with the line; in 1874 a joint L&YR/Great Central Railway (GCR) station was built when the GCR Sheffield line was opened through here. The latter line was closed to all traffic on 5 January 1970.
The southern part of that section follows the upper reaches of the River Don.
Penistone - Barnsley - Sheffield
At Penistone, the route joins the former Great Central Railway line from Manchester via the Woodhead Tunnel, travelling eastwards. Beyond Barnsley it takes a circuitous route via Wombwell before going south to Sheffield. The route is as follows:
- Penistone
- here is the junction for the direct line via Worsborough to Wombwell (freight-only) (closed?)
- Silkstone Common (was Silkstone: the station was reopened when the direct line to Sheffield was closed and trains diverted via Barnsley on 14 May 1983)
- Dodsworth (as for Silkstone - a reopened station)
- Summer Lane
- Barnsley Barnsley was served by three railway companies: L&YR, GCR, and Midland; and by two stations: Exchange and Court House. The Penistone Line continues to Sheffield by the Midland route:
- here is a triangular junction linking with the main Midland line to Leeds
- Dovecliffe railway station (closed?)
- here was the junction for the Birdwell and Pilley freight-only branch
- [[Wombwell railway station|Wombwell]
- Elsecar (was named Elsecar & Hoyland)
- Wentworth & Hoyland Common
- here is Tankersley Tunnel
- Chapeltown
- Grange Lane (closed?)
- Meadowhall (Meadow Hall & Wincobank)
- Brightside
- Sheffield
Penistone Line today
The Penistone Line Partnership, representing local interests, is a long-time supporter of services on the route, and has provided music and real-ale trains.
External links
