mansfield station - microsoftbtckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site16853...(easter tuesday) with...

Timeline of the Mansfield & Pinxton RailwayYear What happened?1817 ParliamentaryapprovalgiventoconstructtheMansfield&PinxtonRailway. Workcommencedontherailway.

1819 Thelineopenedforcommercialbusinesson13thApril (EasterTuesday)withhorsedrawntrucks.

1832 Firstknownpassengerservicealongtheline.

1847 MidlandRailwayCompanyboughttheline.

1848 ExtensionopenedtoNottinghamfromajunctionatTheSummit Steamengineswereintroducedalongtheextensionline,whilehorseswerestillusedontheoriginalline. KirkbyStationOpenedonthenewextensionlinetoNottingham.

1849 TheoriginallinebetweentheSummitandMansfieldupgraded tousesteamlocomotives. ThefirstMansfieldstationwasopened.

1850 Sutton-in-AshfieldStationopened,knownastheSutton JunctionStationfrom1892. OriginallinebetweenTheSummitandPinxtonupgradedto steamlocomotives. Pinxton&NewSelstonStationopened.

1872 ThePortlandviaduct,andsharpbend,wastakenoutof commissionandreplacedwiththeHermitageviaduct,originally madefromwood.Theolderviaductwasstillusedasasiding. ThecurrentMansfieldstationwasbuilt.

1892 AdeviationwasmadetothelinerunningthroughKirkbyto reducethenumberoflevel-crossingsalongthemainroad.

1924 TheHermitageviaductwasreplacedwithanembankment. ThePortlandviaductwasbroughtbackintocommissionduring constructionwork.

1948 Nationalisationoftherailways.

1960 Mansfieldengineshedswereclosedalthoughstillstanding.

1964 Passengerserviceswerestoppedalongthisroute(bothNottingham&Pinxton)andtheRailwaystationswere closedforbusiness. Dieselenginesstartedtoreplacesteamlocomotives.

1966 Kirkbyengineshedswereclosed.

1970 ThesidingsovertheoriginalPortlandviaductwereclosedand therailsremoved.

1995 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedbetweenNottingham andMansfield,alongwhatwenowknowastheRobinHoodLine.

1998 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedtoWorksop.

2002 TheMillLane,Kirkby,bridgewasheavilymodernised,butthe originalcoreremains,makingittheoldestrailwaybridge inNottinghamshire.

2019 Celebratedthe200thanniversaryofwhatistheoldest continuouslyrunningcommercialrailway. ThePortlandviaductstillstandsastheoldestrailway viaductinEngland.

Mansfield & Pinxton Railway - Founded 1819Mansfield Station

Thefirstterminus,knownasPortlandWharf,wasinitiallyawarehousewithloadingbaysandstables,locatedattheendofWhiteBearLane(nowStationStreet).Withtheintroductionofpassengertraffic,aPassengerTerminuswasbuiltin1849,whichbecameMansfieldStation.Thisbuildingwassupersededbya‘through’stationin1872,whichisGrade2listedandstillinusetoday.

ThismajorlandmarkinthecentreofMansfieldisGrade2listed.A15arch,200-metrelongrailwayviaductbuiltinstoneandbrickfortheMidlandRailwayCompany,standingupto18metresabovethestreetlevel,andbisectingthetowncentre.Itwasopenedtopassengertrafficon1June1875 andisstillinusetoday,takingtheRobin HoodLinefromNottinghamtoWorksop.

Halfamilesouthwestofthestation,adjacenttotheline,stoodMansfieldlocomotivesheds,withextensivesidingsandloadingyardsstretchingbetweenthetwo.Theycoveredsome12acresintotal.Theshedswerebuiltin1882andsawserviceuntil1959,whentheyweresupersededbyenlargedfacilitiesatKirkby.Theshedsstillexisttoday,usedasindustrialunits.

AdjacenttoMansfieldStation,withextensiveviewsoverthetown,theMidlandHotelwasbuiltin1805asaprivatehouse.From1850to1863itwasusedasalunaticasylum;theestatelaterbeingpurchasedbytheMidlandRailwayCompany,toaccommodatetheirrailwayconstructionworkers.In1872partoftheextensivegroundswereutilisedforthenewstationanditsapproachroad.

England’s oldest continuosly running railwayForFurtherinformationvisit:www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uk.TherearealsoseveralvideosrelatingtothelineandourprojectonYoutube.ThankstoagrantfromtheNationalLotteryHeritageFundtheseboardswereproducedaspartofawiderprojecttocelebratethe200thanniversary

oftheMansfield&PinxtonRailway(1819-2019),England’soldestcontinuouslyrunningcommercialrailway,byapartnershipconsistingoftheKirkby&DistrictArchaeologicalGroup,OldMansfieldSociety,SuttonHeritageSocietyandthePinxton&SouthNormantonHistorySociety.

1819 M&P warehouse

Mansfield engine sheds, off Bradder Street

Midland Hotel circa 1880

Mansfield viaduct just after completion in 1872

Accident at the Mansfield engine sheds 1932

Midland Hotel

Aerial view of Mansfield showing the station yard & the 1872 viaduct.

Photo by permission of Smug Mug Inc

Schematic layout of the different phases of the Mansfield Station & yard

PinxtonWharf,

CromfordCanal&theBoatInn

PinxtonWharf:90metresabove

sealevel(295feet)

ParkLaneLevel

Crossing

PortlandPark

(Quarries)

1996KirkbyStation(1819Wharfontheoriginalline)

KirkbyHardwick&Sutton

ParkwayStation

Portland(KingsMill)Viaduct

HermitageMill

MansfieldEngineShed’s

Pinxton&NewSelston

Station

MillLaneLodge

1995JunctiontoNottingham(Robin

HoodLine)

Summit&1848junctiontoNottingham

SuttonJunctionStation

HermitageViaduct&laterembankment

SheepbridgeLane

MansfieldWharf&Station

MansfieldStation:110metresabove

sealevel(361feet)

1995linetoNottingham

(RobinHoodLine)

1848Extensionlineto

Nottingham

EastKirkbyStation

(1848-1964)

Summit:163metresabove

sealevel(535feet)

PortlandViaduct:130metresabove

sealevel(427feet)

Mansfield & Pinxton Railway - Founded 1819Sutton Parkway Station

Timeline of the Mansfield & Pinxton RailwayYear What happened?1817 ParliamentaryapprovalgiventoconstructtheMansfield&PinxtonRailway. Workcommencedontherailway.

1819 Thelineopenedforcommercialbusinesson13thApril (EasterTuesday)withhorsedrawntrucks.

1832 Firstknownpassengerservicealongtheline.

1847 MidlandRailwayCompanyboughttheline.

1848 ExtensionopenedtoNottinghamfromajunctionatTheSummit Steamengineswereintroducedalongtheextensionline,whilehorseswerestillusedontheoriginalline. KirkbyStationOpenedonthenewextensionlinetoNottingham.

1849 TheoriginallinebetweentheSummitandMansfieldupgraded tousesteamlocomotives. ThefirstMansfieldstationwasopened.

1850 Sutton-in-AshfieldStationopened,knownastheSutton JunctionStationfrom1892. OriginallinebetweenTheSummitandPinxtonupgradedto steamlocomotives. Pinxton&NewSelstonStationopened.

1872 ThePortlandviaduct,andsharpbend,wastakenoutof commissionandreplacedwiththeHermitageviaduct,originally madefromwood.Theolderviaductwasstillusedasasiding. ThecurrentMansfieldstationwasbuilt.

1892 AdeviationwasmadetothelinerunningthroughKirkbyto reducethenumberoflevel-crossingsalongthemainroad.

1924 TheHermitageviaductwasreplacedwithanembankment. ThePortlandviaductwasbroughtbackintocommissionduring constructionwork.

1948 Nationalisationoftherailways.

1960 Mansfieldengineshedswereclosedalthoughstillstanding.

1964 Passengerserviceswerestoppedalongthisroute(bothNottingham&Pinxton)andtheRailwaystationswere closedforbusiness. Dieselenginesstartedtoreplacesteamlocomotives.

1966 Kirkbyengineshedswereclosed.

1970 ThesidingsovertheoriginalPortlandviaductwereclosedand therailsremoved.

1995 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedbetweenNottingham andMansfield,alongwhatwenowknowastheRobinHoodLine.

1998 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedtoWorksop.

2002 TheMillLane,Kirkby,bridgewasheavilymodernised,butthe originalcoreremains,makingittheoldestrailwaybridge inNottinghamshire.

2019 Celebratedthe200thanniversaryofwhatistheoldest continuouslyrunningcommercialrailway. ThePortlandviaductstillstandsastheoldestrailway viaductinEngland.

England’s oldest continuosly running railwayForFurtherinformationvisit:www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uketc

Acknowledgements

SuttonParkwayStationwasbuiltin1995fortheRobinHoodLine.Previously,theonlystationservingSutton-in-AshfieldontheMidlandLinewasatSuttonJunction,halfamiletothenorth.In1892SuttonTownStationopenedanda¾milebranchlinelinkedthetowncentretothisLine.Thisservicebecamepopularlyknownasthe“PennyEmma”train:apennywasthefareand“Emma”camefromtheinitialsoftheMidlandRailway.

AhundredmetrestothewestofthestationliesthesiteoftheancientmanorhouseofKirkbyHardwick–justoutsidetheboundaryofSherwoodForestandclosetothesourceoftheRiverMaun(about400metressouthofthisstation).Anarchaeologicalexcavationin2012provedthatthesitehadbeenoccupiedsincethe13thcentury.AsmallsidingonceranintoasandquarryontheothersideofLowMoorRoad.

KirkbyHardwickManorwasboughtbythe4thEarlofShrewsburyin1517.In1530itprovidedanight’slodgingforamortallysickCardinalWolseyonhiswaysouthtofacetrialinLondon.HediedatLeicesterAbbeyfourdayslater.In1536theEarluseditashisbaseagainsttherebelsofthePilgrimageofGrace.TheManorHousewasdemolishedin1966,afterbeingnearlyoverwhelmedbyspoilfromSummitColliery.

AsaresultofBessofHardwick’smarriagetothe6thEarlofShrewsbury,KirkbyHardwickbecameoneofmanypropertiesownedbyherdescendants–ultimately,theDukesofPortland.The4thDukeofPortlandwasaprimemoverinthecreationoftheMansfield&PinxtonRailway,investing£5,000intheprojectwhichranmainlythroughhisland.

On the Penny Emma line

Sketch of Kirkby Hardwick house, drawn in the 1940s

Third Duke of Portland

The River Maun at Kirkby Hardwick and close to its source

Fourth Duke of Portland Cardinal Wolsey

PinxtonWharf,

CromfordCanal&theBoatInn

PinxtonWharf:90metresabove

sealevel(295feet)

ParkLaneLevel

Crossing

PortlandPark

(Quarries)

1996KirkbyStation(1819Wharfontheoriginalline)

KirkbyHardwick&Sutton

ParkwayStation

Portland(KingsMill)Viaduct

HermitageMill

MansfieldEngineShed’s

Pinxton&NewSelston

Station

MillLaneLodge

1995JunctiontoNottingham(Robin

HoodLine)

Summit&1848junctiontoNottingham

SuttonJunctionStation

HermitageViaduct&laterembankment

SheepbridgeLane

MansfieldWharf&Station

MansfieldStation:110metresabove

sealevel(361feet)

1995linetoNottingham

(RobinHoodLine)

1848Extensionlineto

Nottingham

EastKirkbyStation

(1848-1964)

Summit:163metresabove

sealevel(535feet)

PortlandViaduct:130metresabove

sealevel(427feet)

Mansfield & Pinxton Railway - Founded 1819The Summit

Timeline of the Mansfield & Pinxton RailwayYear What happened?1817 ParliamentaryapprovalgiventoconstructtheMansfield&PinxtonRailway. Workcommencedontherailway.

1819 Thelineopenedforcommercialbusinesson13thApril (EasterTuesday)withhorsedrawntrucks.

1832 Firstknownpassengerservicealongtheline.

1847 MidlandRailwayCompanyboughttheline.

1848 ExtensionopenedtoNottinghamfromajunctionatTheSummit Steamengineswereintroducedalongtheextensionline,whilehorseswerestillusedontheoriginalline. KirkbyStationOpenedonthenewextensionlinetoNottingham.

1849 TheoriginallinebetweentheSummitandMansfieldupgraded tousesteamlocomotives. ThefirstMansfieldstationwasopened.

1850 Sutton-in-AshfieldStationopened,knownastheSutton JunctionStationfrom1892. OriginallinebetweenTheSummitandPinxtonupgradedto steamlocomotives. Pinxton&NewSelstonStationopened.

1872 ThePortlandviaduct,andsharpbend,wastakenoutof commissionandreplacedwiththeHermitageviaduct,originally madefromwood.Theolderviaductwasstillusedasasiding. ThecurrentMansfieldstationwasbuilt.

1892 AdeviationwasmadetothelinerunningthroughKirkbyto reducethenumberoflevel-crossingsalongthemainroad.

1924 TheHermitageviaductwasreplacedwithanembankment. ThePortlandviaductwasbroughtbackintocommissionduring constructionwork.

1948 Nationalisationoftherailways.

1960 Mansfieldengineshedswereclosedalthoughstillstanding.

1964 Passengerserviceswerestoppedalongthisroute(bothNottingham&Pinxton)andtheRailwaystationswere closedforbusiness. Dieselenginesstartedtoreplacesteamlocomotives.

1966 Kirkbyengineshedswereclosed.

1970 ThesidingsovertheoriginalPortlandviaductwereclosedand therailsremoved.

1995 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedbetweenNottingham andMansfield,alongwhatwenowknowastheRobinHoodLine.

1998 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedtoWorksop.

2002 TheMillLane,Kirkby,bridgewasheavilymodernised,butthe originalcoreremains,makingittheoldestrailwaybridge inNottinghamshire.

2019 Celebratedthe200thanniversaryofwhatistheoldest continuouslyrunningcommercialrailway. ThePortlandviaductstillstandsastheoldestrailway viaductinEngland.

Thesurroundingareaisknownas“TheSummit”.Thenamederivesfromthefactthatitwasthehighestpointoftherailway.FromthispointitwasdownhillallthewaytobothMansfieldandPinxton.SpringstowardsthenorthoftheSummitproducethesourceoftheRiverMaun.Althoughthereweretworiversrunninginthisregion(Maun&Erewash)therewasstillinsufficientwatertofeedtheproposedcanal,whichisoneofthereasonswhythisrailwaywasconstructedinsteadofacanal.Thelocomotivesinthephotographsarestandingontheactualsummit.

WhentheMidlandRailwayCompanypurchasedtheMansfield&PinxtonRailwaytheyconstructedanextensionfromajunctionatTheSummittoNottinghamin1848.Thatextensionusedsteamlocomotives,whichmeantthatpassengerstoMansfieldhadtochangeatthisjunctionontohorsedrawncarriagesonthemainline,untilthefollowingyear,whentheoriginallineintoMansfieldwasupgradedtosteam.

WithKirkbybeingatthecentreoftherailwayandtheestablishmentofthecollieryitbecamealogicallocationtoestablishengineshedsandsidingsatthispoint.TheywerebuiltbytheMidlandRailwayCompanyin1890andclosedtosteamon3Oct1966butcontinuedtohousediesellocomotivesuntil11Nov1970.Theywerebrickbuiltwiththreetracksandalateradjoiningtwotrackshedontheeastsideofthelines.

TheKirkbycolliery(1867-1969),sunkonthissite,becameknownastheSummitPit.Manyofthecoalminerslivedinthepurpose-builthousingestate,acrosstheroad,whichalsobecameknownas“TheSummit”estate.AmemorialtothecollieryanditsworkforcestandsclosetotheentranceofWolseyDrive(280metrestotheright).

England’s oldest continuosly running railwayForFurtherinformationvisit:www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uk.TherearealsoseveralvideosrelatingtothelineandourprojectonYoutube.ThankstoagrantfromtheNationalLotteryHeritageFundtheseboardswereproducedaspartofawiderprojecttocelebratethe200thanniversary

oftheMansfield&PinxtonRailway(1819-2019),England’soldestcontinuouslyrunningcommercialrailway,byapartnershipconsistingoftheKirkby&DistrictArchaeologicalGroup,OldMansfieldSociety,SuttonHeritageSocietyandthePinxton&SouthNormantonHistorySociety.

Passenger train crossing The Summit. Photograph by David Dykes

Summit Colliery (also known as Kirkby Colliery)

Goods train crossing The Summit. Photograph courtesy of Bill Taylor

Memorial to the Summit Colliery and its miners. Photo courtesy

of the Kirkby Living Memory Group

Kirkby engine sheds

Buxton’s painting of the coach used on the M&P railway.

Courtesy of Mansfield Museum

Approaching the Kirkby engine sheds

Sketch of a Midland engine 1847

PinxtonWharf,

CromfordCanal&theBoatInn

PinxtonWharf:90metresabove

sealevel(295feet)

ParkLaneLevel

Crossing

PortlandPark

(Quarries)

1996KirkbyStation(1819Wharfontheoriginalline)

KirkbyHardwick&Sutton

ParkwayStation

Portland(KingsMill)Viaduct

HermitageMill

MansfieldEngineShed’s

Pinxton&NewSelston

Station

MillLaneLodge

1995JunctiontoNottingham(Robin

HoodLine)

Summit&1848junctiontoNottingham

SuttonJunctionStation

HermitageViaduct&laterembankment

SheepbridgeLane

MansfieldWharf&Station

MansfieldStation:110metresabove

sealevel(361feet)

1995linetoNottingham

(RobinHoodLine)

1848Extensionlineto

Nottingham

EastKirkbyStation

(1848-1964)

Summit:163metresabove

sealevel(535feet)

PortlandViaduct:130metresabove

sealevel(427feet)

Mansfield & Pinxton Railway - Founded 1819Kirkby Wharf

Timeline of the Mansfield & Pinxton RailwayYear What happened?1817 ParliamentaryapprovalgiventoconstructtheMansfield&PinxtonRailway. Workcommencedontherailway.

1819 Thelineopenedforcommercialbusinesson13thApril (EasterTuesday)withhorsedrawntrucks.

1832 Firstknownpassengerservicealongtheline.

1847 MidlandRailwayCompanyboughttheline.

1848 ExtensionopenedtoNottinghamfromajunctionatTheSummit Steamengineswereintroducedalongtheextensionline,whilehorseswerestillusedontheoriginalline. KirkbyStationOpenedonthenewextensionlinetoNottingham.

1849 TheoriginallinebetweentheSummitandMansfieldupgraded tousesteamlocomotives. ThefirstMansfieldstationwasopened.

1850 Sutton-in-AshfieldStationopened,knownastheSutton JunctionStationfrom1892. OriginallinebetweenTheSummitandPinxtonupgradedto steamlocomotives. Pinxton&NewSelstonStationopened.

1872 ThePortlandviaduct,andsharpbend,wastakenoutof commissionandreplacedwiththeHermitageviaduct,originally madefromwood.Theolderviaductwasstillusedasasiding. ThecurrentMansfieldstationwasbuilt.

1892 AdeviationwasmadetothelinerunningthroughKirkbyto reducethenumberoflevel-crossingsalongthemainroad.

1924 TheHermitageviaductwasreplacedwithanembankment. ThePortlandviaductwasbroughtbackintocommissionduring constructionwork.

1948 Nationalisationoftherailways.

1960 Mansfieldengineshedswereclosedalthoughstillstanding.

1964 Passengerserviceswerestoppedalongthisroute(bothNottingham&Pinxton)andtheRailwaystationswere closedforbusiness. Dieselenginesstartedtoreplacesteamlocomotives.

1966 Kirkbyengineshedswereclosed.

1970 ThesidingsovertheoriginalPortlandviaductwereclosedand therailsremoved.

1995 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedbetweenNottingham andMansfield,alongwhatwenowknowastheRobinHoodLine.

1998 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedtoWorksop.

2002 TheMillLane,Kirkby,bridgewasheavilymodernised,butthe originalcoreremains,makingittheoldestrailwaybridge inNottinghamshire.

2019 Celebratedthe200thanniversaryofwhatistheoldest continuouslyrunningcommercialrailway. ThePortlandviaductstillstandsastheoldestrailway viaductinEngland.

England’s oldest continuosly running railwayForFurtherinformationvisit:www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uk.TherearealsoseveralvideosrelatingtothelineandourprojectonYoutube.ThankstoagrantfromtheNationalLotteryHeritageFundtheseboardswereproducedaspartofawiderprojecttocelebratethe200thanniversary

oftheMansfield&PinxtonRailway(1819-2019),England’soldestcontinuouslyrunningcommercialrailway,byapartnershipconsistingoftheKirkby&DistrictArchaeologicalGroup,OldMansfieldSociety,SuttonHeritageSocietyandthePinxton&SouthNormantonHistorySociety.

TheRiverErewash,whichplayedasignificantroleintheIndustrialRevolution,risesjustnorthoftheAldicarpark,butrunsinculvertsacrossthetowncentre.ItgetsitsnamefromtheAnglo-Saxonwords:‘IRRE’meaningwandering,and‘WISC’meaningamarshystream.Therivermeanderssouth-westwardstowardsPinxton,beforeswingingsouthtoformpartoftheNotts/DerbysBorder,onits17-milejourneytojointheRiverTrentatAttenboroughNatureReserve.

ThisboardstandsontheoriginaltrackbedoftheMansfield&PinxtonRailway.Theroughroadopposite,whichcontinuesasafootpathtoPortlandPark,wasthetrackbedofthe1819railway;itoncehadasignalboxontheleftcornerandlevelcrossinggatesacrosstheroad.Thispartoftheoriginallinewasdiscontinuedin1892whenitmergedwiththe1848Nottinghamextension,toreducethenumberoflevelcrossingsonKirkby’smainroad,whichhadagatedcrossingandstationnearPortlandStreet.

Onthissite,100yearsago,stoodtheKingsPalaceCinema,oneofthreethatexistedinKirkby.Itopenedin1912,withseatingfor500people.Abalconywasaddedin1919.ItwasrefurbishedwithaPicturetoneSoundSystemin1930andflourished,withlivespecialityactsbetweenthefirstandsecondhouses.Itclosedon15July1961withthefilm‘Let’sMakeLove’,starringMarilynMonroe,andwasconvertedforuseasagarage.Demolishedin2016tomakewayforthiscarpark.

OriginallybuiltasarowofcottagesadjacenttoKirkbyWharf,atthepointwheretheMansfieldandPinxtonRailwaycrossedUrbanRoad,thewholerowwasconvertedearlyinthe19thcentury,becomingTheRailwayInn.ThislastedasapublichouseuntilitwasdemolishedtomakewayfortheAldiStore.

The King’s Cinema

River Erewash, close to Portland Park

Outside the Kirkby railway station 1949

Track-bed of the M&P railway 1949

The Railway Inn

The former Railway Inn

The Kings Cinema once stood next to the former M&P railway

track bed

PinxtonWharf,

CromfordCanal&theBoatInn

PinxtonWharf:90metresabove

sealevel(295feet)

ParkLaneLevel

Crossing

PortlandPark

(Quarries)

1996KirkbyStation(1819Wharfontheoriginalline)

KirkbyHardwick&Sutton

ParkwayStation

Portland(KingsMill)Viaduct

HermitageMill

MansfieldEngineShed’s

Pinxton&NewSelston

Station

MillLaneLodge

1995JunctiontoNottingham(Robin

HoodLine)

Summit&1848junctiontoNottingham

SuttonJunctionStation

HermitageViaduct&laterembankment

SheepbridgeLane

MansfieldWharf&Station

MansfieldStation:110metresabove

sealevel(361feet)

1995linetoNottingham

(RobinHoodLine)

1848Extensionlineto

Nottingham

EastKirkbyStation

(1848-1964)

Summit:163metresabove

sealevel(535feet)

PortlandViaduct:130metresabove

sealevel(427feet)

Mansfield & Pinxton Railway - Founded 1819Portland Park

Timeline of the Mansfield & Pinxton RailwayYear What happened?1817 ParliamentaryapprovalgiventoconstructtheMansfield&PinxtonRailway. Workcommencedontherailway.

1819 Thelineopenedforcommercialbusinesson13thApril (EasterTuesday)withhorsedrawntrucks.

1832 Firstknownpassengerservicealongtheline.

1847 MidlandRailwayCompanyboughttheline.

1848 ExtensionopenedtoNottinghamfromajunctionatTheSummit Steamengineswereintroducedalongtheextensionline,whilehorseswerestillusedontheoriginalline. KirkbyStationOpenedonthenewextensionlinetoNottingham.

1849 TheoriginallinebetweentheSummitandMansfieldupgraded tousesteamlocomotives. ThefirstMansfieldstationwasopened.

1850 Sutton-in-AshfieldStationopened,knownastheSutton JunctionStationfrom1892. OriginallinebetweenTheSummitandPinxtonupgradedto steamlocomotives. Pinxton&NewSelstonStationopened.

1872 ThePortlandviaduct,andsharpbend,wastakenoutof commissionandreplacedwiththeHermitageviaduct,originally madefromwood.Theolderviaductwasstillusedasasiding. ThecurrentMansfieldstationwasbuilt.

1892 AdeviationwasmadetothelinerunningthroughKirkbyto reducethenumberoflevel-crossingsalongthemainroad.

1924 TheHermitageviaductwasreplacedwithanembankment. ThePortlandviaductwasbroughtbackintocommissionduring constructionwork.

1948 Nationalisationoftherailways.

1960 Mansfieldengineshedswereclosedalthoughstillstanding.

1964 Passengerserviceswerestoppedalongthisroute(bothNottingham&Pinxton)andtheRailwaystationswere closedforbusiness. Dieselenginesstartedtoreplacesteamlocomotives.

1966 Kirkbyengineshedswereclosed.

1970 ThesidingsovertheoriginalPortlandviaductwereclosedand therailsremoved.

1995 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedbetweenNottingham andMansfield,alongwhatwenowknowastheRobinHoodLine.

1998 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedtoWorksop.

2002 TheMillLane,Kirkby,bridgewasheavilymodernised,butthe originalcoreremains,makingittheoldestrailwaybridge inNottinghamshire.

2019 Celebratedthe200thanniversaryofwhatistheoldest continuouslyrunningcommercialrailway. ThePortlandviaductstillstandsastheoldestrailway viaductinEngland.

England’s oldest continuosly running railwayForFurtherinformationvisit:www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uk.TherearealsoseveralvideosrelatingtothelineandourprojectonYoutube.ThankstoagrantfromtheNationalLotteryHeritageFundtheseboardswereproducedaspartofawiderprojecttocelebratethe200thanniversary

oftheMansfield&PinxtonRailway(1819-2019),England’soldestcontinuouslyrunningcommercialrailway,byapartnershipconsistingoftheKirkby&DistrictArchaeologicalGroup,OldMansfieldSociety,SuttonHeritageSocietyandthePinxton&SouthNormantonHistorySociety.

Thisbottompathwasoncethetrackbedoftheoriginalrailwaybutupgradingtheroute(1848-50)fromhorsedrawntruckstosteamlocomotionmeanthavingtocutoutsharpcornersthatonceenabledthehorsestogoaroundthehills,toenablethesteamlocomotivestogostraighterandfaster.Originallytherewasan“S”bendatthispointwhichtooktherailsacrossthecurrentstraightened-outline.Looktoyourleftaftercrossingtherailwayandyouwillseethecontinuationoftheoriginalroutealongthesideofthehedgerow.Abranchlinewasalsoaddedatthispoint,in1898,toBentinckcolliery.

Uponthehilltothesouthofthisboardoncestoodtheruinsofamansion,partlyfundedbyBessofHardwick,thatwasnevercompleted.InJune1599SirCharlesCavendish(sonofBess)wasvisitingthebuildingsiteofhisnewmansion,whenhewasset-uponbySirJohnStanhopeandhisparty.SirCharlesandSirJohnsurvivedtheaffray,butotherswerekilledormaimed.Asaresultofthiseventthenewmansionwasnevercompleted.MostofthestonefromthebuildingwastransferredtoBolsoverCastletobuildthe“LittleCastle”.Onlyalengthofwallingremainedbythe1950s,aswitnessedbythisschoolvisit,nowadaysnotracessurvive,exceptforthestory.

Aftertheintroductionofsteamlocomotives,ontheMansfield&Pinxtonrailway,signalboxeswereintroducedtocontrolthemovementoftrainsandtoensuresafetyforbothtrainsandtheirpassengers.Onesuchsignalboxstoodjusttotherightofthemoderngate,asyoucrossovertherailwayatthebottomofPortlandPark.Itwasa20-lever,threedeeppanelarrangementconstructedin1905andclosedin1988.

PortlandPark,knownlocallyas“TheQuarries”wasonceanimportantsourceoflimestoneforbothbuildingmaterialandlimeburning.StonefromthequarrywasusedintheconstructionoftheHousesofParliament.TheparkwasagiftfromtheDukeofPortlandandformorethan100yearsithasbeenusedasaleisurepark,withabandstand,children’splayarea,bowlinggreenandevenariflerange,butmorerecentlyitevolvedintoaLocalNatureReserveandaSiteofSpecialScientificInterest,duetoitsabundanceoffloraandfauna

Ruins of Cavendish House. Photographer Mr. H Jeffries Bess of Hardwick

Model of the Lower Portland signal box by Graham Upchurch

Lower Portland Signal Box, adjacent to Portland Park

Portland Park, early 1900s

Portland Park, early 1900s

PinxtonWharf,

CromfordCanal&theBoatInn

PinxtonWharf:90metresabove

sealevel(295feet)

ParkLaneLevel

Crossing

PortlandPark

(Quarries)

1996KirkbyStation(1819Wharfontheoriginalline)

KirkbyHardwick&Sutton

ParkwayStation

Portland(KingsMill)Viaduct

HermitageMill

MansfieldEngineShed’s

Pinxton&NewSelston

Station

MillLaneLodge

1995JunctiontoNottingham(Robin

HoodLine)

Summit&1848junctiontoNottingham

SuttonJunctionStation

HermitageViaduct&laterembankment

SheepbridgeLane

MansfieldWharf&Station

MansfieldStation:110metresabove

sealevel(361feet)

1995linetoNottingham

(RobinHoodLine)

1848Extensionlineto

Nottingham

EastKirkbyStation

(1848-1964)

Summit:163metresabove

sealevel(535feet)

PortlandViaduct:130metresabove

sealevel(427feet)

Mansfield & Pinxton Railway - Founded 1819Pinxton & New Selston Station

Timeline of the Mansfield & Pinxton RailwayYear What happened?1817 ParliamentaryapprovalgiventoconstructtheMansfield&PinxtonRailway. Workcommencedontherailway.

1819 Thelineopenedforcommercialbusinesson13thApril (EasterTuesday)withhorsedrawntrucks.

1832 Firstknownpassengerservicealongtheline.

1847 MidlandRailwayCompanyboughttheline.

1848 ExtensionopenedtoNottinghamfromajunctionatTheSummit Steamengineswereintroducedalongtheextensionline,whilehorseswerestillusedontheoriginalline. KirkbyStationOpenedonthenewextensionlinetoNottingham.

1849 TheoriginallinebetweentheSummitandMansfieldupgraded tousesteamlocomotives. ThefirstMansfieldstationwasopened.

1850 Sutton-in-AshfieldStationopened,knownastheSutton JunctionStationfrom1892. OriginallinebetweenTheSummitandPinxtonupgradedto steamlocomotives. Pinxton&NewSelstonStationopened.

1872 ThePortlandviaduct,andsharpbend,wastakenoutof commissionandreplacedwiththeHermitageviaduct,originally madefromwood.Theolderviaductwasstillusedasasiding. ThecurrentMansfieldstationwasbuilt.

1892 AdeviationwasmadetothelinerunningthroughKirkbyto reducethenumberoflevel-crossingsalongthemainroad.

1924 TheHermitageviaductwasreplacedwithanembankment. ThePortlandviaductwasbroughtbackintocommissionduring constructionwork.

1948 Nationalisationoftherailways.

1960 Mansfieldengineshedswereclosedalthoughstillstanding.

1964 Passengerserviceswerestoppedalongthisroute(bothNottingham&Pinxton)andtheRailwaystationswere closedforbusiness. Dieselenginesstartedtoreplacesteamlocomotives.

1966 Kirkbyengineshedswereclosed.

1970 ThesidingsovertheoriginalPortlandviaductwereclosedand therailsremoved.

1995 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedbetweenNottingham andMansfield,alongwhatwenowknowastheRobinHoodLine.

1998 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedtoWorksop.

2002 TheMillLane,Kirkby,bridgewasheavilymodernised,butthe originalcoreremains,makingittheoldestrailwaybridge inNottinghamshire.

2019 Celebratedthe200thanniversaryofwhatistheoldest continuouslyrunningcommercialrailway. ThePortlandviaductstillstandsastheoldestrailway viaductinEngland.

England’s oldest continuosly running railwayForFurtherinformationvisit:www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uk.TherearealsoseveralvideosrelatingtothelineandourprojectonYoutube.ThankstoagrantfromtheNationalLotteryHeritageFundtheseboardswereproducedaspartofawiderprojecttocelebratethe200thanniversary

oftheMansfield&PinxtonRailway(1819-2019),England’soldestcontinuouslyrunningcommercialrailway,byapartnershipconsistingoftheKirkby&DistrictArchaeologicalGroup,OldMansfieldSociety,SuttonHeritageSocietyandthePinxton&SouthNormantonHistorySociety.

TheMidlandRailwaytookovertheMansfield&PinxtonRailwayin1847,upgradedthetrackforlocomotives,butmaintainedthesamealignmentatNewSelston.ThePinxton&SelstonStationwasbuiltin1850.Althoughclosedtoregulartrafficin1947,itwasusedbyspecialpassengertrainsformanyyears.Thedownplatform(goingawayfromLondon)wasveryshortandreturnexcursionsfromMatlocktoMansfieldhadtodrawuptwice.Thestationwasdemolishedinthe1980s.

AmongtheresidentsofNewSelstonwereseveralardentPrimitiveMethodistswhodecidedtobuildtheirownplaceofworshipratherthanwalkamiletotheMethodistChurchonPortlandRow,Selston.Alocalstablewasusedasatemporarymeetingplaceuntilthenewchurchopenedin1904.Itremainedactiveforahundredyears,untilclosureinDecember2005.

AsmallcommunitydevelopedatNewSelstoninthelate19thcenturyastherewasplentifulworkinthelocalmines.BrookhillCollierywassunkin1908andfurtheremploymentbecameavailableatthecokeovenswhichconvertedlocalcoalintoblastfurnacecokefortheironandsteelindustry.Theovensproduced350tonsofcoke,1,500gallonsofbenzole,14-15tonsoftar,and2millioncubicfeetofgasperday.Thecokingplantclosedin1955andthemineclosedin1968withthelossofmanyjobs.

Pinxton & New Selston Station

Primitive Methodist Chapel, New Selston

Pinxton coke ovens

Pinxton Colliery & Coke ovens. Image donated by Mr. S G Harpham

Pinxton & New Selston Station

PinxtonWharf,

CromfordCanal&theBoatInn

PinxtonWharf:90metresabove

sealevel(295feet)

ParkLaneLevel

Crossing

PortlandPark

(Quarries)

1996KirkbyStation(1819Wharfontheoriginalline)

KirkbyHardwick&Sutton

ParkwayStation

Portland(KingsMill)Viaduct

HermitageMill

MansfieldEngineShed’s

Pinxton&NewSelston

Station

MillLaneLodge

1995JunctiontoNottingham(Robin

HoodLine)

Summit&1848junctiontoNottingham

SuttonJunctionStation

HermitageViaduct&laterembankment

SheepbridgeLane

MansfieldWharf&Station

MansfieldStation:110metresabove

sealevel(361feet)

1995linetoNottingham

(RobinHoodLine)

1848Extensionlineto

Nottingham

EastKirkbyStation

(1848-1964)

Summit:163metresabove

sealevel(535feet)

PortlandViaduct:130metresabove

sealevel(427feet)

Mansfield & Pinxton Railway - Founded 1819Cromwell Canal Wharf

Timeline of the Mansfield & Pinxton RailwayYear What happened?1817 ParliamentaryapprovalgiventoconstructtheMansfield&PinxtonRailway. Workcommencedontherailway.

1819 Thelineopenedforcommercialbusinesson13thApril (EasterTuesday)withhorsedrawntrucks.

1832 Firstknownpassengerservicealongtheline.

1847 MidlandRailwayCompanyboughttheline.

1848 ExtensionopenedtoNottinghamfromajunctionatTheSummit Steamengineswereintroducedalongtheextensionline,whilehorseswerestillusedontheoriginalline. KirkbyStationOpenedonthenewextensionlinetoNottingham.

1849 TheoriginallinebetweentheSummitandMansfieldupgraded tousesteamlocomotives. ThefirstMansfieldstationwasopened.

1850 Sutton-in-AshfieldStationopened,knownastheSutton JunctionStationfrom1892. OriginallinebetweenTheSummitandPinxtonupgradedto steamlocomotives. Pinxton&NewSelstonStationopened.

1872 ThePortlandviaduct,andsharpbend,wastakenoutof commissionandreplacedwiththeHermitageviaduct,originally madefromwood.Theolderviaductwasstillusedasasiding. ThecurrentMansfieldstationwasbuilt.

1892 AdeviationwasmadetothelinerunningthroughKirkbyto reducethenumberoflevel-crossingsalongthemainroad.

1924 TheHermitageviaductwasreplacedwithanembankment. ThePortlandviaductwasbroughtbackintocommissionduring constructionwork.

1948 Nationalisationoftherailways.

1960 Mansfieldengineshedswereclosedalthoughstillstanding.

1964 Passengerserviceswerestoppedalongthisroute(bothNottingham&Pinxton)andtheRailwaystationswere closedforbusiness. Dieselenginesstartedtoreplacesteamlocomotives.

1966 Kirkbyengineshedswereclosed.

1970 ThesidingsovertheoriginalPortlandviaductwereclosedand therailsremoved.

1995 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedbetweenNottingham andMansfield,alongwhatwenowknowastheRobinHoodLine.

1998 Passengerserviceswerere-introducedtoWorksop.

2002 TheMillLane,Kirkby,bridgewasheavilymodernised,butthe originalcoreremains,makingittheoldestrailwaybridge inNottinghamshire.

2019 Celebratedthe200thanniversaryofwhatistheoldest continuouslyrunningcommercialrailway. ThePortlandviaductstillstandsastheoldestrailway viaductinEngland.

England’s oldest continuosly running railwayForFurtherinformationvisit:www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uk.TherearealsoseveralvideosrelatingtothelineandourprojectonYoutube.ThankstoagrantfromtheNationalLotteryHeritageFundtheseboardswereproducedaspartofawiderprojecttocelebratethe200thanniversary

oftheMansfield&PinxtonRailway(1819-2019),England’soldestcontinuouslyrunningcommercialrailway,byapartnershipconsistingoftheKirkby&DistrictArchaeologicalGroup,OldMansfieldSociety,SuttonHeritageSocietyandthePinxton&SouthNormantonHistorySociety.

ThiswasPinxton’sfirstdeepcoalmine,althoughcoalhadbeenminedheresinceTudortimes.Itwasn’tuntilthearrivaloftheCromfordcanalin1794thatminingtookoffonalargescale.TheintroductionoftheMansfield&Pinxtonrailwayin1819meantthatcoalcouldbetransportedeconomicallytoMansfield.Withinadecadeseveralmoredeep-minepitssprangupclosetothewharf. WhenJohnCokefoundsomeinterestinglocalclay,hewaspersuadedbyWilliamBillingsley,

arenownedporcelainpainter,tobuildaporcelainfactory,whichhecouldmanage.ThefirstfiringwasinApril1796butunfortunatelytherewasn’tenoughprofittopayMrBillingsley,soheresignedin1799.In1806thefactorywasleasedtoJohnCuttswhomovedtoWedgwoodin1813,afterwhichthefactoryclosed.Theporcelainisthinlypottedandhighlytranslucentandtodayismuchsoughtafter.

TheCromfordCanalwasengineeredbyWilliamJessopin1794andranfor14.5milesfromCromfordtotheErewashCanalatLangleyMill,withabranchtoPinxton.ThatbranchwasimportantasarouteforPinxtoncoaltotheRiverTrent,onroutetoLeicestershireandasaterminusfortheMansfield&Pinxtonrailway.Itwaslastusedasawaterwayin1944.

Thecanalsidepub,knownasTheBoatInn,wasbuiltwhentheCromfordCanalcametoPinxton.TicketstotravelontherailwaytoMansfieldcouldbeboughtattheinnaftertheintroductionofacarriageeachThursdayin1832.

D’EwesCokelivedatBrookhillHallnearPinxton,whichheboughtfromhisfatherin1800andrestoredforhisgrowingfamily.HewasaJusticeofthePeaceandtheDukeofRutland’sLandAgent.Withhistwobrothers,JohnandWilliam,hewasinstrumentalinestablishingtheMansfield&PinxtonRailwayandwasafinancialcontributortothescheme.

Pinxton Colliery headstocks Pinxton Colliery

Pinxton china

Brookhill Hall, home of the Coke family

Cromford Canal basin at PinxtonSketch of the Boat Inn, early 1800s

Pinxton china works

PinxtonWharf,

CromfordCanal&theBoatInn

PinxtonWharf:90metresabove

sealevel(295feet)

ParkLaneLevel

Crossing

PortlandPark

(Quarries)

1996KirkbyStation(1819Wharfontheoriginalline)

KirkbyHardwick&Sutton

ParkwayStation

Portland(KingsMill)Viaduct

HermitageMill

MansfieldEngineShed’s

Pinxton&NewSelston

Station

MillLaneLodge

1995JunctiontoNottingham(Robin

HoodLine)

Summit&1848junctiontoNottingham

SuttonJunctionStation

HermitageViaduct&laterembankment

SheepbridgeLane

MansfieldWharf&Station

MansfieldStation:110metresabove

sealevel(361feet)

1995linetoNottingham

(RobinHoodLine)

1848Extensionlineto

Nottingham

EastKirkbyStation

(1848-1964)

Summit:163metresabove

sealevel(535feet)

PortlandViaduct:130metresabove

sealevel(427feet)