14th October 2025 “Sheffield and South Yorkshire in the 80s” by Alan Jones
In change to the advertised programme due to speaker illness, branch member Alan Jones presented a tour of the Sheffield area in the early 1980s, drawing on his collection of photographs taken from school days.
Starting with a Class 124 Trans-Pennine unit in the snow at Edale in the Hope Valley, the magnificent Peak District scenery was seen with Class 31/4s on Sheffield to Manchester workings and Class 40s on the Skegness to Manchester and the Cleethorpes to Longsight empty newspapers. Dore and Totley brought traffic on the Midland Main Line, with further views at Millhouses and Heeley before arrival at Sheffield Midland.
Moving onto Great Central metals, we saw the interior of Woodburn Junction signal box, Orgreave box, Class 76s stabled at Rotherwood and 40122 at Woodhouse on the Skegness to Manchester again. The distinctive Class 40 and 25 combination on the oxygen train from Broughton Lane was seen at Broughton Lane, after which we saw the vast Tinsley Yard with 13001 propelling over the Hump.
Heading North on the GC line from Tinsley, we were treated to views of 08510 on 9T32 to Meadowhall, and 08033 on 9T17 at Ickles Sidings (including a brake van ride to Aldwarke). After Aldwarke we followed the former Midland Main Line from Wath Road Junction to Cudworth and Goose Hill Junction, then took a look at Doncaster and the final Deltic working behind 55015 ‘Tulyar’ on January 2nd 1982.
Moving back to Rotherham, we were ‘treated’ to views of Class 76s being dismantled in Booth’s Yard in early 1983, including a fascinating internal view of the electrical switch gear of 76001 and a 1954 document from Metropolitan Vickers describing the circuitry on view. Mr Booth himself was pictured in the cab of 76009, having very kindly escorted the photographer round the yard on an impromptu personal tour. Heading back into Sheffield, several of the steam heated Mark 1 Christmas and Easter additionals laid on by BR in the early 80s were seen at Brightside, followed by 40106 at Attercliffe Road on the empty vans to Longsight.
The final part of the evening took us through Sheffield Victoria to Deepcar where we once again saw 08033, but now on 9T15 pilot duty and various pairs of Class 20s on 9T30 from Tinsley. After Penistone the Clayton West branch was seen, with a range of views including its last day of operation on 22nd January 1983. To conclude the evening we returned to Penistone with views from Huddersfield Junction signal box, and lastly, 20056 at Dunford Bridge on 26th October 1983, propelling two Weltrol wagons to the station for recovery of materials.
The evening closed at 9.55 pm with great applause from the audience.