The Doncaster Rail Rover

Today we welcomed back Stephen Gay. Stephen has been visiting us now for very many years and he never fails to enthral our members. Today’s presentation was “The Doncaster Rail Rover” looking at the many lines past and present around this railway town. The majority of the services in this area were DMU operated, dating back to when the Class 142’s and 143’s were around. Of course there was an abundance of freight workings in this area, primarily operated by Class 60 and 66 locomotives, on a variety of traffic, such as stone, oil and steel and, of course, rubbish. Stephen shows the complete railway environment he includes bridges, viaducts, stations and the buildings adjacent to the railway. Today we also saw the use of barges being used to transport stone and oil along the canals to and from Rotherham. Into the mix came a look of a couple of local villages, an odd bus enhancing the route, and Conisbrough Viaduct completed in 1912 with larger centre span rising over the River Don. We stopped at Mexborough to admire the beautiful stone-built station buildings whilst a Class 156 and 158 passed. We saw a little of today’s modern traction, albeit in its older or modified liveries, such as The Blue Pullman, Class 91’s and a couple of Voyagers and Cross Country HST’s. One of the really good points of his presentations is that Stephen tells you a story with each photograph leading you into the next.

Welcome back in 2026 Stephen.

Dave Elsdon

Branch Secretary