‘Through Kirton Tunnel’, by Stephen Gay, 2nd September 2025
2nd September 2025 Meeting.
For the start of the new season on 2nd September, we welcomed back Sheffield's Stephen Gay for his tenth visit, this time for Part 1 of 'Through Kirton Tunnel', featuring the line from Sheffield Victoria to Kirton Lindsey, and he will be returning next September for Part 2, going from Kirton Lindsey to Cleethorpes.
Not part of the presentation, for illustrative purposes only. A diverted Midland Mainline HST, with 43073 leading and 43051 at the rear, heads towards Sheffield at Woodhouse Junction having come up the GCR line from Beighton at 06:57 on the morning of Wednesday 11th May 2005. Image Credit: Geoff Plumb.
We started with the LNER Goods Office [now demolished], Woodburn Workshops were seen with four Class 20s, Darnall and Woodhouse stations followed by a steam crane and two wooden bodied Gresley coaches, looking woebegone; a second photo showed them on fire after an arson attack! Brookhouse Colliery Signalbox and Colliery were busy, then Waleswood Tunnel East portal [now demolished] before visiting Kiveton Bridge station.
Not part of the presentation, for illustrative purposes only. General view of Woodhouse station on the GCR line from Sheffield to Lincoln, looking towards Sheffield. The layout here was formerly more comprehensive, but at least the station buildings survive, even if rather garish! 06:54 on Wednesday 11th May 2005. Image Credit: Geoff Plumb.
Following the break, we trundled to Kiveton Park Station with shots of Brancliffe East Junction Signalbox, Shireoaks Station and Signalbox, some lovely semaphores at Shireoaks West Junction. We then went via Worksop station and on to Retford Thrumpton Signalbox with the old Retford Station [1849] before the dive under was open, doing away with the flat crossing. We saw Clarborough Tunnel, Gainsborough Central station looking very bleak, Northorpe Station [closed] and Signalbox and finally into Kirton Lindsey Station.
A retired LUL employee who wanted to buy a quiet station to retire to bought Kirton Lindsey and just after he moved in he had freight trains going both ways [single track here] 24 hours a day whilst on diversion for a few months. The normal service of three trains a day each way on Saturdays were the norm, and even that has now changed.
Another excellent presentation by Stephen which attracted 29 folks.
Rob Davidson, Branch Secretary