Barnsley Coal Railway
| Company type | Railway company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1863 |
| Fate | Acquired by South Yorkshire Railway |
| Successor | Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway |
| Headquarters | Barnsley , England |
Area served | South Yorkshire, England |
| Parent | South Yorkshire Railway (from 1863) |
The Barnsley Coal Railway functioned as a brief rail connection linking Stairfoot Junction, located on the Mexborough to Barnsley line of the South Yorkshire Railway (SYR), with a triangular junction situated at Nostell on the West Riding and Grimsby Railway (WR&GR).
In July 1863, the SYR acquired the rights to this railway, a move that preceded its own incorporation into the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway by one year.
Passenger operations were discontinued in 1930, while freight services persisted until their termination in 1961.
History
During 1860–61, legislation was enacted to establish the Barnsley Coal Railway with a capital of £40,000 raised through share issuance and an additional £13,000 secured via loans. The authorized initial segment extended from Stairfoot (west of Ardsley) to Applehaigh (within Notton), covering approximately .
The South Yorkshire Railway Act 1863 granted SYR, which contributed £10,000 towards the capital, authority to assume control of the company.
A subsequent act passed in 1864 permitted a brief extension toward the Midland Railway near Barnsley, aiming to utilize running rights to Wakefield and Leeds; however, this proposed link was never realized.
The inaugural section serving Rosa Colliery commenced operations in January 1870.
Between 1873 and 1874, powers were obtained under the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Act 1874 by the MS&LR to prolong the line from Notton to a triangular junction with WR&GR close to Nostell. Plans also included additional junctions connecting to the Midland line near the Barnsley Canal, alongside an extended triangular junction with SYR's Barnsley route.
The second portion opened for freight traffic in August 1882, running from Applehaigh to a triangular junction with WR&GR at Nostell. This section featured passenger stations at Staincross and Mapplewell, Notton and Royston, and Ryhill, which was later renamed Ryhill and Wintersett. Passenger services began on 1 September 1882.
While regular passenger trains ceased operation in 1930, goods transportation carried on until 1961.
Train services
The passenger route connected Leeds Central with Barnsley Court House, passing through Wakefield Westgate. According to the July 1922 edition of Bradshaw's Railway Guide, five trains ran each weekday in both directions, accompanied by six Saturday departures from Barnsley to Leeds and seven journeys from Leeds to Barnsley. No services were scheduled for Sundays.