WORSBOROUGH

Max. gradient: 1-in-40

You’d think that crossing the Pennines would make the Manchester-sheffield ‘Woodhead Route’ a challenging one but, surprisingly, only some very short sections of the climb to and from the summit are steeper than 1-in-100. However, the branch to Wath is definitely worthy of inclusion. This joined the Great Central Railway’s Woodhead Route via junctions at Silkstone and Penistone, and it not only provided rail access to a few collieries but also a useful bypass around Barnsley for the seemingly endless procession of coal trains from Wath yard. It was always freight-only and extremely challenging to work. And it’s why Nigel Gresley built the LNER’S sole Garratt, No. 2395, to provide power for the seven-mile Worsbrough bank, with its three miles of 1-in-40.

LES NIXON MARTYN BARNWELL Layout idea Class U1 Garratt no. 69999 banks freight up Worsborough Bank on the approach to the first of the two Silkstone tunnels, circa March 1953. Alan Whitehouse was compelled to model the Manchestersheffield-wath electric railway that he remembered from his youth. He realised his dream in 2mm finescale (MR171, July 2012). 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13