Derbyshire Disused Railway - The Clowne Branch & Clowne Greenway

Derbyshire Disused Railway - The Clowne Branch & Clowne Greenway
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Another disused railway explore. This time we take the former Midland Railway branch line that was known as the Clowne Branch from Creswell to Staveley, Seymour Junction.
The Clowne Branch opened in 1875. It's primary purpose was to serve some of the collieries along the route. Creswell Colliery, Southgate Colliery, Barlborough Colliery, with branches off to Bolsover, Oxcroft Colliery, Seymour Colliery, Ireland Colliery.
The line branches off from the current day Robin Hood line just outside what is now Creswell Station. The old signal box that served the junction can still be seen, though in a sorry state these days. From here we pass over the outskirts of Creswell and enter a series of cuttings towards the town of Clowne - or Clown as it was also known.
In Clowne, we see the only station on our walk today - Known by a few names, but more commonly referred to as Clowne & Barlborough.
We leave Clowne in deep cuttings, before entering the junctions to Barlborough Colliery. We can see left out infrastructure at line side before we dive under what was the LD&ECR Beighton Branch (Lancashire Derbyshire & East Coast Railway).
We alternate between embankments and cuttings at a rapid pace downhill, before slicing under the M1 motorway. Prior the motorway, we see a former permanent way hut by the side of the line.
From here, the railway starts to feel more relevant as we begin to encounter stacks of old concrete railway sleepers set aside. On our approach to Oxcroft Junction, we leave the Clowne Greenway and start our last few miles on railway ballast. The approach to the former Seyour Junction and sidings is a disused railway goldmine. We can't help but notice the piles of sleepers that go on forever. Some of the still in situ, without the steel rails. Although now overgrown in places, Seymour Junction is a disused railway paradise, with many items still available to see. The railway lines have only been lifted very recently.
The Clowne Branch was still in use in it's entirity for coal trains well in to the 1990s. the track was lifted in around 2013. The line is now an excellent example of a Greenway for cycling, walking and running. A fantastic journey that is full of suprises for all railway enthusiasts.
**Wobbly Runner**
Please give the video a like and hit subscribe.
My channel was set up in 2020 mainly to feature my running adventures. I planned to film and showcase the days out and destinations my running travels took me. Mainly the Peak District and the sights and marvels of Sheffield and the surrounding regions.
However due to Covid restrictions, I found a new interest in researching and exploring old abandoned places - railway lines, canal, woodland, parks to name a few.
So the videos you'll find will be mainly be of those things. Of course, where possible I'll be running to my destination.
Facebook Page - / wobbly.runner
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[@bexc123]

Hi where abouts did u end the walk when u went through the squeeky gate? Im vlose to staveley and poolsbrook and staveley and qould love to do that wall and qould probably start where u finished bit not quite sure qhere exactly that is?

[@WobblyRunner]

Its where all the distribution centres are now. I think it's M&S now? Just off Erin Road. But I walked through to Poolsbrook Country Park.

[@g8ymw]

17:06 If that's the bridge I think it is, on the South side about 2 fields away is Romeley Hall Farm where my dad was farm manager from 1971 to 1982. We left when the owner (Alan Bourne) passed away. That line had Class 47s then Class 56s with empty MGR trains going towards Seymour Sidings and Class 20s (in pairs) with older wagons going uphill All the trains were empty but did those Class 20s bark out climbing up to Clowne. Sometimes, when the line from Foxlow Junction to Beighton had engineering work, the loaded MGRs would be pulled backwards with a Class 47 or 56 to Creswell. The train would carry on forwards through Whitwell and the loco doing the drag would run back downhill for the next train

[@WobblyRunner]

I believe it is that bridge 👍. Wow I would have loved to see engines working hard up those gradients. Cheers for sharing the memories 👍🙂

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I wondered if this old line would one day become a walkway & cycle track. I was lucky enough to ride the line behind a class 56 way back in June 1992! Might do it again if I ever get another bike.

[@WobblyRunner]

👍🙂 Great stuff Nigel. A rare experience never to be repeated.

[@Gusbus73Tintop]

We walked that route leading up to Christmas, starting at Poolsbrook Country Park up to Clowne and back. It was a lovely walk, weather was really nice too! Keep up the great videos.

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks very much 👍🙂 It is a lovely walk.

[@SketchSensei0]

Me and my brother found that weird building at 19:05 it’s so weird

[@WobblyRunner]

the old lineside hut. It's in suprisingly good condition.

[@shizzle666440]

Amazing how much that area has changed over the last 10 years. Can remember the rail lines still being in place and also around Staveley.

[@WobblyRunner]

It is indeed. It's amazing how quickly things change so soon after lines close.

[@peterbailey6305]

Yes going to add this one to my 'to do' list...thanks

[@WobblyRunner]

Like I say you'll need to take a week off work, there's so much to get through.

[@Carolb66]

Hi Paul, i noticed the sign at the station that been renovated & isnt Clown spelt Clowne? It had the e missing. Love the stone cuttings look very impressive with narrow former trackbed. Another enjoyable video paul. ❤😊

[@WobblyRunner]

There's some history with railway companies trying to change place names 🤔. I'm not sure whether it was officially called Clown other than the station. Oughty bridge another example 😄

[@Carolb66]

Oh yes could be, can't imagine they accidentally forgot to put the e on the end, so that could be the original spelling. 😊

[@andrewdavis9223]

Why not wear sunglasses 😎

[@WobblyRunner]

😄 I'm no way cool enough to wear sun glasses in August nevermind December 😎

[@MisterHughie]

Great walk, thank you, for your Seymour re-visit video, there’s still a random length of track on the corner of the junction of the new Seymour Link Road and Erin Road, just as if you came from the Poolsbrook direction and turned left into Seymour Link Rd, behind some wooden fencing, look forward to the next one, cheers,

[@WobblyRunner]

Hiya MH. Thanks very much 🙂👍 I did the branch to Bolsover yesterday morning and saw that little length of track by the new link road 👍. It seems very random just left there doesn't it.

[@MisterHughie]

@@WobblyRunner Looking forward to that video then, the branch has recently been ruined by the Coalite remediation works, and the lovely bridge on Buttermilk Lane has gone 😤

[@eggy77]

The good news is Gypsy Lane is set to be opened up so they'll be a much shorter connection between the railway station and the greenway, needs a little bit of development but think it's an old access path than runs alongside the school. There's loads of bases of telegraph poles alongside the greenway, at this time of year sometimes I try to count them as I'm slowly making my way up the line to Clowne. The concrete sleepers under the bridge, I think they tidied them up when they made the greenway. I used the greenway a few times before it was developed. So many sleepers I'm actually quite tired now 😁 it often makes me wonder why many of the wooden sleepers at Seymour are still down when there's so many concrete ones there, I'd have thought the wooden ones would have been replaced by concrete in the latter years or taken up if not in use.

[@WobblyRunner]

I guess the wooden ones were in the sidings and they couldn't be bothered to upgrade those ones, just the main running lines? Gypsy Lane would be such a huge improvement wouldn't it. And cheers for pointing me to the older photos from a few years ago. Always good to see how things change in such a short space.

[@eggy77]

@@WobblyRunner yeah. I regularly go down Seymour and occasionally I find something I've never seen before whether it be telegraph poles and such like, bits of brickwork, or that air raid shelter, I'm told there was a couple more nearby but think they've long since gone. Gypsy Lane will provide a very useful link to the centre of Creswell, instead of going through the housing estate.

[@mrbetamax1969]

Hi w/r found more pics of Clowne before track was pulled up ..put em on my you tube channel..

[@WobblyRunner]

Looks a lot different with the tracks. Is that from station road bridge?

[@mrbetamax1969]

@@WobblyRunner yes..taking some remembering 24 years ago...HELP..where did it all go..lol

[@mrbetamax1969]

@@WobblyRunner sure I have more somewhere..I will keep looking.

[@jowilson4012]

Enjoyed that, thank you!

[@WobblyRunner]

👍🙂 thanks Jo.

[@dansterland1824]

Wow that's my local disused railway line I live in creswell great video 😀

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Dan!! I live just up the road in Whitwell.

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

I'd just been out myself exploring the Lincoln to Grantham disused line around the Leadenham area and Station, where apparently Queen Victoria once arrived on a train from London to attend a function at a large mansion nearby!!! I opened up the computer to download the photos I took and this popped up on my notifications, a real treat it has to be said on the last day of the year - one, which like many people I presume, I'll be pleased to see the back of. Some great info and railway memorabilia to see on that trek, I love the way the locals have taken the time to tend to Clowne Station, some great cuttings too. That platelayers hut by the M1 is a beauty someone is definitely looking after it for whatever reason, you do not see any painted inside like that one. At the end of the walk it's not too far to Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre, have you been at all? It's somewhere I intend to get to in the future, the info I have seen on it looks very interesting indeed. Have a fantastic New Years Eve (or Old Year's Night as they say in my Wife's home town of Berwick-upon-Tweed) and no doubt I'll catch up with you in 2022.

[@WobblyRunner]

All the best Seamus. You know, I've never been to Barrow Hill. Very odd as I have lived around it for such a long time 😄. My dad was a very frequent visitor. I really need to make a trip. Happy new year to you and your family and here's to many happy explores in 2022.

[@jasinere35]

like the coal tub

[@jasinere35]

these concrete blocks were rodding posts & from the looks of it they repurposed them into seating areas as the bed your on is a lengthy one they have only just recently re surfaced the bed into a proper path & the last time i were there the bed on the western side of clowne was being rebuilt

[@WobblyRunner]

Lovely little addition isn't it

[@eggy77]

@@jasinere35 I've noticed over the last year or so someone has tried to make seats and benches out of them, guess it's the locals or volunteers who help maintain the line, then a few weeks later they'll mostly be in bits again.

[@jasinere35]

@@eggy77 i would have like to explore the area more but ive had to relocate back to hometown as at the time i were heading onto the clowne area but ex decided to make me homeless so thats now out of the window

[@apcmatt]

This route is handy for me as my house is built on the old railway sidings so easy access for my morning runs. great video

[@WobblyRunner]

Lots of great routes around Clowne and the railway isn't there. 👍🙂

[@Rollingforwards]

thanks for the video, i shall have to add that route to my bucket list.

[@WobblyRunner]

👍🙂. It's just missing a cafe for cake

[@Rollingforwards]

@@WobblyRunner I'm sure there is a cafe on the east of Staveley. On the Chesterfield canal. I have not been there yet however I have heard it is really popular.

[@WobblyRunner]

Hollingwood Hub? There sure is. I've been known to enjoy the odd cheese toasty and slab of Victoria Sponge in my time.

[@stevenstopford9847]

Fantastic video many thanks👍

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Steven.