Peak Rail Presents - Doug Copley's Lineside Images #1.0 Tinsley Yard to Smithy Wood (70s, 80s & 90s)

Doug Copley's Lineside Images
'Doug Copley's Lineside Images' are 68 titles filmed 1980's, 1990's & 2000's variously 12-90 minutes long. They come with Doug's own commentary and tend to follow lines of route, or particular workings, filmed over multiple return visits.
Doug Copley
Doug gave annual shows to Peak Rail Sheffield Branch. When he died in 2008 his films were kindly made available to the Peak Railway Association by his family so that appreciative enthusiasts can continue to enjoy his work in his memory.
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Tinsley Yard & MPD, then up to Smithywood Coking Plant
(1970s 80s 90s) (50min)
At Tinsley a minor rump of sidings still handle some steel traffic, but the hump yard is now a vast M&S distribution depot, the reception sidings are a Newell & Wright rail-connected container terminal, and the former Tinsley MPD is now the Mercure Sheffield Parkway Hotel.
And the branch up to Smithywood (nr Chapeltown) which follows the Blackburn Brook is now the Blackburn Valley Trail. Initially paralleling today's Midland Railway route to Barnsley, the former Great Central line from Wincobank Jct (now Meadowhall Interchange) up to Barnsley had closed in1966 and had been reduced to a 3 mile rump as far as Smithywood Coking plant. Steam, in the form of a standby Hunslet Austerity, could occasionally be seen shuntilng there as late as July 1982.
The coking plant closed in 1986 and has been landscaped and redeveloped as a business park. The branch also served Roe Brothers scrapyard at Meadow Hall where much London Underground stock met its end.
Tinsley West Jct signalbox, which held a fascination for Doug and features heavily in the film, was adjacent the derelict Hadfields steelworks which is now the site of Meadowhall Retail Park. From latterly sometimes just one train per day, the route past the signalbox is now intensively used by Sheffield Supertram serving Meadowhall Interchange.
Chronology:
Tinsley Yard in the late 1970s with Class 13 "master and slave" working the hump, and freight passing by on the 'main line'.
the lower level servicing shed in full use.
Woodhead electric a Class 76 brings a freight into the reception roads off the electrified north-west arrivals line.
scenes on the main Tinsley 'top shed' with 08s, 20s, 31s, 37s, 45s and latterly numerous 'Railfreight Distribution' class 47s.
shunting scenes at Tinsley Park works.
early 1990s shots after 'humping' ceased and coaching stock occupied former hump yard roads, now truncated and buffer-stopped.
an '08' delivers loaded steel and removes empties (yes, that way around) from BSC Shepcote Lane works.
a departure passes Shepcote Lane signal box taking the route to Tinsley Station Jct , Tinsley South Jct, and the 3 mile truncated remains of GC route to Barnsley to reach the National Smokeless Fuels Smithywood Coking Plant.
Tinsley West Jct signalbox engulfed by Tinsley Viaduct (with the M1 motorway on its top deck), Blackburn Meadows Power Station, Sewage Works, and Hadfield's former East Hecla Works.
1987 Tinsley West signalman breaks sweat as he hands the token to the one round trip of the day as it passes the level crossing gates and single semaphore. The lamp man also calls on his weekly visit.
pictures up the branch at Blackburn (the Rotherham one) Meadow Hall signalbox, and the long-closed stations at Meadow Hall (GC), Grange Lane, and Ecclesfield East. Trip freights and shunting at the gasworks sidings and Roe Bros scrapyard.
Yorkshire Engine Co works with former GKN Cardiff shunters for sale, and a derailed 08870 awaiting rescue.
at Smithywood Coking Plant, various (industrial) shunters + circa 1980 steam footplate ride on the Hunslet Austerity saddle tank. Also a Yorks Engine Co loco working the coking car - with leaping flames! - whilst the usual electric transfer-car was undergoing maintenance.
1988 visit to Blackburn Meadows Sewage Works with 2 locos at work.
Smithywood Coking Plant ceased production at the end of 1986 and the branch closed soon after.
Thankyou Doug for your endless patience in recording these scenes, and your diligence in unearthing the facts to add interesting narrative to your films. They are treasured.
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[@yammyrob]

So wonderfuly atmospheric. I can smell this video. I love it.

[@stephenrichards4684]

Brilliant film. Really enjoyed it. Thank you.

[@IanWilliamson-u9v]

i worked at tinsley park..and lived at wincobank..i now live at chapletown..so good to see the old sidings and meadowhall and blackburn

[@pauljohnson4525]

This is FANTASIC ....Many thanks for sharing it with us

[@daviddalton3567]

I remember as a Brinsworth lad all these yards being expanded in the late 50's taking g away our favourite fishing ponds and bluebell woods...

[@22pcirish]

Still a busy place! I regularly work into there with container trains. Plus steel and aggregate trains are also busy to and from as well!

[@MagicM03]

"Cyril had two trains that week" shows just how much of a declined the railways suffered over this time period. Thanks for the videos. Absolutely fascinating.

[@Wessexshire]

Crack video. Thank you for uploading this.

[@rickmeyrick4357]

Excellent ! Happy days and memories of English Industry.

[@cgrextreme]

Absolutely superb, What an amazing glimpse into what is to me local history.

[@trainrunner51]

Great film, brings back many memories for me as I started as a Guard at Tinsley in 1974 , becoming a Driver in 1990, brings back many memories of trips to Smithywood!

[@ThePanzer6]

Fascinating to watch

[@philbailey7339]

It’s actually nice down there now as it’s been made into The Trans Pennine Trail. I cycle down it regularly as I live in Chapeltown. Interesting to see it back in its working days.

[@upstart3782]

Absolutely loved it. Memories from the 70s and 80s. The smell of Treeton and Orgreve. Thank you.

[@garethjones9635]

Astonishing footage, thank you for sharing it. Scenes that were once commonplace now sadly lost, never to be repeated. So much has been lost

[@yorkshirebloke7212]

I remember going on class 45’s to football, most Leeds United football specials were hauled by class 45’s. When I was a youngan, I wondered what are these locos with the long side panels? The only Class 45 I remember was “The Cheshire Regiment”, It took me and my mates to a Leeds night game, at Sunderland on the 30 December 1976. (we beat Sunderland 1-2) I remember it was a bit snowy that night & there were only about 60 of us on it. This particular loco 45 014 was involved in a fatal accident on 8 March 1986, because of a signal fault, it was scrapped in Manchester later on in 1986.

[@derekmeller5873]

Absolutely wonderful stuff. Thoroughly enjoyed the video and commentary. Thank you so much for posting. 🍻

[@782sirbrian]

How the scenes have changed in 40 years ! I used to stand at our school gates looking down on Smithywood hoping on the day the steam loco would be running ! I took a walk over to Smithywood in the school holidays, (mid1970's), standing on the footbridge over the old GC line at Smithywood to watch the steam loco at work, I once got invited into the loco shed by the driver. I was then taken up to my father who was at work on the day. He worked at Smithywood until his retirement in 1980.

[@EastMidsUK]

Absolutely stunning footage. I so wish I was around to see all this in real life. Amazing. Thank you. 👍

[@brothermoto1964]

Wonderful thank you 😊

[@435arkroyal]

Cracking Memories Thank you

[@wetdogFBK]

Absolutely fascinating, thanks for sharing 👍🚂

[@stuartwildridge5822]

I did that trip many times from 74 to 76 as a Tinsley guard, also been on Grange Lane Station platform as well.

[@daystatesniper01]

Sensational film many thanks for many memories

[@gainsbourg66]

Nice footage. Peak Rail should have gone for Woodhead, or at least part of it. An entire main line there for the taking between Manchester and Sheffield.

[@alberta45562]

Thank you for uploading this footage, as someone too young to have seen Tinsley at its peak I really appreciate it.

[@sheridanius]

Wow. What an amazing catalog of footage. Beautifully narrated depiction of the Tinsley Yard from its heyday to the sad demise. Well done! Subscribed.

[@cassiopeialestrange2054]

Wonderful memories. Thank You

[@alanmoore3020]

Great stuff, really enjoyed watching.

[@Jeff-fc7gw]

Absolute gold. Spent my childhood there. Brought it all back. Thanks

[@stevieb9699]

Superb historical footage, had us riveted from beginning to the end. Thanks so very much for uploading and sharing these marvellous moments in time, never to be seen again. All the best ...Steve.

[@stevepeace3148]

Thankyou for this video I went to Grange Lane every school dinnertime to watch the goods train run round and go up the branch line towards Dropingwell Colliery, in the late 50s. I remember getting in a passenger excursion train to Cleethorpes in 1952. I had no idea that this branch lasted until the 80s.

[@stuartwildridge5822]

I used to see the Blackburn shit train every weekday about 8 30 as it went through Central station to Thrybergh for tipping, it once started from the signal on platform 2 with a jerk ,the station foreman was standing by it on the crossing between platforms when the wagon next him slopped over the side and he got an unexpected shower, he was sent home on a tractor apparently to get washed and changed.,this was about 1965 66 time when I worked as a junior porter in Central goods yard.

[@TheSynthnut]

A fascinating line side time capsule. Beautifully shot and narrated, tinged with a melancholy nostalgia.

[@christopherruff2464]

Thanks Doug Copley for these amazing memories.

[@duncancurtis5108]

I've got a view from spring 96 of the old yard.

[@christopherruff2464]

@@duncancurtis5108 i always feel sad when i think of Tinsley and how it is now. No more traction depot or yard. Also sad cos i grew up at sheffield midland station with Peaks/45s so to see them withdrawn & condemned in rows in the yard was heartbreaking really. I heard about Tinsley West Junction with old signalbox etc. The tramline into Meadowhall station runs on that very trackbed. Which is extraordinary to me.. Fascinating local history.. Video is just a gem for Sheffield enthusiasts etc.

[@thestocktonflyer4059]

Great video. Thank you for bringing it to us . I will be out on my bike tomorrow on part of the old rail bed in the video. Amazing thanks again 😊

[@44662dc]

Lovely nostalgic footage many thanks for sharing .

[@akcbcmcb]

What an absolutely amazing film. Absolutely fascinating. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@Wayne56089]

Absolutely superb!!!! Brought back a fair few memories of tinsley yard and the depot. Also the Smithy Wood line as I lived bang next to junction 34 at bottom of shepcote lane so could see the line from my bedroom window.

[@captainboing]

I know industry marches on and needs re-freshingand modernising and much of the dis-use and delapidation we see here had been happenng for decades before "Beeching", but I get such a feeling in the pit of my stomach for this melancholy look back at what is lost. I am consumed with thoughts that there must have been another way. British industry should have been fought-for and yet it seems we surrendered so totally... "Cyril had two trains that week"

[@Shelfandtabletoplayouts00gauge]

Criminal selling off all major industry instead of investment and gradual modernisation. Not just Tories BTW, Labour did it to NHS. All of the generations before gave their lives to create the infrastructure of work in these islands, now we buy coal still from abroad while our health and safety laws don’t allow coal mining. China owns most of our oil and India the steel.

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

Totally agree and couldn't have put it better myself. I get the same feelings with the tinge of melancholy.

[@drummerboy1390]

Same here. What steel industry that’s left is owned by the Chinese and Indians and now Tata are pulling out. The car industry is all foreign owned, all those classic British marques and the rest are Japanese. A lot of the rail franchises are foreign owned and the train builders are mostly foreign. Britain is pretty much just a branch of some foreign company and as soon as economic circumstances change, they’ll be off. Telecoms, Electricity, Gas and Water all have heavy foreign ownership. We gave the world the Industrial Revolution and ended up working for them. How did that happen?

[@johnabbott2575]

Usless ignorance from government bloody lost everything not one political party dare stand up to Europe until we do and get stuff back in house we will be a third world country yanks killed BR

[@BoogiesTrains]

Unfortunately Marxist militants took control of the unions during the 60s and 70s and made it impossible for many companies to continue in business. For example Pressed Steel in Acton had so many strikes that they lost all their orders and closed. 1000 people lost their jobs and another 8000 in suppliers etc.

[@briancooper562]

I use to work on Europa Link (Lets Be Avenue) from 2000 to 2015 and the power of choise for the Steel works, now Outokumpo Stainless, across the road where class 66's but one day we had a visit from a mainline steam loco.

[@alanstacey1766]

Thank you so much for this amazing video clip, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I could see the tall chimney stacks at Smithy wood from our house and I could definitly smell it the by products.

[@zenwab]

Fantastic, thank you for posting.

[@karloschaos]

Wonderful

[@noeldunford4955]

Yes happy days sadly missed big time

[@rob32002]

loved it - great footage wish I'd got the see it working. Live close by and know and recognize from what is part of the TPT network now - and also worked at BBM for a very short period and remember the loco's - massive piece of social and industrial film that at the time was normal.- now we are all thankful that people took the time to record so we can remember how life was back in very recent times. Still within my career - But with so much change. Not all of it for the best....

[@johnabbott2575]

Absolutely amazing and I loved this only did tinsley a handful of times wish i could have done more especially your locations if you have more please post them thankyou

[@stevenweasel2678]

SUPERB / GREAT RECORD OF THE RAILWAYS & LINESIDE INDUSTRY THEN AT SHEFFIELD . P.S Dus any 1 know the Gradient from Tinsley Yard Up to the T.M.D ?

[@sheffield-weather-cam]

Brilliant video upload, I live at Wincobank overlooking meadowhall and Tinsley marshalling yard, Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Thanks a lot what a superb video, used to deliver around that area occasionally, in them days

[@pauldoggett7801]

I worked at Smithywood for British Gas on an experimental plant in the 1970s a fascinating place as all British Gas coke plants had shut by then

[@Shelfandtabletoplayouts00gauge]

Would have loved to meet the man. He’d seen so much.

[@duncancurtis5108]

The airport side spur was still in use until fairly recently.

[@megamanmuppet]

Great video, though that tamping machine looks like it’s tamping mud!

[@Shelfandtabletoplayouts00gauge]

Yes looks like guess work or experience at work.

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

I'm trying to locate the Tinsley West signal box on Google maps, does anyone know if I'm right in saying it's next to the meadowhall staff car park. Any local reading this by any chance ?

[@philbailey7339]

It would’ve been just below what was The Foundry pub that’s now a defunct beautician’s and over the existing Barnsley line. It’s now The Trans Pennine Trail. Access it from Barrow Road and have a look. It’s nice down there.

[@Chrispy1976]

Eeeeee, I knew it were grim up north, but crikey what a scene of abject misery.

[@Chrispy1976]

Since first viewing this film, I think I have watched this one and others through several times now, I wish as a softie southerner to apologise for my flippant comment above, these videos are priceless and not only this, they have inspired me to model in N gauge, areas like this, Cyril's crossing and signal box, dwarfed by the M1 and those cooling towers, I have gone from deeply depressed watching these, to, inspired! Many many thanks for sharing them with us all, it is much appreciated. ✌😎👍

[@leonperry123]

Whats scotched?

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

What we would call..wheel chock.. as in sticking a shaped wedge against the wheel to stop it from moving.

[@chrisgreatrex5752]

Great footage