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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