Missing chord at South Elmsall

[Halifaxlad]

Does anybody know if Network Rail have proposals on reinstating the missing chord to the West of South Elmsall where the Moorthorpe line passes over ?

 

[30907]

I can't think so - what purpose would that serve? There is an established diversionary route from Doncaster via Askern and Knottingley to Ferrybridge.

Come to think of it, what purpose did it serve historically?

 

[YorksLad12]

I can't think so - what purpose would that serve? There is an established diversionary route from Doncaster via Askern and Knottingley to Ferrybridge.

Come to think of it, what purpose did it serve historically?

According to the Wikipedia entry for the West Riding and Grimsby Railway:

"In 1879 when the Swinton and Knottingley Joint Railway was opened, double connections were laid in with the WR&GR. These ran from the east side of the S&KJR into South Elmsall station, and from the west side of the S&KJR, at Moorthorpe station, to the south side of the WR&GR at Moorthorpe junction; the latter connection was used by the Sheffield-Leeds service of the MS&LR."

No indication of a (regular) passenger service, but I doubt they would have made both connections and only used the one, so it might have been for expresses. It seems to have been dismantled before or around the time of the second world war.

 

[zwk500]

Does anybody know if Network Rail have proposals on reinstating the missing chord to the West of South Elmsall where the Moorthorpe line passes over ?

Almost certainly not because the movement it serves was catered for by the North Doncaster Chord at Joan Croft junction.

 

[Bald Rick]

No proposals.

 

[zwk500]

OP - genuine question, was there any reason for asking other than 'there used to be a railway here?'

 

[Peterthegreat]

I believe reinstatement was considered before the Doncaster North chord was built. It would have allowed freights from York and beyond to access Doncaster and Humberside without running on the ECML.