Hackworth in the early 1950s.

British Railways and the National Coal Board had been created only a few years earlier and the coal mining area of Hackworth, like the rest of Britain, was beginning to recover from the effects of austerity after WW11. Things were looking up and, on the railway, there was talk of the new, clean efficient diesels, plus the new standard BR steam locomotives were just coming on stream. On the down side the area lost its regular rail passenger services, only excursions to places like Mablethorpe and Skegness plus Sunday diversions remain. Coal, mineral and general freight traffic was booming, trains could often be found waiting a path on the single line section to clear.

Blenkinsop colliery had become a hub for new NCB opencast mines to the west and deep pits to the east. The NCB had drafted in several locomotives from other areas to cope with demand for coal in the new power stations being built in the Trent Valley.

The local bus companies, Midland General and Barton, were happy to take the passengers who had lost their trains. Cars were at a premium, but a few could be spotted on the roadways.

The railway comprises of a double to single track branch line which loops off the ex-Great Central mainline at Annesley and re-joins it at Staveley. Traffic on the line is mostly freight with ex GC/LNER 2-8-0 and W.D. locomotives in abundance but there are occasional excursion and diverted passenger trains which punctuate the service. Plus of course the miner’s Dido.

The motive power depot at Jutland Street, Hackworth primarily has ex GCR types of J11, O4 and smaller numbers of mixed traffic and passenger types. The depot’s function is to provide motive power from the local colliery’s exchange sidings to Annesley, Staveley and Beighton yards.