The Elsecar Heritage Railway (EHR) is located on the southern part of the former South Yorkshire Railway freight-only branch which ran from Elsecar Junction on its Mexborough to Barnsley Line. The Elsecar Heritage Railway operated an out and back tourist train ride on a section of the branch using steam and diesel locomotives, previously running between Rockingham station (at the back of the Elsecar Heritage Centre) and Hemingfield Basin. The railway was operated using a variety of different preserved rolling stock. The EHR had planned to eventually operate the line into Cortonwood, with a new halt at Hemingfield, doubling the length of the line to two miles. History The line was built to serve Earl Fitzwilliam's collieries and ironworks, which he leased out to local ironmasters. It opened in 1850 as part of the South Yorkshire Railway, known as the Elsecar Branch. Following assorted mergers the line finally became part of the LNER upon formation of the Big Four. The whole infrastructure was nationalised after the Second World War, with the mines becoming part of the National Coal Board in 1947 and the railway becoming part of British Railways in 1948. The Elsecar branch closed in 1984 following closure of the final colliery on the line. Restoration began in 1994 as a project of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and the line reopened as a heritage railway in 1996, operated by the Council. The Elsecar Heritage Railway became the operator in 2006. Closure Elsecar Heritage Railway was mothballed indefinitely after operators surrender their lease in November 2020, it is reported that a commitment was made by Barnsley Council to reopen the site. Motive power Steam locomotives The railway's collection of steam locomotives are used regularly for passenger services. Sentinel No. 6807 Gervase. (Running number 10) (Operational, returned to steam in 2013). Sentinel No. 9376 (unnamed). (Running number 7) (Scrapped). Sentinel No. 9599 William. (Operational, returned to steam in 2017). Peckett OQ Class No. 2150 Mardy Monster. (Undergoing overhaul). Avonside No. 1917 Earl Fitzwilliam, formerly Pitsford. (Stored). Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns No. 7386 Birkenhead. (Undergoing overhaul). Hunslet No. 469 Hastings. (Undergoing overhaul). Diesel locomotives The railway's diesel locomotives are used to operate both passenger and engineering trains. Hunslet Engine Co. No. 6950 Louise. (Operational.) Yorkshire Engine Company No. 2895 Earl of Strafford. (Operational.) Sentinel Elizabeth. (Operational.) Other motive power Wickham trolley track inspection vehicle. (In storage, awaiting restoration.) Coaching stock Coaching stock