Mexborough and Swinton Times December 5, 1908

Local Railway Improvements.
Denaby Railway Crossing To Be Removed.
A Proposed New Road & Bridge.

Especially interesting to the people of this district is the latest movement of the combined Great Northern, Great Central, and Great Eastern Railway Companies. In the Parliamentary Session of 1909 will be submitted a Bill for the working union of these lines. A Bill which makes provision for extensive alterations throughout the three systems. The immediate locality will be among, the first to feel the effect of the new order of things.

Plans are deposited with the Clerks to the Council, and the ratepayers have the opportunity of inspecting a scheme which may be described as an elaborate one, for the widening and general improvement of the local line.

Mexboro’, Swinton, and Denaby are included in certain clauses of the Bill, and striking improvements are to be made. In fact, the combined railways appear desirous of celebrating the occasion by a general spring cleaning of the system. One Part of the scheme provides for a widening of the Barnsley to Barnetby railway, which passes from Wath to Mexboro’, the widening to “commence at a point on that railway lone chain or thereabouts, measured along the centre line of the railway in a north-westerly direction from the centre of the bridge carrying the said railway over Bridge street, and terminating in the parish of Conisboro’ at a point distant eight chains, measured in a westerly direction along the said railway from the centre of the bridge carrying the said railway over the River Don.”

Undoubtedly this will be a great improvement, for there is something sinister about the present appearance of the Swinton curve or angle; and undoubtedly the gradient makes this part of the line slightly dangerous.

But the most extensive and ambitious scheme is that which provides another channel of communication between Mexboro’ and Swinton. Commencing from the footbridge at Swinton Station, a line will be driven across the meadows which used to be resorted to as coursing grounds, across the bed of the river, across the footpath known as Lovers’ Walk, to join the Barnsley to Barnetby line some 101 chains east of the Mexboro’ Station. This is a very wise provision, for through it much of the Hull traffic coming from the direction of Sheffield can be diverted by means of this loop line from the vicinity of the Mexboro’ Station. Under the present conditions, the great curve which lies between Mexboro’ and Swinton is usually crowded with traffic, which is for the most part patiently engaged in disentangling itself. The scheme opens up another channel, and lessens the liability to accident, at the same time facilitating the movements of the rolling stock.

Then there will probably be extensive alterations at Mexboro’. Although the subject of the enlargement of the railway station is not referred to in set terms, yet a considerable area of land and property the ownership of the Railway Company, the Council, and Mr T.T.Tuby, is earmarked in the provisions of the bill as “limit of deviation.”

But perhaps the most expensive item involved in this setting of the really comes house in order will be the diversion of the River Don behind the railway plant, along with the diversion of the footpath. By this scheme, a large slice of the twisting bed will be cut off and filled up, a big bay will disappear, and the river take a straight course by the sewage works until it reaches the small viaduct just below Mexboro’ station, where it will resume its normal course, only to be diverted again a little lower down.

Another important item in the scheme will be the stopping of the level crossing at Denaby Main—a movement which may be regarded as a public reform. The road leading from the tram terminus will be diverted at a point just beyond the bridge over the Don, and made to meet the railway almost square. Here a bridge, spanning the railway, will be provided, and the road will twist back at the other side of the railway—somewhere near the old Bone Mill—to its normal course. This proposal has much to commend it, and is scarcely likely to meet with opposition, for people are realising, especially in weather of this character, that level crossings are a standing menace.

Further east the line is to be widened from the east side of the bridge at Cadeby to Balby with Hexthorpe ; and over in the Penistone district there will be a widening of the Great Central Company’s main line of railway from Manchester to Sheffield, commencing at Thurlstone, and terminating in the parish of Penistone.

It is very evident that the joint railway companies are intent upon smoothing out the creases and imperfections in their system, and so far as the proposed improvements in the districts of Mexboro’ and Swinton are concerned, our good wishes go with them.