In the early 90's, Barnsley Council decided to re-open the former workshops at Elsecar as a tourist attraction, and as a part of this opted to relay the former colliery line as a heritage railway. The first steam locomotive to arrive at the line was named the Earl Fitzwilliam in memory of the former use of the line, and the first passenger trains on the reopened line took place in 1994. Since then the Heritage Centre has expanded to the large site we see today, containing many different attractions and craft shops, as well as holding regular special events. On March 1st 2006, responsibility for the operation of the line passed from Barnsley Council, to the Elsecar Railway Preservation Group (now Elsecar Heritage Railway).

At present the railway runs for approximately one mile between Elsecar, through the South Yorkshire countryside alongside the Dearne and Dove Canal, to the present terminus at Hemingfield. Although only currently a mile in length, the line features stiff gradients of up to 1-in-40, which make the locomotives work hard on our service trains. Works are currently progressing to complete the extension of the railway to the former Cortonwood Colliery site.

Elsecar Station

The current base of the railway is at Elsecar, adjacent to the Elsecar Heritage Centre. Here are located the railways engine sheds, workshops and offices. During the winter of 2011/12, the station was subject to a major upgrade programme to upgrade the facilities offered to our visitors. The works included the construction of a new booking hall and station buffet, new toilet block, erection of a large events marquee and construction of a new foot crossing to allow access to the site directly form the Elsecar Heritage Centre. The works on the station will continue in the coming months and years to further enhance our visitor experience. Future works will include renovation of the station footbridge and improvements to the road access to the station yard allowing larger vehicles to access the site for our special events.