After a two year delay and being way over budget the long awaited Tram/Train project opened to the public on the 25th October 2018. With excellent publicity the public and enthusiasts turned out for this very special event.

Passenger awaiting to board the first tram however (the ill fated) 204 took the civic and officials out first for the journey to Rotherham and Parkgates.

At about 2.30pm tram/train 204 was in collision with a lorry and services were suspended until the following day when tracks and traffic lights were repaired.  All this was after the years of work as you see below took place.

After having a break from checking progress for several weeks a return visit to look at the progress a few things have changed, but not many with the brand newly delivered tram/trains remaining firmly in the sidings at the depot. The link to the BR tracks is getting a little closer but not yet there.

The connection near to the old Parkgate & Rawmarsh station on the main line has  been installed . To the right is the end of the tram track so far.

Above insert left is a LMS 'Hawkeye' station TARGET ''PARKGATE & RAWMARSH''. From the ex Midland Railway station.  The railway foot bridge that possibly served the former railway station a few weeks later the span has been removed not by a passing train but presumably Network Rail as part of the construction work on the new tram station.

On November 19th 1926, 9 passengers were killed and 27 injured, in an accident near Parkgate and Rawmarsh station, when the wagons of a coal train became derailed and the wreckage, together with a signal post, ripped the side of the York to Bristol Express passenger train. For further information about this accident click here

Near to Meadowhall tracks and point work are nearing completion from what is called the Tinsley Cord where the tram tracks join the Network Rail tracks. In the background on the right is the new road bridge that links the Sheffield Road with Meadowhall that avoids the road traffic having to use the M1 access roundabout on the lower deck.

The colliery was originally served  by the trams of the Doncaster Corporation Tramways on the Brodsworth route that was opened in 21/2/1916 operating as far as nearby Woodlands. The route finally gave way to motorbuses in June 1935. The buses operated closer to the colliery. Relics of the tramways survived a while longer, some of the rails were purchased and cut into pit prop lengths but proved to be unsuccessful. However the poles that once supported the overhead wires were re-sited and used to carry the 220 volt D.C. supply generated by the colliery to the pit houses.  Until recently many had survived, today only one has escaped being cut down having being made redundant many years ago when the houses were fed from the mains grid supply.

Some closer views of this surviving pole at the back of the houses of the junction box still with some cut off cables. The middle photograph shows the rust hidden behind what was the cast iron  decorative base.  I suspect the holes were put in for lifting the pole from the tramway.

Not much remains now of this 1907 steam tug boat that once operated on the Tyne. It was last used by the  Seaham Harbour Dock Company, Seaham in September 1956. In June 1969  the National Maritime Museum used part of the top deck but due to lack of space it was broken up in 1996 and the part of the stern put on display outside the Markham Main Steam Museum. However the port engine and a complete paddle wheel is on display at Markham Grange Steam Museum at Doncaster, now driven by a discreet 3/4 HP motor onto the paddle wheel rim. The feathering gear is arranged so that it can be demonstrated as a radial wheel and moved into the feathered mode.