The Sheffield & Rotherham Railway 1830 - 1923

The Sheffield & Rotherham Railway 1830 - 1923

By Ian Howard, published by the Society. Hard back, with 240 A4 pages copious illustrated with both colour and black & white photographs and plans.

Ian was Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield and was a member of the staff for 35 years. He was twice President of the Midland Railway Society, and editor of its Journal, contributing many articles for its pages.

This posthumously published book details the History of the Sheffield & Rotherham Railway from its inception and its further development by the Midland Railway. The Sheffield & Rotherham was short railway with a short life. It opened in 1838 and was taken over by the Midland Railway in 1845. It was promoted by the Sheffield iron masters, keen to see their products dispatched around the country. The success of the line, built across open fields, was such that it was soon lined with new iron and steel works. Much of the early history of the line is based on the unpublished journal of Thomas Pearson, secretary of the railway, but the story is taken beyond the Midland take over and how that company developed the railway further. The story is reinforced by a wide range of original photographs and unpublished plans.