Railway Heritage Trail, to celebrate the 200th Anniversary
The Mansfield & Pinxton Railway, which is the oldest continuously running commercial railway in England, recently celebrated its 200th anniversary (13th April 2019) and to help commemorate this amazing achievement a heritage trail was officially launched on Thursday 27th August 2020.
After months of isolation around 25 members of the Mansfield & Pinxton Railway Project group, who designed the boards, met at the Boat Inn, Pinxton to officially launch the trail. The Boat Inn has been on the same site as the start of the original railway for the full life of the line (201 years). Seven heritage information boards have been erected along the eight-mile-long railway, starting at The Boat Inn, Pinxton and ending at the Mansfield railway station. Each one has been strategically located to commemorate specific parts of the original railway and located in such a way that both commuters and walkers can easily access them. Other sites include Sutton Parkway station; Lowmoor Road, Kirkby; Aldi, Urban Road, Kirkby; Portland Park, Kirkby and near the Level Crossing on Station Road, Pinxton. Each board shares basic information, but they also talk about the heritage around their specific location.
To accompany the trail, the group also published a self-guiding walk booklet. This free 40-page booklet has split the eight-mile railway into three sections and directs you step by step close to the old line. At the same time, you will learn about the heritage of the railway. The group are trying to find organisations to hold a stock of these leaflets to make them readily available to anyone interested. If you are able to help, please contact Denis Hill at denishill1066@gmail.com. They are currently available at the Boat Inn and several libraries, amongst a few other locations.
We are aiming to conduct guided walks along the route soon, subject to government guidance. Please contact Denis if you would like to be informed about the walks.
The whole project has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to which we offer our thanks to all those who play the lottery. We also acknowledge the support of local authorities and local business owners who have allowed us to erect the boards on their property. We are also about to publish a book and video on the history of the railway, if anyone is interested please contact Denis on the above email.
You can also visit our website: www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uk/ or find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pinxtonandmansfieldrailway200
