ELSECAR'S heritage railway is expanding after having its best year ever - and is now in talks with a brewery about building a 160-cover pub diner at Cortonwood.
The Coalfields line, which links the old Elsecar Main and Cortonwood collieries, is poised to achieve recognition as a nationally important steam railway. It has gone from strength to strength after winning £50,000 from the People's Millions Big Lottery Fund in 2013.
Chairman and managing director Del Tilling said: "It is our best ever year. We are in preliminary talks with Barnsley Council and Marston's Brewery about the possibility of constructing a 160-cover pub diner at Cortonwood Station.
"Topographical surveys and other feasibility considerations are pending before any formal planning application is submitted."
The heritage railway has been developing a memorial park at Cortonwood station to tell the story of South Yorkshire's coalfields. It would include picnic lawns and gardens and the centrepiece would be a 25ft high miner's lamp. A planning decision on this is expected later this month. The railway has also opened a museum carriage at Elsecar.
** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated October 17. **
