A Hucknall History
Transport Back to the Future
Mansfield & Pinxton Railway
When Mansfield town malting kilns started struggling to acquire sufficient fuel, several borderline bell pits in and around Huthwaite hadn't yet managed to reach elusive lower depths where far richer seams lay beneath Nottinghamshire. Frustration was being unable to share a plentiful supply of shallower Derbyshire coals being shipped elsewhere on Cromford Canal. One group of enterprising men thus next sought an alternative more cost effective connection to Pinxton Wharf sales. Following a 1813 proposed route they formed The Mansfield and Pinxton Railway Company
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Concerned resistance from affected landowners caused another several years delay before support was ultimately required from the major manor landowner, The Duke of Portland dutifully balanced all arguments favouring community benefit. Approval came just before exhausting all backers funding. The scheme finally passed 1817 Act of Parliament. The titled Duke a major shareholder.
Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain
57 George III. Cap. 37, Royal Assent 16th June, 1817THE Mansfield and Pinxton Railway, commencing in the town of Mansfield, proceeds from thence in a westerly direction, leaving Skegby Hall, Unwins Hall and Brook House on the north, to Pinxton Basin near to Pinxton Mills, and not far from Alfreton in the county of Derby, where it communicates with a branch of the Cromford Canal; about a mile and a half from this point a branch passes easterly towards Codnor Park Works, which it passes, and communicates again with the Cromford Canal at a short distance from those works, at 278 feet above the level of the sea.
The act for this undertaking was passed in 1817, as 'An Act for making and maintaining a Railway or Tramroad from Bull's Head Lane, in the parish of Mansfield, in the county of Nottingham, to communicate with the Cromford Canal, at Pinxton Basin, in the parish of Pinxton, in the county of Derby.' By it the proprietors, who are styled The Mansfield and Pinxton Railway Company, are empowered to make the road and to alter, repair, and manufacture materials for the same; for doing which they are to raise the sum of £22,800, in shares of £100 each; and in case that should not prove sufficient for completing the same, they may raise an additional fund of £10,000 amongst themselves, or by creating new shares, or by mortgage of the work and tolls. The following are to be demanded as
| TONNAGE RATES = Charges at per Ton per Mile | .s.d. |
| For all Stone for repairing Roads and for all Manure | 0s 2d |
| For all Stone, Cinders, Chalk, Marl, Sand, Lime, Clay, Ashes, Peat, Lime-stone, Iron-stone and other Materials, Building-stone, Pitching and Paving-stone, Bricks, Tiles, Slates, Timber, Lead in Pigs or Sheets, Bar-iron, Waggon-tire, all Gross and Unmanufactured Articles and Building Materials | 0s 3d |
| For all Coal, Coke and Slack carried into the parish of Mansfield along any Part of the Railroad | 0s 2d |
| For ditto in that Direction but not into that Parish | 0s 3d |
| For ditto towards or to the Cromford Canal at Pinxton Basin | 0s 3d |
| For all other Goods, Wares and Merchandize | 0s 6d |
| Fractions of a Ton and of a Mile to pay as the Quarters therein, and of a Quarter as a Quarter. | |
| Carriage of Parcels, not exceeding Five Hundred Weight, to be fixed by the Proprietors. |
Owners of land on the line, and lords of manors are to erect wharfs, on their own lands, if required by the company; and in case of refusal the company may do so. The company is also directed by the act to build sufficient wharfs, warehouses and landing places at Pinxton, for the reception of goods; and for the expenses so incurred they are to demand as
| WHARFAGE RATES | |
| For all Packages not exceeding Fifty-six Pounds in Weight | 1d each |
| For ditto Five Hundred Weight | 2d each |
| For all above the last quoted Weight | 6d per Ton |
Private individuals building wharfs and warehouses are authorized to claim the following as wharfage rates,
| WHARFAGE RATES | |
| For all Coals, Culm, Lime-stone, Clay. Iron, Iron-stone, Lead-ore or other Ores, Timber, Stone, Bricks, Tiles, Slates and Gravel | 1d per Ton |
| For all other Goods and Merchandises | 2d per Ton |
| For all above the last quoted Weight | 6d per Ton |
| If the said Goods shall remain above Twenty-one Days, then One Penny per Ton additional is to be paid for the succeeding Ten Days, and a further Sum of One Penny per Ton per Day for every Day afterwards. | |
The railway is double; the length, eight miles, two furlongs and four chains. At the commencement in Mansfield it is 101 feet 8 inches above the level of the Cromford Canal at Pinxton Basin; from Mansfield to the summit level there is a rise of 88 feet 10 inches; from the summit to the Pinxton Basin, a distance of four miles and nine hundred and twenty yards, there is a fall of 80 feet 10 inches; the railway at its termination there, being 8 feet above the level of the canal. This work cannot fail of being useful, passing as it does through a county abounding with minerals, and where no other line of conveyance exists.
The 4th titled Duke personally added financial investment to that which was quickly raised same year, marking start of constructing another innovative challenge. South westerly course required laying about eight miles of doubled tramway tracks stretching from Mansfield's Bulls Head Lane to meet the Cromford Canal basin reaching Pinxton wharf. 
Design needed to incorporate a gentle incline while innovatively crossing Kings Mill reservoir to hold historical significance. Renowned engineer Josiah Jessop is credited designing the original timber built Portland Bridge.
Replacing that sketched timber construction with a present day arched stone platform dates c1849 conversion supporting steam powered locomotion. A key stone acknowledged 1817 origins.
Layout restricted any further adaptation to suit faster trains on The Midland Railway lines. A branched diversion left behind this walkway monument, proudly claimed by some being the oldest stood railway viaduct in England.
Heading upward through Sutton-in-Ashfield parish boundaries reached highest midway point at East Kirkby. Tracks thereafter gently fell into Pinxton wharf. Initial design all had to be based upon horses still being used for haulage. Steadily towing canal boats was easiest, but pulling heavily laden wagons on railways easily surpassed capacity and speed on poorly kept roadways.
Although this double tracked system meandered gentler path around some hilly gradients, haulage uphill from either direction was only needed until reaching the central Kirkby summit. At that raised junction, all laden trucks were released to freewheel downhill continuing goods delivery in both directions. Opening morning 13th April 1819 was when Mansfield crowds celebrated first trucks arriving carrying Pinxton coals. Total cost £35,000.
Much like all modes of transport, the M&P goods tramway likely enticed joyriders before introducing 1832 passenger services. This line reliably kept up horse drawn services beyond Midland Railway 1847 buyout. Adding a branch line to steam onward into Nottingham then suitably adapted part of the old tramway route from Kirkby to Mansfield. Just noting addition of those station platforms may also introduce more localised steam train passengers.
01 Aug 04 by Gary Elliott Updated 11 Jan 23