The ‘Steaming Back to Kirkby’ heritage project is hosting a weekend of special events on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July 2022 to commemorate the railway heritage of Kirkby-in-Ashfield. In addition to its traditional industries of hosiery and coal mining, Kirkby was also a railway town for much of the 20th century, the loco sheds and sidings closing in November 1970.
There is an article in the Summer 2022 Railway Ramblings magazine outlining the work that the SB2K project are undertaking to promote disused lines. The project team are also supporting the upcoming RR walk on 23rd August. See RR walk – Railways of Kirkby in Ashfield & The Mansfield & Pinxton Railway
The main event on Sunday 10th July 2022 (1pm – 4pm) is the ‘Singing the Steam’ concert at Bentinck Miners Welfare with the headline act being folk singer /songwriter and former Kirkby railwayman, Dave Goulder. Support will be local groups, King of Rome and Hagg Farm Conspiracy. Tickets are £10 per person (£11.50 on-line) which includes a pie and peas meal or vegetarian option. Tickets can be obtained at Kirkby Heritage Centre Tel: 01623 720111 (mornings only) or on-line at https://www.kirkbysteam.co.uk/singing-the-steam-steaming-back-to-kirkby-concert/
The day before, Saturday 9th July 2022, we will be running a Folk Train on the Robin Hood Line from Nottingham to Worksop (pending there being no RMT strike action). Additional entertainment will be ‘Music at the Mallard’ on Worksop railway station from 1.45pm – 3.30pm. The Folk Train leaves Nottingham station at 12.25pm picking up at all stations with arrival at Worksop at 1.33pm. This is a free event, just purchase your train ticket and join us for the day to celebrate Kirkby’s railway heritage. More details at: https://www.kirkbysteam.co.uk/robin-hood-line-folk-train-saturday-9th-july-2022/
