Bumford Heating Limited (the parent company of BHL) installed their first Central Heating System back in 1968, the year that astronauts first orbitted the moon and the year of Martin Luther King’s assasination.

Rewind a further 118 years to 1850 and the Elsecar branch of the South Yorkshire railway was opened. This single track line ran from Mexborough to Elsecar via Cortonwood, crossing the Dearne and Dove Canal by lifting bridge. The line was originally brought into use for the transport of mineral traffic buy also served the collieries, ironworks and other local businesses.

The line also found use due to its proximity to the Wentworth Woodhouse estate of the Earl Fitzwilliam. Earl Fitzwilliam ran private trains on the line from his own covered station at Elsecar, often running trains from Elsecar station to Doncaster races. The Earl even operated trains for the Prince of Wales (Later King Edward V11) during his stays at the Wentworth Woodhouse.

Eventually the line went out of use in 1984 when the Cortonwood Colliery ceased production, the section to Elsecar having closed some years earlier.

Today, manned by a team of commited and enthusiastic volunteers, Elsecar Heritage Railway (EHR) operates as a tourist attraction running trips on weekends and bank holidays. EHR is South Yorkshires only preserved line.

In the future Elsecar Heritage Railway plan to relay a further mile of track on the Elsecar branch to a new terminus adjacent to the retail park at Cortonwood in Barnsley.

The costs involved in running and maintaining EHR are tremendously expensive. The engines and rolling stock need constant maintenance. The costs of the coal alone for the steam engines is staggering.

Bumford Heating are proud supporters of local causes and heritage. When the opportunity arose to support EHR we donated plumbing fittings for use on the engines, as well as warehouse equipment such as shelving and pallett trucks. We have also donated £500 to help with the upkeep of the line.

You can find out more about Elsecar Heritage Railway on their website.

Bumford Heating are installers of quality central heating and renewable energy systems in Barnsley, Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster and throughout the whole of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Humberside. Click here to book a free site survey and appointment with Bumford Heating