Rolleston Junction–Mansfield line

The line first opened 1 July 1847 as a short branch off the Nottingham and Lincoln line from Rolleston Junction to Southwell.[1] The Midland Railway then extended the line to Mansfield on 3 April 1871, with intermediate passenger stations at Kirklington and Edingley, Farnsfield, and Rainworth.[2]

In the first few decades of the 20th century a number of collieries opened in the area east of Mansfield, and the railway was extended to serve them:

• Mansfield Colliery via Mansfield Colliery Junction (opened 11 January 1905, closed 18 July 1967)[2][3]
• Rufford Colliery via Rufford Junction (opened 20 June 1912, closed 17 October 1983)[2][3]
• Clipstone Colliery via Rufford Junction (opened spring 1929, closed 29 August 1983)[3]
• Blidworth Colliery via Blidworth Junction (opened 21 December 1925, closed 24 June 1967)[2]

On 30 November 1931 a branch to the LMS and LNER joint railway to Ollerton was opened.[3][4] The line only ever served coal traffic and was closed south of Bilsthorpe on 7 September 1962.[3]

Passenger numbers declined through the first part of the 20th century, and passenger service was ultimately withdrawn between Mansfield and Southwell on 12 August 1929.[5] A shuttle service between Southwell and Rolleston Junction remained in high demand, with 17 trains per day operated by the "Southwell Paddy", a single carriage pulled by a steam locomotive. This service was finally withdrawn on 16 June 1959.[6]

Despite the lack of passenger traffic, the line remained popular with coal and other goods traffic until the 1960s. By 1968 the line had been closed from Rufford Junction to Rolleston Junction;[5] the last section between Mansfield and Rufford Junction closed 17 October 1983.[3]