On 9 June 2023 at the Digital Media Centre in Barnsley, I was proud to launch 'From Woodhead to Doncaster - A pictorial Railway Journey’ by Fred Abson. It’s a book of my late father's photos of the Woodhead route of the MS&W Railway. These photos comprise signal boxes, bridges, crossings and junctions, signal box diagrams and detailed text explaining the location of the photos. The photos also include photos of Deltics at Doncaster Plant works in the early 1980s.
My father, Fred Abson, had recognised the importance of documenting the changes in railway infrastructure along the route of the Manchester, Sheffield and Wath railway line and beyond at the end of a life long career in the railway industry. It is to his credit and foresight that he photographed anything he judged to be of importance to provide a comprehensive record of the area for future reference and for generations to come. Alan Whitehouse, former BBC Look North and Yorkshire Post transport correspondent talked about how the railways across the area provided many employment opportunities and knowledge and skills which are in danger of being lost.
The day was exactly 11 years since I launched Grandma Abson’s Traditional Baking book, so there would be no doubt that I’d be making a cake to celebrate with family, friends and railway enthusiasts. I made a Victoria Sandwich cake as Grandma would have done for any special occasion and decorated it with a collar of railway lines and trains across the top. Not a slice left at the end!
Compiling the ‘From Woodhead to Doncaster’ book has been a real labour of love. Growing up with my sister on a railway station left me with many memories and a lifelong passion for the railways. This impressive collection of photographs, which my father left us, is testament not only to his eye for detail but also to his lifelong passion for railways. It was a truly splendid celebration of this pictorial railway journey!
From Woodhead to Doncaster – A Pictorial railway Journey
For more information about how to get a copy price £6.99 + postage,
please email grandmaabson@gmail.com
