Mansfield and Pinxton's historic railway featured in new walking guide and book

Mansfield and Pinxton railway buffs have been steaming ahead with a walk guide and book celebrating the 200-year history of one of the oldest lines in continuous use in the UK.

Despite coronavirus setbacks affecting their print run, the Mansfield & Pinxton Railway Project’s National Lottery funded heritage walk has now been published in a new 40-page booklet ‘Walking the Line.”

The free to all, A5, colour booklet, guides walkers, as close as possible, to the railway’s original eight mile route. The walk and guide was planned during the group’s railway bicentenary celebrations last year.

The full route is about 10 miles long and starts at the Boat Inn, Alexander Terrace, Pinxton leading to Mansfield railway station. There are three sections also allowing people to enjoy shorter strolls.

There are also plans for an A4, 100 page, hardback book about the railway’s history, set to be launched in July – coronavirus depending.

Denis Hill of the group said: “We’d just managed to take delivery of two thirds of the print run before the printers closed their doors amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“We used the Portland College print department for all of our printing enabling the students to get first-hand experience.

“We have already distributed several thousand of the copies to various locations, such as the Mansfield Museum and libraries - but they have all closed their doors now.

“But if anyone wants to access the guide, it can read on our website: http://www.mansfieldandpinxton200.btck.co.uk/

The group has also had a painting commissioned for the project which appears on the front cover of the booklet and book. A video of the Mansfield & Pinxton line is also planned.

The Mansfield and Pinxton Railway was originally a twin track built of iron rails on stone slabs. The grand opening was Tuesday, April 13, 1819.

In 1923 the railway became part of LMS and worked until railway nationalisation in 1948. Passenger traffic closed in 1964 but was reinstated as part of the newly opened Robin Hood Line in 1993, making it one of the oldest railways in the UK in continuous use.

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