At 10.30, Stuart of the KLR welcomed the party and gave the obligatory H&S instructions, introducing Driver David, Engineer Michael and Guard Clement who would look after us for the visit. In ever brightening sunshine, formalities began at P1 with 4-wheeled diesel 'JAY' and three coaches taking us to the end of each of the three Loco & Carriage Shed roads in turn. As these were over the turntable, P2 & 3 were done too as they 'lined up'. The former standard gauge branch platform was to the right of this shed and turntable looking east. Back at P1, trips on Toby the Tram (No7) were declined in favour of continuing into the works (two lines) - so everyone rejoined the train to do just that - the works being in the former goods shed. In each case the relevant lines had kindly been cleared of stock.

Return to P1 was with plenty of time still before lunch, offering members any combination of three options: (1): 'Toby' was seen passing through the platforms and disappearing into the bowels of the engine shed/workshop many times. (2): On the elevated 5" gauge miniature railway circuit (opened especially for us) The Clayton Flyer gave anticlockwise trips around the pond, though the much sought after clockwise version failed to materialise. This was a very welcome surprise as we had previously been advised that not only would the elevated railway be closed, it was expected to be dismantled by the time of our visit. The plan is to replace it with a ground level line, probably on a slightly different alignment. (3): For the more pedestrian, the works and site were open for further inspection on foot.

A splendid lunch (seasonal soup, sandwich rolls, cake and hot drinks) and a warm were enjoyed. It was noted that, in three hours, the party had managed five lines, three platforms and two meals! While members were satisfying their inner beings with this excellent repast, the KLR staff were busy outside restoring order, replacing locos/stock into shed, works and platforms to clear the main line where they had been temporarily placed to facilitate the first part of our visit - 'JAY' and its coaches waited in P1.

Suitably fed and watered, the party re-joined the train for the 3m 23ch run to Shelley, using the main routes at Cuckoo's Nest, a KLR-built halt, and Skelmanthorpe, the original intermediate branch station CP with the line then demolished. The passing loops were used on return (Cuckoo's Nest loop is very rare). We were able to appreciate, perhaps more so from the 15" gauge than from a standard gauge line, the heavy and extensive civil engineering which the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway had to employ in construction of the branch. High embankments, deep cuttings and the 511yd Shelley Tunnel were the main features with substantial bridges in local stone. Built to take double track formation as part of a main line on to Darton and Barnsley, it was only ever operated as a 3½ mile single track branch.

An interesting commentary kept us informed; the line opened in 1879, CP 24 Jan 1983 with a little goods traffic at Skelmanthorpe lingering until 1984 and final closure in 1986. The KLR took over, opening first to Cuckoo's Nest on 19 Oct 1991 and reaching its own station at Shelley in 1997. This is about 300yd short (east) of the site of Clayton West Jn where the Huddersfield to Penistone line now singles and where the forecasted icy arctic blast, chilling its way across the valley, greeted our arrival.

'JAY' ran round and we tackled the three platform roads across the turntable to nudge the stockade wall to its rear. 'Toby' mysteriously appeared and offered further trips across the turntable, including a 360o clockwise spin, for the benefit of those in the rear carriages of the main train. The more dignified walked the raised trackbed to the former branch junction - itself some ¼ mile east of Shepley NR station (southwest of Shelley village). Of course our really keen members did the track and that walk.



Various enthusiasms satisfied, the return to Clayton West was straightforward, the previously mentioned passing loops being taken, and a most enjoyable and comprehensive visit concluded at P1 and in the warmth of the café for the third meal of the day - scones, jam and welcome hot drinks.



Thanks to Gary Lonsdale for the excellent arrangements, to Jim Sellens for yet another fabulous ticket and to Jill Everitt for the bookings; to Stuart and his KLR team for their hard work in creating an attractive programme; and particularly to the catering staff for the excellent fare included in the fare.



Oh! The track? Well, 'all-available' here meant 'all' and we did the lot. A query for the purist may be occasioned at Shelley where the three 2ft long stubs beyond the turntable were 'covered' by the end of the coach overhang buffered to the wall though the wheels didn't, indeed couldn't, get on to them, but did do the turntable. [This, of course, depends on individual criteria but they are disconnected sections of track that did not have the train's steel wheels on steel rails, so even those at the wrong end of the train who count any track which the whole train does might not include them as well? - PAS.] That the Society cartographer's red ink may be considered in short measure here leaves the matter open to hard-line discussion but, frankly, I don't care! 'appen it were a reet good day!