Who Are We?
The South Yorkshire Joint Railway is an ambitious heritage and community organisation with a long-term vision to restore part of South Yorkshire's historic railway network and transform it into a place where history, education, engineering and community come together.
Our aim is not simply to preserve railway history, but to make it relevant to future generations by creating opportunities for learning, volunteering, apprenticeships, tourism and community engagement. Through restoration, storytelling and partnership, we hope to ensure that South Yorkshire's railway legacy continues to inspire long into the future.
There was a time when South Yorkshire helped build the railways that connected Britain. Those railways shaped our towns, our communities and our identity. Much of that heritage has now disappeared.
We believe it shouldn't be forgotten.
The South Yorkshire Joint Railway exists to preserve that story—not as a museum of the past, but as a living place where people of all ages can learn, volunteer, build skills and become part of the next chapter of our railway heritage.
Community Impact
At the heart of SYJR is the ambition to create opportunities for people to become involved in South Yorkshire's railway heritage.
As the project develops, we hope to work with schools, colleges, universities, community organisations and railway professionals to create opportunities for learning, volunteering and practical skills development.
Whether your interests lie in engineering, history, heritage, media, education or simply being part of a local community project, our long-term aim is to create a railway where people from different backgrounds can contribute, learn and belong.
These programmes are part of our long-term vision and will develop alongside the railway as feasibility, partnerships, funding and appropriate facilities allow.
Interested in the project?
We'd love to hear from you!
The Project
The South Yorkshire Joint Railway is a developing heritage, education and community railway project with a long-term ambition to restore and operate part of the historic South Yorkshire Joint Railway.
The project is currently in its development and feasibility stage, with research underway into the historic route, surviving infrastructure, land ownership, engineering requirements, funding, regulation and the potential for a viable first phase of railway.
Our ambition is to create more than a traditional heritage railway. We want to build an organisation that uses South Yorkshire’s railway history as a platform for education, engineering skills, volunteering, community involvement, tourism and local economic activity.
The railway itself would form the heart of the project, but the wider purpose is about people. We hope to develop opportunities for schools, colleges, young people, volunteers, local businesses and community organisations to become part of the railway’s future.
The historic route around Tickhill and Wadworth is currently being investigated as a potential location for an initial heritage railway, although no final route has yet been confirmed. Any future development would depend on detailed feasibility work, land agreements, professional engineering assessment, community consultation, funding and the necessary regulatory approvals.
Alongside the physical railway, SYJR also aims to research and preserve the stories of the original line, including its stations, workers, industries, passengers and communities — ensuring that this important part of South Yorkshire’s railway heritage is not lost.
Our long-term vision is simple:
"To create a living link between South Yorkshire’s railway past and its future preserving heritage, developing skills and connecting communities for generations to come."