Southwell railway station blue plaque

This blue commemorative plaque records: The Southwell Railway Southwell was connected to the Midland Railway network by a short branch-line on the 1st July 1847 but there was no regular passenger service by steam locomotives until 1860. The line was extended to Mansfield on the 3rd April 1871 with stations placed at Kirklington, Farnsfield and Rainworth. The 'Paddy' was a little 'pull and push' train consisting usually of the tank engine and one coach. The Southwell-Rolleston line was closed to passengers on the 16th June 1959 though the National Coal Board still used the line until 1968. Nottinghamshire County Council bought the disused line and designated the section from Southwell to Farnsfield a public footpath. It has now been classified as a Local Nature Reserve.

Southwell railway station, opened in 1847, was significant for connecting rural Nottinghamshire to the national rail network, facilitating local commerce and travel until its closure in 1959; today, part of the disused line serves as a public footpath and Local Nature Reserve.