Celebrate the Beauty and Engineering Marvels of the Penistone Line Viaducts!

Penistone Line Partnership is running an exciting Photography Competition to celebrate Railway 200!

 

The Penistone Line is home to several impressive viaducts, each showcasing remarkable railway engineering. Lockwood Viaduct opened on 1st July 1850, and stands 136 feet high at its maximum to the top of the parapet with 32 arches, carrying the line over the River Holme. Denby Dale Viaduct, rebuilt in 1880, is an elegant stone structure spanning 21 arches and rising 34 meters above the valley. Penistone Viaduct, constructed in 1850, was originally a mix of stone and timber but was later rebuilt in masonry after storm damage in 1916. These viaducts remain vital to the railway, offering passengers stunning views while preserving the area’s rich industrial heritage.

The Penistone Line has a further 7 lesser-known viaducts, find Attercliffe Viaduct within the map of the Sheffield to Meadowhall Penistone Line Trail guide.

Photography Competition Categories – Viaducts on the Penistone Line:

Lockwood Viaduct

Denby Dale Viaduct

Penistone Viaduct

Other Penistone Line Viaducts

(e.g., Paddock, Oxspring, Dodworth M1, Swaithe, Kitroyd (between Elsecar & Wombwell), Chapeltown, Attercliffe.)

Prizes for 4 Winners:

One winner will be selected from each category to receive:

A Northern Rail Family Ticket (sponsored by and redeemable through Northern Rail – choose your route)

A Double Royal-sized colour poster ad print (1016mm x 635mm) of their winning photograph sponsored by Northern.

Feature of their winning photograph on:

https://scenicrailbritain.com/

 

 

 

Featured on Penistone Line Partnership’s website and social media and station adoption channels.

Winning entries will also be displayed on Penistone Line station platforms via poster ads and featured in an article in local free publications.

Public Voting:

A public vote may be held through our website and social media to generate additional excitement!

How to Enter:

We want everyone who wishes to submit images to enter, and appreciate that mobile phone cameras are used by many.

Submit up to 7 high-resolution digital images (300 DPI, max 300MB per image) in JPEG or TIFF format by email attachment or share a link to penistoneline@gmail.com

Your email entry must include the following details:

  • Full Name
  • Email Address
  • Landline or Mobile Number
  • Location of the Viaduct Photographed
  • Date the Photo Was Taken

Failure to provide all required details may result in disqualification.

 

The competition deadline is 16 May 2025

 

Winner Announcement: Winners will be announced on 30 May 2025 via email.

 

Terms & Conditions:

  1. Copyright & Usage Rights: Entrants must own the copyright to the photographs they submit. By entering, participants grant the Penistone Line Partnership, Denby Dale Parish Council, and associated partners non-exclusive rights to use submitted images for promotional purposes, including marketing materials, websites, social media, and printed publications.
  2. General Rules: Minor post-processing is allowed (e.g., brightness, contrast, color correction) but excessive editing (e.g., AI-generated enhancements, heavy retouching) is not permitted. Images must be original and not previously submitted to other competitions.
  3. Editing & post-processing: Allowed: Cropping, basic colour correction, exposure adjustments, and minor retouching. Not Allowed: AI-generated enhancements, heavy retouching, watermarks, or excessive filters.
  4. SLR Camera Photo Quality & Format: All images must be high resolution (300 DPI) and in JPEG or TIFF format. Each file must not exceed 300MB.
  5. Mobile Image Quality Requirements: Resolution: Minimum of 3000 pixels on the longest side, preferably in high resolution (at least 8MP). File Format: Submit in JPEG or PNG format with minimal compression.
  6. Privacy & Permissions: If identifiable people appear in a submitted photograph, the entrant must ensure they have obtained written consent from those individuals for their image to be used in this competition and related promotions.
  7. Judging Criteria:
    • Technical Quality (15%) – Sharpness, clarity, resolution, and lighting.
    • Creativity (20%) – Unique perspective, framing, and artistic elements.
    • Relevance (25%) – How well the image fits the competition theme.
    • Overall Impact (25%) – Emotional or visual appeal.
    • Public Vote (15%) – Favourited via social media.
  8. Public Voting: If a public vote is conducted, the organisers reserve the right to disqualify any image found to manipulate the voting process.
  9. No Purchase Necessary: Participation is free, and no purchase is required to enter.
  10. Liability Disclaimer: The competition organisers are not responsible for any technical issues, lost submissions, or failures that may prevent an entrant from successfully submitting their entry.
  11. Disqualification: The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entrant who does not comply with the competition rules or whose image does not meet the specified requirements.
  12. Modification & Cancellation: The organisers reserve the right to amend the competition terms or cancel the contest if necessary due to unforeseen circumstances.

Good luck to all who decide to enter our Railway 200 Photography Competition. Email penistoneline@gmail.com with any queries.