It was my impression that the Penistone-Barnsley line closed in 1959 to regular passenger services but there was one night time parlimentary service over the line per day until it was reopened in the 1980s.
I am open to correction ......
You are inviting a reply!!
I think you're right it closed to local traffic in 1959, but an occasional service during the daytime used the link since.
For example, my summer 1962 ER timetable shows the following:-
1.] 9.32am Penistone-Barnsley [arr. 9.47am]. This was the 8.40am from Halifax to Sheffield Midland, [arr.10.18am], with through coaches to London St Pancras [arr.2.03pm]. On peak Saturdays, the whole train was through to London St. Pancras.
2.] 6.14pm Penistone-Barnsley [arr. 6.35pm]. This was a sumer Saturdays 3.30pm from Blackpool North to Cleethorpes, travelling from Barnsley through Mexborough to Doncaster.
The corresponding services in the opposite direction were:-
1.] 9.09pm [9.18pm/9.24pm, depending on date] to Penistone [from Sheffield Midland or London St Pancras] to Halifax [arr.10.25pm]; and
2.] 10.12am Summer Sats. to Penistone [7.25am Cleethorpes to Blackpool North, arr. 1.17pm].
I'm almost sure there were other occasional services that way, but, as you say, no regular service until the Huddersfield-Sheffield locals were diverted.
So I suppose you can say it never completely closed to passenger traffic, but was only used spasmodicallly for a time. Of course, freight to Wath continued to use the line to Silkstone until the Woodhead route closed.
