The Lancashire Derbyshire & East Coast Railway, Volume One

[penyghent]

The Lancashire Derbyshire & East Coast Railway was built to fulfill the desire of tapping the rich coalfields in the East Midlands; the plan being to construct an 170 mile long railway from Warrington, to the Lincolnshire coast at Sutton-on-Sea. This ambitious plan would be whittled down to the central section from Chesterfield to Pyewipe Junction near Lincoln and a branch from Langwith Junction to Beighton, thus allowing the company access to Sheffield via the Sheffield District Railway.
The remaining sections would never be built and it would always primarily be known for the movement of coal.
Volume One will explore the line from Chesterfield to Langwith Junction, then along the Beighton Branch to the Sheffield District Railway. It will also look at Tuxford and Langwith Junction Motive Power Depots, and a brief introduction to the original signalling of the line.
The book can be found on the Blurb website at
http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/4280589-the-lancashire-derbyshire-east-coast-railway

 

Volume Two will cover the remaining section to Pyewipe Junction along with the Mansfield Railway connection. This end of the route was mostly intact until the 1980's, and some of it is still in use today, doing the job it was built for, the movement of coal, albeit from the one remaining colliery at Thoresby.

 

 

Do please take a look

 

Thanks

[Enterprisingwestern]

Ordered.

 

Mike.

[Pyewipe Jct]

Volume One looks very interesting & an order will be forthcoming just as soon as some of my clients deign to settle their outstanding invoices...

 

Volume Two is the one I'm really looking forward to, though (bet you couldn't guess... ). Any pictures from Lincolnshire would be particularly welcome, as photographic coverage of the line to the east of the Trent seems pretty sparse. I do have some photos in my collection of LD&EC stock taken at Lincoln in the early '20s, but I don't recall seeing anything pre-BR for the line from the junction through to Skellingthorpe & beyond to Fledborough viaduct.

 

 

Kevin

[Welly]

Looks far more informative than a typical Middleton Press book! I will order a copy and look forward to Volume 2 as I remember the Class 20 on 16 tonners passing Skellingthorpe signal box on one of my round-the-houses taxi rides to primary school!

 

Now ordered - I'm not paying £12 postage to get the book by 28th May when I can happily wait until 3rd June and pay only £4 on top of the book!  Interesting new way of publishing railway books and ensuring that it will not be out of print.

[penyghent]

Looks far more informative than a typical Middleton Press book! I will order a copy and look forward to Volume 2 as I remember the Class 20 on 16 tonners passing Skellingthorpe signal box on one of my round-the-houses taxi rides to primary school!

 

Now ordered - I'm not paying £12 postage to get the book by 28th May when I can happily wait until 3rd June and pay only £4 on top of the book!  Interesting new way of publishing railway books and ensuring that it will not be out of print.

Tried to get as much info in the book as possible, without making it too boring or too expensive! Postage is a bug bear, this can be reduced by ordering more than one book (not that I am suggesting buying more than one book for yourself mind! )if there are several persons wanting one. For instance, one book is £4.99, two is £6.99.

 

Volume Two will be a while yet, perhaps a couple of months. Still working on it and trying to source further shots after High Marnham. Got quite a few around Pyewipe Jn and a couple of Pyewipe Sidings, but Skellingthorpe is proving more of a problem. I have shots of the station when it was double track, but would like to get a couple of shots when the line was single, particulary with diesel traction, so if anyone can help?

 

Thanks to all who have purchased the book, it makes the effort worthwhile

[penyghent]

Volume One looks very interesting & an order will be forthcoming just as soon as some of my clients deign to settle their outstanding invoices...

 

Volume Two is the one I'm really looking forward to, though (bet you couldn't guess... ). Any pictures from Lincolnshire would be particularly welcome, as photographic coverage of the line to the east of the Trent seems pretty sparse. I do have some photos in my collection of LD&EC stock taken at Lincoln in the early '20s, but I don't recall seeing anything pre-BR for the line from the junction through to Skellingthorpe & beyond to Fledborough viaduct.

 

 

Kevin

No I have not seen anything pre BR on that section, all my photos of steam are just before closure to passengers, and a few after the end of steam. I have a couple of shots of trains in Lincoln, but that is also one of the places I have a dearth of photos on. Hope the wait for Volume Two will be worth it in the end! 

[Talltim]

On my birthday list

[Welly]

My copy arrived today!!!! Must be quiet at Blurb. Shows that I was right not to pay the extra £11 for delivery by 28th May!!!

 

Bedtime reading.....

[Welly]

It is an interesting read - I'm looking forward to the second book.

 

My only criticism of the book is that the gutter margin (I think that what's the margin closest to the binding is called?) being a tad too narrow and making the text closest to the binding more difficult to read.

[Pyewipe Jct]

No I have not seen anything pre BR on that section, all my photos of steam are just before closure to passengers, and a few after the end of steam. I have a couple of shots of trains in Lincoln, but that is also one of the places I have a dearth of photos on. Hope the wait for Volume Two will be worth it in the end! 

 

The only photos in my collection that I can definitely attribute to the LD&EC route are a few showing Class C (LNER Class G3) 0-4-4Ts, either with or without trains, at Lincoln Central station (lo-res copies attached with original album captions):

"G.C.R. No 1149B (ex L.D. & E.C. Ry built by Kitsons) at Lincoln" - Monday 1st September 1919

 

"G.C.R. No. 1149B at Lincoln" - Thursday 4th September 1919

 

"G.C.R. No. 1149B at Lincoln" - Monday 1st September 1919

 

"G.C.R. 0-4-4/T (ex L.D. & E.C.R) at Lincoln" - Monday 30th August 1920

 

"G.C.R. 0-4-4/T at Lincoln" - Saturday 13th November 1920

"G.C.R. No. 1152 (late L.D. & E.C. Ry.)" - Friday 16th July 1920

 

"Witham Swing Bridge, Lincoln (G.C. 0-4-4/T)" - Friday 10th August 1923

 

 

There are several others showing a variety of freight workings, but whether any of them were LD&EC trains is probably impossible to say.

 

 

Kevin

[jrg1]

Tried to get as much info in the book as possible, without making it too boring or too expensive! Postage is a bug bear, this can be reduced by ordering more than one book (not that I am suggesting buying more than one book for yourself mind! )if there are several persons wanting one. For instance, one book is £4.99, two is £6.99.

 

Volume Two will be a while yet, perhaps a couple of months. Still working on it and trying to source further shots after High Marnham. Got quite a few around Pyewipe Jn and a couple of Pyewipe Sidings, but Skellingthorpe is proving more of a problem. I have shots of the station when it was double track, but would like to get a couple of shots when the line was single, particulary with diesel traction, so if anyone can help?

 

Thanks to all who have purchased the book, it makes the effort worthwhile

 

Tried to get as much info in the book as possible, without making it too boring or too expensive! Postage is a bug bear, this can be reduced by ordering more than one book (not that I am suggesting buying more than one book for yourself mind! )if there are several persons wanting one. For instance, one book is £4.99, two is £6.99.

 

Volume Two will be a while yet, perhaps a couple of months. Still working on it and trying to source further shots after High Marnham. Got quite a few around Pyewipe Jn and a couple of Pyewipe Sidings, but Skellingthorpe is proving more of a problem. I have shots of the station when it was double track, but would like to get a couple of shots when the line was single, particulary with diesel traction, so if anyone can help?

 

Thanks to all who have purchased the book, it makes the effort worthwhile

Lincolnshire Echo had one or two photos of the Skellingthorpe area when it was singled, in a giveaway on the area railways

[penyghent]

It is an interesting read - I'm looking forward to the second book.

 

My only criticism of the book is that the gutter margin (I think that what's the margin closest to the binding is called?) being a tad too narrow and making the text closest to the binding more difficult to read.

Volume Two is getting there, will be a while yet though!

I have addressed this problem in Volume Two, as I did not fully understand about gutter margins when compiling Volume One. Hopefully the problem will not exist in the next Volume as I have moved the text further back away from the gutter.

[penyghent]

The only photos in my collection that I can definitely attribute to the LD&EC route are a few showing Class C (LNER Class G3) 0-4-4Ts, either with or without trains, at Lincoln Central station (lo-res copies attached with original album captions):

Page 7, plate 3 (lo-res).jpg

"G.C.R. No 1149B (ex L.D. & E.C. Ry built by Kitsons) at Lincoln" - Monday 1st September 1919

 

Page 7, plate 5 (lo-res).jpg

"G.C.R. No. 1149B at Lincoln" - Thursday 4th September 1919

 

Page 7, plate 6 (lo-res).jpg

"G.C.R. No. 1149B at Lincoln" - Monday 1st September 1919

 

Page 9, plate 3 (lo-res).jpg

"G.C.R. 0-4-4/T (ex L.D. & E.C.R) at Lincoln" - Monday 30th August 1920

 

Page 9, plate 6 (lo-res).jpg

"G.C.R. 0-4-4/T at Lincoln" - Saturday 13th November 1920

Page 10, plate 4 (lo-res).jpg

"G.C.R. No. 1152 (late L.D. & E.C. Ry.)" - Friday 16th July 1920

 

Page 17, plate 1 (lo-res).jpg

"Witham Swing Bridge, Lincoln (G.C. 0-4-4/T)" - Friday 10th August 1923

 

 

There are several others showing a variety of freight workings, but whether any of them were LD&EC trains is probably impossible to say.

 

 

Kevin

These are shots I have not seen before, any chance of a couple of hi res copies for inclusion in Volume Two? I have one of LD&ECR No 18  and two of BR numbered locos on Shirebrook North trains at Lincoln, but there is room for a couple more.

 

Lincolnshire Echo had one or two photos of the Skellingthorpe area when it was singled, in a giveaway on the area railways

Will drop them an email and see what transpires, thanks

[jrg1]

Can I order this book and volume 2, and pay by UK cheque?  I live in Australia.  

[penyghent]

Best to take a look at the website and see what that says regarding ordering abroad, I would expect you can order direct to Australia as your country is mentioned in those they deliver to. If you have any real problems, them PM me and I will see what can be done  http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/4280589-the-lancashire-derbyshire-east-coast-railway

[jrg1]

I ordered the first volume today, and look forward to reading it.  I assume all the correspondents are interested in the LDEC, and also in Lincolnshire's railways, at least.  I am researching both subjects, and would like to correspond with similar interests-anyone out there? 

[Pottage]

I`m a bit late to this thread, but very interested to see all the comments & I`ll get volume 2 on order.

 I`m compiling a bit of a history to the  LD & EC Railway, particularly Skellingthorpe station, for a public display in our

village heritage centre ( the old Skellingthorpe station weigh-office),

I`ve got a few diesel pics,. but really short of actual  station photos, especially pre-WW2, and would be delighted

if anyone has anything from the 1895 to 1940s to share.

 

I did ask Lincs Echo, sometime ago , for help , but it seems to be a very slow process!

[jrg1]

I`m a bit late to this thread, but very interested to see all the comments & I`ll get volume 2 on order.

 I`m compiling a bit of a history to the  LD & EC Railway, particularly Skellingthorpe station, for a public display in our

village heritage centre ( the old Skellingthorpe station weigh-office),

I`ve got a few diesel pics,. but really short of actual  station photos, especially pre-WW2, and would be delighted

if anyone has anything from the 1895 to 1940s to share.

 

I did ask Lincs Echo, sometime ago , for help , but it seems to be a very slow process!

I have some photographs after closure, if you are interested.  I have found it very difficult to obtain photographs, and any information would be appreciated.  I visited the station many times in the fiftties, as my uncle lived nearby,

[runs as required]

Rather than start a new topic I'll hitch my query about the unbuilt western end of the LD&ECR onto this the tail of this thread.

 

Last week we met up with some old Railway friends (CCE's Kings Cross) at Doddington Hall near Lincoln for a couple of nights, it being roughly halfway between them in London and us in the North East.

G.E.Jarvis of Doddington Hall had been one of the promoters of the LD&ECR. Large scale plans of the built route decorated the walls of the hall's restaurant and the former line of track to Pypewype Junction passed close by to the north with a station: Doddington & Harby .

We also visited the still existing large bridge crossing the Trent along with the long blue brick arched approach viaducts either side above the flood plan.

Remembering the even larger now demolished viaduct that climbed up to Chesterfield Market Place and the troublesome Bolsover tunnel, it was easy to see why they ran out of money even before they seriously addressed crossing the High Peak!

 

My wife and I grew up around Buxton and the "mad railway over the Cat and Fiddle to Macc" was sometimes talked of at school and in pubs. 

We'd brought to Doddington a photocopy of the Railway's prospectus from Kew hoping it would show the route but apart from a tiny map it said "In a full Desciptive Statement which can be obtained on application, there will be found a complete series of maps....and also a junction with the North Staffordshire Railway at Macclesfield."

 

So my question is has anyone had sight of this "Descriptive Statement"?

 

I understand a station for Chatsworth was planned, then the line was to cross Monsal dale at high level, ascend around the south of Buxton to Burbage, cross Goyt Moss  and descend via Rainow (and Bollngton ?) to virtually 'encircle Macclesfield'.

 

I wonder also whether it was hoping to share an alignment with the Midland up Adswood dale and interact with the LNW's C&HP Cromford route up at Ladmanlow.

 

I'd love to learn more about this - models of 'might have beens' have always appealed.

 

dhig

[penyghent]

cant say as I have seen this "Descriptive Statement" though I admit I havnt done an exhaustive search at Kew. Will ask around other LD&ECR aficinadoes and see what transpires though

[Aspinall]

A bit late in the day to add to this thread but I recently obtained the maps and elevations of the proposed westwards extension of the LD&ECR. This information resides in the County Records Offices of Cheshire and Derbyshire. The proposed route was roughly as mentioned by dhig. From Chesterfield it climbed steeply to a long tunnel under the moors before dropping equally as steeply to cross the River Derwent near Curbar. It then rose again steeply via Longstone to cross Monsal Dale on a 272ft high viaduct before following a route to the south of Ashwood Dale. It went through the southern outskirts of Buxton before a tunnel into the Goyt valley emerging where Errwood reservoir is today. It then was planned to go through a second tunnel 2.5 miles long and this one emerged where Lamaload reservoir now exists. It then descended steeply to the south of Rainow before a semi circular bypass of Macclesfield with branch to the North Staffs. It descended to the Cheshire plain via Prestbury and Alderley. At the former a branch was planned to Cheadle. Thence the proposal was to run via Knutsford (link to the CLC) and approach Warrington from the south near Wilderspool Causeway.

[Echo]

Sounds absolutely crazy! Even the eastern extension to Sutton Docks included a tunnel under Lincoln, if I remember correctly.

[russ p]

This line fascinates me after spending two weeks driving up and down the remaining bit with a 37 doing tests a few years ago. I understood the crossing of Monsaldale was by a metal viaduct over the midland one at an angle.

Is there any sign of the volumes covering the unbuilt part?

[runs as required]

A bit late in the day to add to this thread but I recently obtained the maps and elevations of the proposed westwards extension of the LD&ECR. This information resides in the County Records Offices of Cheshire and Derbyshire. The proposed route was roughly as mentioned by dhig.

Thats absolutely brilliant news - I can now die happy!

 dhig

[runs as required]

Sounds absolutely crazy! Even the eastern extension to Sutton Docks included a tunnel under Lincoln, if I remember correctly.

Agree!

You are right, the eastern portion was no 'light railway'. Though their stations were just 'temporary' timber sheds, they spent their capital on monumental civil engineering: the blue ( from Staffordshire?) brick viaducts out of Chesterfield Market Place dominated until quite recently - then there was the geologically troublesome Bolsover tunnel, the still extant great Trent viaducts (partly again two long blue brick approach viaducts over the flood plain) and the Lincoln tunnel !

 

dhig