East Midlands Miscellany

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Thought I might post up the odd picture from the East Midlands, which don't really merit inclusion in the "Creative Photography" thread.

 

First up, we find ourselves some 30 years ago just west of the former Chellaston Jn on the Sheet Stores to Stenson freight line. The Cl.25 is a poor representative of the numerous 4Fs and 8Fs, Beyer-Garratts and 9Fs that once steamed along here. Spring Farm, on the hillside, will have seen them all.

 

The train of MOD vehicles is probably enroute to the facility at Hilton from the main Ordnance Depot at Chilwell.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

When the Cl.150 "Sprinters" appeared in the mid 1980s, the two prototype units were often used on the Derby - Matlock service. Often they worked turn and turn about with the two Met-Cam Cl.151s.

 

Here we see 150001 and 150002 approaching Duffield on such a working from Matlock.

 

Their bright livery and smooth ride was quite a step-change from some of the other DMUs working in the area.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

In the 1980s, there were still many attractive mechanical signalboxes existing on secondary lines or freight-only routes in the East Midlands.

 

One such is Bardon Hill, on the Leicester - Burton line. This dates from August 1899 and is still in use today. Not sure if it's been reglazed though in more recent years.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Just east of Stenson Junction in the days of blue/grey stock, a NE/SW HST passes on the Derby - Birmingham line. In the foreground is the important freight route from Sheet Stores Junction.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

A pair of Cl.20s cross over the main Erewash Valley line on the bridge carrying the down arrival lines for Toton's North Yard, from the High Level goods line.

 

Any idea what the first few wagons are? They are sheeted over - possibly carrying steel, as wagons further along the train look to be air-braked bogie bolster steel wagons.

[Fat Controller]

Could be one of these, Peter:-

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brsparevenueconvert/h2b50be4d#h2b50be4d

They used to work from Scunthorpe to Longport and Wolverhampton, amongst other locations.

[eastwestdivide]

Any chance of a close-up crop from your scan? The sides look more like wooden sides to me. Could be wrong though

[Peter Kazmierczak]

 

Any chance of a close-up crop from your scan? The sides look more like wooden sides to me. Could be wrong though

Don't know if this helps.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

At least we know what these wagons are, as a Cl.56 ambles along the Up Goods just north of Trowell Junction with a rake of full HAAs.

 

The location will be familiar, as many photographs from the collection of DaveF were taken around here.

[ikks]

Wow, this brings back memories, I used to live at Allenton and as kids we used to walk over the line that left the Derby-Birmingham route just south of Peartree and Normanton station and joined the Stenson line at Swarkeston, I could just make out the trains from my bedroom window and recall the traffic was sparse and I only saw 4Fs heading it. The Stenson line was far busier and saw a reasonably steady procession of goods trains hauled by 4Fs,8Fs,9Fs mainly but other varieties could be seen at times. The two highlights of the day were the two passenger services, one about midday and the other about 4pm generally hauled by Newton Heath Jubilees which were not all that common at Derby. The dates would be very late 50s/early sixies. I don't recall balance workings but I suppose there must have been some( anyone know??). These two were heading from the Stenson direction eastwards.

Thanks for stirring the brain cells WS, great photos..............hopefully more??

 

Rgds........Mike

[eastwestdivide]

 

 

Don't know if this helps.

Thanks. As it turns out, I'm none the wiser.

Is there too much wagon showing for Fat Controller's suggestion in post 6? Not sure.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Signals at Syston North Jn. Those on the left for the Up Main; on the right (with a lattice post) for the Up Goods.

 

These semaphore signals went in April 1987 with the opening of Leicester PSB. This PSB has since closed - such is the march of progress.

[big jim]

Which direction is the class 25 picture looking, am i right in thinking towards sheet stores with the chellaston branch heading off to the left (out of sight)?

 

The thing that is throwing me is the feather on the signal, i presume that would be for the old branch towards moira?

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Hello Jim,

Yes, we're looking towards Sheet Stores. The feather on the signal was for the line to Worthington, originally part of the MR Derby - Ashby through route.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Western Sunset

[Peter Kazmierczak]

ikks, on 16 Jan 2014 - 01:06, said:

I could just make out the trains from my bedroom window and recall the traffic was sparse and I only saw 4Fs heading it. The Stenson line was far busier and saw a reasonably steady procession of goods trains hauled by 4Fs,8Fs,9Fs mainly but other varieties could be seen at times. The two highlights of the day were the two passenger services, one about midday and the other about 4pm generally hauled by Newton Heath Jubilees which were not all that common at Derby. The dates would be very late 50s/early sixies. I don't recall balance workings but I suppose there must have been some( anyone know??). These two were heading from the Stenson direction eastwards.

Mike,

In the early 1960s, due to electrification works on the WCML, there was a daily St Pancras - Manchester (and return) service routed this way. This might've been the one you mentioned.

 

The 1.55pm St Pancras - Manchester Piccadilly (via Stoke) would've passed Chellaston Jn around 4.30pm. The 12.10pm Manchester Piccadilly - St Pancras (via Stoke) would've passed around 2pm.

 

The 4Fs you mention passing through Chellaston itself would most likely have been working coal trains from New Lount Colliery to Chaddesden Sidings, or perhaps stone from Worthington.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

The signalbox diagram from Clay Mills Crossing. Clay Mills was situated between Derby and Burton. It was retained to work the barriers at the road crossing here after multi aspect signalling was introduced in June 1969; finally closing in September 1987.

 

The goods lines from Burton are not marked on the diagram as the points for those would've been controlled from Derby PSB. However the diagram does refer to "lines" from the Burton direction.

[big jim]

Hello Jim,

Yes, we're looking towards Sheet Stores. The feather on the signal was for the line to Worthington, originally part of the MR Derby - Ashby through route.

thats the one im thinking of, now the leaves are off the trees you can make out the old junction, in fact the colour light signal is still standing amongst the trees

[Peter Kazmierczak]

This was the arrangement around Chellaston Jn in the mid 70s/80s. DY338 is the disused signal Jim mentions, whilst the one in the first picture of this thread behind the Cl.25 is DY341.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Western Sunset

[big jim]

seems a strange numbering arrangment, 334 to 342, wonder where 336 was?

 

i think they are still numbered that now, i had an AWS fault along there last week which bought me to a stop and DY342 rings a bell to me (or not in the case of the AWS fault!)

 

i'll have a look later tonight when i pass over there en route to and from ratcliffe

[ikks]

Mike,

In the early 1960s, due to electrification works on the WCML, there was a daily St Pancras - Manchester (and return) service routed this way. This might've been the one you mentioned.

 

The 1.55pm St Pancras - Manchester Piccadilly (via Stoke) would've passed Chellaston Jn around 4.30pm. The 12.10pm Manchester Piccadilly - St Pancras (via Stoke) would've passed around 2pm.

 

The 4Fs you mention passing through Chellaston itself would most likely have been working coal trains from New Lount Colliery to Chaddesden Sidings, or perhaps stone from Worthington.

Thanks for that, I now recall the reasons but had forgotten(old age kicking in!!)

Rgds.Mike

[Enterprisingwestern]

seems a strange numbering arrangment, 334 to 342, wonder where 336 was?

 

 

 

The only signals between those numbers;

 

DY 335. Up Chellaston.

DY 338. Worthington branch.

 

Mike.

[big jim]

just been down there and the signals are indeed still numbered as the 70s.

 

the main difference is now beyond weston on trent the signals are LED controlled by the IECC trent panel, lock lane box has gone, and there is also a "new" lead to the M&S warehouse, i say new as its the old castle donnington power station site!

[Edwin_m]

A RAIB report has just appeared of a derailment at Castle Donington which gives some details of the new signalling towards Trent. 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

A Cl.47 heads away from Derby on the goods lines with a westbound Freightliner train. London Road bridge in the background which carried the main A6 road into the city is, I understand, being replaced by a new structure.

[Edwin_m]

Until 2002 I walked over that bridge on the way to work in the RTC.  By that time it had acquired various reinforcements and clearly wasn't a happy bridge even then. 

 

Apparently the work to replace it started over Christmas and will last until next autumn.  Seems a very long time for one bridge! 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-25495486

Edited January 18, 2014 by Edwin_m