Ripley Derbyshire early twentieth century - railway nirvana?

[rocor]

I recently posted a family picture taken in the early twentieth century of a car, and stated that I had no idea where the photograph was taken. One suggestion in reply was that the location looked a lot like the Nottingham Road, Ripley, Derbyshire. So, I have being looking at a ordinance survey map of Ripley from that period, and was amazed at the network of railways that this small town was engulfed in. Apart from the main lines and the many works sidings, the town also featured a mineral railway, a tramway and a canal. It seems to be a railway enthusiast paradise.

[Tom Burnham]

A very authentic tramway by all accounts.  It certainly gave D H Lawrence pause for thought, which took a bit of doing - https://www.pseudopodium.org/repress/shorts/D_H_Lawrence-Tickets_Please.html

 

A more scholarly if less exciting description at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottinghamshire_and_Derbyshire_Tramways_Company

Edited July 25, 2020 by Tom Burnham

[John-Miles]

Well that's a first, Ripley described as a paradise. Have you ever been there. It's not exactly the jewel in the crown.

[MR Chuffer]

You need to check out "Rails to Ripley" by Howard Sprenger to appreciate the full extent of railways in the area, great book. I got my copy off Amazon, and I used to live in Little Eaton in a house overlooking both the Little Eaton Gangway route and the branch line which was still in use in 1990, 225 Alfreton Road, last house on the left on the way out north and which features in 3 photos.