East Midlands Miscellany

[Peter Kazmierczak]

So Forset are in my neck of the woods this afternoon. Up the Cherries!

 

Anyway, getting back to railways, we've not really looked at the Great Central. So here in March 1973 is Hotchley Hill, on the old GC mainline north of East Leake. BR Type 2 D7615 is out with the Toton breakdown train to attend to a derailed wagon in the sidings.

Edited April 26, 2014 by Western Sunset

[andyram]

Of course, Sir Brian went on to bigger and better things at the more illustrious neighbours the other side of Trent Junction!

 

Rob

I would much rather live in the present and remember the recent match at Pride Park which was a FIVE star performance ;-)

[Edwin_m]

i think your right, i used to be based in chaddesden sidings with fastline freight and there still looked to be room to reinstate a line if they wanted to alongside wyvern way, there is even a bridge on derwent way that could get a line under it

This came up on another forum a few months back.  There are some useful pics on Britainfromabove and comparing them with current aerial views shows that the A52 and its connections to the A5111 blocks the former route at the Spondon end, although the A5111 itself pre-dated the closure of the Chaddesden route.  So any reinstatement would be a difficult junction as well has having to demolish a large part of Pride Park.  As to time savings, I assume the through route was closed once the Nottingham-Crewe/Birmingham trains became DMUs when it would have been quicker just to reverse in the platform than to go round Chaddesden, 5mph curve and all. 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

It would be prudent to keep a double-track formation clear on the south side of Wyvern Way to possibly create a route from the Nottingham line direct to Chaddesden and thence into Derby station from the north. A new alignment would have to be provided of about 1km in length; a junction onto the curving Derby-Nottm line would be awkward but not impossible.

[Allegheny1600]

Indeed, it would be prudent Peter!

As I've said for a long time now, railway lines/formations should be regarded as a national strategic reserve and preserved whether with tracks or not.

But, a British government with an eye on anything but the next election or current crisis? Nah!

Ho hum, back to life as it was in the 70's/80's, eh? (pics later!)

Cheers,

John E.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Especially if HS2 is to "dump" Derby customers at Toton. Thought will have to be given to developing direct Toton - Derby links.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

The annual Horticultural Show at Derby Loco Works at the end of August - better known as the works "Open Day", attracted many enthusiasts from far and wide. I can still remember the long queues as we waited to get in.

 

Here we see a group of youthful spotters at one of the open days in the early

1960s. I wonder what the number of that withdrawn 4F was? Looks like 44---

 

A (much) younger "Western Sunset" seems more intent on noting down the number of the Peak though.....

[highpeakman]

The annual Horticultural Show at Derby Loco Works at the end of August - better known as the works "Open Day", attracted many enthusiasts from far and wide. I can still remember the long queues as we waited to get in.

 

Here we see a group of youthful spotters at one of the open days in the early

1960s. I wonder what the number of that withdrawn 4F was? Looks like 44---

 

A (much) younger "Western Sunset" seems more intent on noting down the number of the Peak though.....

 

Gosh. I was there that day as well. That brings back memories indeed.

[johnw1]

 

 

 

For my 11th birthday in March 1967 I was allowed to go on the train from Nottingham to Crewe for the first time. The Cravens three car DMU from Nottingham was routed via Chaddesden and I saw my first class 40 in one of the yards. It was the only time I ever went that way or saw a passenger service take that route.

Edited April 26, 2014 by johnw1

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Hello John,

WTTs of the early/mid 1960s show that most Lincoln/Nottm - Derby locals arrived from the east via Chadd. The return workings were generally direct via London Road Jn.

Apart from the need to obviate reversing in Derby station, it avoided conflict with northbound B'ham - Sheffield/Leeds traffic.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

The decimation of a once great station.The north end of the site of Nottingham Victoria, with the mouth of Mansfield Road Tunnel, in 1977.

 

Too sad for further comment.....

 

 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

58029 heads west through Sheet Stores Junction, with coal for a nearby power station.

[PinzaC55]

A pair of Peaks stand outside the goods shed at Matlock station with the Metrovick Co-Bo sadly tarpaulined over, in 1989.

Peaks at Matlock  1989 par PinzaC55, on ipernity

[PinzaC55]

It appears Lincoln is in the East Midlands so that's an excuse to post my photo of my baby arriving at Lincoln Central on a down ECML diversion on 19.4.81. According to my diary I bashed her to Gainsborough Lea Road then had 55016 back to Lincoln. I want to cry now. 

 

55007 Pinza At Lincoln Central 19.4.81 par PinzaC55, on ipernity

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Lincoln certainly is in the East Midlands. Here one of the then new Cl.156 "Super Sprinters" leaves Lincoln Central and crosses the High Street.

[Edwin_m]

That's actually a class 150/2 - but an interesting picture nonetheness.  Were they conventional traffic lights on the crossing or flashing ones mounted vertically? 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Thanks Edwin, I sometimes loose the will with unit classifications.....

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Still in Lincoln. Tranquility at East Holmes - July 1987.

[PinzaC55]

The long disused Bennerley Viaduct seen rusting away in 1982. It was on the Friargate Line.

 

Bennerley Viaduct 1982 par PinzaC55, on ipernity

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Off to Skeggy - Summer 1983 style. A pair of Toton Cl.20s accelerate away from Derby with their rake of Mk1s. Essential "haulage" for any self-respecting railfan of the period.

[Southernman46]

Ah - spent a week at Leicester in that summer - the three return Skeggy's were the haulage treat at the end of each day................

[PinzaC55]

Ah Skeggy! It was the bashers heaven in those days. Here are 31200 and 31178 on a return working to Sheffield. No mobile phones then so unless you had access to TOPS you only found out about it too late.

 

31200 + 31178 Skegness 20.7.80 par PinzaC55, on ipernity

[Edwin_m]

Off to Skeggy - Summer 1983 style. A pair of Toton Cl.20s accelerate away from Derby with their rake of Mk1s. Essential "haulage" for any self-respecting railfan of the period.

About where the junction would have to be if the Chaddesden loop was reinstated as suggested in previous posts! 

[johnw1]

40156 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5543500432/

156410 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/9425630901/

[PinzaC55]

2 shots of the remains of Derby Friargate station taken by me when I walked as much as I could of the Friargate Line in 1982.

1) Looking west 

Derby Friargate (1) 1982 par PinzaC55, on ipernity

2) Looking east

Derby Friargate (2) 1982 par PinzaC55, on ipernity

Edited April 28, 2014 by PinzaC55