great central

As a slight aside to the GW brake in Harrogate, in the mid 80s (I think) I was most surprised to see one parked in what was left of Newark Northgate yard while visiting an adjacent factory. Unfortunately I have no further info about it as my interest in railways was at a low ebb at the time. I did see an appeal from a preservation group about the same time looking for one, so passed the info on. I've no idea if anything came of it though.

Thanks, the damage was minimal and nothing else has come to light as missing. Given that nothing much was taken and the damage isn't particularly serious the police have issued a crime number but taking no further action. The window where they got in would now require a section of the wall taking out to get through!

I thought I'd mentioned in the original post that several of the TLJ boards were going as a static display to Netherfield later in the year. Darned if I can find the reference now though! Anyway it's on Saturday and Sunday 23rd and 24th November, in I believe, the St Georges Centre on Victoria Road. As well as the layout there will be pictures and information and a display of local railwayana. Also a display of related model locos. Book Law, the Nottingham based publishers will have a stand as well as the RCTS. There is a link to the local council information but it majors on the 'community theatre' idea, that they are doing rather than the more tangible and factual stuff. http://www.gedling.gov.uk/leisure/artseventsandplay/tracksintime/ Hope a few can make it even though it's Warley weekend.

Just got back from the club after a phone call this afternoon saying we'd had a break-in Fortunately nothing much missing and little damage. Surprised they took a very old video camera without it's associated video recorder (Betamax!) that weighs about the same as a couple of breeze blocks. A few small tools that someone had left there and that's about it, unless we miss anything else in the coming weeks. They did walk right across Trent Lane Junction though again only real damage is some fencing and a footprint in the grassed area, but should only take an hour or so to put right. At least it shows our baseboards are strong!

We had a powered BG on our Carstairs layout, a Lima 73 chassis fiited I think. The layout had a very steep gradient, being a looped figure 8, into the fiddle yard. The main line behind the backscene had to pass under the diverging Edinburgh line at Carstairs South junction, then climb to reach the fiddle yard which was high enough to pass over the main lines on the scenic side, in about 20 ft of length. It worked well enough whether at the front or back of the train, usually 8 or 9 mk2 or 3, with an 86, 87 or 90 at the head.

Inspired to put a few pictures up of our new layout by Clem's thread about his O4/5 conversion.Not really sure where to put this, it's not so much a layout topic due to very slow progress. Especially at this time of year, maintenance work on the clubroom takes priorty. Anyway, various bridges on our Trent Lane layout, not my handiwork I'm afraid, but well worth a showing in my opinion. If the picture isn't top quality it's from my phone. Looking along the Midland line towards Newark with the Nottingham Suburban line bridge in the foreground, the GN line to Colwick was on the bridge behind Site of Colwick crossing with the GN bridge over the racecousre road in the background My current favourite shot, where the Suburban line crosses the Midland The Suburban line bridge over Colwick Road Trent Lane with the Midland on the bottom. GN above the level crossing and Suburban bridge behind Midland line looking towars Nottingham, crossing keepers house to the right. GN bridge first with the Suburban behind. GN line looking towards Trent Lane junction and onwards to Weekday Cross looking towards Newark, Suburban bridge first the the GN

Ah yes, the Metropole! I was refused entry to see One Million Years BC starring Raquel Welch, too young at the time.

No photo but a view I see regularly while eating my breakfast! Then out to face the passengers before Alfreton.

Found this a couple of years ago, under a bush in Hemsby, probably still there. Absolutely no indication of where the railway ran, I suspect where the relatively new (compared to other buildings) row of shops is? Sorry it's a bit blurred, phone camera in bright sunshine, whatever that is!

As we will be digging Deepcar out of storage I looked through a few pictures taken a couple of years ago. I don't think they're bad. Not sure how an iron ore tippler came to be here, maybe a cripple? Brooding Pennine sky, camera must have slipped a bit, the 'sky' is actually a green chalk board on our clubroom wall Even over 25 years after I put this pair together they're still my favourites

I hope you double checked the spelling on that one before pressing post

Obviously trustworthy as well, the loco looks to be in full forward gear! Hope the brakes are hard on and no blow-by on the regulator

Looking again at the pictures of Perry Road bridge from 1953, the year I was born. I thought something was missing, so dug out the Malcolm Castledine book, 'Railways north of Nottingham' A picture taken from the same position, more or less, in 1966 shows smoke deflector plates below the bridge. I would have expected deflector plates to have been fitted when the bridge was built. Comparing the two pictures, the plates must have been there a while as in the 1966 shot much of the accumulated soot has washed off. The plates were quite prominent being suspended a good few feet below the bridge deck.

'Tis indeed Perry Road, spent many a summers day in the area, born about 1/2 a mile away. The sandstone under the side spans provided a pleasant cool shade from the hot summer sun, with the bonus of trains passing every few minutes, it really seemed that busy even in the early 60s. The best ones being the 9Fs heading to Annesley and home after a trip to Woodford Halse. First the signals would come off, then a few minutes later a plume of steam announced their appearance from Sherwood Rise tunnel. They made a rousing sound as they climbed the bank, speed well into the 30s I reckon, not bad having been against the grade since leaving Victoria, the crew ready for home.

Halls were regularish at Victoria in the late 50s early 60s I understand, especially on summer Saturdays. Up until the line was downgraded by the dark side most loco changes would have been done at Leicester where the main GC passenger depot was. Then on 'reorganisation' Annesley took on passenger work. Summer Saturdays were famous all over the country for unusual locos being turned out for passenger work. There is, of course, the famous episode of the 9F doing 90 down Stoke bank on the ECML. The GC was also using 9Fs on passenger work, there is a recording on the Peter Handford 'Great Central' album (I think) of a 9F tearing through somewhere towards the southern end of the line, maybe Princes Risborough. Anyway back to GWR locos, the Gas Works Railway as it was known to some GC staff, there is the well documented episode of a Grange arriving at either Leicester or Nottingham, details escapes me at the moment, and there being no relief engine available. The crew were persuaded to take it as far as Sheffield, where another loco was promised. On arrival at Sheffield still no relieving loco but the driver refused to take it any further, remember that the GC was built with rather more generous clearances than other lines. An inspector apparently agreed to take the loco forward but was stopped at Huddersfield, the loco cylinder having hit the platform at Denby Dale I believe. The loco was then impounded until a means of getting it home was decided. It made it's way home light engine, apparently very slowly in places.

One thing that stands out time and again, apart from the obvious quality and value of the photos, is the fact that your dad was allowed full access onto live running lines. In those days anyone could purchase a lineside pass and go pretty much where they wanted I understand, also there were signallers and many other staff about who could, and I'm sure did, offer assistance and guidance. As a serving railway employee who holds a valid Personal Track Safety card, which means I have been tested according to national requirements, I still would not be allowed onto the track to take pictures! We are actively discouraged from getting down onto the ballast, except in emergency, and even then usually have to have adjacent lines blocked to traffic. To see frame no 5021 apparently taken whilst standing in the 'four foot' of the up main line would absolutely horrify many present day rail staff and lead to calls for the photographer to be (metaphorically) lynched!

I've always known that road as Victoria Road, my wife to be was the receptionist at Jersey Kapwood when they moved into the former Samuel Bourne factory, now demolished and houses built on the site. I think it was single by then, around 1974, Alf Henshaw's book from the RCTS has a picture of it singled in 1981 with the crossing gates and box still in situ, although the caption puts it as just before demolition, with the line having been singled in 1966. The connection to the Grantham line was plain lined a few years ago, although the signals are still in place, as it's only recently that it has been officially disused as distinct from 'mothballed'. Expect them all to be removed during the resignalling later this year. Worth getting hold of the RCTS 'Great Northern in the East Midlands; vol 1 if you can. Although their website shows it out of print, it may still be available from one of the society sales stands.

LMS Social Club!! That is the former Colwick Depot Social Club, nothing to do with the LMS The shed was under the big road junction and on the Netherfield side of it, there used to be a haulage firm based on the opposite corner to the Club and part of their yard was concrete over the blue brick shed floor. If you head down past the retail park, you should be able to find some evidence of the marshalling yards. There is still track in the undergrowth at the side of the Grantham line, there is a foot crossing to the industrial estate in the area. I was born 1/2 a mile from New Basford station, a few years after DaveF's dad's pictures but nothing much had changed so there are some real memories in the collection. The biggest difference being the introduction of the 9Fs on the Windcutters. If I can be of any help please ask.

Hi Dave, Picture 3198 is a K2 rather than a K3. I think it could be on the Lincoln-Nottingham line. Passed over that bit of line a couple of hours ago, the photo was taken from, I reckon, where the front of EMT's Eastcroft depot now stands. The large brick building in the background is still standing, just! The 'office block' is derelict but reasonably intact. The 'warehouse' to the right is nothing more than the outer walls held together with tons of scaffolding. Even large sections of the walls are missing. As far as I know they are listed but not, obviously, being maintained in any way. Most of the other structures in view are long gone, including the gas holder. The C12 in 3201 is almost certainly 67363, there are some clearer pictures and history here; http://bigkris21.tripod.com/id8.html