ikks

No doubt like countless other Derbians and trainspotters, I spent many happy hours sitting on top of this bridge so am quite surprised at it's demise, although given the amount of road traffic that has gone over it, it's not that great a shock, really.

My very first railway photographs were taken from here (& developed & printed at school!) and I remember that when I was a school kid, I could sit on the top with no problem - later I developed my fear of heights which reduced the fun but it was still a great view from there.

R.I.P. London Road bridge.

Me too but I always stood on the cross bar of my bike as I always had difficulties with heights, it was OK until some ratbag would give the bike a shove....ouch it still hurts!!

Question: Between Chellaston Rd, about a mile and a half along the Weston Rd there was a small dump of withdrawn locos maybe a dozen, all were 0-6-0s or 0-6-0 tanks some were "fivers" so would have been pre LMS builds anyone remember them?? I recall we had to sprint from the road across a farmers field as he didn't like trainspotters on his property.

Beautiful photography bringing back some great memories.

Rgds.......Mike

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

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

No Camden Layout will be complete without 46245 City of London, one of my favourites.

 

see:- http://www.qsl.net/g4nvb/

I saw this beauty on many occasions, but the most unusual was when she was piloted by Jubilee "Palestine" heading south at Tamworth in 1958/59?(only time I saw a double-headed semi), they were absolutely flying, one of the most incredible sights ever. Fortunately there were a few who recorded the Jube, most went for the semi (yes me too!!). Almost impossible to record them both when standing hard up against the railings in "the field".......Great Days

Rgds........Mike

Wonderful stuff Dave, although my interest in railways declined considerably with the dieselisation/electrification of the London Midland Region, I still travelled by train on journeys of any diatance and despite my (self perceived!!) indifference to the motive power, once on that train the exitement came back. Everything was still there to be observed and taken in, so thanks for helping to relive those memories.

Rgds.........Mike

Looks like I have to build a Princess..........Great photos guys thanks a lot.

Rgds..Mike

Hello Dave,

B1 in the snow...............absolutely brilliant, wish I could make my models look like that!!  

I love the Derby shots.....used to stand on Five Arches Bridge just North of the gantry train spotting....what times!

On the few times when there was not an engine in sight, we used to try and count how many condoms we could see in the river Derwent, the "Meadows" next to the bridge was host to not a few fallen ladies.  

Rgds..........Mike

Yeah yor reet  Mow an Coach an wot's that bl**dy great space under t' boiler....shood it reelly be there??????

Seprit anrails. dunna seem reet!

Mick

Hi David

You must keep going, that is one stunning piece of work, I have never been a fan of plasticard but I think I have just changed my mind.

Rgds.........Mike

Certainly looks the part to me........well done.

Rgds..........Mike

Great job Mike, this monster will look absolutely superb.........love Fowler power

Rgds............ Mike

My God!!!  Wot have they done to five arches!!!....cost me a few "O" Levels that bridge, best cops there were Neptune and Clan Mckenzie, on both occasions there was a louder roar from the spotters there than was ever heard at the Baseball Ground.

Worst experience was when some b*st*rd threw an unfrozen Jubbly over my brand new Henry Cav blazer......mum was not impressed!!!

Mike 

Not usually into "foreign" stuff, but having travelled in France in the mid 60s and admired the steam I saw in those days, I think that you have captured the essence of these locos .......excellent work.

Rgds.......Mike

That compound is breathtaking......but you're a brave man taking a scalpel to the NRM model

Great stuff keep it coming please.

Rgds.......Mike

D5700 arrived today, haven't run it yet but lookswise it's a stunner.......hardly any little fiddly bits to fit to test my 65 year old eyes!!!

Brilliant.......bring on the Beyer-Garratt

Rgds.......Mike