Mallard60022

Ah, I didn't actually start spotting until September 1958 when I started 'big school'. I wonder if it was still at Laira then? However, my dad had taken me to watch trains at Devonport Junction at times between early 1948 and when me moved elsewhere in Plymouth in about 1951. Wonder if I saw it then? Pity he didn't have a camera at that time. P

Too big for the beak I'm afraid, but I have tried building a nest in the bag.......................... Quack........

Horse, 02.06? methinks one spent a bit too long in the pub.................................

Cylinders - look a bit like some Comet products? P

I think we know one thing, man can be the most arrogant of animals and probably the most destructive. However, back to birds; I am sorry to report that I believe that the large and local population of H Martins here (36E) have not appeared this year We have 5 or 6 locally to our house in west Retford, but we usually have well over 50. I suspect they are victims of the horrible weather during migration. Sad. P

Following Dave F's recommendation I have acquired Mac Hawkins' book The Great Central, Then & now. Superb if a little dated (1991). Wish I'd read it earlier. P

Looking great.....

Dave, I am just doing a personal search (including 'field trips') of 'lost' Nottingham area railways, especially the GC. So, as you can imagine, loads of these pics are just so useful. Thanks mate. Phil @36E

Castle on the embankment even more excellent. Love the cottage and surrounds....very Devon. Quack (in a Janner way)

Sorry G, what was that you said......? P P.S. Laira's pet cat in 1959 was called IKB.

The sideways on shot with that lovely blue/white RI board just oozes atmosphere. Good job the bog cart was only 'discharging' passengers...................... it also looks really good under that cream 'gable end' to the roof; great colours. Was Booklaw really 'rare' then? Quack

Dr 88888 is the person mentioned. Often doing unusual things. Hall on the embankment looks excellent. Quack

Lovely Castle. I can't actually remember ever seeing E of Plymouth at its' home town/city/shed. P

I did some further careful reading of my books last night. Victoria Road probably became Netherfield Lane/Road just about where the level crossing was. The Box of course was Netherfield Lane. However, my reading source says the Lane was actually renamed Victoria Road (date uncertain). The line was singled in 66. Lifting barriers were installed later.Now there are sets of oversize gates; why? Looking east Looking west Seems like the Council is not as far sighted as the lot that helped visualise the regeneration of the Nottingham Worksop route; or maybe? I have been looking at the brilliant closed stations web sites and that wikki thingy. I hadn't realised just how many pics and useful pointers I could get from those sources. That aside I thank you all for your input. (Redgate, it was my temporary job with Notts CC when I first moved up here that brought various 'earthworks' such as the GC at Hucknall by pass into my radar. Being the rail nut I am, as I tootled in and out of Nott'm and around most of the County, my beady eyes began to spot all sorts of interesting stuff. What I have not been able to do until recently is put stuff in place geographically; I just can't believe that where rail once was there is just almost zero evidence. I suppose if I revisited my home City of Plymouth, I would be able to as I grew up there and would have a sense of 'what was and had been'? ) Phil @ 36E

Thanks very much GC. I wasn't being rude mentioning the LMS (sorry) Social Club. It really has got a big LMS sign on the front at the moment (but in black and white). Can you shed any light on the Netherfield Lane 'mystery'? Has it been renamed Victoria Road? Also the crossing for the Gedling line, by the now Netherfield Sure Start Centre. When was the line singled/removed? Thanks, P.

Swallows near Bevercotes Colliery site yesterday afternoon (well it was at Thymar Ice Cream Parlour actually and I was just testing some flavours - honestly). P

Velcro on the end of the cassette and make ends + velcro, to fit! Tight as a duck's ar*e. Quack

Thanks Pete. I was aware of the road using that route beside the racecourse. One can still see the old platform where (I believe) horses were unloaded for the course. Can you tell me when the Gedling loop that was the curved line that crossed what is now Victoria Road (was that once Netherfield Lane?) was singled? As you may well know, the level crossing is still there, just by Netherfield Sure Start Centre. The whole of the newish estate just there was built on allotment land. I shall look at the eastern end of Colwick on the next visit as we didn't venture down there, only lurked around the Colwick Estates industrial area (what a dump, in parts). P

The nostalgia site is really interesting. Many pics from 2011/2012 describe the area I have been looking around today. Will study again before revisiting. P

Nice signal. You can get some 'bits' to detail it. Excuse for some signal wire and fittings too. Hours of fun and entertainment whilst waiting for participants on this thread to come up with some really clever captions to your pics. Quack.

Ah so that tiny bit of blue brick is part of a base. I thank you AM; off to the reference books. Hucknall is indeed the last place one can see clearly where the GC line was (a filled cutting), until Linby and the embankments where it swung across the Midland and GN routes. I have today identified the remaining 'relic' at Colwick yards. The LMS Social Club, just as you turn in to the huge industrial estate just off the main road (Colwick Loop). I am sure the large shed was where B & Q is now? Elsewhere on the estate there is almost zero sign that any railway was there at all. David, your dad's pics are just superb. I could spend all day just 'flipping' through them; thanks. So, thanks for the aerial pics site. Is that the GN link coming in to run near the Midland top right? I'll get hold of that book ASAP. My references are the Book Law publications 'Railways of Nottingham' and an unusual one called 'Far Down the Shining Line 4', but that is a volume on the LMS. I was saying to my colleague today, what would some folk say if they knew that two men of a certain age were wandering around greater Nottingham searching for bits of brick and earth and even taking some photo's of those wonderful features? I was also suggesting that almost everyone passing said 'artefacts' probably have no idea what was once there, unless of course they have lived there all their lives and they are also 'of a certain age'. However, I find this investigating truly fascinating. Thanks chaps. Phil @ 36E

I have a number of books on the railways in Nottingham and lines 'outside the city' including an excellent volume on Colwick Yards and Shed. However, I am fascinated by the GC north of Nottingham Victoria and how the route has almost been obliterated and I want to explore and research the 'old routes'). I would appreciate any advice or information from those that 'know'. I've seen lots of stuff on utube and various website but would appreciate more 'local knowledge' if possible. For example, where the GC left 'greater Nottingham' and headed north west towards Hucknall and there is now a Morrisons store at Springfield Retail Park just north of Bulwell, how did the GC cross the Midland (still there as tram and Robin Hood Lines), Was this where Bulwell viaduct was? This could also become an area for post general stuff about railways around Nottinghamshire which would be of great interest to me and some buddies. Many thanks, Phil @ 36E

Welsh mountains are obviously more desirable than 36E! You lucky chappy. On Radio 4 yesterday I heard some chap doing a piece form Balcombe Station (Brighton Line). In the background I heard a Cirl Bunting. Now this is the second time I've heard one of these in the last two weeks. One I mentioned on here and saw it too (was at Rufford Abbey, Nottinghamshire) and then this one (which of course was on the radio). I've been told by those that 'think they know' and 'must therefore be right' that I just can't possibly have heard this bird. It is just not possible as it only ever appears in Devon. Well I disagree and I am also certain that I have heard this bird and have confirmed its' song on the RSPB website; unmistakable. I'm up for suggesting that this year's unusual weather and winds have created some unusual bird positioning. There, I've said it. Quack

Fancy 'losing' a loco Spams. I know exactly where all of mine are - oh ouch, my beak is expanding rapidly....................... Lovely B & Ws Rob. I think it suits the 45XXs. I've flown over the back of that oil train and it is a van not a heap of shi*e D63XX ; so what van is it Rob? Quack