I have been wanting to build a model of this station for over 40 years, but it has only just come to fruition. The Great Northern railway wanted to build a line Westwards, from Nottingham, through Derby and by joining North Staffordshire lines, gain access to the Potteries and Burton upon Trent. This was so they could move coal from the Notts Derby coalfield to Staffordshire, and move ceramics and beer down to London. There was much opposition to the new line in Parliament, mainly from the LNWR and Midland, who monopolised much of the business, and set the rates for transport of these materials over their lines.
The Act of Parliament was passed allowing the building of the line back in the 1870's, and it came into being later that decade.
My interest is as follows: I was born, in Sims Avenue, Derby, about 200 yards from Friargate goods yard, I went to school in Great Northern Road opposite the goods yard, walking over Uttoxeter Old Road railway bridge everyday. At this time - early 1960's - there was a wooden staircase from Uttoxeter Old Road, down into the goodsyard, and the gate at the top was unlocked, so you could slip through and watch the procession of trains and shunting at Derby Friargate Station.
My mother, and her sister were both employed on the line as signal women. It was common during the war for women to be trained in these positions, and both my mum and aunt stayed on as signalwomen, as did many others on this line. My mum normally worked Mickleover and Etwall boxes from 1945 onwards, when she was taken on as the youngest signal women in the country.
During school holidays, my dad would often take me in the car to Mickleover or Etwall to collect my mum when she finished a day time shift. If we arrived early I was sometimes allowed to sit on a chair in the corner of the box and watch the proceedings. By now, most trains seemed to be coal or empties, hauled by black 5's, 8f's or 9f's with occasional type 2 diesels.
The line closed to passenger traffic in 1964, to freight in 1968, but was retained West from Derby as one of the Research Departments test tracks until the 1980's, my mum being involved in staffing some of the boxes during high speed testing of the APT running gear, and 4 wheel goods vehicles. She always said that her days at Mickleover were the best time in her life.
My mum passed away 7 years ago, but I still have her LNER whistle, (and the books belonging to my grandfather - Driver Arthur Haynes - but that is another story).
Three years ago I moved to Whitby, and erected a 16' shed in the garden to house the station of my O gauge garden railway. I suddenly realised I could house a 13' x 2' n gauge layout on the other side of the shed. Quick calculation with a plan of Mickleover showed that by using some compression at the East end of the layout, between Station Road and Mickleover tunnel, I could build the rest of the station and goods yard to scale.
Four 3'6" x 2' boards were made out of old flush doors, held together with split hinges and over centre catches. Track was laid using Peco n gauge, including a double slip, single slip, and a scissors cross over!
I will write more shortly
Kevin.