The ex-GN branch from Nottingham Victoria to Derby Friargate

[benbisley]

Great! Is that Giltbrook Viaduct in the background at 2:12?

[Isochest]

I love this video. I have fleeting memories of 9Fs hauling coal and aggregates traffic in particular. I remember dozing off hearing whistles instead of horns down in the valley. And sadly, the locos line up at Gorton for scrap. And yes, I was born in 1964.

[fangpuss916]

I believe there is a panaramic photo of the Bennerly Viaduct with a train going over it, at the aptly named 'Bridge Inn' pub on Main Street.

I rescently mountain biked the length of the GNR Frairgate Line from Friargate Station, to Awsworth, to see how it ran. Very interesting, although the embankments past Smalley and West Hallam are massively over grown.

[fangpuss916]

Absolutely fascinating! I used to stay at my grandmas on Main Street, Awsworth, and play in the railway embankments as a child. That was in the late 70's early 80's and the railway was long gone.

Even more has gone since then, including the British Coal washer plant at the Bennerly Viaduct, the receding embankments and the removal bridge abutments.

Extremely interesting to see where forty bridges branched off to Pinxton, and in action!

[fangpuss916]

Absolutely fascinating! I used to stay at my grandmas on Main Street, Awsworth, and play in the railway embankments as a child. That was in the late 70's early 80's and the railway was long gone.

Even more has gone since then, including the British Coal washer plant at the Bennerly Viaduct, the receding embankments and the removal bridge abutments.

Extremely interesting to see where forty bridges branched off to Pinxton, and in action!

[brothermoto]

Great to see Bennerley viaduct!! I was walking the dog underneath there this afternoon!!

[sacko11uk]

Forty Bridges...

You can see my house from there! What year was this footage shot Kris? Im guessing 1964?

[bigkris21]

As I didn't shoot the film myself, I don't really know, but I think you are correct in assuming 1964

[dogsbollox5]

Anyone know of any footage of the Old Friargate Station in use. Just seen 'Derby station GNR the last Train' clip. Would love to see more. Have DVD Steam Memories in the East Midlands with about 40 seconds worth. Don't know how to put on u-tube yet.

[Dis981]

Good grieve that brought some memories back I was a fireman based at Derby Friagate Loco Shed in 1947 clearly remember the turntable at Victoria Station.

[SteffanLlwyd]

I wish I could say the same thing! Only ever got onto a footplate once at Snowdown Colliery. Kent. Small 0-6-0 only but still a thrill to open the regulator...

[robmcg567]

Nice to see the Bennerly? Viaduct.. great stuff

[Jonny7railways]

great video, thank you, I don't worry about it being silent, it just made it that much easier to remember the sounds of those days and that smell, Oh boy, that smell of oil, smoke and steam, fantastic, thanks again

[SteffanLlwyd]

Mmmm... know what you mean. Mind you, different types of coal smelled different. I liked Point of Air colliery coal, from North Wales. South Wales coal smelled 'sharper edged' by comparison. Either way eating egg sandwiches with the smoke coming in the window made them taste taste even better. I'm sure the coal which Tangmere is burning at the moment smells quite different!

[Rentaghost76]

Great stuff, cheers mate. Love the wave from that driver @ 2:28. He's probably long dead now, but I really respect the working men of Britain from that era.

[Ramerez491]

Yeah people take it for granted these days how much easier work is, my grandad used to sometimes shunt engines around the yard but was a smokebox cleaner my dad said when he was a kid my grandad used to come home every night coughing up soot really wasn't good for him, just a shame people take everything for granted these days

[richardsnow]

Another great piece of film. Especially the shot of Bennerley Viaduct in action. I recognised some of the places but I wonder, could you identify some of the others in the description. eg. where is the shot that starts at 0.36 taken?

cheers

[bigkris21]

Awsworth station, aproached from the Ilkeston direction (just passed over Bennerley viaduct)

[richardsnow]

So just near where the A 610 is now, right?

thanks

;-)

[rogdad]

Wonderful footage the last shot is Bennerley viaduct near Ilkeston and still survives.I travelled on this line as a kid,that shows my age!!!

[SteffanLlwyd]

Thanks BigKris. Good to see an 01 digging in. And a wave from a driver. Priceless footage.

[chaswick]

Great clip of my local station Basford North.Steam trains at the bottom of the garden,what more could you ask!!!!!!