Erewash Valley Line Railway Photos http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/ 8 rows en-gb 60 Toton http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1398922.html At the southern end of the Erewash Valley line lies the huge marshalling yard at Toton (actually a bit of a misnomer as it is really in Stapleford, Toton is further away). The huge motive power depot here was (and still is) the largest on the UK network and was at one time the largest in Western Europe, maybe someone can say if it still is? Pre health and safety days Toton was probably the easiest major depot on BR to bunk and in hundreds of visits I only got questioned once and even then I got round! To add to it's attraction for the spotter, not only was it accesible but it was also always packed solid, a sunday visit could easily net over 100 locos and sometimes all ten class 44s would be present though there was often one missing to spite you. Do this place and then Derby, Notts carriage sidings and westhouses on one sunday and you'd clear most of the LM region's 20s as well. These days the place is like Fort Knox and you need to walk down Bessell Lane and binocular the lines of locos from the hill down one side of the yard. The footbridge in the 1991 and 2008 shots is easily accessed by finding Long Eaton ASDA and walking along the footpath to the railway. Like most of the southern section of the route, the canal runs alongside the route and often I would walk along the canal to the depot which took a few hours but at least it was flat. Tuesday 30 October 2007: At the southern end of the Erewash Valley line lies the huge marshalling yard at Toton (actually a bit of a misnomer as it is really in Stapleford, Toton is further away). The huge motive power depot here was (and still is) the largest on the UK network and was at one time the largest in Western Europe, maybe someone can say if it still is? Pre health and safety days Toton was probably the easiest major depot on BR to bunk and in hundreds of visits I only got questioned once and even then I got round! To add to it's attraction for the spotter, not only was it accesible but it was also always packed solid, a sunday visit could easily net over 100 locos and sometimes all ten class 44s would be present though there was often one missing to spite you. Do this place and then Derby, Notts carriage sidings and westhouses on one sunday and you'd clear most of the LM region's 20s as well. These days the place is like Fort Knox and you need to walk down Bessell Lane and binocular the lines of locos from the hill down one side of the yard. The footbridge in the 1991 and 2008 shots is easily accessed by finding Long Eaton ASDA and walking along the footpath to the railway. Like most of the southern section of the route, the canal runs alongside the route and often I would walk along the canal to the depot which took a few hours but at least it was flat.

20052 and 034 at Toton May 10 1991 20040 and 20187 arriving at Toton south end 10 may 1991. 31164 in the background. 20070 and 20135 leaving Toton on up ballast 10 May 1991 20177, still in green livery as were many of Toton's 20s at the time at Toton 29th March 1978 20190 and 20104 Toton May 10th 1991 Withdrawn 24137 dumped at Toton 29 March 1978. Also visible is D13, one of Moorgreen Colliery's locos, down for attention. 58016 heading North at Toton 10 May 1991 60100 passes Toton with the Lindsey-rectory junction oil 5 August 2008 66173 leaves Toton with the 6K73 Toton-Crewe 66180 arrives at Toton 5 Aug 2008 66305 Toton 11 Aug 2009 66601 leaving Toton 24 Feb 09 with down coal empties. 66614 on the Lafarge tanks passing Toton 11 Aug 2009 Driver climbs aboard 67029 Toton 18 Aug 2009 Better than Skeggy... Wagon spotting Toton 24 Feb 09 45053 37121 and 25053 at Toton on 29 March 1978 66055 arriving at Toton with the Ratcliffe-Tunstead lime empties 24 Feb 2009 66116 leaving Toton 24 Feb 2009.

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]]> Tue Oct 30 2007 Alfreton to Clay Cross Junction http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1398850.html After the Trent resignalling in 1969 the freight lines north of Pye Bridge Junction were lifted and the Erewash became two tracks until it joins the Derby-Sheffield line at Clay Cross. Just south of Alfreton the line runs through it's only tunnel, Alfreton tunnel. Only the fast line bore is is in use but the slow line bore is still extant and I walked through it a few times before it was fenced off. The station at Alfreton was closed along with the rest of the Erewash Valley's from 2/1/67 but was reopened in May 1973 as 'Alfreton and Mansfield parkway' probably because it isn't very convenient for either. The old steam depot at Westhouses was used to stable locos (usually pairs of 20s) at weekends until final closure in 1986. I visited a few times but it has the distinction of being probably the only location in the UK I have never made a single cop at. Nor did I ever take a photo here which is something I deeply regret now as the place had immense character. Because most of the freight that ran along the southern Erewash originated from the Kirkby line and left/joined the line at Pye Bridge, this section was noticeably less busy than further south and so I took few shots here in the 70s and 80s, much to my regret. Tuesday 30 October 2007: After the Trent resignalling in 1969 the freight lines north of Pye Bridge Junction were lifted and the Erewash became two tracks until it joins the Derby-Sheffield line at Clay Cross. Just south of Alfreton the line runs through it's only tunnel, Alfreton tunnel. Only the fast line bore is is in use but the slow line bore is still extant and I walked through it a few times before it was fenced off. The station at Alfreton was closed along with the rest of the Erewash Valley's from 2/1/67 but was reopened in May 1973 as 'Alfreton and Mansfield parkway' probably because it isn't very convenient for either. The old steam depot at Westhouses was used to stable locos (usually pairs of 20s) at weekends until final closure in 1986. I visited a few times but it has the distinction of being probably the only location in the UK I have never made a single cop at. Nor did I ever take a photo here which is something I deeply regret now as the place had immense character. Because most of the freight that ran along the southern Erewash originated from the Kirkby line and left/joined the line at Pye Bridge, this section was noticeably less busy than further south and so I took few shots here in the 70s and 80s, much to my regret.

158852 pauses at Alfreton on the 0857 Norwich to Liverpool 30/10/07 45019 at Alfreton 11 September 1979. Note lack of undergrowth compared to the 2007 shots. 45116 pauses at Alfreton with the 1500Sheffield-St Pancras 11 Sept 1979 66103 heading empty ballast south through Alfreton 30/10/07

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]]> Tue Oct 30 2007 Codnor Park and Ironville http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1357344.html Not the easiest location to get to, certainly on foot as I usually was in the 70s and 80s, necessitating a walk of a few miles down country lanes and over fields. This was the site of Codnor Park and Ironville station until closure on 2/1/67 along with the rest of the Erewash Valley line stations. Until 1973(?) there was a substantial ironworks here and a large yard with about 12 roads, reduced by 1985 to just 3 and by then used mainly for running round coal trains, usually from Clipstone or some other pit in the Mansfield area to Avenue coking ovens near Chesterfield among other destinations. It had a short revival in 2003/4 when it was the railhead for the Forge and Monument opencast. Another place almost unrecognisable as the trees almost obscure the line although it makes an interesting shot still. Monday 27 August 2007: Not the easiest location to get to, certainly on foot as I usually was in the 70s and 80s, necessitating a walk of a few miles down country lanes and over fields. This was the site of Codnor Park and Ironville station until closure on 2/1/67 along with the rest of the Erewash Valley line stations. Until 1973(?) there was a substantial ironworks here and a large yard with about 12 roads, reduced by 1985 to just 3 and by then used mainly for running round coal trains, usually from Clipstone or some other pit in the Mansfield area to Avenue coking ovens near Chesterfield among other destinations. It had a short revival in 2003/4 when it was the railhead for the Forge and Monument opencast. Another place almost unrecognisable as the trees almost obscure the line although it makes an interesting shot still.

25308 at Codnor Park 26 November 1980 Driver phones the signalbox to see what's holding up 158906 Codnor Park 9/6/09 170519 on 0852 Liverpool-Norwich passing Codnor Park 30/10/07 20142 and 20041 at Codnor Park with Clipstone-Avenue coal. This train will run round in Codnor Park yard and return north, taking the Alfreton line at Pye bridge. Sept 1 1981. Toton's 47324 approaches Stoneyford with 16t mineral empties on Jan 2 1979. 56004 passing the site of Codnor park station with MGR empties returning to the Mansfield area 14/3/85 56008 approaching Stoneyford on 21 April 1992. A day out fotting and I went to see UFO at Rock City that night. Pretty much a perfect day! 66159 loading up in Codnor Park yard 23/3/04 66559 passing Codnor Park yard 6/5/03 Codnor Park yard 14 March 1985

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]]> Mon Aug 27 2007 Trowell Junction http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1346846.html At Trowell junction just south of Ilkeston the route to Nottingham via Wollaton leaves the main Erewash valley line. Until June 2007 there was a complex arrangement of double slips and diamond crossings here, since replaced by a simpler layout of ladder crossings. Most passenger trains leave the Erewash at this point to call at Nottingham with the freights continuing south to Toton and beyond. This is one location that is actually better these days! Monday 13 August 2007: At Trowell junction just south of Ilkeston the route to Nottingham via Wollaton leaves the main Erewash valley line. Until June 2007 there was a complex arrangement of double slips and diamond crossings here, since replaced by a simpler layout of ladder crossings. Most passenger trains leave the Erewash at this point to call at Nottingham with the freights continuing south to Toton and beyond. This is one location that is actually better these days!

37209 and 37094 on coal empties at trowell Jcn August 4th 1981 60024 changing from fast to slow lines at Trowell Junction 26 Sept 2007. The new layout makes for a more interesting shot in my opinion. 66548 approaches Trowell 5 Oct 2007. 66563 heads a coal train south at Trowell Junction on 22/5/07. Part of the new trackwork for the resignalling of the Erewash can be seen on the left. 158788 Trowell on a Liverpool-Norwich working. 66063 heading north at Trowell Jn 19 Oct 2007.

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]]> Mon Aug 13 2007 Ilkeston area http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1346205.html The ex GNR viaduct crossing the Erewash Valley is the dominant feature here but there is much else of interest and photo opportunities are good, at least they were till the recent resignalling which has spoiled many a location, some of these scenes on here are now unrepeatable from just a few short years ago. Pallisade fencing and uncontrolled lineside vegetation has done for much of it. It's unbelievable that Ilkeston, third largest town in Derbyshire has been without a station since 1967 where once it had no less than 3. Sunday 12 August 2007: The ex GNR viaduct crossing the Erewash Valley is the dominant feature here but there is much else of interest and photo opportunities are good, at least they were till the recent resignalling which has spoiled many a location, some of these scenes on here are now unrepeatable from just a few short years ago. Pallisade fencing and uncontrolled lineside vegetation has done for much of it. It's unbelievable that Ilkeston, third largest town in Derbyshire has been without a station since 1967 where once it had no less than 3.

37697 on Doncaster-Mountsorrel ballast empties. Ilkeston 25th Feb 1997 43087 on a Manchester-St Pancras working near Ilkeston 2/3/04 56056 at Ilkeston on up MGR 10/5/99 58011 heading northbound MGR empties under the viaduct at Ilkeston 5/4/85 58022 on up MGR Ilkeston 10/5/99 60072 on up steel diverted from the Derby route about to pass under the huge GNR viaduct just north of Ilkeston 15/2/03 66551 heading north near Ilkeston May 2003. This gives an idea of the size of the huge GNR viaduct. 66618 passing Ilkeston Junction 24/3/09. 66618 on up coal approaches Ilkeston Junction 24 March 2009

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]]> Sun Aug 12 2007 Langley Mill http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1346168.html This is where it all started for me really as I used to go on the station here before it closed at the end of 1966 and the station yard was a spotters meeting place throughout the 70s and early 80s. Until the closure of Moorgreen pit in 1985 there was a substantial yard in use here where MGRs were assembled for despatch to Ratcliffe power station and cabbing locos was always a popular thing for the local spotters. Much time was spent on the old 'Iron Bridge' here, another one replaced by a much uglier modern structure this time in June 1982. There was in those days an iron works, a hosiery factory, a pottery and a gasworks surrounding the railway , virtually all of which has gone now although in Heanor Haulage's yard (once Redpath and Dorman Longs ironworks) you often see a loco en route somwehere on a low loader. Sunday 12 August 2007: This is where it all started for me really as I used to go on the station here before it closed at the end of 1966 and the station yard was a spotters meeting place throughout the 70s and early 80s. Until the closure of Moorgreen pit in 1985 there was a substantial yard in use here where MGRs were assembled for despatch to Ratcliffe power station and cabbing locos was always a popular thing for the local spotters. Much time was spent on the old 'Iron Bridge' here, another one replaced by a much uglier modern structure this time in June 1982. There was in those days an iron works, a hosiery factory, a pottery and a gasworks surrounding the railway , virtually all of which has gone now although in Heanor Haulage's yard (once Redpath and Dorman Longs ironworks) you often see a loco en route somwehere on a low loader.

Langley Mill Station 8 Sept 2009 20134 and 20190 approach Langley Mill on Jan 2 1979 with a short coal train. 20157/121 pass the future site of Langley Mill station 12 March 1985 25200 Shunting Langley Mill yard Feb 3rd 1981 25200 and 47276 in Langley Mill yard Feb 3 1981 31455 at Langley Mill with the 1051 to Nottingham in September 1987 37200/201 heading toward Langley Mill on an MGR 18/3/85 37688 Langley Mill 3/7/97 43052 and 43044 at Langley Mill on a diverted Sheffield-St panc workong 1/12/02. 43100/198 unusually on the slow lines near Langley Mill March 1985 45028 passing Langley Mill 11 Aug 1978 on the afternoon Nottingham-Glasgow train. 45118 on undentified passenger Saturday 23/3/85 Peak heading south on a Sheffield-St Pancras express 11 August 1978 A view of Langley Mill yard on June 23 1980 as 47135 passes with the Harwich-Manchester 'Boat' train, always a Stratford working, usually a 47 but occasionally a 37. 47482 on the 'Boat train' Langley Mill 30/3/85 56035 in Loadhaul livery approaching Cromford Road bridge 15/7/98 56041 passing Langley Mill station 3/7/97 on up MGR 56052 on down MGR empties passing the yard at Langley Mill 29/6/81 56062/018 at Langley Mill 1 Dec 2002 on an unidentified working. 56062 approaching Langley Mill past the huge opencast near Stoneyford with a Doncaster-Mountsorrel ballast empties 3/7/97 58013 passing the site of Langley Mill yard Feb 18 1997 66211 approaching Langley mill with an up coal working 16/3/04 A pair of 20s head north from Langley Mill towards Stoneyford in August 1981. One of Moorgreen Pit's Sentinel 0-8-0s D12 returning to the pit from Langley Mill after depositing loaded MGR wagons 29/6/81 Langley Mill Yard 10/4/83 Moorgreen Pit's Sentinel 0-8-0 at langley Mill 5th January 1981

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]]> Sun Aug 12 2007 Lacey Fields http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1346114.html Just south of Langley Mill and known officially as Heanor Junction, this was where the route to Ripley left the Erewash. That line lost its passenger services in 1926 and was an empty cutting known as '40 steps' when I was a little boy before it was filled in in 1972. It was also where coal trains from Ormonde pit near Loscoe were brought up to the main line, one of my earliest memories is of an 8F shunting the yard in April 1966. I'd love to find any photos of the two industrials that used to work the line, an 0-4-0 sentinel and an 0-4-0 version of a class 07. The pit closed in September 1970 and the branch was lifted soon after although the sidings remained until well into the middle of the decade. I must have spent more time on the footbridge here than any other location along the route and probably in the British Isles. The 1898 vintage footbridge was replaced in 1998 with a modern structure of considerably less character but its still a pleasant peaceful location to watch trains, being out in the countryside. The 2007 resignalling has marred the location slightly, there are now just three tracks and the signals have been placed in just the right spot to hamper shots of southbound workings-sod's law I suppose-and the continued growth of lineside vegetation has removed some of the best viewpoints. Compare the latest shots with those from just a few years ago to see what I mean. Sunday 12 August 2007: Just south of Langley Mill and known officially as Heanor Junction, this was where the route to Ripley left the Erewash. That line lost its passenger services in 1926 and was an empty cutting known as '40 steps' when I was a little boy before it was filled in in 1972. It was also where coal trains from Ormonde pit near Loscoe were brought up to the main line, one of my earliest memories is of an 8F shunting the yard in April 1966. I'd love to find any photos of the two industrials that used to work the line, an 0-4-0 sentinel and an 0-4-0 version of a class 07. The pit closed in September 1970 and the branch was lifted soon after although the sidings remained until well into the middle of the decade. I must have spent more time on the footbridge here than any other location along the route and probably in the British Isles. The 1898 vintage footbridge was replaced in 1998 with a modern structure of considerably less character but its still a pleasant peaceful location to watch trains, being out in the countryside. The 2007 resignalling has marred the location slightly, there are now just three tracks and the signals have been placed in just the right spot to hamper shots of southbound workings-sod's law I suppose-and the continued growth of lineside vegetation has removed some of the best viewpoints. Compare the latest shots with those from just a few years ago to see what I mean.

31271 heads north light engine at lacey Fields 7/5/96 37095 on up coal Lacey Fields 3rd March 1980 37203 passing Lacey Fields 7/5/96 with a lightweight freight 40099 near Lacey Fields July 6 1981 on Corby-Lackenby steel empties. 45148 at Lacey Fields with a St pancras-Sheffield train 18th April 1979 56062 heading for Langley Mill yard on a bitterly cold 7th January 1982. 56065 heading for Langley Mill Yard with empties from Ratcliffe 3rd March 1980 60011 on the Lindsey-Rectory Jn tanks, Lacey Fields 23/1/03 60044 Empty MGR at Lacey Fields 60097 on the Tunstead-Ratcliffe PS lime, Lacey Fields 23/1/03 66507 at Lacey Fields with an up coal working 28 August 2007. 66552 on Theale-Earles sidings cement empties at Lacey Fields 28/5/03

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]]> Sun Aug 12 2007 Pye Bridge Junction http://erewashvalleylinerailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1346093.html At Pye Bridge junction the freight only route from Mansfield joins the Erewash. Prior to the 1969 resignalling of Trent there were four tracks north to Alfreton but the slow lines were removed at the same time as the semaphore signalling and since then the Pye Bridge-Clay Cross section has been two tracks only. I haven't been here for about 18 months now and I suppose that this is yet another viewpoint that is no longer accesible due to fencing. I'll have to go and have a look. Sunday 12 August 2007: At Pye Bridge junction the freight only route from Mansfield joins the Erewash. Prior to the 1969 resignalling of Trent there were four tracks north to Alfreton but the slow lines were removed at the same time as the semaphore signalling and since then the Pye Bridge-Clay Cross section has been two tracks only. I haven't been here for about 18 months now and I suppose that this is yet another viewpoint that is no longer accesible due to fencing. I'll have to go and have a look.

60008 still in loadhaul livery passes Pye bridge jn with the Tunstead-ratcliffe lime 28/9/04 60013 at Pye bridge Jn with the Healey-Mills-Margam scrap 8/5/07 66615 passing Pye bridge junction on 8th May 2007 with the Tunstead to ratcliffe lime train.

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