Welcome to the Mickleover Test Track pages 

In the late 60's British Railways developed two test tracks near its main technical headquarters in Derby. The high speed Old Dalby line was specifically developed for the testing of the experimental Advanced Passenger Train (APT-E) but the Mickleover test track was a much smaller, low key line which nevertheless saw a great deal of on-track test work over the years.

Unfortunately it is now closed and lifted, but between 1965 and 1990 it was used extensively by the BR Research Division.

Situated to the west of Derby, it was originally part of the Great Northern Railway's cross country line from Grantham via Nottingham to Stafford and Burton but closed to all traffic in early 1967. It was taken over as a test line, initially between Derby Friargate and Egginton Junction, in 1967 and, although the line was not subject to the dramatic changes that occurred at BR's other test track at Old Dalby, it was partly singled after closure.

After about eighteen months use, it was cut back to its final form and ran between Egginton Jcn and Mickleover, a distance of approximately 6 miles and had a maximum line speed of 65 mile/h. It was equipped with facilities to introduce track defects, for test purposes. Its proximity to Derby was a great advantage but its low line speed limited the types of tests which were carried out there.

The building of the A516 Etwall by-pass, which was a feeder to the A50 M1 to M6 link road,  spelled the end for the test track as it came at the time that the Research Department was rationalising its assets and in 1990 the line was closed.