I was taken to Edwalton Railway Station by my parents, relations and friends from an early age. Approached from what is now Machin’s Lane, through a gate which was rarely closed unless cattle were being delivered or dispatched through the sidings, the station had two platforms. After 1949, trains never stopped but earlier in my childhood, much of my time was spent there often as early as the 8.15 am express to St Pancras.

I well remember the Stationmaster, John Ingoldmells, who was kindly disposed to us children most of the time. The action centred on the various trains which passed through: coal from the Nottinghamshire collieries; Stanton iron ore trains; the daily ‘pick-up’ train which dropped off coal trucks for Horace Worth, the coal merchant. He was a man always covered in coal dust…but who would appear at concerts in the Parish Hall ‘all scrubbed up’ in dinner jacket, with his wonderful baritone voice. Cattle were delivered for the farmers, particularly young beasts from Ireland for Bob Shacklock at Hill Farm. In the sidings were empty coaches ready for ‘weekend holiday specials’. There was a goods shed opposite the signal box with a crane inside which swung out through the side doors and loaded goods from the railway trucks onto waiting lorries.

My great joy was the signal box; I would often be invited inside on the Saturday afternoon shift at about half past two. My Mother would arrive at the station, sometimes as late as 9.30 in the evening, to drag me home. Inside the signal box was a frame of 20 levers and under supervision I was allowed to work the signals and communicate the bell codes to Plumtree Station and the London Road box. At dusk, oil lamps were lit. Together with my friends, we were the ‘railway children’. Sadly, the last train passed through on November 1st 1965; for a number of years the site was the most wonderful nature reserve and walking area until new houses were built in the late 1980’s.

 NOTE: These houses were built on the old station site and the new road called Edwalton Lodge Close which runs on the old track bed from a junction with the A606 just north of the old railway bridge to the south.