Personal memories

The author spent his formative years in the mid-1950's train spotting on this line where in ran by the then new Mackworth housing estate on the western outskirts of Derby. The line was used predominantly by freight trains at this time with an occasional 'Skeggy Special' running from Burton to the seaside resort of Skegness on the East Coast. From memory most of the freight trains would be hauled by either 8F's, 9F's or Riddle's Austerities (2-8-0's and 2-10-0's). The specials would normally have a Black 5 on the front or the odd Hughes Fowler Crab 2-6-0 but also 'Flying Pigs' as the ex-LMS Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0s were affectionately known. I don't remember seeing any diesels during this period. Amongst the tricks we used to get up to was dropping stones down the chimneys of the locomotives from the parapet of the brick-built bridge which ran between the estate and the allotments. We also used to place halfpennies on the line to make pennies, or knitting needles to make daggers!

	Here's the very bridge which I used to play on. This is Bridge 111 (Byard's) and the photo was taken from an SLS special in 1968 RCTS
	Not me but a painting of boys with pennies on the line - happy days!

When we got bored we retired under the bridge arch and smoked a Park Drive Tipped ciggy which could be bought in packets of five. There was a path through the allotments alongside the railway which ran up towards the tunnel mouth at Mickleover but to  walk through the tunnel to Mickleover station was a brave act for a ten year old.

	Here's a Black Five 45091 leaving Friargate heading an RTCS special towards Mickleover on June 2nd 1957  Unknown
	A Gresley K3 with a freight passes the locomotive shed at Friargate in the1950s heading West This was to become the home to the Train Control Group until they moved up to Mickleover Gerald Anthony
	92071 with a mixed freight pictured near Etwall in 1964 Phil Waterfield
	LNER class 02 heads West out of Mickleover Tunnel in 1951 Phil Croft
	Here's a 'Skeggy special' running down the bank towards Friargate in the summer of 1959 behind an Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0. The picture is taken from the overbridge carrying the original Derby ring road (Kingsway) and Bridge 111 is in the far background. Unknown

I also remember lying in bed at night listening to the trains slogging up the bank from Friargate all the way until they disappeared into the tunnel.