The author spent his formative years in the mid-1950's trainspotting 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 Crab.
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!
There was a path through the allotments alongside the railway which ran up towards the tunnel mouth at Mickleover. To walk through the tunnel to Mickleover station was a brave act for a ten year old.
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Here's a Black Five 45091 leaving Friargate
heading an RTCS special towards Mickleover on June 2nd 1957
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The locomotive shed at Friargate in 1952.
This was to become the home to the Train Control Group until they moved
up to Mickleover
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Here's a 'Skeggy special' running down the
bank towards Friargate in the summer of 1959. The picture is taken from
the overbridge carrying the original Derby ring road and the bridge we
used to play on is in the background.
This formed part of the original test track 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.
The line was closed to passenger traffic on 7th September 1964.