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Ralph.

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GNR  ILKESTON (STANTON JN) - HEANOR (3¾ miles)

Opened   (Pass) 1.7.1891. (Gds) 4.6.1886 Stanton Jn - Nutbrook colliery; 1.1.1892 Nutbrook Sidings - Heanor.

Closed     4.12.1939 (Pass), 16.12.1963 (Gds)

Stations   Ilkeston North (closed 1964), Marlpool (closed 1928), Heanor.

History

The Great Northern opened this double track branch from Ilkeston as far as Nutbrook Colliery in 1886 with the single line extension to Heanor opening five years later. A service of seven passenger trains was provided with the journey taking ten minutes. The LNER withdrew the passenger service in December 1939 although only workmens’ trains had actually run between April 1928 and October 1939.

Miniature Railway

The 15-ins gauge Britannia Park Railway at Shipley was reopened in 1987 as the American Adventure Railroad but closed in January 2007 with all track and rolling stock subsequently moved to Melton Mowbray. 

Route when open

The line left the Nottingham - Derby line at Stanton Junction (SK460421) half a mile south of Ilkeston and curved through 90° to head NW. For most of the way it followed the Nutbrook Valley, an old canal and a private mineral line. Heanor station (SK425461) consisted of an island platform beyond which the track extended under the Derby road (A608) to end in a blind cutting, thought to be for a proposed extension that was never built.

Route today

A footpath follows the trackbed away from the GN main line at the site of Stanton Junction for about a mile. The American Adventure Theme Park was built over the line north of Shipley Common but is now closed and fenced off. It then passes Marlpool station and climbs up through  Shipley Country Park which, for 1½ miles between Pitt Lane and Thorpe’s Road, has been converted into a cyclepath. Between the Park (at SK430458) and and the edge of some football fields near Derby Road (SK425460) it's all industrial units. The headshunt beyond Heanor station now supports two modern houses.

Relics

Stations  Ilkeston built over; Marlpool platform remains and ornate station house (approx SK444449); Heanor demolished - site now a factory but station house survives on opposite side of Derby Road.                                                                          Bridges  overbridge approaching Marlpool and bridge carrying 'The Field' in place.