On 24 Nov 2009, at 12:23, howardsprenger wrote:

> > Apologies for re-opening this thread but, whilst doing the day job
> today - happened to catch this little gem in the BBC Radio series
> "Open County" aired at 0600 on Saturday mornings <snip>
> >
> > http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgft
>
> Thanks Vince - a very interesting programme. It will be repeated at
> 1500 on Thursday 26th November.
>
> Also, unlike other "Listen Again" links that only last for 7 days,
> it looks as though the link that Vince provided might be around for
> a little longer, given the number of programmes from the series that
> can still be heard.
>

People that use iPods and iTunes can download the above (and
subsequent programmes) as a podcast and save it on your hard drive for
posterity

Nick

Not about railways, so very OT, but a lovely piece of history that I spotted in
Ashbourne over the weekend...

In the bus station, there is a cafe called "Busy Bees" (breakfasts recommended!)
Before the days of the National Bus Company, it was part of the Trent Motor
Traction empire, and the brass door pushes still bear "TMT" engravings - quite
nostalgic...!

Cheers,

Howard.

Details from Richard Buckby...

A new model railway has been proposed for Markeaton Park, Derby:
http://www.famoustrains.co.uk

You can complete a survey about the proposal here:
http://tinyurl.com/ylo3ycu

Cheers,

Howard.

> Apologies for re-opening this thread but, whilst doing the day job today -
happened to catch this little gem in the BBC Radio series "Open County" aired at
0600 on Saturday mornings <snip>
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgft

Thanks Vince - a very interesting programme.  It will be repeated at 1500 on
Thursday 26th November.

Also, unlike other "Listen Again" links that only last for 7 days, it looks as
though the link that Vince provided might be around for a little longer, given
the number of programmes from the series that can still be heard.

Howard.

----- Original Message -----

From: malcolm peakman

To: derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 3:15 AM

Subject: RE: [derbyshirerailways] Re: Melbourne Military Railway

 

Hi

Fantastic

Brought back happy memories!  (But I must say the editing of the C&HP bit made the journey jump backwards and forwards), and I liked the way Sheep Pasture became Middleton Top!
In fact I suspect the beam engine was Middleton Top as the winding wheel was never engaged in the film sequence, and I think Sheep Pasture had been electrified by then.

Can I get these DVD's overseas?

Malcolm

---

To: derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com
From: wheaty@derby.org
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:33:53 +0000
Subject: Re: [derbyshirerailways] Re: Melbourne Military Railway

 

On 21 Nov 2009, at 19:10, ptrkaz wrote:
> --- In derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com, Nick Wheat <wheaty@...>
> wrote:
> > Perhaps all this talk of Chellaston Jct. to Ashby is an appropriate
> > time to play a video clip from c.1963 that will be familiar to
> > devotees of British Transport Films.
> > I know it takes the 'wrong' road, but it's a nice approach shot!
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQZWnNej90
> > Nick
>
> Brilliant clip Nick; never seen that before. It really illustrates
> how the much busier and more important line to Stenson Jn has such a
> sharp curve and hence is signalled as the secondary route.
>
> Which film is this from? Is there more on Youtube?
>

The clip is from the British Transport Films production - Forward to
First Principles - filmed to show how modern freight trains (in 1963!)
were moving from pick-up goods to block trains (MGR, Freightliner, etc)

It is half an hour in length and shows some stunning railway history
from all over Britain.

Luckily for us, about a third of the film is of Derbyshire subjects
and I've put a compilation on Youtube (minus the freight train driver)
but this will be removed shortly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKRKOzoK82M

Several people on here will know of my passion for BTF productions but
if you wish to learn more, please visit the unofficial website:-

http://www.britishtransportfilms.org.uk

The full film is available on DVD (hence my removal of the above
extract in couple of days time) and I urge everyone who is not
knowledgeable of the most prolific industrial film unit in Britain to
collect some or all of the DVD collections.

Forward to First Principles is on Volume 4 of the nine available 2-
disc sets and I recommend buying it from Moviemail for a hearty
discount....

http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/film/dvd/British-Transport-Films-Vol-4-Reshaping-British-Railways/

Nick
(not on commission!)

---

Get Windows 7 for only $39.99—CDN College or University students only. This offer ends Jan 3—upgrade now!

Lovely shot of a Crosti coming round the curve at Ambergate.

What I really found interesting was the attire of the students and lecturers - a
different world nowadays.

Also liked the comments by the driver at the end of the Chellaston clip. There
was palpable relief in his voice when he stopped the wheelslip; "everything's
OK".

Thanks again Nick.

Regards,
Peter

On 21 Nov 2009, at 19:10, ptrkaz wrote:
> --- In derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com, Nick Wheat <wheaty@...>
> wrote:
> > Perhaps all this talk of Chellaston Jct. to Ashby is an appropriate
> > time to play a video clip from c.1963 that will be familiar to
> > devotees of British Transport Films.
> > I know it takes the 'wrong' road, but it's a nice approach shot!
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQZWnNej90
> > Nick
>
> Brilliant clip Nick; never seen that before. It really illustrates
> how the much busier and more important line to Stenson Jn has such a
> sharp curve and hence is signalled as the secondary route.
>
> Which film is this from? Is there more on Youtube?
>

The clip is from the British Transport Films production - Forward to
First Principles - filmed to show how modern freight trains (in 1963!)
were moving from pick-up goods to block trains (MGR, Freightliner, etc)

It is half an hour in length and shows some stunning railway history
from all over Britain.

Luckily for us, about  a third of the film is of Derbyshire subjects
and I've put a compilation on Youtube (minus the freight train driver)
but this will be removed shortly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKRKOzoK82M

Several people on here will know of my passion for BTF productions but
if you wish to learn more, please visit the unofficial website:-

http://www.britishtransportfilms.org.uk

The full film is available on DVD (hence my removal of the above
extract in  couple of days time) and I urge everyone who is not
knowledgeable of the most prolific industrial film unit in Britain to
collect some or all of the DVD collections.

Forward to First Principles is on Volume 4 of the nine available 2-
disc sets and I recommend buying it from Moviemail for a hearty
discount....

http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/film/dvd/British-Transport-Films-Vol-4-Reshapi\
ng-British-Railways/

Nick
(not on commission!)

--- In derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com, Nick Wheat <wheaty@...> wrote:
> Perhaps all this talk of Chellaston Jct. to Ashby is an appropriate
> time to play a video clip from c.1963 that will be familiar to
> devotees of British Transport Films.
> I know it takes the 'wrong' road, but it's a nice approach shot!
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQZWnNej90
> Nick

Brilliant clip Nick; never seen that before. It really illustrates how the much
busier and more important line to Stenson Jn has such a sharp curve and hence is
signalled as the secondary route.

Which film is this from? Is there more on Youtube?

Thanks,
Peter

Perhaps all this talk of Chellaston Jct. to Ashby is an appropriate
time to play a video clip from c.1963 that will be familiar to
devotees of British Transport Films.

I know it takes the 'wrong' road, but it's a nice approach shot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQZWnNej90

Nick

----- Original Message -----

From: malcolm peakman

To: derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 10:12 PM

Subject: RE: [derbyshirerailways] Scropton Sidings

Hi
Have a look on Wikipedia - it tells you a lot about it
Malcolm
ps which side of the Pennines do you hale from?

---

To: derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com
From: gdmoffat@...
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:52:21 +0000
Subject: Re: [derbyshirerailways] Scropton Sidings

 

Hi, Must apologise for my earlier geographical error but coming from the England Scotland border and now living in Sheffield i hope i can be excused. Can anyone give chapter and verse on the explosion.   George 52D --- On Tue, 17/11/09, Dave Harris <dave@crepello.net> wrote: From: Dave Harris <dave@crepello.net> Subject: [derbyshirerailways] Scropton Sidings To: derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com, nsrail@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, 17 November, 2009, 14:46   [Cross-posted to NSR Study Group as this continuing thread from Derbyshire Railways may invite comment from over there?] Hi all, At the risk of trying out-pedant a pedant (no offence Mike, of course!)... There were actually two narrow-gauge railways connecting the alabaster mines at Fauld with the NSR at Scropton. The earlier formation is the one which ended at Scropton Sidings that Mike refers to. From there it ran east, crossing the road behind the signal box (much of its formation is still extant and visible on Google maps satellite view). After about a quarter of a mile it turned south-west, running in a straight line to Fauld Lane and then into the hillside where Messrs. Statons had their mine. The narrow gauge line which served the RAF bomb store was about half a mile to the east and ran due north/south in a much more direct route to the main line. Again this is still visible on Google Maps, running south from the area of Mill Lane, Scropton. Why this is important from a railway perspective is that the Air Ministry had their own private siding, controlled by Fauld Sidings signal box opened on 22nd January 1939. Apart from anything else, this allowed the secret Air Ministry traffic and the still operational alabaster mine to co-exist - the latter traffic going out via Scropton sidings. At some point, the rail-borne alabaster traffic was transferred to Tutbury Yard with the well-knowen branch crossing the River Dove there. I'm somewhat hazy on when the alabaster traffic to Scropton dried-up but a clue may be the abolition of Scropton Yard box on 16OCT1955. Fauld Sidings signal box wasn't formally abolished until 15AUG1971, but had been permanently switched out for years up to that date. In fact, the story goes that when the box was visited to formally close it, the stairs collapsed and had to be rebuilt before the necessary work could be carried out! There is certainly an interesting history of the railways in this corner of Derbyshire waiting to be researched/written. All of which is a long way from Neil F-L's fascinating original post, so I've taken the liberty of changing the thread title. Regards to all. Dave On 17 Nov 2009, at 10:03, Mike Price wrote:   Hello, Just to be pedantic Fauld is actually in Staffordshire. The narrow gauge line to Scropton crossed the River Dove which, at this point, is the border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. At Scropton the line ran behind the signal box to a loading bank on the east side of the lane controlled by the signal box. Part of the Fauld site is now a trading estate and the last time I was there (albeit a couple of years ago) some of the rails were still in place and the road crossing through the hedge and trackbed towards Scropton was fairly obvious.   Mike Price   ----- Original Message ----- From: malcolm peakman To: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:54 AM Subject: RE: [derbyshirerailways ] RAF Activities at Harpur Hill and Ashborne   Hi Fauld was connected by n.g. line to Scropton, which is about 1.3 miles west of Tutbury, while Harpur Hill is near Buxton, yes there was a big explosion at Fauld. Malcolm To: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com From: gdmoffat@btinternet .com Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:44:48 -0800 Subject: RE: [derbyshirerailways ] RAF Activities at Harpur Hill and Ashborne   Where is RAF Faulds i think that was where there was a big wartime munitions explosion in Derbyshire. Is it any where near Harpur Hill.  --- On Mon, 16/11/09, Andrew Sollis (CVMRD) <Andy@...e.co.uk> wrote: From: Andrew Sollis (CVMRD) <Andy@...e.co.uk> Subject: RE: [derbyshirerailways ] RAF Activities at Harpur Hill and Ashborne To: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com Date: Monday, 16 November, 2009, 20:12   And the photo you have been sent shows it from the NSR end I think ?   Rather than having gone north to Buxton, would any munitions have gone out via the NSR route to the Churnet Valley line then South to Uttoxeter and Derby ?   Just a thought ?   Andy   -----Original Message----- From: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com [mailto:derbyshirer ailways@yahoogro ups.com]On Behalf Of Neil Ferguson-Lee Sent: 01 November 2009 22:38 To: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com Subject: RE: [derbyshirerailways ] RAF Activities at Harpur Hill and Ashborne   Noel Ryan, author of the book I mentioned has provided me with a digital copy of the picture of Ashbourne station and yard which I attach here. Quite fascinating! Neil From: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com [mailto:derbyshirer ailways@yahoogro ups.com] On Behalf Of Neil Ferguson-Lee Sent: 01 November 2009 17:12 To: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com Subject: RE: [derbyshirerailways ] RAF Activities at Harpur Hill and Ashborne Howard, The book was published in 2007, so it might not be the one you heard about recently. Neil From: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com [mailto:derbyshirer ailways@yahoogro ups.com] On Behalf Of Howard Sprenger Sent: 01 November 2009 17:01 To: derbyshirerailways@ yahoogroups. com Subject: Re: [derbyshirerailways ] RAF Activities at Harpur Hill and Ashborne Thanks Neil... > Yesterday afternoon, I called-by the Brierlow Bar bookstore and picked-up a > fascinating volume on the RAF station at Ashbourne and its outstation at > Darley Moor. Is this a new book? I seem to remember seeing one mentioned recently, so I assume it's just come out. Ooh - and I notice Christmas is just around the corner... > As a final point, I wonder if the closure of the RAF station in 1954 had any > connection whatsoever with the end of passenger services to Ashbourne that > year. Hmm - will have to find my notes, but I don't remember this being suggested before - quite a coincidence, though, and the closure of the RAF station would surely have had some effect. Cheers, Howard. Get Windows 7 for only $39.99—CDN College or University students only. This offer ends Jan 3—upgrade now!

---

Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you’re up to on Facebook.

Ralph

Ralph

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/8354657.stm

Local news is at 6.30pm on Sky Channel 980, wherever you can get Sky TV

Nick

> Perhaps a conclusion to your trilogy Howard; Wirksworth, Ripley and now the
line to
> Melbourne and Ashby. After all, they used the same "railmotors" in MR days.

Well - it's certainly a thought, Peter.  And as you say, the railmotors provide
a
nice link.  Trouble is I'd have to start from scratch - I've got nothing
whatsoever
on this line.  I've rather lost touch with Godfrey (and he must be getting on in
years now), but I'm sure his work would make a good start.  It would be a bit
daunting going over all the ground that he's already covered (and knowing that
he
already had!).

> I'll always remember walking around Worthington on a glorious June day a year
or
> two before they lifted the track. It was like going back in time and finding a
> forgotton railway. Must dig out the slides I took sometime.

I seem to remember doing something similar myself one summer's evening.  It's an
interesting part of the world - quite different from the county north of Derby.

Cheers, Howard.

Perhaps a conclusion to your trilogy Howard; Wirksworth, Ripley and now the line
to Melbourne and Ashby. After all, they used the same "railmotors" in MR days.

I'll always remember walking around Worthington on a glorious June day a year or
two before they lifted the track. It was like going back in time and finding a
forgotton railway. Must dig out the slides I took sometime.

Regards,
Peter

> Another article I've found which may produce some comment or interest. 
Perhaps
> Howard, might have something further to add to this article.

Well... not sure really...  I could quote at length from the book my Dad and his
colleagues wrote for Oakwood many years ago, but where to begin...?

What has never been produced, of course, is a proper history of the branch (ie -
other than the military railway era)... hmm...

Many years ago, Godfrey Yeomans produced a privately-published history, and I
don't
know why he never tried to get it published.  I had a copy on loan from him for
a
while, and although it was a little rough around the edges, it could have been
knocked into shape.

> Can anyone tell me what has happened to the Trent Crossing, it appears to be
extant
> from aerial photos, and the crossing of the Trent & Mersey Canal seems to have
> totally disappeared.

Can't help with that, I'm afraid - someone more local maybe...

Thanks for the article, though, Nigel.

Howard.

--- In derbyshirerailways@yahoogroups.com, Ian Castledine <romicace@...> wrote:
> I had a chat with an old guy this pm and he says coke occasionally went to
Machester with a Garratt, but he also told me latterley the garratts worked to
York with ironstone from the Emids Quarries... there is a pic in locos
illustrated of one at Church Fenton.

Yes, they did work to York too, but would've usually travelled via the "Old
Road" through Barrow Hill to avoid Sheffield.

Regards,
Peter

George,
The website is http://www.astonontrenthistory.org.uk

I've emailed the Society to see if they have any more info. I'll look through
The Derby Mercury and see if they mention the line.

I remember talking with someone years ago who lived at Gangway House (or it
might've been cottage), near where the wharf would've been.

Regards,
Peter