Colwick Loco Remembered (updated version)

The Great Northern Railway at Colwick.
A presentation from the archives of Hayden Reed, historian and author.
* A potted history of the line from Nottingham London Road Low Level to Derby Friargate via the 'Back Line' through Gedling Tunnel.
* The rise and fall of Colwick Yard, and the freight traffic carried.
* Colwick Shed, known locally as 'The Loco'.
* Passenger traffic over the Back Line - Netherfield to Basford and Bulwell.
This was first shown at The Loco Remembered at Netherfield on 4th March 2023.
(This video has 5 slides changed from the original version, which is here: • Video )

[@tonyrobinson362]

A time when most folk had a proper job, Good one thankyou.

[@davidshaw3303]

Excellent production. Have learned so much.
I was 14 when the GCR through trains finished and only managed to sneak up to Victoria Station a few times from Leicester. I recall a constant flow of coal empties at the eastern platform hauled by ex LNER locos. The drivers always told me they were going to Colwick which I thought was just a 'shed'!
Sadly I never got to know the extensive network around Nottinham and the rich variety of locos to be spotted. Strange how you can mourn the loss of somthing you never really knew!
Thank you so much!

[@polo2112polo]

Really excellent presentation, thank you😊

[@pauldenison2960]

Thank you David, fascinating video. I grew up in the 60s and 70s in two houses (on Hereford Rd and Sandfield Rd) which both backed on to the "Arno Vale" section of the line between Daybrook and the Mapperley tunnel. As a boy I used to imagine what it must have been like to see trains running along those cuttings. There are two pictures in your video which are taken on this stretch of the line and they're the first such pictures I've ever seen - wonderful!

[@johncamp2567]

That was very enjoyable! Excellent research and documentation…..pleasantly presented.

[@andrewmcdonald5704]

Very informative commentary and pictures.

[@jcmgt]

Wonderful pics and words!

[@rogermarsh2763]

Excellent but while Colwick shed provided locos for freight haulage (predominantly coal) it also had an important role in the provision of locos for passenger trains. Local passenger services between Grantham and Derby and excusion traffic to the East Coast in Summer months. I recall going from Nottingham Victoria to Leeds on an excursion hauled by a Colwick ex works B1

[@DaveM_thetrucker]

16:15 the old fuel storage yard is in use still but only as a storage facility for the track and overhead line inspection train which consist of 2 power cars and ex virgin east coast mk3 stock plus few others thrown in to make the rake

[@pontushaggstrom6261]

i always feel like british engines looks 50 years older than what they actually are

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

Yes, they needed to be scrapped. 15,000 were sliced apart with cutting torches and melted as scrap charge in the furnaces in the 1960's.

[@pontushaggstrom6261]

@@PreservationEnthusiast not that they were in bad shape, they just look like toy trains

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@pontushaggstrom6261 In the late 50's and 60's, often they were in bad shape in the form of cleaning and maintenance. As the steam sheds were being run down, there was a lot less cleaning. And maintenance was often neglected, as it was recognised that loco would soon be withdrawn. Hence it was common to see dirty locos, steam leaks or other maintenance issues.

[@pontushaggstrom6261]

@@PreservationEnthusiast In my comment im saying that british steam locomotives look stupid, not that they're in a bad shape. We're talking about 2 different things here

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@pontushaggstrom6261 Ah, I would actually go the other way and say the American and European steam locos look stupid with pipework and condensers or lubricators plastered all over the boiler. The British Locomotives had much cleaner external lines.

[@geoffreyking4515]

Went to skeg from daybrook usually behind a B1 occasionally a K3