Forgotten Railways, Lost Bridges & a Curious Cascade - The Great Central Railway

[@rogerwatson1881]

When I was growing up in Kirkby in the 1950s and '60s, I used to play under that bridge and on the embankment. I was always told that the Erewash rose behind what was the King's Cinema, so would have been the one you describe as a tributary. The pipe under the bridge probably carried that stream.

[@helenthorne8451]

Wow Ant amazing video lots to see and that water cascade was lovely and glad there's alot left nice to see the old pics too of how it was take care xx

[@bexhil7]

Anther great & fantastic video of Forgotten Railways, Lost Bridges & a Curious Cascade - The Great Central Railway!.👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Michael very pleased that you enjoyed it 🙂

[@colleennewton7882]

Brilliant, spent a lot of time here when I was younger and never knew what the humps and hollows were. The old pictures really brought it all to life.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Fabulous explore. Loved the wee waterfall. Beautiful filming with music in background. Old photos great. Outstanding Ant. Thank you.

[@alanjenvey7973]

Thanks for an entertaining series of videos. As a Kirkby lad these cover an area where a substantial chunk of my youth was spent and I have found them thoroughly entertaining. The aerial shots are excellent. The Erewash used to pass under the triple embankment in a long culvert which would block during heavy rain and flood the field. When the railways closed the powers that be thought it would be a good idea to solve the problem by razing the embankment and distribute the spoil over the field. However there was so much spoil the ground level increased by many meters and the concrete cascade was built to get the Erewash back down to the original level in a controlled manner. Clearly it has not worked!

[@RobCarraviation]

I'm pretty sure I can remember that water cascade being in action in the early 90's. After some heavy prolonged rainfall and storms in the late 90's early 00's the water cut a new route through the soil, bypassing th cascade forever more. Great vid - evoking a lot of childhood memories :)

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so very much Rob. I tried hard to find pictures of it in action but no joy 😔

[@blaketague8845]

Hey Ant, as has been commented, the water steps were effectively almost washed away in heavy rain years ago. If I remember rightly they were dislodged, not sure by how much though. It shows in the drone shots quite well where the land was eaten away. I walked a lot of this in lockdown, luckily it’s on my doorstep. The Maun line running off towards Sutton and Mansfield was a quite interesting walk too. I think you covered a little of it in your video running from the back of the pit tips in Kirby running through the old Kirkby Colliery site. Great content buddy, really enjoying it

[@U34CH]

Another superb programme - keep up the excellent work Ant.

[@matthewwren1177]

Fantastic little film thank you.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much

[@janepatricia8779]

Love the dramatic music too,😃

[@matthewthomas1925]

Thanks for the Videos - very informative and useful as I live in Kirkby. Went yesterday and followed in your footsteps with my Daughter and will be looking at the rest of it from this video probably Easter Sunday. I didn’t realise that the area was so congested with lines!

[@richardhaywood4123]

Hi Ant,the stream did in fact pass under 2 large embankments carrying the Great Central line,there was originally a pond between the 2 and at the northern end a very similar structure without the steps. The cascade appeared half way up the last embankment and was a great sight to see,we used to paddle in it as kids. After the 2 embankments were removed there was a concrete channel for the stream and during a storm the water found its way under the concrete and eroded the streams path to what it is today. The cascade was more upright than it is now and as you point out no water will pass over it again. There was some recent talk of it being made into a listed structure!

[@tonyrobertson498]

Excellent Part 2

[@paularnold4440]

Very interesting. Think I shall be going for a stroll around there. Thanks

[@christoppo33]

Really enjoyed part 2 lots going on in this video was a really good walk to see great work on the information Provided thanks by the end of the video I understand we’re all the lines was going 🤪

[@shuntersharpy]

Another Fantastic and very informative video of my local area . I've lived in Kirkby for 7 years now and have been to portland Park many times and my boys have played in the steps of the water cascade . But we've never ventured along bentinck banks , but sometime within the next few weeks we will have an explore around there . Thank you once again , keep up the great work .

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much Rob. Glad you enjoyed it. It's a lovely little area 🙂

[@2H80vids]

What a complex maze of lines Ash. Even with RailMapOnline open beside this video, it's quite tricky to understand. Something I noticed about halfway through watching the video; if you zoom in on RailMapOnline, there are still more lines, shown in yellow, which are 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 hard to see. Just north of the cutting(from Part 1) there were two branches of the Mansfield + Pinxton, diverging right and crossing the GNR line from Kirkby South Jct. It would appear that the M + P route has been re-aligned in recent years, to join that line, rather than crossing it. The black + white photos are superb, as always. One that puzzled me slightly was the shot of the signalbox at 22:25 - there seems to be at least one siding joining from the left and passing below the bridges. This doesn't show up on the maps I've seen. I wonder how old the water cascade is. Would that have been built after the two railways were removed? There's no sign on the maps of bridges crossing the Erewash there but, if they both used embankments, it seems like a whole lot of work to remove all trace of the embankments. This was a particularly interesting one Ant and I'm really looking forward to Part 3.😁👍 Just a thought: do you, or anyone else, know the name of that signalbox?

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Ant - greetings from Poland. Part 2 was as fabulous and as interesting as Part 1. The photographs together with your superb commentary brought eveything to life and made it easy to understand what you were talking about. The drone shots and your camera work were brilliant. The water cascade was very interesting. I'm guessing that the scar in the landscape beside it, has been cut naturally since all the culverts were demolished. Thanks so much for all your hard work in making this video. I loved it. See you again soon

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so very much Michael. Part 3 is almost complete already 🙂🙂

[@mtz485]

Great video. Spent many hours down at the water steps as it was known if I remember right they used to be nearly level with the river the stone you pointed out was on a slight slope into the steps from the river.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Loved that thanks Ant. That little bridge was beautiful such beautiful stonework. What a beautiful area that was. Did you call in on Robin for a cuppa while you were there? Again I loved the video. Thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

[@Richard_Barnes]

More superb footage 👍🏻🙂 So many brick built bridges and stuff. Good to see them still standing. Drone footage was good 👍🏻 Thx Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Richard thanks so very much

[@danielsedgwick5476]

Just fabulous, loved it…

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Daniel

[@petedemaio168]

Great work. Really good job, enjoyed that. Lovely old photos of those bridges, which are a good find . Always get a bit sad when I think of what was lost.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Pete. Much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelmiller641]

So much has gone, it's difficult to see what's what! Interesting video Ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you Michael. It's changed beyond belief

[@everydaysabonus]

Truly fascinating! Well done Ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so very much 🙂

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

An area very busy at one time Ant, with the GC, GN, and Midland lines all in that area. Amazing to think that there were those bridges that are no longer there, up from the concrete cascade. A smashing and very interesting video with great train photos at the beginning. Many thanks.

[@philliphammond399]

Hi Ant, this video is just as amazing as the first epesode, video, pictures information and drone shots were superb. Looking forward to episode three. Thank you.

[@robingriffiths3483]

Another great video. Would that large pipe under the bridge be part of the Erewash culvert, the opening of which you show at the end of the video?

[@daryl2510]

Thank you, it has brought back many happy memories of my younger days when I could walk and get down there x

[@TrekkingExploration]

Really pleased that you enjoyed it Daryl 🙂

[@christinegibbins6105]

Again Ant, so interesting, I see some comments mention erosion of the area around the cascade, the power of water is so immense. Thank you and take care.

[@duckydashcam751]

Once again, fantastic video. Used to live in Hucknall and I walked around here all the time, bit even knowing about the cascade concretework...Will definitely pay a visit.

[@chrisbayly5457]

Excellent as always

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Chris

[@loltangera]

Really interesting video, it's got me tempted to take a trip back to Kirkby for an explore! Reminds me that my Grandfather used to tell me the Erewash had its source behind the Wyvern Club near Kirkby station. Kirkby station was also opened a little while later than the other stations on the Robin Hood extension to Mansfield, we had to keep using Newstead or Sutton Parkway for a while.

[@glynscothern4073]

begines behind ALDI { old railway pub}

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's definitely an area worth a wonder around. I'll have to go find this Erewash source. It's tricky as so many reliable online sources show it in two locations. Thanks for watching

[@glynscothern4073]

@@TrekkingExploration If you LOOK BEHIND ALDI CAR PARK NEAR THE NEW HOUSES,THERE ARE TREES ,THATS WHERE IT STARTS ,Look across the road you will see a road leading to portland park That was the old track bed for the Pinxton/ Mansfield railway ,Along side is the erewash unless its been piped,

[@glynscothern4073]

aldi sites on the site of the railway pub,

[@Jimyjames73]

Very good - very informative - how times & things have changed - now you would never know that there was a Railway line / Railway Bridges there in the 1st place!!! 🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much. It's unbelievable how the land where the river is shows no evidence of past railways

[@petedemaio168]

Have you thought about doing something on Babbington Colliery? I've seen a picture of a railway bridge crossing the A610 before widening, with a Shipstones Ales ad on it. But railmap online shows two bridges. It's got me foxed, as the angles don't look right. I'd like to know more. Hope you don't mind me mentioning it here, in case you see it.

[@janepatricia8779]

Very interesting video, x

[@michael42158]

Beautiful examples of industrial architecture.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching Michael 🙂

[@martinmarsola6477]

3 of 3? If so, another out of the park! So far 3/3! Thanks for the video and chat today. So you on the next! Cheers Ant!!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Number 3 is about 50% complete. It'll be on by Monday 🙂

[@martinmarsola6477]

@@TrekkingExploration So far, so good this these videos. See you on Monday. Cheers Antony!

[@grimsbyuk8311]

Hi, I've mentioned this before, but is it possible for you to use the aerial photographs from Historic England, or are they copyrighted? I've looked at those photos but I can't seem to get the orientation right. It would be great if you could bring them into your videos to show what the landscape was like 70 years ago when the railways were operating, and the land that you're walking now. I need someone like you to tell me what I'm looking at in those photos. Thanks for another great video.

[@vehicletransmission]

My mate used to live on mill lane, he told me ages ago about those water stairs having slid down. Ive never seen them till now. Looking forward to part 3, can't find it yet.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Hello thank you for watching 🙂 Part 3 is just around the corner. In fact it should be Monday.... Hopefully 😉

[@vehicletransmission]

@@TrekkingExploration You're welcome. I'll look forward to part 3, hope everything is ok

[@a11csc]

some nice finds ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Chris

[@jasonmccormick9944]

Brilliant video, what was the music at the end?

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

Another great piece of railway history, presented excellently too. I'm always a bit confused about the Great Central Railway at this end, did it terminate at Annesley because the more I read about it the more I discover that it went on further, but that's not my original understanding. Certainly the video of the line on Rediscovering Lost Railways clearly states it ends at Annesley. Any help gratefully received.

[@robertmarshall6578]

Oh boy - as with practically everything, it's complicated. The Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (which itself was an amalgamation of other lines and companies) existed to transport coal and other commodities across the Pennines. The MS&L extended from Sheffield southwards to Annesley where it built extensive goods yards, and the payload was then transported to the southern parts of the country via other railways (especially the Great Northern). The ambitious chairman of the MS&L, Edward Watkin, decided that he would extend the line from Annesley to London so that his company could bag all the profits for itself instead of paying rival companies to do it for him. So he built the line (via Nottingham, Leicester and Rugby) and the company changed its name to the more grandiose title of Great Central Railway in 1897. If you are interested, I suggest that you research the MS&L and GCR on Wikipedia, where you will find details of all the political, business and personal shenanigans which brought this railway into being. As I said, it's complicated! Regards and good luck!

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

@@robertmarshall6578 Thanks Robert, it's very kind of you to go to all that trouble to give me such a detailed answer. I'm currently documenting as much of the GCR as I can by photo, because a major chunk of it could disappear because of HS2, it will take some time but it's a project I'm excited about.

[@robertmarshall6578]

@@seamusmcevoy2011 No trouble, Seamus. And wow! - that's some task you've set yourself, good luck with it! I just wonder if you are aware of Mac Hawkins' book "The Great Central: Then and Now" published around 1991. The author undertook a similar project, he used old photos of the working GCR, then revisited the sites to take his "Now" photos, trying to keep the angles and framing as close as possible to the originals. The results are fascinating, and Mac describes in the captions the extreme difficulty he had in identifying some of the locations, large swathes of the GCR having been completely obliterated in the intervening years. (Even more so now, another 30 years on!) The book also includes detailed large-scale maps which I'm sure you would find useful in your endeavour. If you've not seen it, secondhand copies are readily and cheaply available via the internet.

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

@@robertmarshall6578 That's fantastic Robert, I'll get onto that. Time's not too much of an issue now that I've semi-retired from PE teaching, I just go out on the days I'm not working. The only trouble is that Lincolnshire, where I live, is quite a long way from the GCR in any direction!!!

[@ste.h9825]

Thanks Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching 🙂

[@marymoor935]

Could the cascade be a part of flood defences. As you don't how they muck about with the river when they were building the railway and bridges. Only a thought.

[@pixe1refr35h]

Is it possible the cascade was designed to syphon water for use on refilling locos. You see alot of similar things on old cuttings as well as alongside concrete troughs that were used to refill locos with water

[@trevorbirch797]

Super video

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Trevor

[@anthonymoore6009]

Good film, that concrete water cascade is a bit special, I suspect it'll fall soon.

[@glynscothern4073]

erewhash begins behind ALDI { old railway pub } ,Just 1/2 MILE NORTH the river MAUN STARTS both IN Kirkby,

[@TrekkingExploration]

I do think I shouldn't pay that a visit 🙂👍

[@paulharvey1624]

the spring for the Erewash was behind the Railway Pub

[@TrekkingExploration]

If I can get to it.... I'll go find it 🙂

[@paulharvey1624]

My dad and grandfather took me when a boy. I’ve since been back on numerous occasions but cannot find it. I do know they had lots of building problems with the footings for Aldi and the houses that are behind.

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@paulharvey1624 I hope it's DTI there and not in some kind of underground and built upon culvert

[@paulharvey1624]

I’ve sent you a old map, on messenger, it states the Head of the Erewash. you can see the bend in the road, directly where the Railway pub was. This map predates the Railways and the pub.

[@johntyjp]

In years to come , someone will be doing the same about Spaghetti Junction on the motorway !😆 Well worked out all the junctions lines, interesting !!!!

[@helenthorne8451]

Hi Ant I can't see part 3 😁 xx

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's not on yet.... Probably Monday. I didn't have time to finish it this weekend so did the easier canal video instead 😉

[@helenthorne8451]

Was worried I'd missed it phew 😅 lol xx

[@bobingram6912]

As usual, you'd never know any of it ever existed if it weren't for these vids, you'd never know all the that track and bridges was ever there.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Bob thanks very much for watching as always 🙂

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

shame it all gone now to look at it you wouldn't think there was a railway there when was the bridges demolished and why was the line closed