My simulated flight from Ilkeston North to Nottingham Victoria stations.

My simulated flight over the remains of the route of the Great Northern and Great Central Railways, from Ilkeston North to Nottingham Victoria stations.
I Don't See the Branches, I See the Leaves by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (creativecommon...)
Source: chriszabriskie....
Artist: chriszabriskie....

[@robtyman4281]

Very sad. We have been he architects of our own downfall. You can't blame the Germans for this.......for what we did to our own country during the 1960's and 70's. It's tragic really. This railway would have been perfect for HS2 trains. The haunting music adds poignancy, and makes you wonder how stupid and reckless we were.

[@MrZenitJ]

The local planners have really made sure that rail line is not coming back....

[@TruckingInTheUK]

If only the original route had been kept free of new building, it would have made a great commuter tram line into Nottingham. Nice work on the video.

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

I think we are better served by the industry and housing estates which occupy the track beds. We can't keep every white elephant from the past, we need to reuse and recycle land to fit current needs.

[@johnjephcote7636]

Indeed. It is a weird feeling I get when I take the tram from Wilford Brickworks Crossing to Nottm.Vic having been along the GC main line in steam days before 1967. So many well-engineered closed lines should have been retained as a strategic reserve.

[@stone_me6849]

@@PreservationEnthusiast Would re-opened rail lines serve the Country's transport needs better. They were white elephants back then, but now?...............

[@sparkyindahouse]

top video..shame this route is lost forever..

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

Interesting but also distressing. Torn up and built on without a scrap of foresight about the future. Could have been so useful today instead of bloody rails to trails for cyclists and people to let their dogs shit all over.

[@kipsome45]

Excellent video and the background music gave it poignancy. Incredible to think that construction of the GCR was completed little more than a human lifetime ago, and yet much of it has been obliterated forever.

[@johnjephcote7636]

HS2 could have saved much money had the GC main line of 1901-1967 been retained. It possessed no level crossings and was built to the Berne loading gauge.

[@stone_me6849]

This is brilliant - I clearly remember all the route from Derby Friargate to Nottingham Victoria in the 60's on our way to Grantham for a days spotting. The sad part is that it has virtually all been built over, so all we're left with is our personal memories and photographs.

[@PeterAJWoods]

What memories and really can't beleive how it's so built over now. I also remember going to Pinxton from Kimberly on a bitterly cold winters snowy day and onwards from Ilkeston to Friar Gate, Derby. Many, many thanks for the excellent video.

[@tango6nf477]

So strange to think that I once used this line as did many to reach the East Coast resorts like Skegness (Skeggy) from my home town Derby. Such a pity its gone, would have been another useful route between the West Midlands and Nottingham.

[@robertwbeams9929]

And its our era that the trackbed was built over, destroyed for ever, shame on us for such lack of foresight.

[@rickorider]

Excellent work...fascinating. I hate watching these videos as its so sad to see such brilliant engineering lost for ever. Well done.

[@McMieke]

This is brilliant. Not many signs left of the original track bed. Great work.

[@philclennell]

Fascinating piece of work. Amazing how time and nature swallow up these old lines but if you look hard enough there's an old remnant of embankment here and there. This footage gives a great sense of the overall geography - well done. Let's hope there'll be more of these.

[@GRAHAMAUS]

It looks like you recorded the screen while manually scrolling and occasionally adjusting the direction. GE will do this automatically and far more smoothly -- have a play with the "Tour" feature. Click the button at the bottom right of the "Places" list. The default speed is far too fast, but there is a setting in the preferences top slow it way down.

[@davidburns5988]

Thanks Marc. That was brilliant. As a young lad I occasionally managed to get to Nottingham Midland Station for trainspotting but never managed the Victoria. But then there was a bridge over the Midland station where the line from Victoria went.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I did use Nottm. Vic. and just once, on a 'special' went from the old GN station (now Virgin Fitness) on the curve into Victoria. I can just glimpse the short tunnel into Victoria as the tram curves off the rebuilt Colin Street Viaduct to take the road into Lace Market.

[@judithpeters7658]

Brilliant. Thank you Marc for your hard work.

[@charliesmithurst5785]

That's brilliant can anyone remember the bridges at giltbrook, think that was from Eastwood, remember them as a kid in the 60s

[@brianbrunger]

Worst thing Nottingham ever did closing Victoria station far better positioned than Midland station. Remember traveling to London in the late fifties via the great central, a straighter and faster line than the midland mainline. Beeching has a lot to answer for.

[@jontom71]

6:09 the old Brough superior motorbike factory with the chimney

[@tomhiggins4124]

Hi , brilliant film !!!!!!!! , man nothing lift !!!!!! The rurt iron brige all on it,s own !!!!!!!! sad looking !!!!!!!! .

[@Mizzburlesque]

Such a shame there are so many new build houses

[@melprice8961]

i can remember taking the train from Ilkeston north station to Nottingham Victoria when i was a kid as though it was yesterday, shame there"s hardly any of it left

[@jonnyandvonny]

Fantastic video. Thanks

[@DecentralEyes]

This is great. Could you do one going east to Trent Lane junction and Thorneywood stations?

[@trickymicky333]

Absolutely Superb. Captivating. Thank you for sharing this.

[@NextSound170]

It makes sense now when I google the lay of the land hasn’t changed

[@jackrabbit8196]

Brilliant video, very well done.

[@artiegalanti]

Fascinating - an excellent piece of work!

[@NJ87-90]

Absolutely amazing piece of history. My Grandfather worked in the shunting yards at Colwick/Nottingham after the war,so bring a little nostalgia to my day! Cheers for memories 😊

[@Dave-K-Notts]

Very good.

[@bobtudbury8505]

good video, us lads / young boys walked through these tunnels in about 72 , no torches lol ! ....i also remember carrington station , platroms etc

[@philkennedy342]

Exceptional work and cleverly done many thanks for sharing 👍👍👍

[@iangill8016]

Excellent and informative video. Thank you for posting.

[@Richard_Barnes]

That was superb Marc! Interesting view all the way. The earlier route still outlined by tree’s and then the rest just obliterated for housing estates. Great video 👍🏻🙂

[@nickmelling4238]

Excellent stuff Mark, such a shame its all gone, what music are you using?

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

Not really a shame, the housing and industry provide habitation and work for many people. Shazam says the music is Whispers asmr freedom meditation by Dawn Harrington. Who knows if that's right!

[@marck.9535]

Thanks Nick, the music is I Don't See the Branches, I See the Leaves by Chris Zabriskie.

[@JAMESDEMU-RailwayModeller]

Very interesting. Thank you for putting that together.

[@Nozzernomates]

Enjoyed - brought back lots of memories, thank you.

[@chrisshaw1529]

A lot of good work there Marc, enjoyed that and thanks..

[@davidlee8309]

Brilliantly done Marc. Thank you

[@lilybloodnut3260]

Absolutely fantastic

[@richard-lm4zf]

Excellent 👍🏻

[@richard1342]

Good work!

[@martinmessiah7130]

Love it