The Lost UK Mainline Railway Test Track

The Lost UK Mainline Railway Test Track
Closed since 1990, the former Great Northern Railway route once ran between Eggington Junction and Derby until closure came around in 1968 where then the route between Mickleover and Eggington was used as a Mainline Test Railway Track until 1990.
Now used as a lovely Greenway there is still a lot of railway history to be seen.
Thumbnail image by Phil Waterfield
'Rites of Passage' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
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#mickleover #test #track #closed #railway #disused #derby

[@stephencope7178]

Given the problems with traffic nowadays, it's proving to be a big mistake to have closed all of the railways. . .very short sighted!! 🥴

[@jameswingrove7421]

The Beeching Axe was a big one! And now we’re paying the price.

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

I lived in Mackworth and used to walk that path reguarly. There used to be a model of the test track on an outdoor table which I think has now gone sadly. My mum used to meet my Grandad at Friargate station on Fridays when he came home from work.

[@iancaveney7464]

"...a red-brick chimney...phwooar!" Steady on, Dibnah! 😉😉👍

[@phillipthebigj8971]

Thanks Ant another great video, love ya drone flying to big thumbs up

[@fhwolthuis]

Masterpiece 👌😀

[@simonballard6413]

Most interesting line, Ant. Such a pity about Mickleover tunnel. Why do they bury these masterpieces of engineering? I cannot believe how articulate you always are with your commentary - others that put such videos on are so often stuck for what to say and the "ers" and "ums" drive you mad! You never hesitate and are so great with info. Loved the brick chimney! Thanks so much.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you Simon. It used to be difficult when doing map voice overs without the erms but now I just say it and it pops out. I like to talk, some that know me might say too much 😂

[@shirleylynch7529]

Fabulous walk. Beautiful scenery and colours. Loved the bridges. Before and after pictures nostalgic . Another masterpiece Ant. Drone work amazing. Thank you so much.

[@cyberleaderandy1]

I used to walk over that track as an apprentice going to the Rolls Royce training centre on Station Road. Test trains used to run on that track back then in 1981. Hilton is my home village and glad you found this line. The small Egginton crossing house still has its triangular shaped windows to see both ways along the road from upstairs. The MoD site i remember as a kid so will be interesting what you find as may need to go have a look at it myself 😊

[@TrekkingExploration]

I've got the Hilton MOD video following this one 😊

[@cyberleaderandy1]

​​​@@TrekkingExploration great stuff. I'll probably have a go look myself. Shame you didnt nip over to Hatton as theres still a few nice remnants of the original station buildings and the original signal box. Not enough for a video but nice to see.

[@user-vw5sb8lh2d]

Once again an amazing video, in the late 70s i was a student at john port school Etwall, and i can remember seeing the apt power car being tested on that test line 😀

[@johnlaw3323]

Fascinating vlog Ant many thanks for making and sharing.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much John 😄

[@railwaychristina3192]

Another winner, thank you so much❤

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you for watching ☺️

[@TheFilwud]

Jeez! this video reallt hits me, that was a railway three years before I bought my house, now it has completely gone. This makes me feel old! Just like the fact that I remember seeing trains on the Woodhead line. Thanks for the video, I think I may have to weep quietly about things that have gone! I feel very mortal!

[@Marc_von_Hoffrichter]

Thanks Ant. What a wonderful journey mate, beautiful scenery. Cheers.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Marc as always 😁

[@derekholcroft]

I worked at BR Research in the 1980s and spent some time working in the Derby Technical Centre, I spent a day on a test train starting from the Derby Test Track. I can't remember the locomotive pulling the coach maybe a Class 47 but the test coach itself was a Victorian or Edwardian observation car, we did a run down to Milton Keynes Station. I was told the test track was also used as a safe place to park the Royal Train overnight when the Royals were onboard.

[@oldfart6318]

The test track was not only used to test locomotives but also a trial method of controlling them by use of a continuous wire in the centre of the track layed in a zigzag pattern, known as the wiggly wire experiment.

[@michaelmiller641]

Fascinating Ant, thanks. For that video, I look forward to the next one. When me and my brother were kids , in the early sixties, we visited our grandparents in Norfolk, and when taking the dog, Bonzo for a walk round the plantation. every morning as regular as clockwork, a van would pass us called "Mickleover Transport" what it was doing in kenninghall in Norfolk i don't know!

[@djselectrix1395]

Was going to say that used to be egginton dairy, i went to the old etwall station a few times as a kid when it was mitchell's farm machinery, I always used to keep an eye out going over that bridge & caught a glimpse of them testing the APT power cars one day, all sadly history now, egginton station was the offices of the national rivers authority, don't know what it's used for now

[@g8ymw]

I remember the farm machinery dealership when I was young (1960s). My dad's side of the family had relatives near Stoke on Trent so went past their a few times. Later, Eggington Creamery was used by my place of work to grind iron turnings into powder for my works at Staveley (1980s) I presume the brick chimney was the creamery?

[@Daytona2]

Just looked it up, before seeing your comment, thanks 👍 The dairy's on the 1901 map, online at the National Library of Scotland if anyone else is interested in the history.

[@grahameandrew5510]

Welcome to my backyard! Great to see the old pictures you put in the footage, I'm sure you enjoyed the old sidings of the Depot site, just to confirm what @derekholcroft says, it is common knowledge in the village (Hilton) that the Royal Train was often kept in the MOD Depot as a safe place to stay.

[@andyb5055]

hi Ant, your videos get better and better well done mate.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind Andy thank you

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Excellent video really enjoyed watching. Your footage & history is amazing.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind thank you 😊

[@garymutten4093]

Another excellent highly entertaining and informative video. Amazing scenery and drone footage. Well done Ant

[@jasonhimpson2334]

Another fantastic video, very informative and well put together

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching Jason very kind

[@themackeler5011]

Brilliantly done, im in Heanor so think that will be my next bike journey when the weather improves.

[@stuartwatson5033]

Another great video Ant ! Thanks I love the fact you research the lines so much and are so knowledgeable about the railways. Really wish I had more time to walk some lines myself. Keep Trekking 👍🏻

[@BrendanPerkins]

Another awesome video, thanks Ant.

[@BigD63]

as always fantastic content... great video.... best regards from Chicago

[@expat0149]

Have you walked the C2C in the Lake district , its another disused rail track turned into a cyclepath /footpath , it is just behind where i live some othe old train stations are still there , i love going for a walk with my dog there ....

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you as always for the eye opening video. A genuine walk back in time to say the least. Will look forward to the follow up video. See you on the next, Ant. Cheers mate! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@peterskegness3204]

Very interesting film. I notice from the photos, the prototype class 151 2nd Gen dmu Was amongst those tested on that line. Luckily I did once travel on it when in a Derby to Matlock service. More attractive than the 150's externally, but shame about the bus seating inside. Be interesting (presuming there's anything left) to see a video of the former Derby Friargate station if you're in that area some time in the future. It was reasonably accessible when I did it around 30 years ago, but hate to imagine the state of it now. I even managed to walk over the bridge which once carried the GNR over Friargate itself.

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

Friargate bridge was a mess the last time I saw it. The council has really let it go. Shame after all the effort they put in to refurbish it a couple of decades ago. That's councils for you . I actually remember steam trains crossing the bridge and stopping at the station, when I was little. The platforms ran across the bridge iirc. I can still see the lemming like torrent of passengers that would spew out onto the driveways beside it and thence onto the pavement beside the bridge, after disembarking from the train above. It was an interesting sight to see the trains up in the air disappear between two houses. They continued on a long high brick viaduct that ran down ford st and off behind where radio derby is now. The viaduct "arches' used to be covered up and held multiple small businesses including one that built beach buggies out of old Beatles. Always fascinated to see brightly coloured beach buggies in soggy Derby . I also worked next to mickleover station back in the day. It may still have been available as a test track at the time but I never saw any activity there. There was an engineering firm in the yard just beyond it, and behind the Rolls Royce training centre which later became a bovis homes office. When it was closed the tunnel in mickleover could still be seen from the road bridge , but quite a few years ago the gap between the road bridge and the tunnel got filled in and became part of the surrounding field. I am not sure if they have built on it, as there are a lot of new houses around there now.

[@ste.h9825]

Thanks Ant.👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you 😊

[@a11csc]

another fantastic vid ant

[@thewhiteroom23]

I really enjoyed this one. Well done Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I'm pleased thank you very much

[@richardharris4452]

Thank you, Ant. Another great video. Love the detail...Great drone footage, especially of Eggington Junction

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Richard very kind

[@davidcousins3508]

Your walks are always interesting and informative Ant ..I’m originally from Nottingham,but now living in Hungary,it’s always great to see the midlands countryside and historical infrastructure 👍

[@levelcrossing150]

Great video, I thoroughly enjoyed it as always.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Brilliant thank you 😀

[@kevinpotter4660]

Good work as always !

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Kevin

[@tinafoote9640]

I have been waiting for you to do this one Ant. My dad lives in mickleover and we have walked some of that track bed, there are also some geocaches along there. Thank you for all you do, this is what i miss about my home country. 🇨🇦 🇬🇧

[@revoltos]

This is literally up the road from me. Not actually being born in Mickleover but moving here afew years and discovering the greenway was an old line, I found this video really informative. Thanks very much. It is my friend who now owns and lives in the Ex Gas Works property.

[@paul0gb]

I was at Derby university Micklover campus a long time ago. I was not into old railway walks in those days and never knew about it.

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

I think even the mickleover campus has succumbed to the house builders. I remember going there once with the girlfriend who had a course there. I used to live not too far away , but it has all changed now.

[@richarddoran3877]

I remember seeing the signal box in Etwell. I think it finally went in the early 90's. Thanks for making this video.

[@Wayne56089]

Another brilliant and informative video matey. I remember they used to have some withdrawn class 45 locos they had on the test track as dead weight.

[@julianlane8313]

If I remember correctly BR clipped the track and the peaks were effectively marooned! They had to reinstate the track to collect them.

[@jetsons101]

Ant, with all the walking you do, you must go through 12 pairs of shoes a year.... What beautiful countryside for walking, the drone work makes it even better. Thanks mike

[@pixe1refr35h]

So glad you finally covered this, used to live locally. Used to play up at the old friar gate station in the early 90s as a youth

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it. I seem to be looking at a few things over that way currently

[@RaggyAl1971]

The western end of the GNR North Staffordshire Extension that began at Colwick North Junction,good to see this end of the line.

[@Burtonupontrentrailwaystoday]

Great vlog this line went from friar gate to Egginton Junction NSR 1848 I filmed the tutbury jinny earlier this year learnt quite a lot thanks for sharing

[@simonrichardson5077]

great work Ant,thanks

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Simon ☺️

[@Jimyjames73]

Always sad when they closed the Railway line, but good that they turned it in to a Trail so that it can be explored!!! Thanks for sharing Ant 🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@ccjelley2390]

@ 18:10 - a Daimler Fleetline of Blue Bus Services [Tailby & George] of Willington, 325YNU, one of a pair. 324/5.

[@darrenraymond5334]

very interesting thank you 😁

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you 😊

[@NigelPear]

Used to live a 5 minute walk from the track on the Silverhill estate. We grew up with trains running up and down. Back in the 80’s I remember some sections doubled tracked, although only 1 was ever used. There used to be sheds at the Mickleover station end and a big long Polytunnel with a scale mode of the track inside I believe. There was a wrought iron footbridge over the tracks at the end of Olton Road for the public footpath.

[@darreneveleigh4624]

Fantastic video

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed Darren 😊

[@tonystack7375]

Very good and interesting.

[@NBMedia8928]

Great video of my local area, I used to work at the old Hilton depot before it was demolished, looking forward to the next video

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much I'm hoping I can get hold of photos for this

[@NBMedia8928]

@@TrekkingExploration I made video about 5 years ago before demolition kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJ6aeHl-pdVggdUsi=TWkEaq5mwW9kpJI4

[@jadejoannejackson6232]

Hey Ant awesome video :) some what relaxing. Hope you're well "alwalloo" 😊🤘👋

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Jade. Really pleased you enjoyed it 😊

[@alistairkewish651]

The background music is very fitting……

[@gycuk1173]

Hi great walk as always. Did you miss the signal post 14:13 :)

[@stefantoth240]

Interesting to see the photo of the Blue Bus Services (Tailby and George), at Eggington Junction. Possibly 324 YNU, the first production Daimler Fleetline, lost in the disastrous fire at the Blue Bus garage (5th/6th January 1976) at Willington after the takeover of Blue Bus by Derby Borough Transport in 1973.

[@stuart3383]

Brilliant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you 😊

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

Another great video, Ant. I love the research and the old pictures, too. Just one question. Do you work out all these routes yourself from the Scotland site, or do subscribers suggest interesting areas? Thank you, as always, for sharing. I'm still loving your videos.

[@IS-L]

That is my stomping ground as a kid, I grew up when there was steam on that line. Did you call into Sainsburies? that used to be a brickyard where we played and the tunnel portal was in the corner and aliens with the A38. if you look on the map, there is a split in the A38 and down that waste ground, I suspect the other tunnel port can be seen. when steam was almost gone, it was they I actually copped my first V2 (I grew up an LMS boy) happy days.

[@peterbeardsley419]

Great video. Is their a way to know where all the videos are made on a map?

[@1975supermike]

You walked straight past that original post where the new build were.

[@alistairkewish651]

The odd bit about this former route is that there doesn’t seem to be enough room for double track, but there was. Odd.

[@bobingram6912]

Are you treating yourself Ant - no brambles, deep stinky puddles or tree branches?!!!😂😂😂 Hats off to the photographers who had the foresight to go out and take those shots, together with your excellent explore it puts it all into perspective👍👍👍👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Are you trying to say this one was too easy? 🤣🤣 The follow up has some twigs in it 🤣

[@bobingram6912]

@@TrekkingExploration Steady on lad🤣🤣🤣

[@wheater5]

Ant, I watched a TV programme last night, a walk in Yorkshire done by a well known news reporter. It wasn’t a patch on your videos and I must admit, after the most interesting thing there was her pointing out a stream and a cow I soon got bored with it and switched it off. Not yours, though - I watch them right through.

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@wheater5 thanks so very very much Indeed that's a very kind thing to say

[@mikewood142]

Correct me if I'm wrong anyone, but I believe that this old test track was used for testing the APT-E Gas turbine engine? If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me? But I'm sure I've seen photos of that loco being tested on the same track.?

[@roblubelski422]

Hen House, History…. Not on about the Women! 😂 Great video Ant.

[@GarethL2008]

14:11 was that some kind of signal on the right hand side?

[@user-cg6gg8de4y]

i presume when that test track closed High Marnham opened.

[@TrekkingExploration]

High marnham was around 2011 i think. They probably used Old Dalby

[@philnewcomers9170]

iusualy make a coment when the back ground noise is unexceptable yours is on the edge ttfn&ty

[@barrybristow4646]

Is there an Australian version of this show ????.

[@andrewparkin5065]

I live in ollerton Nottinghamshire I heard from someone and this person said we are not getting a train station because the government is not give any money for it, because the Nottinghamshire council didn't not flow up and check.

[@TrekkingExploration]

That really is a bit of a saga that just drags on which is disappointing

[@TickledFunnyBone]

19:40 Anyone notice that when two females ride two horses there are 4 tails. lol! hi, from across the pond.

[@wilkybarkid]

1k likes 😊

[@TrekkingExploration]

🤗

[@TheJG3870]

Normally the accompanying music flows really well in your videos, but this time you included some music with vocals on it which detracted from the video and spoilt it for me. Stick to the instrumental music it's much better

[@TrekkingExploration]

The vocals are extremely minimal, very minimal. They appear occasionally and will still do