Exploring the Great Central Railway in Kirkby in Ashfield

Please watch: "The Most Beautiful Closed Railway in the UK? Scarborough to Whitby Railway Episode 2"
• The Most Beautiful Clo... -~-
Join me as I return to Kirkby in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire as I search for a lost deep cutting on the former Great Central Railway Mainline. Beginning by the lost Northern Portal of Annesley Tunnel, closed since 1968 & long buried. It's a fascinating find with some extraordinary railway relics and remains.
Part 1 of 3
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#disusedrailway #explore #annesley #railway Additional Music by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0.
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[@PrinceJohn84]

It never ceases to amaze me just how very little remains of the GCR north of Nottingham. It's as though the railway never existed in places. By the way the concrete bits that you found were the remains of a ballast bin.

[@matthewcotterill7155]

As a kirkby in ashfield resident for 19 years, this is great to see a place i know quite well from walks with my dogs. Great video sir.

[@idanoe9286]

Fancy seeing you here 😁 thanks for the link ducky, I really enjoyed it.

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

Great to discover the sidewalls on that old track bed, Ant. Such a busy area for different railway companies in the pre-grouping area it seems. The Great Central Railway was never a long lasting concern when you look back. The company constructed railways quite a while after the other ones, and many of their lines were closed before the others, too. The photos and maps you show on this video are of great interest indeed. Many thanks.

[@bexhil7]

Another great & fantastic video of Exploring the Great Central Railway in Kirkby in Ashfield!.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Michael

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

The GCR is the gift that keeps on giving, a great little video with so much going on. I was fascinated by the clumps of bricks that were just lying around, they must have been some sort of railway structure, especially the blue ones. I'm also documenting the GCR as you know and find it quite theraputic to be honest, all that history really gets to me, I love being amongst it.

[@shirleylynch7529]

The cutting was stunning with the colours and the sunlight through the trees. As you said didn’t look as though anybody used it much. Old photos and music nostalgic. What a brilliant video as always. Thank you for sharing.

[@mickgreen5334]

Brilliant film Ant. I loved Kirkby South when i was a kid. Always plenty of action. I went down lindleys lane years ago , everything down from the bridge where we would spot to the tunnel was all filled in but bridge brickwork was still there, no longer though😢 You did well with the cutting stonework i thought that was long gone too. Great stuff Ant. I'll have to have a look now😊

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's amazing to imagine just how far down the cutting was too from where the current Worksop to Nottingham line is as it passed under Lindleys Lane

[@20PhantoM07]

Thanks for that mate, being so far away me and many others will probably never get to see it and you did it for us!

[@TrekkingExploration]

So pleased that you enjoyed it. Part 2 shall be available from this evening 🙂

[@benGBRf]

Superb video Ant. I find it amazing how the railway shapes our landscapes and the evidence stays forever even after the last train that ran on it has long gone

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hi Ant - greetings from Poland. That was spectacular. That stone walling in the cutting was fabulous. The photographs you used especailly at the beginning of this video, gave perspective as to what we were looking at. A superb video with great camera work and made even more interesting by your commentary, historical information and funfacts.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much Michael. I do love it when I can find those old pictures it makes the world of difference

[@Design2winLew]

Fascinating vid Ant , looking forward to the next part . It's great that you have found such a lot of remains of the line is a shame about the Annesley tunnel being completely buried . Keep up the great work really enjoy the way you put your vids together and the delivery of the historic information .

[@ronaldhaynes4042]

Thankyou for taking the time for all of this, I was a fire at Market Harborough, I get so upset with the government when they start interfering with some thing they have little interested in, But now I think the tide is turning and they are reopening the line's ,at a greater cost to them.

[@b4mouse]

So much debris in that cutting, some curious brickwork as well. Clearly no one ever goes down there anymore, hats off to you for making the effort and the film.

[@Marc_von_Hoffrichter]

Brilliant! Wonderful to see this cutting and the story behind it all Ant. Also, it's good see less rubbish in these videos. I didn't realise how bad fly tipping was in the UK. The stuff I see on other channels is appalling.

[@petedemaio168]

Marvelous. Thanks for your efforts in getting to these places. I've said this before: the railways around this area were so complicated. You did really well explaining it using the maps. Even so, I feel I need to go and study it more, which is a good feeling to leave us with.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much. It's so complex yes. 2 of the videos required a second visit as what I discovered more about the area after I'd gone the first time

[@shaundonovan8816]

My Grandad Edward Handley was a Fireman on the Railway at Kirkby until 1966.

[@TheH78]

Fantastic video! Always fascinating to see what used to be. Just a shame its all gone now.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for your kind comment

[@steve83803]

So many memories, always lived locally and I still remember me Dad taking me to Mansfield Midland and the LNER stations in the mid 1960s. I often used to get hauled up on the footplates by the driver or fireman. Thanks for your lovely videos.

[@Richard_Barnes]

Looking forward to the rest of the series! Thx Ant 👍🏻😃

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Richard thanks so much

[@philclennell]

What a spectacular cutting! I believe the GC were famous for the scale of their earthworks and this is testament to it. Thanks for sharing this wonder.

[@roytabberer7427]

Very interesting, thanks for all of the hard work & research that you do for us.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Roy, much appreciated :)

[@LadySophieofHougunManor7325]

Very interesting Kirkby was where my late grandparents lived the thing on the ground given the dimensions made me wonder if was parts of old base/signal box those things you pointed out on floor awesome videos as always

[@bananabrooks3836]

Thanks for the video. My Dad worked at Annesley as a Fireman on the footplate from 1953-58, he fondly remembered his time there and told a few tails, usually funny ones, but l only recorded one he recounted on my phone before he passed suddenly in 2020. Annoying shame the pits dumped all their slag on top of it all, l went searching for any evidence and discovered this as you did. Dad could have answered all the questions you posed.

[@lilchris26]

Another nice video Ant full of in formation just love it, keep up the good work. These videos are very enjoyable to watch, love the old pics at the beginning too.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Chris. The old pictures were a job to get hold of this time but worth the effort

[@christinegibbins6105]

Just amazing to see, the work and effort with hand tools and perhaps a horse and cart back in the day, mind blowing. Thanks Ant. You take care.

[@trainmanbob]

That was an excellent watch Ant. In the video you mentioned several times how boggy and marshy it was...could some of the structure remains have something to do with culverts and drainage, or perhaps even pumps? The commentary was excellent as always, full of facts and questions..Super. Cheers, Bob

[@matthewwren1177]

Yet another fantastic little film! I look forward to seeing the next two parts.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Mathew

[@irievibes82]

Great channel is this.... The content is appreciated 😊

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much 🙂🙂

[@mikerogers5043]

Great video, really interesting explore, looking forward to the next part

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Mike much appreciated 😀😀

[@alanlake5220]

That was a nice hidden gem of a find, I did the Pinxton to Kirkby Diversion once, made a nice change from the normal route to mansfield .

[@TrekkingExploration]

You know I think I did once too many many years ago

[@johnmehaffey9953]

The way things are working out Ant you’ll have soon walked the full length of the old rail bed, another great post

[@bobingram6912]

Loving that mossy stone wall. Could sit and watch those B&Ws all day👍🏻 2 & 3 teasers looking even better. Cheers Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's a fascinating find one I discovered by accident whilst going to do what will now be part 3

[@daryl2510]

Thank you, a great telling of railway history in my hometown and I remember it as a kid x

[@TrekkingExploration]

Really pleased that you enjoyed it thank you

[@andrewmorris9722]

Remember playing there as a kid! My grandad would walk my mother down linleys lane to the bridge when she was pregnant with me and couldn’t sleep! Still visit regularly! 😀

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

excellent video 👍nice to see the cutting is still there and the refuse is still partly showing looking forward to the next video

[@johnlaw3323]

Another great subject with wonderful historical photos bringing it all back to life. Many thanks Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks John very much appreciated

[@MakeAllThingsBeautiful]

yes, seeing moss on old stone and brickwork and i'm easily pleased so anything else you find is a bonus. Love the teaser at the end, you literally left us on a cliff hanger there. Can't wait for part 3 of the trilogy. Despite all your efforts with the maps and directions I couldn't figure out where you were, doh, sorry, I've never really understood kirkby, i'll have a wider look on the map, find a few places i recognise and then zoom in. I can't believe there was so much going on back in the day. Well done, love the trips back in time.

[@seany84uk]

Another great video! Im getting behind on a lot of your vids i need to have a good binge watch session! :)

[@philliphammond399]

Hi Ant, great production again. A complicated mass of railways which you explained very well. Some lovely architecture still remaining. I think the steel angle sticking out of the cutting wall would have been for railway telegraph wires. Thanks for all the effort you put in.

[@DaleArnold-u3h]

I used to play down there as a kid,we used to climb the "cliffs" however no one died god only knows,then they did the land fill, that's when the real fun started 😊😊😊😊

[@easytiger652]

Another great informative vid.many thanks, 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much 🙂

[@warwickman8177]

Great video Ant very interesting indeed, i never knew Kirkby had so many lines at One time,when i used to work freight trains through there the Robin Hood line hadn't opened. There was only the line from Pye Bridge Jn up through Kirkby, Mansfield and beyond.Looking forward to the next part as i was a BR shunter working at Bentinck Colliery in the mid 70's.

[@westernmonitor]

Thanks Ant. Another really great video. You really are putting such an effort into these walks and I want you to know how much I enjoy seeing parts of the uk I visited in the 1970s and 80s and how things look today. I am not able to travel much these days so your work is almost as good as being there myself. Long may you continue and thanks once again.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That wall was such beautiful brickwork. Lovely area you in. Really enjoyed that thanks Ant. Really enjoying this series. Please stay safe and take care

[@TrekkingExploration]

Hey Linda thanks very much. It's quite a complex and forgotten area

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That’s a shame it’s historic and beautiful

[@tonyrobertson498]

Very interesting Ant. I was born in Orchard Road Kirkby yards away from Kirkby Central Station so this area fascinates me being a railway enthusiast.

[@chrisbayly5457]

Very informative video Ant..great

[@loltangera]

Great video, used to live so close to that cutting and never knew it was there to explore...

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's definitely worth a look it'll probably dry out in the summer

[@martinmarsola6477]

Another great video and chat. I garnering that this is two of four we spoke of? If it is, another hit out of the park! See you on the next, Ant! Cheers mate! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🙂👍🇺🇸

[@TrekkingExploration]

It is number 2 of 4 indeed all filmed on the same day :)

[@robertbush6652]

I just love your films and your music brilliant keep up the good work. Really good finds cannot wait for the others.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Robert that means a lot :)

[@robertbush6652]

@@TrekkingExploration no thank you i hope you enjoyed your coffee,😁

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@robertbush6652 ahhhh much appreciated too. 😀😀😀😀

[@philsmodelrailway232]

Great work on the weeks video Don’t you wish to have been around when these lines were operating

[@TrekkingExploration]

It would have been lovely wouldn't it?

[@Jimyjames73]

Hiya - @ 9:55 - It might have been to carry wires??? Very good exploring Ant - Thank you🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Jim and yes it could well be

[@Leicesterbusvideos32646]

Great video!! It's a part of the GCR that I've not been discovering much of, I've only been discovering parts of it in the London Extension part that closed in 1969, I might have to go down and see it for myself in the future

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Great piece of exploration with some intriguing remains - and hopefully more to come. With all the 'silting-up', the cutting is presumably now rather less deep than when in operation.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Hi Malcolm. I'd imagine that refugee had to be built to the standard tunnel spec so I'd imagine the track level to be around 4 feet further down Thanks for watching

[@simonballard6413]

Fascinating, as always. I see that Annesley tunnel was 1001 yards long - I believe that I read somewhere that it is completely buried? Such a shame when this happens.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It really is sadly although I'm not sure if it's filled in right the way through. Possibly it Is with coal slurry

[@spyderdryverlee4581]

Hi Ant. This is where we used to play over fifty years ago. The area was, and still is, known locally as "The Quarries". I might be wrong but where you were standing for the final scene was on the original trackbed of the horse drawn M&P. There's another curve of the original trackbed on the other side of today's line too. Looking forward to the next instalment. The old M&P is worth a video on it's own. You've covered much of it already inc. Kings Mill viaduct.

[@shaundonovan8816]

Wonderful.

[@helenthorne8451]

Hello Ant wow this is another amazing discovery of finds was funny how the wall just stopped and lots of stones still down too I'm looking forward to the following videos I like the way you show were we are on the map and old pics its all just great thanks xx

[@TrekkingExploration]

Hey Helen I'm pleased you enjoyed it. It was an absolute unexpected find. I went to do something else on the day and found this 😀😀

[@fhwolthuis]

Wonderful video, Ant. Thank you! 👍🏻

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Frank 🙂

[@yorkie2789]

Great stuff. If you are into boggy track beds the section of line south from Wellow towards Bilsthorpe could be right up your street!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Ha yes the Mid Notts line. I keep putting that off 😂

[@yorkie2789]

@@TrekkingExploration Was there a couple of weeks back, once past the boggy section its easier with a couple of nice bridges. From the look of it none goes down there!

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@yorkie2789 definitely a wellies job then

[@yorkie2789]

@@TrekkingExploration More like waders, problem is its in a very deep cutting and climbing up the side is not easy task!

[@ianr]

Recently subscribed. Really enjoying the excellent videos! 👏👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much Ian 😀😀

[@bobsrailrelics]

Great find, especially the brickwork. The blocks with the coping stones may be bunkers for bankers if there were any in the area. I found one on my video about the Big Hill on the Rhymney Railway. Was there a big gradient here?

[@daystatesniper01]

Superb video ,the buried Annersley tunnel must have some where a acess point for the DFT to inspect the insides ,esp' if roads/rail pass above it

[@TrekkingExploration]

You'd have to imagine it has somewhere wouldn't you? Thanks so much for watching

[@alantraish3368]

If the tunnel had vent shafts maybe they go in that way ? I’ve been to many a disused tunnel and would have like an explore on this. My understanding is It’s not a very deep tunnel more cut and cover so why it was buried ? Production skills on this video are fantastic

[@christoppo33]

Great video Thanks again ❤️

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so very much Chris

[@simoncooke2852]

The bridge at Lindley’s Lane carries the Robin Hood line over the lane now but in Great Central days the lane itself went over the line. That gives you some idea of the differences in level and the amount of filling that took place

[@ianhargreaves4978]

I’ve examined that stone wall for network rail as it supports the Robin Hood line

[@johnm2012]

I hope you found it to be in good order. I'll be a passenger on the Robin Hood Line tomorrow.

[@rogermorris6957]

Thank Ant very interesting 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Roger 🙂

[@jetsons101]

Two things amaze me, the amount of track that was laid down and also how long steam locomotives were used. Again, great use of old B&W photos. At 5:30 is there anything left of the signal house located where the tracks split off? Looks like you had a great day of walking. Thanks

[@TrekkingExploration]

Hi Mike from what I could tell the area of the signal box and junction was around where the infill began.

[@jetsons101]

@@TrekkingExploration Thanks for reply. Nothing beats vintage steam.

[@nigelhall1961]

Another great video Ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Nigel

[@sandrabrown212]

Hi that was brilliant, hope you can follow the GC line from here through to Clipstone sometime..what's left of it.

[@TrekkingExploration]

That would be nice wouldn't it? There must be some remnants. Thanks for watching

[@a11csc]

superb ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Chris 🙂

[@lostpilgrim_history]

Great video again

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much 🙂

[@lostpilgrim_history]

You'll have to show me area a little one day I think I'm going to be living very near one of old collieries

[@ianhargreaves4978]

The high end where you first walked down was that where the ground was filled in

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's a lot of infill isn't it? Thanks very much for watching

[@oldfart6318]

Intriguing.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching

[@dancycles2079]

At16.40 I believe it could be a platform

[@johnking1381]

The stone runs all the way down between GC main and Mansfield line, you just need to dig a bit.

[@michaelmiller641]

Such a waste of all that infrastructure! Nice video, Ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Michael 🙂

[@ianhargreaves4978]

Your correct it’s a blue brick bridge abutment for the foot bridge

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching Ian

[@GrrMeister]

*Biggest Mistake Closing the GCR Route, could have been converted to HST Route at minimum expense as built on Continental Building Gauge !*

[@simonrichardson5077]

Nice one,thanks

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Simon :)

[@GodfreyTempleton]

I'm aware of the London Extension but the detail in this video is a bit over my head, all that stuff going on north of Annesley with the tunnels and cuttings and different companies. Complicated stuff, pertinent to its times.

[@myopinionsmayoffendyou]

I walk the dogs round here all time. Never realised what the gaps was, I assumed remnants of mining work, I suppose technically it is.

[@railwaychristina3192]

That isn't a cutting, it's a canyon! Wow

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's amazing isn't it? Thank you for watching

[@jonny-simulation-gamer]

the robin hood line use to be 2 tracks till the trams came along

[@TrekkingExploration]

Yes i remember that too, i feel it was more reliable then also

[@jonny-simulation-gamer]

@@TrekkingExploration im to young to rember not having the trams in nottingham

[@johnm2012]

Even before the trams there was a single track section through the tunnel and Newstead station.

[@glynscothern4073]

Tbe money miss spent. Filling in a 2 track rail way in a cutting to. In fill tben dig out AND THEN REFILL .Then put up a embackment fot a single tra k 19th centry single track that can not handle the TRAM.

[@Joe90V]

Accidentally pressed the Dislike button because the video changed unexpectedly. Needless to say, that's the opposite of what I feel.

[@TrekkingExploration]

You can always press the like and it'll remove the dislike 👍

[@peebee143]

What you found @ 17:40 was the remains of a chipping bin. The small column would have been a support beneath the bin used on embankment sides and such.