cweston

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Posts posted by cweston

  4. Forty Bridges or Giltbrook/ Kimberley/ Awsworth Viaduct

    in Pete's Nottingham Transport Forum

    Posted

    From what I can see, if you look on http://www.ponies.me.uk/maps/osmap.html the MR is on the embankment going under the viaduct - probably closed when the photograph was taken hence looking overgrown. There seems to be a mineral line going from just west of Awsworth station to "Giltbrook Colliery" (if that is indeed what it was called) that went under the MR through the same bridge as the Nottingham canal then under another arch of viaduct before crossing the B6010 where the roundabout turning into Ikea is now - but this doesn't explain the tunnel under the embankment.

    I can't see a tunnel under the embankment on the "ponies" map unless I have everything 180 degrees out (there is one on the other side of the viaduct), but I'm pretty sure Fynger's photo is looking towards the north west with Awsworth Road in the foreground.

  7. Forty Bridges or Giltbrook/ Kimberley/ Awsworth Viaduct

    in Pete's Nottingham Transport Forum

    Posted

    Thanks for all your efforts. Firbeck's is the best picture I have seen of the viaduct, but I will continue to search for a photo that shows the whole length; Firbeck's just misses the Awsworth Road arch at the east end.

    Two more (sad) questions:

    How many arches were there? - Reportedly not 40, but I have read numbers from mid 30s to mid 40s.

    Is the arch almost directly under the engine on Firbeck's photo for the MR Bulwell to Bennerley line (if that is what it was called)?

    On the Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r-VlWZXqxU...feature=related between 2.08 and 2.23 (shot at Awsworth station) you really get a feel for how long the viaduct was - but can't count the arches!

    Thanks

    CW

  9. Forty Bridges or Giltbrook/ Kimberley/ Awsworth Viaduct

    in Pete's Nottingham Transport Forum

    Posted

    I am staggered how little there is on the web about forty bridges, at the start of the Pinxston branch of the GNR, also known as Kimberley or Giltbrook or Awsworth Viaduct. I only have a vague memory of it as a kid - just remember how beautifully long and curved it was.

    I appreciate this is barely Nottingham but, given that most of Nottingham now comes shopping at Ikea which is just north of the site of the viaduct, can I ask if anyone has any information or photos? Photos I've found only seem to show a small part of it.

    Thanks greatly,

    CW

    • Upvote 1

  11. Watnall Tunnels

    in Pete's Nottingham Transport Forum

    Posted

    Hi Folks,

    Does anyone have any photographs of either of these two tunnels before they were abandoned?

    Watnall (Kimberley) GNR Tunnel has been totally obliterated by earthing-over. The parallel 268 yard bore at SK507452 situated slightly south of the Midland on the Derby Friargate to Nottingham line is completely obliterated with no visible trace at either end although the course of the line at either end & across the top of the erstwhile tunnel is now a public bridleway.

    The 147 yard Watnall (Cantelupe) Midland tunnel at [sK504454] on the Midland Ilkeston to Basford branch has been infilled for years with colliery waste but that has settled partially revealing both portals & giving some 'crawing space' inside the Western portal to about 15 yards where the gap narrows to a few inches. The trackbed leading up to the Eastern portal is waterlogged. The deep cutting at the Eastern end is relatively dry & walkable for at least a couple of hundred yards.

    G G

    Hi GG,

    I walked from Cinderhill to Kimberley a couple of times in the early 70's along the GNR track bed - I wish I'd taken a camera with me. Most of the route was still clear then, although the spoil heap from Babbington (or Cinderhill?) pit had obliterated part west of Cinderhill Road, and I remember that bit being quite tricky going. After the M1 bridge it got quite wet because the draining had obviously broken down. I remember the tunnel portals were particularly distinctive, the tops being "pitched" to a point, rather than the usual flat. I found a photograph on the "Picturethepast" website.

    http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/frontend....UALS;NCCC001907

    If that doesn't work just search for Watnall on the site and you'll soon find it.

    I remember the portals being more distinctive than the photograph, but the photograph notes mention the coping stones being dislodged - I guess I was there before the photograph was taken.

    I did go into the Midland Ilkeston to Basford branch tunnel around the same time and remember large chunks of the lining had collapsed. The approaches were very overgrown - more than in firbeck's excellent photograph.

    CW

  12. Steam

    in Pete's Nottingham Transport Forum

    Posted

    Hi Rob, sorry for late reply, was on holiday, assume by two lines you mean the one I mentioned plus the branch going off to the left from the main down gcr? Yes the rathole did take the GNR branch under the GCR, I don't think I inferred otherwise? however it had it's own bridge carrying arnold rd over it, touch wood a couple of photo'd photo copies will be here! (no they won't, battery is flat will post later)

    Hi Ashley,

    Did you get your battery recharged? I used to cycle past the rathole every day on the way to and from school. It would be great to see photos of it.

    Thanks!