Bundle – GN East Midlands – 4 Volumes

Description

Volume 1 Colwick Yards, Nottingham L Road – Gedling – Basford

Volume 1 (published 1999) of a four-volume set by Alfred Henshaw.  Today it’s hard to imagine the North Nottinghamshire towns of Basford, Bulwell and Gedling handling express and local passenger trains, and major mineral flows serving the iron ore, coal and steel industries. The GNR built their main line from the Trent climbing across the Leen Valley and developed the railway town of Netherfield. Their Colwick yards complex was vast, with capacity for 6,000 wagons and employing 600. Multiple signalboxes and two engine sheds, one with eight roads, were features, as were substantial stations. The complete story of construction, expansion, intensive operation, contraction, closure and the scene today is presented by retired railwayman and new local author Alfred Henshaw. Extensive maps and signal diagrams are featured. This major new book on the least well known of Nottingham’s railways is the first in a series on the GN in the East Midlands.

Volume 2 Nottingham Victoria, GC, Leen Valley Network

Volume 2 (published 2000) of a four-volume set by Alfred Henshaw.  As the GNR built northwards from Nottingham, the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire (later Great Central) built south from Sheffield. The two companies agree to jointly build a major 12 platform station in the heart of Nottingham, nearer to the centre than any other station, and opened it on the Queen’s birthday in 1900 as Nottingham Victoria. Had the station lasted longer it would surely have been preserved, with its tall, elegant clock tower leading into the fine platform level architecture under the imposing roof. In the Leen Valley a plethora of competing lines were provided to serve the extensive collieries and ironworks. Author Alf Henshaw brings vividly to life the smoky air of Victoria station and the complexity of the north Notts railway scene with his extensive atmospheric photographs.

Volume 3 The Erewash Valley Lines, Pinxton Branch, Awsworth – Ilkeston, Heanor & Stanton Branches

Volume 3 (published 2000) of a four-volume set by Alfred Henshaw.  The GN built their own network to access the Derbyshire coalfield to compete with the Midland Railway and gain a fair share of the lucrative traffic, not only coal but also iron ore to the sprawling Stanton complex. Author Alf Henshaw uses his inside local railwayman’s intimate knowledge to bring to life the complex railway operations in north Notts. His signalling knowledge is used to the full with signals, boxes and layouts featured. The Stanton complex of branches and workings is included, with the major Giltbrook and Bennerley viaducts also featured. The third book in the best selling series continues the meticulous details of books one and two.

Volume 4 Nottingham – Grantham, Bottesford – Newark, Melton Mowbray, The Leicester Line and Ironstone Branches

Volume 4 (published 2003) of a four-volume set by Alfred Henshaw.  The GN built the Nottingham-Grantham line primarily to carry coal from its Midlands origins to the main markets in the South. With minerals accounting for 60% of business, discovery of iron ore in the area of the line brought major expansion, not only of local branches but also the north-south Newark-Melton and Leicester routes. This book gives a fascinating insight into the lines as they were originally built, the effect of the major expansion and traffic volumes, wartime traffics, and also covers the decline and closure of much of the system in the 50s and 60s. Modernisation and current operation of the Nottingham-Grantham line is also covered, with a review of the closed lines remaining features that today’s visitors can find. The authors background is in signalling and traffic operation, both feature in this absorbing new book. This book completes the series of four by author Alf Henshaw.