the largest organisation for historic vans, lorries, buses, military and steam vehicles
H.C.V.S. East Midlands
H.C.V.S. East Midlands Area Meetings
Our meetings are held at the Foresters Arms, 254 Main Street, Newthorpe NG16 2DN on the second Tuesday of the month - 7.30pm for 8.00 pm. I am sure that there are a reasonable number of members living within a 20-mile radius of the Foresters Arms, which is readily accessible from most directions, being just off the A610, and close to Junction 26 of the M1, so why not join us for an evening, the facilities are good and there is food provided in the break. For further location details call me on 01629 593684 or at ianmidlandgeneralc5@gmail.com
December Meeting 2022
This was our annual AGM which was followed by a quiz set by our Chairman Ian Revill
Our first meeting in the New Year will be on the 10 th January 2023 when it is Film Night. All
are welcome
Ian Revill Chairman
November Meeting 2022
This month we were treated to a talk by Keith Blood on the Friar Gate Line. This was part of
a line constructed by the Great Northern Company in 1878 after being given Royal consent
in that year from Colwick to Burton on Trent via Nottingham Victoria Station, Kimberley,
Awsworth, Ilkeston onto Derby and Burton on Trent via Etwall.
The first part of the talk was explaining the reason for the line being built which was for the
Great Northern Railway to get coal from the Nottinghamshire coal field to London along
with other freight from Hull and the east coast. Their great rival George Stephenson had to
the edge over them because his line was shorter and cheaper, in fact he showed us picture
of a statue of George Stephenson outside Derby Midland Station.
Keith went to show numerous pictures of the line particularly bridges constructed for the
line, one very important one was the Bennerley Viaduct across the River Erewash which is
now a grade 1 listed structure and has been restored to allow public access across it.
Another of a loco used to test to see if the bridge was safe by running over it when the
bridge was finished. No one fancied the job of being the engine driver.
Keith went on to show photos of the same bridges then and now including stations along
the line with little snippets of siddings were trains could shunt over to lines which went
underneath the main line to serve buildings nearby, including aerial shots of the line in
Derby which was a raised line. Many photo’s showed the brick viaducts with businesses
underneath.
The second part of the talk centred around Derby where it was planned to have a grand
station and we were shown a plan of the said station. Sadly it was never built to this
specification due to a lack of funds. However we were again shown photos of the station
when in operation and sadly in its demise and how it is now. Two bridges of steel
construction showed the skill of the craftsmen building it as it had many decorative features
on it. One building a warehouse for the station now owned by the owner of Derby County
Football Club is in a bad state of repair but the grandeur of the original construction could
be seen.
Many photos of aerial shots of the Friar Gate Station were shown along with many of the
old stations from Derby to Etwal then and now. There were too many photos to describe
here but all enjoyed the talk and we have invited Keith back sometime in the future.
Ian Revill Chairman
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