Industrial Developments
New Hucknall Colliery
Pit Railroad Connections
The Midland Railway firstly carved a railroad through Hucknall Huthwaite to haul coals from neighbouring pits. Opening a Woodend station predates the latest Hucknall Huthwaite pit connection into widely expanding railroad networks by about a decade. This was another Blackwell Branch from Westhouses through B Winning Pit. Reaching New Hucknall by c1898 can map all updates in 1921.
Maintaining the Midland Railway rolling stock from Westhouses Loco Sheds recognised a community built by that major employer.
Inspiring sight of marvellous mainline steam locomotives proves to have led local boyhood trainspotters along those tracks towards that Alfreton area. The awesome powers of functional diesel engines kept enthusiastic followers.
But their Huthwaite pit line apparently shared lesser initial use. Rejecting 1909 wish to directly link a Woodend Station branch might then be understandable.
Railroads prioritised profitable mineral haulage, so these later coal fields had also been competitively targeted by a MS&LR London Extension. They'd build two GCR bridges on way through Huthwaite offering favourable vantage points for young trainspotters.
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
Specialised research may further discover dated detailing behind the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway stretching out a southward extension. Deciding to independently deliver coals to its main London market chose a route designed to further collect from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire pits. Sectional interest here between Chesterfield led to opening an 1892 Annesley Junction.
Railroads cross 1898 mapped lines at a nearby Blackwell viaduct before entering Huthwaite across county borderline. First phase this MS&LR London Extension then curved southward by carving widely through Fulwood Cuttings branching off into New Hucknall Colliery Sidings. Doubled tracks ran out under an Alfreton Mansfield highway, next splitting off a South Normanton Colliery Branch.
That locally called "Four Arches" bridge still stands as final reminder of this bygone era. Name loosely described three blue bricked columns very squarely spanned by ornate iron trellis girders. Motorists may be unaware its thereafter supported a far busier A38 dual carriageway. Connecting heavier road traffic to the M1 motorway at junction 28 gives testimony to Victorian engineering.
Great Central Railway
The MS&LR adopted grander title into final phase their expensive endeavour. Opening the 1899 Sheffield to London mainline had recognised the Great Central Railway. That introduces some Huthwaite changes, although they'd also dismiss councillors hopes to add a Common Road Huthwaite station platform. Above 1921 map reveals later GCR addition of a Blackwell Colliery Branch line to next serve Hilcote pit. And erecting a steel girder footbridge to safely keep a Winterbank path across busier New Hucknall Sidings offered a second, apparently more favourable vantage point to identify speedier passenger locomotives off the called "New Bridge".
New Hucknall Colliery Sidings
Familiar name given British Rail can generally identify result of nationalising all Britain's railroads since WWII government control. Closing former GCR lines was just part of Beeching's controversial cost cutters that cleared 1970s New Hucknall Siding tracks. The alternative former Midland Railway Blackwell Branch would then become the primary line for all future Huthwaite coal deliveries.
One busy GCR signal Box amongst all those New Hucknall Colliery Sidings tracks would then be made redundant. But it would be passed by a 1960 colliery train tour shown reaching another box more prominently longer stood aside the Common Road crossing.
Common Road Crossing
A signalman swinging his lamp stopping traffic had occasionally delayed my 70s drives to work. Manual closure of wooden gates waited for twinned locos hauling away a stream of coal wagons.
Just one track crossed a noticeably levelled gated Common Road. Situated above Huthwaite sewage works, the box closer backed the later Brookside Way to control points either side. That industrial estate road shadowed the initial GCR curve, while crossing to then run parallel the straighter MR line. A public footpath called Blackwell Trail has also since replaced that derailed MR railroad.
Pit Yard Rails
NCB sign cornered Pit Road entrance. That roadway kinked to run closer alongside rails running into rear New Hucknall pit yard.
The National Coal Board kept a small steam locomotive for shunting New Hucknall Colliery wagons about the yard. Lighter 70s duties apparently turned to occasionally teaching basic driver training.
Wooden Common Road crossing gates and signal box were ultimately splintered apart when unknown pranksters released some freewheeling pit yard wagons. Electric automated barriers managed a final few years this pits lifetime into 1982 total site clearance. Pedestrian crossing lights just below seemed to promote 2009 railway trail hikes after transforming the old pit tip into Rookery Park ground walks.
28 Jan 13 by Gary Elliott Updated 09 Feb 24