IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hereford Road, NOTTINGHAM, NG5 4HZ

Now a footpath, this was once the Great Northern Railway line from Colwick to Derby, always known as The Back Line, busy carrying coal from the Erewash Valley and occasional Basford (via Gedling) local passenger trains, which began their journeys north by leaving from the south end of Nottingham Victoria and taking the Grantham line at Weekday Cross Junction (where the Nottingham Contemporary art gallery now is) before heading north then west from Netherfield & Colwick. The line closed east of Daybrook in April 1960 when Mapperley Tunnel, made unsafe by colliery subsidence, was deemed uneconomical to repair and maintain. Coal and empty ore trains were then diverted to the Great Central line through Victoria Station and reached Colwick from the west. The bridge carrying Thackerays Lane is beyond the cyclist.

This was the old Great Northern Railway line from Nottingham to Derby via Ilkeston. It was a roundabout route for passengers, but resulted from the fundamental need for the carriage of coal from the Nottas and Derby coalfield. Today the railway alignment carries a footpath, seen here from the bridge carrying Thackerays Lane.

Once inside this park's most easterly entrance/exit - reached from Arnot Hill Road - a curved, winding south-westerly path brings visitors to this plateau that now hosts several skateboarding hollows. On the left of this area, through a former railway cutting is the track-bed of the former Great Northern Railway Line's Derbyshire Extension hosting a footpath and cycle-route. The largest part of the park is to be found on the right, albeit at a lower level, and straight ahead - a mile away as the crow flies - Mansfield Road (i.e. the A60) is to be found.

A view of a road bridge that carries Arnot Vale Road across the former Great Northern Railway (Derbyshire Extension) track bed, now a footpath and cycle route through Arnot Hill Park. This bridge marks the changeover point between Thrackeray's Lane and Arnot Hill Road. Behind the photographer's right shoulder is the easterly-most entrance into Arnot Hill Park.

Thackeray's Lane crosses the line of the old Great Northern Railway line from Nottingham to Derby via Ilkeston. This was a roundabout route for passengers, but resulted from the fundamental need for the carriage of coal from the Nottas and Derby coalfield. Today the railway alignment carries a footpath under the bridge.

The part of the route followed by the former Great Northern Railway Derbyshire Extension ("The Back Line") that ran from Netherfield & Colwick on the Grantham line to Derby via Kimberley and Ilkeston. The steps seen here rise to the top of the embankment and then, beyond it is the centre of Arnot Hill Park. This footpath and cycle route can also be accessed from Aylesham Avenue and from Greendale Road (both ahead). It seems that the line east of Daybrook was finally closed in April 1960 when Mapperley Tunnel was once again the subject of subsidence and repairs were deemed non-viable from an economical perspective.

George V wallbox at the entrance to the park on Arnot Hill Road.

The easterly-most park entrance from off Arnot Hill Road.

Rain seems to have stopped play here in this small picnic area. In addition to the picnic tables, this shelter decorated with 'tribal art', seems to fit in quite nicely here too. Users turning right soon reach some gates that lead out onto Arnot Hill Road, whereas anyone turning left will soon arrive in the vicinity of the Council House or the ornamental lake.