I am a Trustee of this group and seeing as this news is going renew peoples interest in the former Friargate line I have been working on my map a lot recently. Over the last 7 years I have been updating an online map showing the complete and accurate route of the former GNR line through Friar Gate. Over the last few days I have been updating it using the latest Google Streetviews etc. Also adding my own 360 Photo Spheres to the map for locations where you can't normally see.
For example :
Kingsway Tunnel Parapet view : https://goo.gl/maps/Am6YXCevaaM2
Kingsway Tunnel entrance view : https://goo.gl/maps/Ck1PNDDtDQr
Large sections of the route have been or are being, converted to cycle paths and walkways and adopted by Sustrans.
The GNR Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension route or Derby Friar Gate Line as its often referred to locally was a "back line"that opened in 1878 and ran from Nottingham through Derby (over Friar Gate Bridge) and to Egginton where it joined the North Staffordshire Railway. This line closed in 1964.
On my map I have traced the entire original route of the Friar Gate Line from its junction at Egginton all the way to Nottingham. Along the way I have marked on the locations of the all the GNR railway stations that served the Friar Gate line.
The GNR Friar Gate Line Serving stations.
Egginton Junction, Etwall Railway Station, Mickleover Railway Station, Derby Friar Gate Railway Station, Awsworth Railway Station, West Hallam Railway Station, Kimberley East Railway Station, Daybrook Railway Station, Basford North Railway Station, Gedling Railway Station and Netherfield Railway Station.
I have also marked the tunnels at Mapperley, Mickleover and Morley.
Using the Satellite mapping function in Google Maps you can clearly see certain sections of the line.
I have also used Google Streetview in many locations along the route to identify road bridges and paths. Sometimes even though the railway line has gone, the bridge over it remains in place.
Some of the markers I have placed in my map have small photographs in them, or even links to fullscreen 360 degree photographs so you can have a good look around.
I have put a lot of time and effort into making sure my route path and markers are correctly positioned but in some areas such as Daybrook I may be off slightly, please let me know if this is the case. In those areas where there was no clear route using the Satellite map I had to guess by using bridges and stations either side for reference combined with some old maps of the route.
I hope you find my Friar Gate Line Route map of interest, perhaps you will learn something from it that you did not know before.
My Map :
Click here or...
The Derby Friargate Line Route map. (GNR Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension.)
I have provided several quick links that will allow you to zoom in on stations etc. Simply use your mouse to drag the map around to follow the original route of the railway lines (marked with a blue line).
Some of the books I used for reference :
Friargate Line: Derby and the Great Northern Railway
Lost Railways of Derbyshire
Lost Railways of Nottinghamshire
Thanks
Andy
