When did the Melbourne Junction (Derby) to Chellaston Junction route close?

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone,

Is anyone able to tell me when the through route between Melbourne Junction in Derby and Chellaston Junction (which was located on the Stenson Junction - Sheets Stores Junction line) closed? I know for definite that it was still open in 1969 when Derby Power Box was opened but that's really all I do know.

On page 47 of the Ian Allan Greeen Diesel Years book there is an excellent photo taken of Chellaston and Swarkestone and the description seems to suggest that the line survived until 1980 along with the branch to Melbourne. Can anyone confirm whether this is true and if so how the line managed to survive for so long?

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[Merthyr Imp]

G'day everyone,

Is anyone able to tell me when the through route between Melbourne Junction in Derby and Chellaston Junction (which was located on the Stenson Junction - Sheets Stores Junction line) closed? I know for definite that it was still open in 1969 when Derby Power Box was opened but that's really all I do know.

On page 47 of the Ian Allan Greeen Diesel Years book there is an excellent photo taken of Chellaston and Swarkestone and the description seems to suggest that the line survived until 1980 along with the branch to Melbourne. Can anyone confirm whether this is true and if so how the line managed to survive for so long?

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

Some details are here:

http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/Sinfin branch.htm

And here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_line

I'm not completely certain, but I believe it's still open as far as Sinfin for freight.

 

[ag51ruk]

Strangely, a very small section of track remains - where the line heading south east from Sinfin crossed Wilmore Road in Derby, there was a gated level crossing that I remember still having the gates present in the early 80s (but it seemed permanently closed to rail traffic).

The gates are long gone, but the section of rail in the road at that point was never taken out, and is visible on Google street view. The old route east of Wilmore Road is now a footpath at that point.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d52.881653!4d-1.461416?hl=en

 

[RichmondCommu]

Some details are here:

http://www.railchronology.free-online.co.uk/Sinfin branch.htm

And here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_line

I'm not completely certain, but I believe it's still open as far as Sinfin for freight.

Many thanks for all of this information, really interesting

And yes as you say the line from Melbourne Junction to Sinfin is still used to deliver aviation fuel to Rolls Royce.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Strangely, a very small section of track remains - where the line heading south east from Sinfin crossed Wilmore Road in Derby, there was a gated level crossing that I remember still having the gates present in the early 80s (but it seemed permanently closed to rail traffic).

The gates are long gone, but the section of rail in the road at that point was never taken out, and is visible on Google street view. The old route east of Wilmore Road is now a footpath at that point.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d52.881653!4d-1.461416?hl=en

Many thanks for this I'm really interested to know how the line survived as a through route until 1973.