Monument record MDR12290 - Midland Railway, Spondon to Derby connecting line, Derby

Of the three initial railways at Derby, the first to be opened was the Midland Counties Railway to Nottingham on June 4 1839 [see SMR 99057] . With the London extension (opened 1868) and the completion of the Peak Forest line (1867) came the prospect of through Midland trains from London to Manchester. Reversal at Derby would be inconvenient, so a connecting line was opened from Spondon in 1867. Afterwards only a few regular passenger services used the Chaddesden line, the connecting line from Spondon becoming the main line. (1)