2014 marks the 175th anniversary of the arrival of railways into Derby. In 1839 the first passenger services between Derby and Nottingham began. At the same time, workshops were set up by the North Midland Railway, the Midland Counties Railway and the Birmingham and Derby Railway near Derby station. These developed into a large complex of manufacturing facilities producing wagons, carriages and locomotives.
Today, the rail industry that is still located in Derby plays a vital role in supporting this country’s railways and also over seas. Derby is the only place in the UK that still designs and builds trains. It is also home to the largest cluster of rail-related companies in the world.
To help celebrate this occasion the LMS Carriage Association would like to share a bit of carriage building history. It is with the kind permission of the British Film Institute that we are able to bring you footage of carriage building in Derby. This was filmed at the Carriage works on Litchurch Lane in 1933, now owned by Bombardier.
Maybe you work there now? Maybe you recognised a relative? If so or you simply enjoyed the film, please leave a comment.
Links: Would you like to find out more information about the 175th Anniversary of railways in Derby or find out what is happening? Well, here are a few links that might be of interest.
BFI Corridor Third
Derby 175 Event Calendar (derby175.com no longer available by 2017)
Derby 175 Facebook Page (no longer available by 2017)
Derby 175 Twitter Page (internet archive page)
Midland Railway Study Centre Carriage Building Photos
Bombardier Future train build at Derby video
Wonderful film – tastefully updated – well done!
Hello Rupert. Many thanks for your comment. Glad you liked the film.
The joiner assembling the carriage door in the 1933 film is my mothers father Albert Edwin Godwin who would have been living in Village Street Derby at the time of the filming
Alan Hughes
Hello Alan. That’s amazing! We were hoping there would be people out there would would know some of the people in the film. Hope it was nice to see your grandfather again. It would be great if we could put more names to the people in the film. There must be people out there who know. They, just need to see the film.
Wonderful – so well put together with a modern commentary to an old film showing how it used to be. Thankfully, quality work still goes on in many heritage railways.
Thanks you for your kind words Michael. It’s always nice to take a look back to put today into perspective.
I worked there from 1968 to 1977 and this film bought back many memories. Not much had changed except the more modern rolling stock. A very good film.
Glad you like the film. It would be great if we could get some names to go with the faces in the film. We have one so far as you can see from the messages above, which is great. 🙂
What a brilliant revamp of an old film. Just sufficient sound effects to convey the mood and a commentary that shows what can be done using someone who actually knows what he is talking about and not just a presenter. I only came across the film from a link in the Derby Telegraph 175 years supplement – it deserves a wider audience.
Thanks for your kind words an support. Much appreciated. Feel free to share the link to the web page.