Colwick marshalling yard

Eventually in 1861 the GNR leased this line and began to develop freight its services from the coalfield in conjunction with its planned extension into Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

In 1870 the GNR purchased 150 acres (61 hectares) of land at Colwick to create a new marshalling yard, motive power depot, repair workshop and staff accommodation.

By 1879 914,000 long tons (929,000 tonnes) of coal were being handled, and the continued growth necessitated further extension to the sidings in 1881.

[3] The closure of Mapperley Tunnel after a rockfall in April 1960, further reduced the traffic using Colwick, so that barely 50,000 wagons were being handled by 1960.

[4] The first locomotive servicing depot at Colwick predates the marshalling yard and was opened by the Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and Eastern Junction Railway in 1858.