The Midland Railway Society Library - titles available to researchers at the Study Centre.
The Journal Index - a fully searchable index to the Midland Railway Society Journal.
Midland Railway Society Members - resources available exclusively to MRS members.
Some random images from our catalogue for you to enjoy...
Hover your mouse over the Item Number (or 'long press' on a mobile device) for more information
Item No. 12785
Rail chair marked MR CRANSLEY (From the Cransley Branch)
Item No. 11271
Signal box diagram on new backboard, framed (modern) and glazed.
CHURCH LANE CROSSING DARLEY DALE
Dated August 1901
Item No. 10985
Pint mug. White with black pictorial and lettering "M R Strike Aug 1911"
Item No. 31295
British Transport Commission siding agreement plan -- Dunlop Rubber Company Ltd, Castle Bromwich. References a Midland Railway Agreement of 31st July 1919.
Item No. 30819
COPY POSTCARD / PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE JOHN ALSOP COLLECTION
CLC - Liverpool Central - Lancashire Closed 1972 - Liverpool Central Station and Bold Street - Rapid 265-20
John Alsop collection A 99260
Item No. 93592
S&DJR. Highbridge shed. A front ¾ view of 2-4-0T No. 28A.
Item No. 30661
This postcard is clearly based on a Midland Official design with the picture of Haddon Hall - Dorothy Vernon staircase (MR-028 of Set 5) occupying the whole of the front. However, the whole of the undivided back is taken up by pre-printed Thos. Cook & Son address in Boston, Mass (USA). The use of the card is obscure as there is no space for correspondence. It is not therefore allocated an Alsop Number but is included as a general railway card of Midland interest.
Item No. 23261
Station (Location) of Origin: Sheffield
Station Department:
Document Type: Parcels Waybill
Item No. 23920
London, Tilbury & Southend Railway drawing showing plan and elevations for underpinning of the south abutment for the footbridge at Harts Lane, Barking. Coloured on cartridge paper. See also Item 23921 for further details.
Item No. 61435
This is Swansea St Thomas with the former Swansea Harbour Trust line alongside the New Cut from the Swansea Vale Railway to the eastern docks complex. An ex-SHT saddle tank locomotive is seen crossing the main road with a train of coal wagons heading for the docks. The locomotive is coaled with briquettes. also in view are the tramtracks, crossing gates and part of the lower level bridge across the New Cut.
Item No. 88-2014-0080-02
Table of lengths [Details of miles and chains of all lines]
Item No. 06964
Official Postcard. Set 8- SWITZERLAND OF ENGLAND. MR-046-1. Bakewell. Type 1. Undivided back. Photochrom Bear Trademark. Orange back. Stamp space 20 x 23mm with breaks at the corners, containing the slogan... Midland Railway of England...Introduced by 1906.
Item No. 62503
Midland Railway (Northern Counties Committee) 4-4-0 number 65 built at Derby 1905.
Item No. 27870
Wagon Label: SHIPPING GOODS. IMPORTANT. Type: 4
Form No: G.F.624 Print Ref: (bottom r.) O 10a-25,000-10/05. PP date: 190
From: (Skipton) To: (Colne) Route: -
Item No. 09355
Luggage Label Type: M102
Form No: None Print Ref: None
Destination: Ludgate Hill
Item No. 71877
Nigel Hadlow photograph: Syston 10
Item No. 67785
COPY POSTCARD / PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE JOHN ALSOP COLLECTION
MR - Mangotsfield West Junction, Glos. - Looking up, box distant. - Photo: C. L. Mowat - 14/03/1932 - LGRP 11918
John Alsop collection A 25124
Item No. 08824
Luggage Label Type: M106/1
Form No: P. F. 70. Print Ref: R 2.
Destination: FISH PONDS
Item No. 88-1997-5_79.7
Sheffield - Norfolk Bridge and the area adjacent to the River Don 18 July 1867
Item No. 67900
COPY POSTCARD / PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE JOHN ALSOP COLLECTION
MR - Raunds, Northants. - Closed 1959 - Raunds Station. - R A Series
John Alsop collection A 3609
Item No. 99-0248
St. Pancras – signal box
Item No. 91548
The south end of Cheltenham station, around 1905. A front ¾ view of Johnson 1282 class 2-4-0 No. 1295 waiting at the Down platform with an express. The train was composed of mainly non-corridor stock, the two leading vehicles being Clayton square light lavatory stock.
Item No. 67034
COPY POSTCARD / PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE JOHN ALSOP ACCIDENT COLLECTION
MR - 382 - - - - Cudworth - Yorks W. - - The Wreck of … [2 right face camera] - - - 19/01/1905 - - G. A. Fillingham
John Alsop collection A 3200
Item No. 21872
Station (Location) of Origin: Bromsgrove
Station Department:
Document Type: Memo
Item No. 93826
St. Pancras engine sidings, 1890s. A semi-broadside view of 1853 class 4-2-2 No. 16 with its enginemen posed on the footplate. The water tower, sand house and signal box were behind the engine and gas holders were in the background.
Item No. 81847
Derby works, 1881. 1357 class 0-6-0 No. 1447 in photographic grey with the background of the picture whited out. The print was made from LGRP negative No. 13410.
Item No. 88-P40_0
Elstree & Borehamwood station, goods shed
Item No. 09909
Luggage Label Type: M107/1
Form No: P. F. 70. Print Ref: R 2a.
Destination: SOUTHPORT
Item No. 25630
Memorandum from Hyde Passenger Dept (to Crudglington GWR)
Form No: (SM/270)* Print Ref: Nil PP date: 18
Item No. 23791
Beyer Peacock works photo of double framed 0-6-0 believed to have been one of two built by Beyer-Peacock in December 1858 works numbers 89 and 90 with Joseph Beattie’s patent firebox and feed water heater. Plate on cabside reads "Beatties Patent." Allocated MR Nos 428 and 429 both were rebuilt with conventional boilers in June 1860. (F Moore Card)
THE MIDLAND RAILWAY STUDY CENTRE
Two Chains to the Inch Land Plans Collection
When Peter Service McCallum took over as the Midland Railway's Estate Agent in 1888 (the post being alternatively known also as Land Agent), he brought in a number of innovations which proved crucial to the Company, and just as importantly, to us in the present day. The decision from which the rest really stemmed, was to “remile” the network. Thus a fragmented system based on a given line's original construction coalesced into Zero Miles at the buffer stops of St. Pancras and a logical system working out therefrom. Of course, the Mile Posts that came with the new system were uniquely Midland and continue to form the basis of route measurement this day. Integral with the mileage of the line are the Distance Diagrams that will be so very familiar to anyone who has even briefly studied Midland Railway geography. Arguably the jewel-in-the-crown of all this, however, was the introduction of the Two Chains to the Inch Land Plans.
An example Two Chain Plan — Pye Bridge — that as a standalone sheet, is not included in the below collection, but can be downloaded here by clicking on the image.
Taking most of the first decade of the 20th century to complete, a legion of surveyors, draughtsmen and tracers* created these stunningly detailed records of every square inch of land the Company owned or accessed, to include every single rail that the Company had thus far laid-down. Buildings, infrastructure, signals and the surrounding topography is intricately captured by these plans, each one covering a uniform distance of 60 Chains (equal to three-quarters of a mile). In addition to the physical detail, the plans record the land ownership at the time of parliamentary powers were obtained, along with the appropriate entry number in the associated book of reference. This information is completed by the relevant Deed Number, for ease of reference by the Land Agent.
* — Not forgetting the printers and the part they played; read more about that side of it on our John McInnes Millar page.
The Midland Railway Study Centre's collection — gained both through the Roy F. Burrows Collection as well as Derby Museums — provides good coverage of the Midland Railway's network, but inevitably falls short in many areas. As a rule of thumb, the more important a line was (or indeed remains today), the more likely a gap will be found in our coverage, or the substitution of photocopies — though these tend to be more-than-adequate substitutes.
The below list is not quite exhaustive. There remain examples in the collections which don't lend themselves to digitising or otherwise exist in a format which makes it impractical to share here. In each case below, you will find the Item Number with a short title for reference, with two download links. Both links lead to a PDF copy of the volume concerned with the first being a low-resolution copy for quick reference and the next being to a full resolution download. Most full downloads are 300dpi scans, though some that are unsuited to scanning have been photographed instead.
In the case of all downloads from this website, the linked file is provided to you on the basis of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Licence. Where a residual copyright may exist, our supply of a copy image to you is strictly limited to your personal research purposes or otherwise as permitted by copyright legislation.
In the event your intended use is outside the scope of these conditions, please contact us — if it is within our legal powers to consent, it is unlikely your request will be refused!
Kindly credit The Midland Railway Study Centre, Derby, along with the relevant Item Number if possible, when using any document or image obtained from us.
⚪️ RFB00798 Chesterfield to Sheffield
(preview file — 3mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (85.1Mb).
⚪️ RFB00799 Pilsley Branch
(preview file — 2.5mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (27.1Mb).
⚪️ RFB00800 Higham Ferrers branch
(preview file — 718 KB ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (19.9Mb).
⚪️ RFB00801 Burton Ashby Light Railway land plans
(preview file — 4.6Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (101.7Mb).
⚪️ RFB00804 Chapeltown Branch and Extension
(preview file — 56.1Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (56.1Mb).
⚪️ RFB00806 Saxby & Bourne (to Little Bytham)
(preview file — 2.2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (65Mb).
⚪️ RFB00807 Staveley Railway
(preview file — 3.6Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (63.6Mb).
⚪️ RFB00808 Otley & Ilkley Extension Branch
(preview file — 1.6Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (28.2Mb).
⚪️ RFB00809 Bretby branch
(preview file — 506 KB ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (13.1Mb).
⚪️ RFB00811 New Mills, Heaton Mersey and Manchester South District
(preview file — 2.6Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (47.6Mb).
⚪️ RFB00814 Settle and Carlisle Line (Settle to Hawes) Plans 1912
(preview file — 3.5Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (59.9Mb).
⚪️ RFB00815 Settle and Carlisle Line (Hawes to Culgaith) Plans 1911
(preview file — 4.3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (76.8Mb).
⚪️ RFB00816 Settle and Carlisle Line (Culgaith to Carlisle) Plans 1912
(preview file — 3.8Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (62.6Mb).
⚪️ RFB00821 Darfield to Sandal and Walton
(preview file — 1.6Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (46Mb).
⚪️ RFB11028 Pye Bridge & Mansfield and Langton & Bentinck Colliery Branches
(preview file — 4.2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (37Mb).
⚪️ RFB20248 to 20257 Camp Hill Line
(preview file — 1.4Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (38.9Mb).
⚪️ RFB20529 Hemel Hempstead branch
(preview file — 2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (32.6Mb).
⚪️ RFB28278 Radford and Trowell
(preview file — 918 KB ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (18Mb).
⚪️ RFB28279 Nottingham to Melton (second copy)
(preview file — 2.8Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (56Mb).
⚪️ RFB28611 Hotwells to Avonmouth
(preview file — 2.4Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (65.7Mb).
⚪️ RFB30111 Bath to Mangotsfield (this copy has been used by the Property Board)
(preview file — 3.3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (95.9Mb).
⚪️ RFB30118 Bristol to (not quite) Gloucester — only to MP110 south of Berkeley
(preview file — 5.6Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (171.8Mb).
⚪️ RFB30170 Wichnor to Derby
(preview file — 6.2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (145.8Mb).
⚪️ RFB30174 Kettering, Thrapston and Huntingdon
(preview file — 3.8Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (110.7Mb).
⚪️ RFB30733 Syston & Peterborough sheets 41 to 65
(preview file — 4.5Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (137.6Mb).
⚪️ RFB30974 Syston & Peterborough sheets 01 to 23
(preview file — 4.2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (84.3Mb).
⚪️ RFB31738 Clifton Extension Railway
(preview file — 3.7Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (34.6Mb).
⚪️ RFB32833 Trent to Clay Cross (Erewash Valley)
(preview file — 6.9Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (105.1Mb).
⚪️ RFB32834 Ambergate to Buxton
(preview file — 6Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (92.8Mb).
⚪️ RFB32835 Peak Forest to New Mills
(preview file — 2.7Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (40.6Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_230 Duffield (actually Ambergate) and Selston (Pye Bridge) Branch, Buckland Hollow and Swanwick Colliery Branches
(preview file — 1.7Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (1.7Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_231 Acton Branch
(preview file — 1.1Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (36Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_232 Hotwells to Avonmouth
(preview file — 1.8Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (43.4Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_233 Nuneaton Whitacre and Stockingford
(preview file — 145.7Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (145.7Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_234 Tewkesbury and Malvern branch
(preview file — 72.2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (72.2Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_235 Holwell Branch
(preview file — 2.4Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (54.2Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_236 Walsall Wolverhampton
(preview file — 2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (97.5Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_237 Shirland Brampton Beighton Killamarsh
(preview file — 1.7Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (74.5Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_297 Stenson to Weston to Sawley
(preview file — 2.1Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (66Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_334 Derby and Chaddesden to Nottingham
(preview file — 4.7Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (98.7Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_338 Birmingham West Suburban
(preview file — 2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (52.6Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_360 Irchester, Raunds and Cransley
(preview file — 2.4Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (64.7Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_363 Hereford, Hay & Brecon
(preview file — 4.5Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (116.1Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_508 Trowell and Radford
(preview file — 1.2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (68.2Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_509 Netherseal Branch
(preview file — 510 KB ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (13.2Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_555 Bedford to Northampton
(preview file — 5.3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (229.1Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_560 Kingsbury to Water Orton
(preview file — 1Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (32.3Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-389-573 Bretby Branch
(preview file — 689 KB ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (21.2Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_576 Walsall Wood Branch
(preview file — 1.3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (20.6Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_583 Rugby to Trent (excl.)
(preview file — 7.4Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (124.9Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_584 Ashchurch and Evesham Branch
(preview file — 1.9Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (76.4Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_601 Walsall to Water Orton Branch
(preview file — 2.5Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (95.8Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_602 West Bridge branch
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🟡 Full Resolution Download — (26Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_603 Melbourne Ashby
(preview file — 2.9Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (160.4Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_612 Whitacre and Hampton branch
(preview file — 1.3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (70.8Mb).
⚪️ 88-1971-384_624 Barnt Green to Evesham
(preview file — 3.3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (65.6Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-84 Mansfield Worksop
(preview file — 2.7Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (81.6Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-838 Hendon to Bedford
(preview file — 9.1Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (287.5Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-399 New Mills Heaton Mersey and South Manchester District
(preview file — 2.8Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (134.8Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5_656 Sheffield & Rotherham
(preview file — 1.8Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (44.7Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5_839 Mangotsfield to Bath
(preview file — 1.9Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (77.2Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1046 Darfield to Royston
(preview file — 2.5Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (46.8Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1170 Wigston to Wellingborough
(preview file — 8.4Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (365Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1171 Coalville to Knighton Jn
(preview file — 3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (98Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1172 Dore & Chinley
(preview file — 4Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (99.8Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1173 Nottingham to Melton
(preview file — 3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (171.9Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1174 Blackwell Branches
(preview file — 808 KB ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (40.2Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1175 Tibshelf and Teversall
(preview file — 2.1Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (107.3Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1177 Swadlincote and Woodville
(preview file — 1.6Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (80.2Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1178 Wirksworth Branch
(preview file — 1.9Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (67.3Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1179 Kettering to Manton
(preview file — 3.2Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (165.7Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1180 Luton to Bedford
(preview file — 3.7Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (191.6Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1181 London Depots
(preview file — 2.8Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (27Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1184 Whitacre & Hampton
(preview file — 1.4Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (23.3Mb).
⚪️ 88-1997-5-1186 Nottingham and Lincoln
(preview file — 6.3Mb ).
🟡 Full Resolution Download — (40.4Mb).
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Page last updated: Monday, 19 August 2024