BOTH SIDES OF THE TRENT

Leaving Wellow behind, we head south to the small town of Southwell, famous for its race course and the Minster, designated as a cathedral, though Southwell does not have city status.

At the site of Southwell's lost railway station is a great free house, the Final Whistle.

The Bramley Apple pub, that once sold Springhead beers, is now closed.

The Hearty Goodfellow is an Everard's house.

Here's the Old Coach House Inn.

Also worth seeking out, the Wheatsheaf.

To find out where we're going now, you can look at the map here. You'll see that our next stop is at Fiskerton station, to admire the ex Midland Railway signal box on the Nottingham to Newark line.

By the River Trent in Fiskerton is the Bromley Atms.

Further along the line, towards Newark, is Bleasby station, seen in 1963 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Bleasby has a decent pub, the Waggon & Horses.

Nearby Epperstone is the home of Midland Vectis Buses. This Leyland National was photographed here in 2024 (Andrew Fieldsend).

Another Midland Railway signal box, this time at Lowdham in 1986.

The World's End is in Lowdham!

Onwards now to Hoveringham, only to find that the Marquis of Granby is no longer a pub.

Thankfully, the Reindeer in Hoveringham is still pulling pints.

This area is producing quite a pub crawl. Out next stop is the Black Horse at Caythorpe. At one time, around 2000, it brewed its own beer.

To the south is East Bridgeford, where we find another Reindeer Inn.

Onwards now to the small town of Bingham, on the Nottingham to Grantham railway line. Here's the station in GNR times.

Now it's 1963 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Bingham station, unstaffed, in 2014.

The ex GNR signal box survives.

Services are operated by East Midland Trains.

Some freight passes through too.

Trent-Barton is the main bus operator in Bingham.

Premier Coaches once operated a town service.

The town's centrepiece is its Butter Cross.

The Wetherspoons takes its name too.

The Butter Cross was previously the Crown Inn.

The White Lion has a range of real ales.

We conclude our tour at the excellent Horse & Plough.

Next time, we'll continue our journey southwards.

HELLO WELLOW

 Heading vaguely east out of Retford (the map here explains it all), we arrive at Clarborough Junction, where one line went towards Gainsboriugh, hte other a short cut to Lincoln.

Sturton staion, GCR, on the line to Gainsborough. The station closed many years ago, but the tailway remains open.

Further towards Gainsborough is West Burton Power Station. Rail traffic to here has since ceased as the facility is no longer coal powered. 56017 is seen there in 1980.

Leverton station was on the other line, again operated by the GCR.

The Plough at South Leverton, until recently, doubled as the village post office.

Further south, the Duke William at Askham.

The Queens Hotel at East Markham is an Everards house.

Now we're back on the GNR main line, at Tuxford station.

There was a derailment here in 1931.

The Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway (later part of the GCR) also served Tuxford and had a loco shed there. Here are some views in LNER days.

Where the LD&ECR crossed the GNR's main line, there was an interchange station called Dukeries Junction.

To the west is the large mining village of Ollerton. Here's the church.

The Memorial Park at Ollerton, an old postcard view.

The GNR's Royal Train calls at the LD&ECR's Ollerton station in 1903.

A Sam Smith's house, the White Hart at Ollerton is now closed.

Another church. This one is at nearby Edwinstowe.

GCR 0-4-4T no. 150B is seen at Edwinstowe station.

Our last stop of today's post is at Wellow village. This postcard gives you some idea of what's there.

Here is the Maypole.

The Durham Ox in Wellow is still open, now called the Maypole Inn.

There's also the Olde Red Lion. Both pubs serve good beer.

We'll continue to meander south in the next post.