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Stockist

Railway Manufacture returns to Tuxford Wagon Works

Tuxford Wagon Works was built by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway Company in 1897 as part of its plan to link  Manchester with the East Coast at Sutton-on-Sea.  Ultimately, only the section of the line, between Chesterfield and Lincoln was actually constructed and this was absorbed into the Great Central Railway in 1907.

The works, which was responsible for the maintenance of the fleet of wagons and coaches, closed over 50 years ago.  However, most of the workshops, including the office building, still survive as part of Lodge Lane Industrial Estate.  The site office, which was built in a similar style to that of the station buildings along the route, was home to the Chief Mechanical Engineers of the line and various office staff.  It is this building which has now been returned to the manufacture of railway equipment, this time though, it’s model railways that are being constructed.

This picture, taken during its period of Great Central ownership, shows Tuxford Wagon Works with the office building (arrowed) on the extreme left.

Phil Chapman and Richard Deas, trading as ‘The Goods Yard’, who have been manufacturing bespoke model railways since 2006, have recently moved their production into the former office building.  The offices have been refurbished and now house a woodworking workshop, layout assembly room and a small model railway shop.  In a curious twist of fate, the offices, which were possibly due for demolition, now have a more secure future, thanks to models of the products originally maintained on the site.  Full details of ‘The Goods Yard’ and their services can be found online at www.thegoodsyard.co.uk.  Phil and Richard are trying to find out more about Tuxford Wagon Works, so if you have any further information about the site, please let them know.  If you are in the area, why not visit The Goods Yard, opening times are posted on their website.