The train sculpture in Woodthorpe Grange Park The train sculpture in Woodthorpe Grange Park
The train sculpture in Woodthorpe Grange Park | Nottingham World

Hidden Nottingham: We visit the ‘bizarre’ Nottingham park where there’s a huge train sculpture

The sculpture is hidden away towards the northern end of the park

If you’ve lived in Nottingham for a while then you’ll probably be familiar with many of the city’s weird and wonderful spots.

Whether you’re talking about a museum full of haunted items in Derby Road or the creepy catacombs under Rock Cemetery, it’s fair to say that the city is full of quirks.

However, you don’t get much more random than a sculpture of a huge steam train located in one of Nottingham’s most popular public parks.

On the face of it, Woodthorpe Grange Park, towards the north of the city, appears much like any of the city’s other green spaces.

But in a small corner of the park, tucked under a bridge, is something rather bizarre.

Amongst the greenery is a large sculpture depicting a red steam train emerging from a tunnel.

But why is it there?

In the 19th century, the Nottingham Suburban Railway (NSR) was opened to serve the north-eastern suburbs of the city.

In those days, Woodthorpe Grange Mansion was the family home of industrialist Henry Ashwell.

Ashwell was unhappy with plans to build a tunnel under his estate, so sold his land to the designer of the NSR, Edward Parry.

The NSR was mainly built to serve the brickworks of Mapperley and Thorneywood, but some passenger trains served residents of Woodthorpe.

These passengers could use either Daybrook or Sherwood Station to travel into the city centre.

Ultimately, the NSR’s demise began in 1901 when the electric tram from Nottingham to Sherwood began operating.

First World War, passenger traffic on the NSR was severely curtailed and ceased altogether in 1931.

The line was finally closed in 1951, with the track subsequently dismantled.

Today, the sculpture serves as a reminder of the days when trains used to pass through the Ashwell Tunnel, beneath Woodthorpe Grange Park.

We decided to visit Woodthorpe Grange Park to see the unusual sculpture for ourselves.

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice