The fascinating story behind Woodthorpe Grange Park's giant steam train sculpture

As with any city, Nottingham has its fair share of quirks and completely random landmarks. 

From the surreal 15-foot-wide metal dragon beside a road in Sneinton, to the spooky catacombs beneath Rock Cemetery, our city is a hub for the weird and wonderful. 

The amazing thing about many of these bizarre landmarks is that they’re often hidden away, almost acting as Easter eggs for curious locals to find. 

Although this only adds to the mystique of such intriguing spots around Nottingham, we at Nottingham World think these quirks should be celebrated so that as many people as possible can visit them. 

This week we’re taking a look at one of the city’s more underrated landmarks, tucked away in a park that many of you reading will have visited once or twice. 

Located towards the northern edge of the city, Woodthorpe Grange Park is a popular place for locals to go for a walk amongst nature. 

Besides the park’s stunning greenery is a strange sculpture hidden beneath a bridge. 

The sculpture depicts a red steam train emerging from a tunnel - not the sort of thing you’d associate with a leafy city park. 

So, why is the train there? 

A forgotten railway is remembered  

In the late 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. 

During the 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.