This was only true after Victoria and the line northwards was built, as the original route started eastwards out of Nottingham then had to do a big loop round the north side of the city. But there was very little opportunity to continue beyond Derby, only really towards Stoke and the indirect connection to Burton mentioned above. Also, the Midland provided a far better route between Sheffield and Derby than anything that could have been developed based on GC/GN routes.
Perhaps the GC was never a major trunk route, but if carefully amalgamated into the Midland at, say, Loughborough and Chesterfield, then Nottingham could have some fantastic through services, which is arguably one of the biggest things it misses out on to this day.
Interesting thought. An alternative route from Nottingham to Derby would have avoided the congested Trent junction, and the one you suggest would come into Derby Midland from the north, avoiding reversal for the majority of trains continuing to Birmingham or Crewe. But it would have had the glaring disadvantage of two separate stations in Nottingham - it might have ended up with Victoria being closed anyway and passengers being directed to Arkwright Street, somewhat further from the centre than Midland.
There were actually quite a few spurs built. I mentioned upthread the connection of the ex-GNR Grantham route into the ex-MR Lincoln route near Netherfield, strictly speaking a reinstatement of something that existed for a very short time when the Grantham line was first built. And there is the Midland to GC connection at Loughborough, although somewhat later, enabling freight trains to access Ruddington and East Leake from the south and allowing removal of the remaining section of GC from the tunnel south of Victoria to Ruddington. I recall Gerry Fiennes's book talked about his rationalisation of competing networks around Sheffield, building connections both ways at Aldwarke Junction and I think some others nearby as well.
Yep, but that took until 1965 for the former and the early 70s for the latter. There was an argument that the ex-GN line into Nottm from Netherfield was actually a better route, avoiding a number of level crossings.
Bennerley viaduct has been restored and is now open to the public, with access at both ends (from the Erewash Canal at the west end and the semi-derelict Nottingham canal at the East end). Well worth a visit, spectacular views, makes a nice circular walk from Ilkeston station.
Sorry for the delay, it wasn't because I was trying to weasel out of it!
Pretty sure that is all still the case.
In 2020 one of Etches Park‘s two remaining HST diagrams was a Nottingham to St Pancras and return working, starting and ending at Nottingham. ECS both ways between Derby and Nottingham.
And the connection at Newark between the GN and Midland lines, adjacent to the flat crossing, allowing trains from Lincoln and Grimsby to reach Northgate. This short spur allowed closure of the Lincoln to Grantham line in 1966, followed by the East Lincolnshire main line (Grimsby - Boston - Peterborough) in 1970.
That brings back some memories the G.N. Leen Valley / Leen Valley Extension. I spent the the first 13 years of my life living in a house right at the side of that line. We moved out in 1970, just a few years after it closed. The railway was so much part of my childhood living so close. We even had the fence at the back of the house set alight by sparks from steam engines on more than one occasion. My dad made me a large wooden swing in the garden right next to the track. I saw a film a few years ago, probably taken from the rail tour you mention, and it was great to see my swing in the film.