 In 1867 , an independent local company built the Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway , later incorporated into the Great Northern Railway ( GNR ) . The GNR built its GNR Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension from Nottingham and Derby Friargate via Mickleover to Egginton Junction with running powers over the NSR from Etwall , through Uttoxeter , to Bromshall Junction . The GNR granted the NSR running rights to Nottingham , Colwick , Leicester and Peterborough . Apart from excursion trains to Nottingham and goods trains to Colwick , the NSR did not take advantage of these powers . 
