In 1889, the Nottingham Suburban Railway (NSR) was opened, and the line ran right across and under the land of Woodthorpe Grange, owned by the Ashwell Family. The tunnel was known as the Ashwell Tunnel. The NSR had a short life span and by 1901 was severely affected by the opening of the electric tram way from Nottingham to Sherwood, as well as the Great Central Railway, passenger traffic ceased in 1931 and the line finally closed in 1951
