Paramount Car

Originally built in Swadlincote between 1950-1956, two models of the Paramount Car were created: The Paramount Ten and the Paramount  One and half litre. Each car had an aluminium over wood frame body over a tubular steel chassis. Its engine was 1172cc side valve engine. About 72 vehicles were made, but after Paramount Cars were purchased by Camden Motors, the cost became prohibitive and production ceased. By that time the price was uncompetitive at £1009. That was a lot of money in the pre decimalised 1950s.  The top speed was 72MPH, nothing compared to cars today. After the Paramount Car ceased production, no other automotive company would build a production facility in South Derbyshire. 

Before the Beaching Axe, Swadlincote had a dedicated loop line off the main Burton-Leicester train line, known colloquially as the Ivanhoe Line (Despite that being the name of the suburban development between East Midlands Parkway and Leicester from the Mid-1990s) Phase two of this development was the reopening of the old Burton to Leicester line, whose development might see fruit in the future. The first station to serve Swadlincote was in Church Gresely where the line still remains and often trains of heavy goods from Barton Aggregates can still be seen bring stone from the quarry to various destinations across the UK. If the quarry saved the line, the closure of the mines and potteries spelt the end for the main Swadlincote Train Station as well as the Swadlincote Loop Line. The old station was located off Midland Road now occupied by the new modern 1960s designed fire station. The line was closed to passenger traffic in 1947, having been in service for 98 years. At its height, services went to Leicester, Nuneaton and nearby Burton Upon Trent. It was built by the Midland railway as part of an expansion of Leicester and Swannington Railway to Burton Upon Trent and then the loop line. The Leicester and Swannington Railway is interesting as well, being first built in 1832 funded by George Stephenson