An example of Train Performance over the line in 1965
This performance table and comments appeared in the April 1965 edition of Modern Railways. The article by Cecil J Allen, a much travelled and keen railway observer of his day, formed part of a regular series called 'Train Running & Traction Performance' and dealt with BR in general. This particular article concerned amongst other things a trip on the London Midland Region (LMR) from London St. Pancras to Nottingham and back behind BR/Sulzer type 4 diesel locomotives. Although the outward trip was via Leicester and Trent Junction the return journey was via Old Dalby and Melton Mowbray to Kettering and hence to St. Pancras. Note the size of the train, unheard of in these modern times. Altogether an interesting insight into the latter years of travel over the line, but I still don't have many photographs of diesel traction on the line in BR days. |
Click on the picture for a bigger image - photos are the author's unless otherwise credited
The article included the following:
'Returning to London by the 16.24 from Nottingham, I was
surprised to see no fewer than 13 bogies on the tail of D139, another BR/Sulzer
Type 4, and imagined that the diesel, which certainly ran into Nottingham
ahead of time, might be hard pressed to work no less than 470 tons to St.
Pancras on so fast a timing as this. But I was soon made to think otherwise,
for from the start we began steadily to gain time. Up the initial 1 in 200
we accelerated and held 64 m.p.h. and had gained the first 1¼ min by Melton
Junction, increased to 2¼ by Manton. All speed restrictions were
scrupulously observed, though I do not know what the reason could have been
for a reduction to 50 m.p.h. at Corby; the final 45 m.p.h. slowing on this
stretch was round the curve at Glendon South Junction. Even so we were 2½
min early into Kettering, having covered the 51.5 miles from Nottingham in
49 min 53 sec.' Note: The '1 in 200' would be from Melton Junction, Nottingham through Widmerpool to the summit at Folly Hall. The article goes on to describe the rest of the journey to London. |
I reproduce part of the timings table below:
LMR NOTTINGHAM - ST. PANCRAS
Locomotive : Type 4 1Co-Co1 Diesel No: D139 (2,500 HP)
Load: 13 coaches, 449 tons tare, 470 tons gross
Distance |
|
Scheduled |
Actual |
Speeds |
miles |
|
Min. |
m. s. |
m.p.h. |
0.00 |
NOTTINGHAM |
0 |
0 00 |
- |
2.85 |
Edwalton |
- |
5 29 |
53 |
5.40 |
Plumtree |
- |
8 07 |
61 |
8.25 |
Widmerpool |
12 |
10 55 |
61 |
12.10 |
Old Dalby |
- |
14 23 |
72 |
14.30 |
Grimston |
- |
16 12 |
69/82 |
17.65 |
Melton Junc. |
20½ |
19 12 |
*44 |
18.25 |
MELTON MBY. |
- |
19 59 |
- |
22.00 |
Saxby |
- |
23 44 |
66 |
26.60 |
Ashwell |
- |
27 39 |
72 |
29.70 |
Oakham |
32½ |
30 04 |
77½/87½ |
33.35 |
Manton |
35½ |
32 49 |
*70 |
38.55 |
Harringworth |
- |
36 49 |
85 |
40.50 |
Gretton |
- |
38 29 |
*66 |
44.00 |
Corby |
44 |
41 49 |
*50 |
46.45 |
Geddington |
(†1) |
44 18 |
71½/*45 |
51.50 |
KETTERING |
52½ |
49 53 |
- |
Key
Names in italics are passing points or closed stations
Names in CAPITALS are calling points
*speed restrictions † recovery time in mins
A BR/Sulzer Type 4 locomotive No: 46 passes Derby RTC in the summer of 1972 after the 'D' had been dropped but before the TOPS re-numbering had been adopted. |