Thanks to Jim Burton for this memorable gen
Let us take, yet once more, a gentle ramble back to the “good old days” – when engineering was done on a Sunday without the need to shut half the network. OK so the trains were even slower than usual on such Sundays, but at least there were no dreaded bustitutions. There was also the time when in the case of an emergency – for example loco failure or derailment – the last resort was to cancel services on the route involved, not as seems now to be the case, the first resort.
So, this section will not be to do with loco performance, but a description of the diversions I have undergone during my years of travel on the ECML. There will also be some detail of the first journeys I had over these diversions.
Reading from the down direction, we start with the Happy Hertford Loop
as normal ECML to ;-
04.97. Wood Green thence
05.68 Bowes Park
06.63 Palmers Green
07.79. Winchmore Hill
08.44. Grange Park
09.11 Enfield Chase
09.86 Gordon Hill
11.50 Crewe Hill
13.21 Cuffley
16.70 Bayford
19.60 Hertford North
22.16 Stapleford
23.90 Watton-at-Stone
28.10 Langley Junction
So for the KX-Peterborough North section the mileage to be added is. 01.41 giving a total of 77.77.
My first experience of the Hertford Loop in the Down direction :-
Sunday 02 September 1962
2C40 0815 SUN KX-Peterborough North 60047 DONOVAN (34F)
reason – engineering operations
and in the Up direction :-
Saturday 17 February 1973
1A27. 1415 Newcastle KX 55003 MELD (FP)
reason-engineering operations in connection with
KX suburban electrification
Next – Oh joy….a trundle round the Joint – Peterborough North-Doncaster via Spalding, Sleaford, Lincoln Central and Gainsborough Lea Road
as normal ECML to ;-
79.40 Werrington Junction
80.91. Fox Covert
81.74 Peakirk
83.45 St. James Deeping
87.74 Littleworth
92.73 Spalding South Junction
92.96 Spalding
93.29 Spalding North Junction
95.06 Pinchbeck
97.90. Gosberton
101.40. Donington Road
106.94. Helpringham
110.80 Sleaford South Junction
111.94. Sleaford
112.19 Sleaford West Junction
114.32 Sleaford North Junction
116.54. Ruskington
119.27 Digby
121.38. Scopwick
123.75 Metheringham
125.47 Norton
127.47. Potterhanworth
129.70. Branston
132.04. Greetwell Junction
132.88. Pelham Street Junction
133.08. Lincoln Central mileage from KX
Down direction :-
Saturday 07 September 1968
1A66 2020 KX-Edinburgh Waverley D9016 GORDON HIGHLANDER (64B)
reason – engineering operations
Not many diversions left for what is now 55016 nearing the end, a work weary looking 55016 is stabled at the blocks at the North end of Kings Cross on October 3rd 1981
Up direction ;-
Saturday 26 July 1980
1E35 2045 SO Edinburgh Waverley-KX 40006 (HM)
reason -engineering operations
Now to move on north of Lincoln……
0.00. Lincoln Central
1.63 Pyewipe Junction
6.09. Saxiby
7.50 Sykes Junction
10.61 Stow Park
13.37 Lea
15.56 Gainsborough Lea Road
16.15 Trent Junction
18.39 Beckingham
20.14 Walkieringham
29.53 Finningley
34.09 Black Carr Junction
34.88 Potteric Carr
36.83 Doncaster 1 mile less in up direction – routing at
Black Carr Junction
First experience as diversion route in the Down direction :-
Sunday 16 July 1978
1L02 0840 SUN KX-York 47535 (BS)
and in the Up direction:-
Sunday 16 July 1978
1A19 1858 SUN York-KX 47430 (GD)
The lesser spotted Allington and Barkston Junctions route between Grantham
and Newark Northgate
as normal ECML to Gratham, thence…..
0.00. Grantham
3.41 Allington Junction
3.61 reversal point
3.81 Allington Junction
7.90 Barkston East Junction
8.10 reversal point
8.76 Barkston North Junction
10.14 Hougham
13.86 Claypole
18.59. Newark North Gate
I encountered this diversion only in the Down direction :-
Regrettably I cannot find the details of the first occasion!! it must have been during the later moths of 1963 or the early months of 1964. I seem to remember that the train involved was 1A66 and that in charge was D9015 TULYAR (34G). What I certainly remember is that assistance between Allington and Barkston East Junctions was provided by an A3, so unkempt by this stage that aided by the blackness of the night, the number was indistinguishable!! By this stage Grantham depot had closed so it would have been allocated to 34E. Any help with identification would be very much appreciated!!!!
The second occasion…….
Saturday 08 April 1967
1A66 2020 KX-Edinburgh Waverley D9002 THE KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE
LIGHT INFANTRY (52A)
Allington Junction- D7672 Tamworth Castle (D16)
Barkston East Junction
Rambling through the Ridings – Alternative 1 – Doncaster-York via Knottingley
as normal ECML to
4.24 Shaftholme Junction mileage ex-Doncaster
6.85. Askern
8.04. Norton
14.35 Knottingley South Junction
14.93. Knottingley North junction
15.48. Ferrybridge North Junction
17.84 Burton Salmon
21.84. Sherburn-in-Elmet
23.97. Church Fenton
25.82. Ulleskelf
30.92. Copmanthorpe
32.74. Chaloners Whin Junction
34.64. York
Again sampled this in the down direction only :-
Sunday 22 December 1968
1A38 1400 SUN KX-Edinburgh Waverley. 55011 THE ROYAL
NORTHUMBERLAND
FUSILIER (52A)
reason – engineering operations
Rambling through the Ridings – Alternative 2 – Doncaster-York via Normanton
and Castleford
as normal ECML to Doncaster, thence:-
0.00. Doncaster
1.73. Bentley Crossing
4.06. Carcroft
4.65. Ardwick Junction
7.01. Hampole
8.68 South Elmsall
11.81 Hemsworth
13.23. Fitzwilliam
15.97. Hare Park Junction
17.34 Crofton West Junction
18.49 Calder Bridge
20.52 Goose Hill Junction
20.96. Normanton
21.80 Altofts Junction
23.39 Whitwood
24.49. Castleford
26.37 Fryston
28.57 Burton Salmon
30.41 Milford Junction
32.47 Sherburn-in-Elmet
34.65. Church Fenton
36.54 Ulleskelf
37.79 Bolton Percy
41.64. Copmanthorpe
43.44 Chaloners Whin Junction
45.39 York
Down direction only
1A38 1400 SUN KX-Edinburgh Waverley 9015 TULYAR (34G)
reason – engineering operations
The mighty 55015 “Tulyar” arrives at the Cross with 1A37 1047 York – Kings X on July 10th 1981. A Tony Ewer phot.
The Stockton Alternative – York-Ferryhill via Stockton and Sedgefield
as normal ECML to Northallerton, thence :-
0.00. Northallerton
0.91 Low Gates
2.34 Brompton
4.04 Long Lane
5.86 Wetbury
10.03 Picton
13.41 Yarm
14.62 Eaglescliffe
16.66 Heartburn Junction
17.54 Stockton-on-Tees
19.38 Norton-on-Tees South
19.74 Norton-on-Tees West
23.26 Stillington
27.76 Sedgefield
31.30 Ferryhill
thence as normal ECML
Only time – Down direction ;-
Wednesday 28 January, 1970
1N12 1300 KX-Newcastle-upon-Tyne D1506 (34G)
reason – derailment at Cowton
The Washington Wander – Darlington Bank Top-Newcastle-upon-Tyne via
Leamside and Pelaw
as normal ECML to Ferryhill, thence
12.88. Ferryhill mileage ex-Darlington Bank Top
14.98 Tursdale Junction
17.73 Shincliffe
18.74 Whitwell
19.73 Sherburn Colliery
22.33 Leamside
24.71 Fencehouses
27.32 Penshaw North
28.44 Washington
29.93 Usworth Junction
32.21 Follingsby North Junction
33.31 Pelaw
34.50 Felling
36.22 Gateshead West
36.63 Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Sunday 03 August, 1975
1S37. 0925 SUN York-Edinburgh Waverley 40163 (HA)
A Change of Bridges at Newcastle-upon-Tyne
as normal ECML to :-
13.44. King Edward VII Bridge Junction mileage ex-Durham
14.04 Gateshead West
14.48 Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Friday 07 August 1964
1N84. 1340 FO Bristol Temple Meads-Newcastle-upon-Tyne
60071 TRANQUIL (52A)
reason-platform occupation at Newcastle
A Jaunt round Jesmond – Newcastle-upon-Tyne-Edinburgh Waverlet via
Jesmond and Longbenton
0.00 Newcastle-upon-Tyne
0.58 Manors
1.23 Jesmond
2.50 West Jesmond
2.94 South Gosforth
3.83 Longbenton
4.80 Benton
4.99 Benton North Junction
5.69 Forest Hall add 0.69 to all mileages North thereof
Friday 01 August, 1975
1S48. 0555 KX-Edinburgh Waverley 40080 (YK)
reason – points failure at Heaton
Northern Terriers, anyone?! – Newcastle-upon-Tyne-Edinburgh Waverley via
Bedlington
4.30 Benton North Junction mileage ex-Newcastle-upon-Tyne
6.45 Backworth
7.30 Holywell
8.86 Seghill
9.86 Seaton delavel
10.94 Hartley
12.52 Newsham
14.63 Bebside
15.64 Bedlington
16.86 Choppington
19.05 Hepscott
19.34 Hepscott Junction
20.36 Blythe & Tyne Junction
20.60 Morpeth Junction
20.68 Morpeth add 04.05 to all mileages North thereof
arrive Morpeth up platform – loco run round
Sunday 10 November 1968
1A38. 1400 SUN KX-Edinburgh. Waverley D9006 THE FIFE & FORFAR
YEOMANRY (64B)
reason – engineering operations
The canine reference is that, during my youth, I remember a large terrier called the Bedlington Terrier.
‘Tis a long way to the Waverley! Newcastle-Upon-Tyne-Edinburgh Waverley
via Carlisle Citadel and the Carstairs Avoider
0.00 Newcastle-upon-Tyne
2.05 Elswick
2.85 Scotswood
4.04 Blaydon
6.19 Ryton
8.81 Wylam
10.60 Prudhoe
13.14 Stocksfield
15.44 Riding Mill
17.74 Corbridge
18.25 Dilston
20.85 Hexham
21.94 Border Counties Junction
23.68 Warden
24.68 Fourstones
28.44 Haydon Bridge
32.36 Bardon Mill
37.16 Haltwhistle
40.25 Blenkinsop
40.50 Greenhead
42.49 Gilsland
43.29 Denton School
43.82 Denton Village
45.47 Lane Head
46.30 Low Row
47.83 Naworth
48.75 Milton
49.26 Brampton
52.86 How Mill
54.22 Heads Nook
55.95 Wetheral
59.33 Petteril Bridge Junction
59.61 London Road Junction
60.21 Carlisle Citadel
thence as per normal WCML
total distance to Edinburgh Waverley 161.61
Down direction :-
Sunday May 23, 1976
1S66 2100 SO KX-Edinburgh Waverley 47415 (GD)
reason – engineering operations
55018 “Ballymoss” at Carlisle with the diverted 0550 Kings X – Edinburgh on August 6th 1979. 40098 is in the background on the 0715 Nottingham – Glasgow. A John Williams photo recvd with thanks.
Up direction:-
Sunday 11 January 1970
1E07 1100 SUN Edinburgh Waverley-KX D9020 NIMBUS (34G)
reason – engineering operations
And even more Improbable- Newcastle-upn-Tyne-Edinburgh Waverley via
Carlisle Citadel, Motherwell, Holytown and Shotts
to Carlisle Citadel see above
thence normal WCML to Motherwell
then:-
89.42. Motherwell milage ex-Carlisle Citadel
91.04 Mossend South
91.50 Mossend East
92.12 Holytown
92.90 Carfin Halt
94.71 Cleland
97.81 Hartwood
99.51 Shotts
102.15 Benhar Junction
102.91 Fauldhouse North
105.10 Breich
107.73 Addiewell
109.41 West Calder
111.37 Newpark
113.15 Livingston South
114.01 Midcalder Junction
115.17 Midcalder
116.09 Camps Junction
117.63 Ravelrig Junction
119.82 Curriehill
121.51 Wester Hailes
122.34 Kingsknowe
123.21 Slateford
123.54 Slateford Junction
124.90 Haymarket
125.53 Haymarket Tunnel South
126.11 Edinburgh Waverley
total mileage ex-Newcastle Central – 186.31
Saturday 19 May, 1979
1S12. 0550 KX- Aberdeen (terminating Edinburgh Waverley)
47411 (GD)
reason – collapse of Penmanshiel Tunnel +
derailment between Auchengray
and Cobbinshaw
Crises at St.Margaret’s
normal ECML to Portobello, thence :-
122.26 Craigentinny mileages ex-Newcastle-upon-Tyne
123.20. Lochend Junction
123.55. London Road Junction
123.83. Abbeyhill junction
124.59 Edinburgh Waverley
Down direction:-
Thursday 28 December 1972
1S39 1340 RELIEF Newcastle-upon-Tyne-Edinburgh Waverley
276 (55B)
reason;- engineering operations at St. Margaret’s
Up direction :-
Saturday 16 August 1969
1E01. 0830 SO Edinburgh Waverley-KX. D9021 ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND
HIGHLANDER (64B)
reason :- failure of freight at St. Margaret’s
An A4 on the “Elizabethan” via WHERE??? Via Portobello East Junction, Galashiels, Kelso Junction, Kelso, Coldstream and Tweedmouth!!
This experience surely needs a bit of background! It occurred at the end of another family holiday to Scotland . My parents were returning via Glasgow St Enoch and Leeds City/Central whist I was travelling to Newark via KX. That morning it was raining – it had been for the last 24 hours or so. They were rescuing people in boats in some areas of Glasgow!! We, in the East were told that a landslip had occurred at the usual place between Dunbar and Berwick – much later I discovered that there had been a freight derailment at Grantshouse (though of course the two events were NOT mutually exclusive!!)
0.00. Edinburgh Waverley
0.76. Abbeyhill Junction
2.20. Craigentinny
3.00. Portobello
3.36 Portobello East Junction
4.41 Niddrie South Junction
6.24 Millerhill Junction
7.95 Eskbank
8.26. Hardengreen Junction
9.70 Newtongrange
12.01 Gorebridge
14.11 Borthwick Bank Box
16.01 Tynehead
17.95 Falahill
19.11 Heriot
22.56 Fountainhall
26.65 Stow
29.83 Bowland
32.50 Kilnknowe Junction
33.44 Galashiels
37.21. Melrose
40.56 St.Boswell’s
43.86 Kelso Junction
43.57 Maxton
46.10. Rutherford
49.16 Roxburgh Junction
52.14 Kelso
56.71 Carham
58.98 Sunilaws
62.04 Coldstream
64.95 Twizell
67.83 Norham
70.36 Velvet Hall
74.49 Tweedmouth
add 15.84 miles to all mileages on to Newcastle-upon-Tyne
total mileage to Newcastle-upon-Tyne – 140,30
total mileage to KX – 408.64
Up direction :-
Tuesday 08 September 1961
1A33 0945 SX Edinburgh Waverley-KX 60014 SILVER LINK (34A)
The A4 was not happy in these conditions and slipped half way up Falahill – the crew could do nothing apart from let her find her own speed!! At Galashiels, we stopped for water – it was raining so hard that perhaps it would have taken less time just to open the tender tank and let the heavens do the rest!!! 60014’s travails did not end
at Tweedmouth- a signal failure at Black Carr Junction resulted in an eventual arrival at KX 81 minutes late!! Still, it proved to be my only run behind the original A4!!
Ancient British Kingdoms, anyone??? York-Doncaste via Sherburn-in-Elmet, Gascoigne Wood, Hambleton and Selby West Junction
0.00. York
1.90 Chaloners Whin jJunction
3.75 Copmanthorpe
7.60 Bolton Percy
8.87 Ulleskelf
10.73. Church Fenton
12.86 Sherburn-in-Elmet
13.26 Sherburn Junction
14.37 Gascoigne Wood
16.66 Hambleton
18.39 Thorpe Gates
20.22 Selby West Junction
20.62 Selby Canal Junction
add 6.79 to all mileages on to Doncaster
38.97 Doncaster
Up direction :-
Saturday 29 March, 1975
1A27 1410 Newcastle-upon-Tyne-KX 55003 MELD (34G)
reason – engineering operations – Selby Swing Bridge
The historical reference……before the days of the Anglo-Saxons, there was a British kingdom called Elmet. It was based, it is believed round about “Leeds”. The place-name Sherburn-in-Elmet is, to my knowledge, the only surviving reference!
And, whist we are talking about Gascoigne Wood…….Selby-Doncaster via Hambleton, Milford Junction, Knottingley West and South Junctions and
Askern
13.83 Selby mileages ex-York
14.44 Selby West Junction
16.32 Thorpe Gates
18.05 Hambleton
20.32 Gascoigne Wood
21.80 Milford Junction
23.58 Burton Salmon
25.91 Ferrybridge North Junction
26.46 Knottingley West Junction
27.04 Knottingley South Junction
33.35 Norton
34.54 Askern
37.15 Shaftholme Junction
39.29 Arksey
41.39 Doncaster
Up direction ;-
Saturday 26 July, 1980
1E35. 2045 SO Edinburgh Waverley-KX. 40006 (HM)
reason – engineering operations
The late lamented Lincoln Edge diversion – Newark avoider!
0.00 Grantham
4.22 Barkston
4.69 Barkston East Junction
6.40. Honington
9.73 Caythorpe
12.45 Leadenham
15.81 Navenby
18.79 Harmston
20.55 Waddington
21.62 Bracebridge Brick Siding
22.87 Bracebridge Gas Siding
24.66 Lincoln Central
Up direction ;-
Sunday 08 January 1961
991. 1234 SUN Bradford Exchange/1300 SUN Leeds Central-KX
60122 CURLEW (36A)
Down direction :-
Sunday 08 January 1961
178. 1635 SUN KX-York 60522 STRAIGHT DEAL (50A)
