Cheddington – Leighton timings down the years
The 4.07 miles between Cheddington and Leighton Buzzard these days generally takes around 4m 20s start to stop an average speed of 56mph. The slow lines are today timed for 100mph running unlike the more sedate 75/80 max in the 80’s.
Unfortunately record breaking runs are less likely today as the signalling and on board computer recording don’t miss a trick. Booked loco haulage on local trains between Cheddington and Leighton ended in 1965 with electrification.
Below are a selection of reasonable or fast runs between Cheddington and Leighton including a few DMU’s when the ole was isolated. Obviously to date the highly powered 730 units are the fastest although the 321’s and to a lesser extent the 319’s could put in some very fast runs too.
The route is virtually dead straight on a descending gradient, often adverse signals at Ledburn Junction about half way ruin a good run, the neutral half a mile South of Leighton doesnt help much either.
These timings will be updated as faster runs are recorded or found in the murky depths of my archives.
Record breaker 321417 on the Cheddington – Leighton racetrack at Three Arches on January 22nd 2014. These units remain much faster in the logs than their class 319 counterparts.
010257 – 5m 52s – 41.62 mph
45021 (Black 5) 1211 Euston – Rugby
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201165 – 6m 24s – 38.15 mph
E3096 (later 81021) 1533 Watford Jn – Bletchley
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270382 – 4m 28s – 54.67 mph
310091/310048 0905 Euston – Bletchley
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290488 -4m 32s – 53.8 mph
317315 – 1733 Euston – Bletchley
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121189 – 5m 50s – 41.86 mph
51876/59648/59609/53891 0815 Euston – Northampton
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250390 – 5m 54s – 41.38 mph
T420/403 – 1105 Euston – Rugby
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280410 – 4m 1s – 60.79 mph
321414/417 1804 Euston – Northampton
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300511 – 3m 40s – 66.6 mph
350239 1424 Euston – M.Keynes
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050120 – 3m 50s – 63.7 mph
350240 1454 Euston – M.Keynes.
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190523 – 4m 17s – 57 mph
319433/220 1639 Euston – M.Keynes
301023 – 4m 36s – 53.08 mph
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319220 1809 Euston – M.Keynes (last reported day in service).
031123 – 4m 12s – 58.14 mph
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730016/019 1809 Euston – M.Keynes
141223 – 4m 57s – 49.33 mph
Not a record breaker as logged above, 730016 n 019 on December 14th 2023
730016/012 1639 Euston – M.Keynes
240124 3m 52s 63.15 mph
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730001/003 1639 Euston – – M.Keynes
170424 3m 44s 65.41 mph
………
730018/038 1639 Euston – M.Keynes
231224 3m 54s 62.08 mph
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730217/221 1539 Euston – M.Keynes
221025 3m 44s 65.41 mph
…..
Reverse direction – quick!
730005/018 1000 M.Keynes – Euston
260225 3m 43s 65.7 mph
……
730233/220 0900 M.Keynes – Euston
061025 3m 56s 62.08
end
Leighton Lists 