63. The 180th anniversary of Roade Cutting-09.09.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2018 > 63. The 180th anniversary of Roade Cutting-09.09.18

In the words of Monty Python, 'and now for something completely different'! For sometime the Roade Local History Society has been preparing a celebration of the 180th anniversary of the opening of the famous Roade Cutting. As well as a very informative set of displays it has built a superb, if not quite to scale, model of the cutting. If it had been to scale, it would have been over 40 feet long! There were guided tours taking place all weekend of the cutting and its environs and lots of informative people to talk to. On the Saturday a heritage plaque was unveiled to mark the event that is going to be installed on Hyde Road Bridge over the cutting some time during October. On Saturday I attended with my friend Andy and bumped into a number of people I know, including Mike, an ex colleague from work who had contributed some of the images for the exhibition. I revisited on Sunday as the sun was shining! Of course, I visited the cutting to take some pictures to mark the event. A hearty well done to all involved!

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Images 1-16 of 16 displayed.

Scale model of Roade Cutting, Roade Village Hall
The exhibition in Roade Village Hall included this impressive 'not quite to scale' model of the cutting. It covered the section of the WCML from where the Northampton line diverges as far south as what was colloquially known as the tin bridge that used to carry the SM&J railway over the line.
Keywords: Roade Cutting Roade Village Hall

Exhibition and scale model of Roade Cutting, Roade Village Hall
A general view of the exhibition on Roade Village Hall commemorating the 180th anniversary of the opening of Roade Cutting in 1838. It was full of fascinating information about the history of the railway in Roade. Even a local enthusiast like me learnt some things, for example, I did not know the names of the two footbridges that I use to photograph trains from.
Keywords: Exhibition scale model Roade Cutting Roade Village Hall

Notice on scale model of Roade Cutting, Roade Village Hall
This is what it was all about! To the left is a printed copy of the commemorative plaque that was unveiled at the exhibition on Saturday. The plaque is going to be attached to the Hyde Road Bridge in Roade sometime in October.

Roade station and yard, from scale model of Roade Cutting, Roade Village Hall
A section of the scale model of the railway through Roade showing the station and its yard. The factory to the right has recently been demolished and a huge housing development is taking its place. There has been numerous calls for the reopening of the station at Roade, the site is still largely undeveloped so it would be feasible if the various parties really wanted to make it happen! However, as a local resident, I don't think it will happen in my lifetime!
Keywords: Roade station and yard Roade Village Hal

Roade Village Hall
Roade Village Hall where the excellent and informative exhibition commemorating he 180th anniversary of the opening of Roade Cutting took place.

Guided tour of the cutting, Accomodation Bridge, Roade Cutting
Taken from the bridge that I have just found out is called Muddy or Dirty Lane Bridge one of the guided tours of the Cutting and its environs can be seen. The tour has paused on Accommodation or Thorpe Wood Bridge with the water aqueduct in between the two. At the moment, there are plans under consideration for the building of a bypass around Roade tied to a huge rail linked warehouse development between the village and the M1. If this goes ahead, then the bridge for the bypass will cross the cutting right in the middle of this view.
Keywords: Roade Cutting

350103 & 350265, LN 11.24 London Euston-Birmingham New Street & Crewe (2Y11, 3L), Roade Cutting
A two-set class 350 combination passes through Roade Cutting that will split at Northampton station. 350103 leads whilst 350265 is at the rear forming the 11.24 Euston to Birmingham New Street and Crewe. In this view it is clear that the work undertaken to stabilise the face of the cutting a few years ago maybe in need of some urgent attention again soon. Notice the line of Ash trees that seem to be taking over and are probably doing their best undermine the base of the face.
Keywords: 350103 350265 2Y11 Roade Cutting

390124, VT 11.50 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1B15, RT), Roade Cutting
390124 'Virgin Venturer' passes south through the 180 year old Roade Cutting with the 11.50 Birmingham New Street to London Euston. It's testament to the foresight and technology used by Robert Stevenson when the cutting was constructed that 180 years on from its opening it's still doing what it was designed for.
Keywords: 390124 1B15 Roade Cutting

350110, LN 12.26 Northampton-Milton Keynes Central ECS (5K20), Roade Cutting
With the autumn colours beginning to emerge at Roade Cutting, 350110 heads south forming the 5K20 12.26 Northampton to Milton Keynes empty stock working. I love the warm lighting of this time of year but do not like the shorter hours of daylight restricting when I can get out to take pictures!
Keywords: 350110 5K20 Roade Cutting

390016, VT 11.47 Wolverhampton-London Euston (1B18, 4E), Roade Cutting
The Virgin flying silk livery is fast becoming the norm with ever more of the 390s taking on the new look. Here, 390016 speeds south through Roade Cutting forming the 11.47 Wolverhampton to London Euston.
Keywords: 390016 1B18 Roade Cutting

Class 221, VT 11.28 Chester-London Euston (1A19, 5E), Roade Cutting
An unidentified class 221 works the 11.28 Chester to London Euston 1A19 service through the glorious Roade Cutting.
Keywords: Class 221 1A19 Roade Cutting

350369, LN 11.54 London Euston-Northampton (2N13, RT), Roade Cutting
The rate at which London Northwestern are re-painting their class 350s is very slow. Long may that continue as the drab front end treatment that they are giving them is absolutely awful! I cannot believe that some graphic designer has been allowed to create this and even more so that it has been approved by the company! Here, 350369 has received the treatment and passes through Roade Cutting forming the 11.54 Euston to Northampton.
Keywords: 350369 2N13 Roade Cutting

DR73 947, 12.10 Watford London Concrete sidings-Rugby Depot, Roade Cutting
Track machine DR73 947 makes its way through Roade Cutting working the 12.10 Watford to Rugby move. I had been tracking this working on the Open Train Times site from when it left Watford slightly early. As it was a Sunday and fairly quiet, control appeared to let it run and it steadily gained time all the way, by the time it got to me here at Roade it was nearly an hour early.
Keywords: DR73 947 Roade Cutting

390131, VT 09.32 Glasgow Central-London Euston (1M05, 1E), Roade Cutting
390131 'City of Liverpool' still retains it old and as-built Virgin livery as it passes through Roade Cutting forming the 09.32 Glasgow central to London Euston.
Keywords: 390131 1M05 Roade Cutting

66425, 13.09 DIRFT-Purfleet FLT (4L48), Roade Cutting
66425 heads the regular Sunday 13.09 Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) to Purfleet liner working. This 4L48 is a dead cert. for Sundays and is always a well loaded working and one I get out to see when the sun is shining!
Keywords: 66425 13.09 DIRFT-Purfleet FLT 4L48 Roade Cutting

Roade Cutting 180th grand exhibition ‘lucky‘ programme!
The 'lucky' programme that did not win me a prize! However, the pages were filled with loads of useful and interesting information about the cutting and its heritage.

Images 1-16 of 16 displayed.