47. Delayed Father's Day on the NLR-23.06.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 47. Delayed Father's Day on the NLR-23.06.19

As the previous Sunday was so miserable, we delayed our Father's Day bike ride along the Brampton Valley way to the Northampton and Lamport Railway. So, with the weather forecast looking good the following weekend, I loaded up the bikes and off we went. After a snack on the platform at the station and a visit to the bookshop, euphemistically called the 'emporium', we rode back. A really nice day out with my wife and son.

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Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.

Various locomotives & stock, Pitsford & Lamport station
The general scene at Pitsford and Brampton station, the home to the Northampton and Lamport Railway. Unfortunately, for some time now they have been unable to operate any of their steam locomotives due to various issues, however, in May 0-4-0 saddle tank 7063 ‘Eustace Forth’ arrived on-loan from the 7063 Locomotive Group. 7063 is seen inside the recently constructed locomotive shed with another new arrival, Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 former Irchester No.9 that locals will recall as being on-display at Wicksteed Park in Kettering for many years.
Keywords: Various locomotives stock Pitsford & Lamport station

Engine, 31289, 13.00 Pitsford-Pitsford return, Pitsford & Brampton station
With one of the bodyside doors opened up, the engine of 31289 is revealed with its English Electric plate attached. These English Electric 12SVT engine (as used in the class 37) are de-rated to 1,470 bhp and were retrospectively fitted from 1964 following dreadful reliability problems with the Mirrlees JVS12T 1,250 bhp units that were installed from new. A situation all too typical of the time with many rushed and botched modernisation plans.
Keywords: Engine 31289 13.00 Pitsford-Pitsford return Pitsford & Brampton station

Cabside, 31289, 13.00 Pitsford-Pitsford return, Pitsford & Brampton-station
The cabside of the NLR's resident 31289 'Phoenix' at Pitsford and Brampton station. For some reason, the NLR has painted and maintained the class 31 in this slightly odd livery. 31289 was first allocated to Gateshead and moved to several depots before being withdrawn from service at Tinsley and stored at Bescot near Birmingham. Final withdrawal occurred in March 1992 at Bescot Depot with it arriving at Lamport in 1998. Apart from a brief stay at the Rushden Transport Museum railway, it has been at the NLR ever since.
Keywords: Cabside 31289 13.00 Pitsford-Pitsford return Pitsford & Brampton-station

31289, 13.00 Pitsford-Pitsford return, Merry Tom Lane
Having reached the northern limit of the line, 31289 pushes the 13.00 Pitsford to Pitsford return working away from merry Tom Lane. Taken right into the light but I like the effect of the signal post proudly silhouetted against the bright sky.
Keywords: 31289 13.00 Pitsford-Pitsford return Merry Tom Lane

The end of the line, bridge 14, Merry Tom Lane
This is the current northern limit of the Northampton and Lamport Railway. Beyond the buffers is bridge 14 that requires a lot of work before the track can be laid and trains allowed to cross. The NLR has ambitions to open an extension to Merry Tom Lane a short distance beyond the photograph. The line's current focus is on their southern extension to Boughton crossing where a new station is being built. At the time of writing, bridge 11 is closed for re-proofing, the final barrier preventing the southern extension opening.
Keywords: The end of the line, bridge 14 Merry Tom Lane

Three-quarter milepost, SP733683
North of Merry Tom Lane, the route of the former Northampton to Market Harborough, that was finally closed by BR in 1981, is now a cycleway and footpath, the Brampton Valley Way. Through the foliage, there is ample evidence of it past life such as this concrete three-quarter milepost just north of Merry Tom Lane.
Keywords: Three-quarter milepost SP733683

Former trackbed, Brampton Valley Way
The well maintained and used Brampton Valley way that links Northampton with Market Harborough follows the route of the railway that united the two towns. It was opened in 1859 having been designed and built by George R Stephenson. In this high summer view, taken whilst riding my bike, the trackbed is seen between Merry Tom Lane and the Spratton crossing.
Keywords: Former trackbed Brampton Valley Way

Former trackbed & bridge 16, Brampton Valley Way
My wife and son ride their bikes across bridge 16 on the Brampton Valley way on the approach to the Brixworth to Spratton crossing. This line was a double track that ran from just north of Northampton at Kingsthorpe to link with the Midland line at Market Harborough. Its fortunes waxed and waned over the years with a number of closure and reopenings with it finally succumbing in 1981. Today, it would prove to be a very useful relief line, particularly for freight with the dearth of east-west lines that exist.
Keywords: Former trackbed bridge 16 Brampton Valley Way

Gate, Brampton Valley Way SP736705
A gate that once protected an occupation crossing over the Northampton to Market Harborough line just near to the Spratton to Brixworth road crossing. On the other side of the track, the corresponding gate had gone but the tell-tale concrete post was still extant. This is just one example of the former railway infrastructure that is still in place along the lenght of the line that is now home to the very popular Brampton Valley Way.
Keywords: Gate Brampton Valley Way SP736705

Former Spratton level crossing
A car crosses the former level crossing on the Spratton to Brixworth road in Northamptonshire. The line ran between Northampton and Market Harborough being finally closed to freight traffic in 1981. There was once a small station at this location that closed very early in 1949 situated just behind where I am standing that is now a car park for users of the Brampton Valley Way. There was also a signal box that protected the level crossing.
Keywords: Former Spratton level crossing

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.