93. A Lincolnshire & Rutland ramble-17.09.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 93. A Lincolnshire & Rutland ramble-17.09.20

A trip out with Andy on a superb September day in his Nissan Serena (for the first time)! We headed out to the ECML at Tallington and then back along the Midland route via Stamford, Oakham and Melton Mowbray. Of course, Andy and I were appropriately masked up and kept our distance as much as possible!

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Images 1-20 of 20 displayed.

170115, XC 08.52 Tyseley LMD-Cambridge (5N53, 12L), Stamford station
170115 passes through the unusually quiet Stamford station forming the 08.52 Tyseley to Cambridge 5N53 empty coaching stock move. Notice the former signal box at the western end of the station. This was not its as-built location being constructed a further two hundred yards or so further away at the entrance to the former goods yard that is now the station car park.
Keywords: 170115 08.52 Tyseley LMD-Cambridge 5N53 Stamford station Cross Country XC

158812, EM 07.42 Liverpool Lime Sreet-Norwich (1L06, 3L), Tallington
158812 works the 07.42 Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich EMR service at speed on the up slow at Tallington. It is passing the Tallington crossovers that permit trains access, after some convoluted movements, to the Dow-Mac concrete facility that is seen behind the poplar trees in the background.
Keywords: 158812 07.42 Liverpool Lime Sreet-Norwich 1L06 Tallington EMR East Midlands railway

801104 & 801204, GR 09.36 Harrogate-London King's Cross (1A22, 2E), Tallington
A pair of Azumas head south at Tallington working the 09.36 Harrogate to King's Cross 1A22 LNER service. It is now possible on some pages of RTT to identify the units operating certain services with 801104 and 801204 being the sets indicated as working this train. In the days before the electrification masts arrived photographs like this one were gloriously open with no impinging from the wiring, as is the case now, particularly manifesting itself in this view.
Keywords: 801104 801204 09.36 Harrogate-London King's Cross 1A22 Tallington LNER Azuma

180114, GC 08.44 Sunderland-London King's Cross (1A61, 2E), Tallington
At one stage during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it looked as though open access operator Grand Central (owned by Arriva) was not going to restart operations after ceasing to operate all of its services. However, in the last few weeks, it has restarted its services on the ECML. Here, 180114 heads south working the 08.44 Sunderland to King's Cross service. Unfortunately, GC has announced that it has abandoned its plans to operate some services on the WCML despite all the work put in and the obvious cash outlay, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29242722204/x90029-82200-82227-90026-09-37-widnes
Keywords: 180114 08.44 Sunderland-London King's Cross 1A61 Tallington Grand Central Arriva Trains

801215, GR 06.48 Glasgow Central-London King's Cross (1E06, RT), Tallington
Deliberately utilising a slower shutter speed, in this case, 1/100 sec. 801215 emphasises its speed with a significant amount of motion blur. This is further enhanced by the solid stability of the upright steel electrification mast placed in front of it. I like the image anyway! The LNER Azuma is seen passing Tallington working the 1E06 06.48 Glasgow Central to London King's Cross service.
Keywords: 801215 06.48 Glasgow Central-London King's Cross 1E06 Tallington LNER Azuma

180112, GC 10.57 London King's Cross-Bradford Interchange (1D71, 1L), Tallington
180112 speeds northwards crossing Tallington level crossing working the 1D71 10.57 King's Cross to Bradford Interchange. Just beyond the rear of the train there used to be two foot crossings that were 'temporarily' closed in 2011 that in Network Rail parlance usually means shut and never to re-open! Indeed, some nine years later all semblance of them has been removed with the footpaths leading to them diverted. They offered great vantage points at track level and I was fortunate to have used one of them before closure. (Photographs yet to be uploaded.)
Keywords: 180112 10.57 London King's Cross-Bradford Interchange 1D71 Tallington Grand Central

67028, 10.45 Doncaster West Yard-Bounds Green TMD (0Z11, 6E), Tallington
Andy and I had been tracking the progress of 67028 since it left Grantham on Open Train Times. It made fairly rapid progress towards us passing Tallington in the lovely September sun as the 0Z11 10.45 Doncaster West Yard to Bounds Green light engine move.
Keywords: 67028 10.45 Doncaster West Yard-Bounds Green TMD 0Z11Tallington

Tallington ground frame
Located beneath the pedestrian footbridge that spans the ECML at Tallington is the ground frame that controls access to and from the mainlines into the Dow-Mac sidings. It is operated by the crews of trains that enter and leave the sidings and is in regular use judging by the shiny tracks within the complex.
Keywords: Tallington ground frame

Tallington Gate box (BR, 1975)
When the mechanical signalling on the ECML was replaced in the 1970s BR constructed a series of new gate boxes at strategic locations on the line to be able to provide emergency signalling in the case of failure of the standard systems. The rather utilitarian boxes were constructed to the same design and remain today ready to be put to use if needed. Built in 1975, the example here at Tallington is adjacent to the level crossing where the busy A1175 crosses the line where long tailbacks often build up. A similar example was photographed last year at Carlton, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/26273761804/carlton-signal-box-br-1976
Keywords: Tallington Gate box

Uffington signal box (Mid. 1909)
I have taken a number of photographs of Uffington signal box over the years with my first one in August 1981. Then it controlled semaphores but today it is a mere crossing box but a remarkable survivor nonetheless. In this view, complete with a former Midland cast sign, the crossing keeper is descending the steps to close the manually operated gates. Whilst in need of a lick of paint, having lost its finials and having horrible replacement steps, it is actually in better condition than when I first saw it all those thirty-nine years ago, see... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30044135645/uffington-signal-box when it looked very tatty indeed.
Keywords: Uffington signal box Midland Railway

66552, 10.34 Lawley Sreet-Felixstowe North (4L93, 37L), Uffington
66552 'Maltby Raider' passes Uffington signal (crossing) box leading the 10.34 Lawley Street to Felixstowe Freightliner. However, on this day, it would probably have been cheaper to take the three containers by road than haul them on an otherwise boxless train apart from the logistics of needing the wagons back at Felixstowe I suppose! I witnessed some unpleasantness between two motorists whilst waiting for the train to arrive where one had pulled in front of another who was waiting first in the queue of cars at the gates. The words exchanged between them were a little fruity!
Keywords: 66552 10.34 Lawley Sreet-Felixstowe North 4L93 Uffington Maltby Raider

66005, 08.00 Felixstowe South-East Midlands Gateway (4M79, 92L), Oakham level crossing
I was pleased to see a posting that the heavily delayed 08.00 Felixstowe South to East Midlands gateway 4M79 Freightliner was hauled by a Maritime loco. so I was prepared for its passing at Oakham despite the awful positioning from the level crossing footbridge. I was hoping for any one of the four Maritime Class 66s that I have yet to photograph (66047, 66051, 66148 and 66163) but was disappointed that it was 66005 'Maritime Intermodal One' that appeared around the corner - again! I have many pictures of this one at various locations, for example..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/26772584804/x66005-04-11-wakefield-europort-didcot
Keywords: 66005 08.00 Felixstowe South-East Midlands Gateway 4M79 Oakham Maritime Maritime Intermodal One

170519, XC 11.00 Cambridge-Birmingham New Street (1N51, 67L), Oakham level crossing
With a cheery wave from the guard to the signalman the 11.00 Cambridge to Birmingham New Street service enters Oakham station over an hour late. It was reported to us by the crossing keeper at Uffington that a freight had, in his words, 'broken down' near Ely earlier in the morning. Certainly, all services coming from that area were incredibly delayed. Apart from a change of colour and some updating, the signal box looks very similar to when I first saw and photographed it back on a dark and dismal day in November 1985. Incidentally, Oakham signal box was used by Airfix to model their prototype model for their 1960s construction kits.
Keywords: 170519 11.00 Cambridge-Birmingham New Street 1N51 Oakham level crossing Cross Country Trains

170115, XC 11.27 Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street (1N53, 24L), Langham Junction level crossing
Andy attempts a 'grab shot' right into the sun of the delayed 11.27 Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street CrossCountry service being worked by 170115. I have gone more for an interest image showing the super Midland box dating from 1890 and the crossing barriers. Notice the angle that this box is at. This is not to do with the lens or my photographic ineptitude but it really does appear to be sinking at the rear. An earlier image taken some years ago showed it to be also doing it then but that it has got no worse. Also notice that Andy is suitably attired wearing his face-covering!
Keywords: 170115 11.27 Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street 1N53 Langham Junction level crossing Cross Country Trains Midland Railway

Langham Road (Ashwell Gate House) level crossing
It is no wonder that there are accidents at level crossings! Just look at the huge array of signage in this view of Langham Road level crossing also known as Aswell Gate House crossing. Admittedly, it is a little unusual in that the gates remain closed to road users and pedestrians with them having to contact the signalmen in the nearby Ashwell signal box for permission to cross. However, it is a messy jumble of signage that would only go on to confuse the unwary. As can be seen from the yellow road closure notice Network Rail are undertaking some work to hopefully simplify its operation.
Keywords: Langham Road Ashwell Gate House level crossing

170116, XC 13.00 Cambridge-Birmingham New Street (1N55, 1L), Wymondham crossing
170116 works the 13.00 Cambridge to Birmingham New Street on the approach to Wymondham level crossing. After a long section of straight track from Oakham, the train will then take the curiously named Lord Harborough's Curve taking the line westwards again towards Melton Mowbray. This sharp curve, even less so now after the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway realigned it, was as a result of the refusal of the then landowner, the sixth Earl of Harborough, to allow the line through his land and to partially take the alignment of the Oakham Canal of which he was a shareholder.
Keywords: 170116 13.00 Cambridge-Birmingham New Street 1N55 Wymondham crossing CrossCountry XC

66767, 10.28 Felixstowe North-Birch Coppice (4M29, 9E), Wymondham crossing
In lovely warm early autumnal sunshine GBRf's 66767 heads the 10.28 Felixstowe to Birch Coppice Freightliner. The train is seen approaching Wymondham level crossing in deepest rural Leicestershire or only just at least! The county boundary with Rutland is only a short distance away following the course of the embryonic River Eye that is just off to the right in the trees.
Keywords: 66767, 10.28 Felixstowe North-Birch Coppice 4M29 Wymondham crossing GBRf

170114, XC 13.22 Birmingham New Street-Cambridge (1L42, 4L), Wymondham crossing
With a friendly wave from the driver of 170114, the 13.22 Birmingham New Street to Cambridge rushes past the remote and very quiet Wymondham crossing. When a train approaches, there are no wailing sirens or barriers crashing down as the gates stay firmly closed to road traffic unless a vehicle wants to cross the railway. The wooden gates are manually operated by a signalman (or signalwoman on the day of our visit) if the lines are clear.
Keywords: 170114 13.22 Birmingham New Street-Cambridge 1L42 Wymondham crossing CrossCountry Trains

Wymondham MCG crossing
For a relatively busy line, and one set to carry more traffic as increasing amounts of freight is routed this way, it is unusual to find a MCG (manually controlled gates by signaler or keeper) crossing. The very quiet country lane between Wymondham and Stapleford that skirts the park of the same name crosses the line that has more trains than road vehicles hence the gates remaining closed unless a road crossing is required. The keeper's hut is a pretty dismal affair compared with a nice Victorian box that would have once been present. Notice Network Rail's attempts to keep the interior dry by covering the roof in a tarpaulin!
Keywords: Wymondham MCG crossing manually controlled gates by signaler or keeper

Frontage, Melton Mowbray station
The attractive frontage of Melton Mowbray station with its three distinctive arches. The station used to be named Melton Mowbray Town so as not to be confused with Melton Mowbray North on the Great Northern and London and North Western Joint Railway, which closed to regular traffic in 1953.
Keywords: Frontage Melton Mowbray station

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