1. New Year's Day on the NLR-01.01.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 1. New Year's Day on the NLR-01.01.23

My wife and I took our traditional New Year's day trip to the Northampton and Lamport Railway to travel on one of its 'Mince Pie Specials'. The railway was busy with our train sold out which was encouraging. The railway has been making some progress towards its aims but the extension south that I spoke of last January has still yet to open. However, clearance has begun at its Pitsford base in preparation for the building of its much-needed new period station building.
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82114, stabled, Pitsford sidings 2023 will be the third year that the former Greater Anglia stock, including the DVT 82114, has been at the Northampton and Lamport Railway. As yet, apart from one of the Mk.IIIs being used as a buffet, none of the new stock has seen any use or been in receipt of any attention. During this time it is deteriorating with rust bubbling around the frames and a number of broken windows. I hope that things begin to move on with this stock this year even if it does not quite historically fit into the railway! Keywords: 82114 stabled Pitsford sidings GA Greater Anglia DVT
No. 4, 12.00 Pitsford return 'Mince Pie Special', Pitsford sidings After a number of years with no serviceable steam traction the Northampton and Lamport Railway is finally able to offer the visitors to a heritage line what they really are coming for! Hawthorne Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 3718 now running simply as No. 4 passes Pitsford sidings with the 12.00 return service from Pitsford and Brampton. This locomotive dates from 1928 being originally built for the Associated Portland Cement Company (APC) of Swanscombe, Kent where, after retirement in the early 1970s, it was moved around various heritage lines ending up at Barrow Hill where it underwent restoration. It arrived on the NLR in 2020 having been in operation at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre for a number of years. It is really good that steam is in operation on this line again and that it will hopefully bring the punters in with their money! Keywords: No. 4 12.00 Pitsford return 'Mince Pie Special' Pitsford sidings NLR Northampton and Lamport Railway Hawthorne Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 3718 Swanscombe No.4
764, 31289 & 47205, stabled, Pitsford sidings A fine lineup stabled on the Northampton and Lamport Railway's Pitsford sidings is led by industrial Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 shunter 'Sir Gyles Isham'. This has been a long-term resident on the NLR along with Type 2 A-1-A Class 31 number 31289 (D5821) 'Phoenix' which is second in line. Bringing up the rear is Brush Type 4 47205 (formally D1855) which has also been a regular performer on the line for a number of years but not for as long as the other two locomotives are seen here. Keywords: 764 31289 47205 stabled Pitsford sidings D5821 Phoenix 0-4-0 Sir Gyles Isham
Tickets, Pitsford return When checking on the NLR's website a couple of days before New Year it stated that the Mince Pie Specials had sold out. However, this did not deter my wife and I who went along anyway even if it was just for a walk and cup of tea in their 'buffet'. However, on arrival, it became clear that there was still plenty of capacity and we secured a ticket to ride and enjoy our mince pie and a drink. I cannot help but feel that the NLR missed a chance here with others looking at their website and then being put off attending due to it appearing to be be fully booked? Keywords: Tickets Pitsford return NLR Northampton and Lamport Railway
No. 4, 13.00 Pitsford return (13.00 Pitsford return), Pitsford & Brampton station No. 4 (or Swanscombe No. 4 to give it its proper title) waits to leave Pitsford and Brampton station leading the 13.00 return service designated as a Mince Pie Special. My wife and I travelled on this train making it my first haulage for 2023. The heritage railway was healthily busy on this, the last day of public operation prior to the winter shutdown, with services beginning again in March. Keywords: No. 4 13.00 Pitsford return Pitsford & Brampton station Hawthorne Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 3718 Swanscombe No.4

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