Peterborough - Rugby

[Pennine MC]

This is one of those lines that has always fascinated me; closed in 1966, shortly before its neighbour to the south the Cambridge - Oxford but unaccountably with much less having been put into print or picture about it. It was probably a more direct route for East - West traffic (both freight and passenger) than the line through Stamford and Leicester that took on its traffic, and has always struck me as a 'might have been' with a lot of modelling potential.

 

I'm aware of a handful of published photos on the line in assorted books and mags, have read everything that the 1963 - 66 Railway Observers had to report on it and have feelers out for more via the good offices of a couple of other RMwebbers, but if anyone else has anything to share on it I shall be most grateful.

 

To save anybody typing out basic stuff, a brief summation of what I know already is that it carried a few passenger/parcels trains a day between Peterborough and Rugby plus a few longer distance workings such as Norwich (and Lowestoft?) to Birmingham and Harwich to Rugby. By the 60s these were being worked by either LMR cl. 24s or ER cl. 30s, plus one Birmingham - Ely working by a 3-car Met Cam DMU. I'm also aware of occasional cl. 40 sightings and that ER steam power was known to work across. I'm particularly vague about freight workings, although the ROs mention a Warrington - Whitemoor train which could bring a Jubilee, and an evening westbound fish train

['CHARD]

Interesting coincidence! A couple of copies of Modern Railways arrived this week off eBay, and one of them fascinated me as it described the energizing of Rugby - including description of this end of the P'boro line, and later in the same issue listed publication of the LMR's closure proposals for the line. It has long held interest for me too, as I've seen little of it published, yet driving the A14 you're continually struck by it, none more so than at Thrapston. I'll have another look at the MR later, I think it's February 1965.

 

EDIT:

Here's something I had absolutely no idea about:

 

The Peterborough branch (is) employed extensively as far as the first station, Clifton Mill, to which point it is electrified, for transferring electric locomotives from the up to the down sides of Rugby station.

 

This feature was particularly valuable when all trains changed locos at Rugby. 'Electric locomotives from up trains or from the district electric depot run down to Clifton Mill and return on the opposite line via the flyover to reach the down main lines.'

 

Now to see how far away Clifton Mill is/was...

 

SECOND EDIT:

Correction, the closure proposal was ironically reported in the previous, January issue of MR!

 

This mentions the re-routing of Birmingham - Ely and Lowestoft - Birmingham trains.

[Ravenser]

Ian: you may already have this , but there are a small number of photos in E Midlands Branch Line Album (Ian Allen, Shepperton, 1978).

 

One shows Black 5 44936 with an evening Peterborough/ Northampton train at Oundle - at least (and perhaps only) 3 coaches with 2 profiles visible - Stanier Brake and

2 Mk1s?? Date may be 1964. A second, Stanier 2-6-4T 42541 of 2A with a Saturday Yarmouth Northampton "express" at Barnwell - possibly 1961??. Stock is flush sided but not Mk1s - Stanier stock? Another view, Peterboro' E , Aug 1960 shows 4F 44156 departing with a Lowestoft/Northampton - 12 coaches with a mix of Mk1 and Gresley stock a couple still in carmine/cream. Another view a year earlier shows a Peterboro /Northampton local behind 4F 44516 (4 coaches)

 

There are a couple of diesel shots - D5600 at Barnwell with 3 car Peterboro/N'hampton local (Stanier stock?) and D5572+ D5825 approaching Mkt Harborough ex Peterborough with 6 wagons + brake - at least 2 are Palbricks and the other 4 may be another type of Palbrick. Sept 1964

[Pennine MC]

EDIT:

Here's something I had absolutely no idea about:

 

The Peterborough branch (is) employed extensively as far as the first station, Clifton Mill, to which point it is electrified, for transferring electric locomotives from the up to the down sides of Rugby station.

 

...

 

SECOND EDIT:

Correction, the closure proposal was ironically reported in the previous, January issue of MR!

 

Yes, despite being wired, it strikes me that the powers-that-be were probably glad to be rid of the line and its associated junctions. It must have been a fascinating place though in those few years that steam, diesel and electric were all seen there

 

 

Ian: you may already have this , but there are a small number of photos in E Midlands Branch Line Album (Ian Allen, Shepperton, 1978).

 

One shows Black 5 44936 with an evening Peterborough/ Northampton train at Oundle - at least (and perhaps only) 3 coaches with 2 profiles visible - Stanier Brake and

2 Mk1s?? Date may be 1964. A second, Stanier 2-6-4T 42541 of 2A with a Saturday Yarmouth Northampton "express" at Barnwell - possibly 1961??. Stock is flush sided but not Mk1s - Stanier stock? ...

 

There are a couple of diesel shots - D5600 at Barnwell with 3 car Peterboro/N'hampton local (Stanier stock?) and D5572+ D5825 approaching Mkt Harborough ex Peterborough with 6 wagons + brake - at least 2 are Palbricks and the other 4 may be another type of Palbrick. Sept 1964

 

Thanks Rave, yes I have - it was one of those books I made a point of tracking down. Stanier corridor stock seemed to be everywhere at that time, but Mk1s also put in a good showing on the line. Also worth mentioning that the Northampton trains branched off very soon down the Nene Valley, although my imagined scenario might well see them rerouted via Market Harborough

 

The shot with the Brushes is particularly interesting - it seems very likely to be the working that the RO does once mention, as being the last gasp of the brick train that once ran through via Leamington to Worcester (or somewhere else very WR-ish) and that it was still double headed even in its last days. The 'other wagons' in that shot are a mystery to me TBH, but do have a look of the LMS roadstone wagons

[Trog]

The line still exists as far as the site of the canal bridge, as the access line to the DED and carriage sidings.

['CHARD]

What I fail to understand about the alignments here, is what happened before the flyover was constructed to take the westbound line across the WCML. The Peterboro was so heavily engineered that the down crossed a dozen+ arch viaduct over the valley (which still stands) whilst the up still exists as a headshunt as Trog rightly says.

 

Did the down cross the WCML on the flat? If so, how was the matter of its elevation addressed to carry it over the WC when the flyover was put in, as the distance to the viaduct is only a matter of metres.

[Rugd1022]

What I fail to understand about the alignments here, is what happened before the flyover was constructed to take the westbound line across the WCML. The Peterboro was so heavily engineered that the down crossed a dozen+ arch viaduct over the valley (which still stands) whilst the up still exists as a headshunt as Trog rightly says.

 

Did the down cross the WCML on the flat? If so, how was the matter of its elevation addressed to carry it over the WC when the flyover was put in, as the distance to the viaduct is only a matter of metres.

 

I think before the south end flyover was built that incoming trains from Market Harborough line might have made a 'wrong line' movement onto the down line which gave direct access to the old No.7 Bay platform at Rugby. I have an old track plan of Rugby from the late 1800s somewhere, I'll see if I can get it get scanned and posted.

 

You're right about the engineering of the line too, there are still plenty of earthworks in the area and of course the viaduct still bestrides the golf course as a reminder of the towns wonderful railway history. The small lattice girder bridge which carried the line from the golf course over the Northampton line and onto the south end flyover itself was only removed c.1980 / 81, our lot used to play on it occasionally (wouldn't do it now of course!).

 

NB: Pennine.... I have about 50 or 60 b&w photos of the line in the 60s I've yet to scan, including Class 24s, 25s, 30s / 31s, 40s, DMUs etc, a lot of local workings are shown in these pics but also there are one or two diverted expresses with 40s on full length trains. Not many freight workings sadly but I'll have a look and see whats there. In the meantime there are some earlier (not very good) scans here on my flickr pages... http://www.flickr.com/photos/21403537@N00/sets/7215794510352537/

 

Cheers,

Nidge

[Pennine MC]

NB: Pennine.... I have about 50 or 60 b&w photos of the line in the 60s I've yet to scan, including Class 24s, 25s, 30s / 31s, 40s, DMUs etc, a lot of local workings are shown in these pics but also there are one or two diverted expresses with 40s on full length trains. Not many freight workings sadly but I'll have a look and see whats there. In the meantime there are some earlier (not very good) scans here on my flickr pages... http://www.flickr.com/photos/21403537@N00/sets/7215794510352537/

 

 

Nidge, those are brilliant thanks, and I'll look forward to the others whenever you get time. Very pleased to see the 27 (obviously B) ), and as for the light 47, do you think it had possibly worked down to Rugby on the Ford company train and was making its way back home via Peterboro'?

[RANGERS]

The line was not without it's moments. The last train to use it before it was lifted was a class 40 with mail coaches for the filming of "Robbery" in 1968 I think it was. This was filmed at various points along the line between Market Harborough and Rockingham, the main signal scenes being between Rockingham and Ashley.

 

Another claim to fame was for visits of Royal trains conveying royals to Rockingham Castle. Very little seems to have been mentioned of these other than that they existed. A local chap from Caldecott told me many years ago that the last visit was by Princess Margeret in the early 1960s.

 

Freight traffic would have been mainly through freights, the only source of freight on the line itself would have been ironstone from Nassington Quarries near to Wansford and Nevill Holt quarry which closed before the war. Nassington also yielded silica sand and limestone for at least part of it's life. Eric Tonks bible on the industry has a chapter on Nassington in the Corby volume. Pilton quarry on the Midland Peterborough - Leicester also yielded some traffic to Irlam I believe it was, via Rugby.

 

London Midland Steam in Camera has a nice pic of Black 5 taken near Seaton Station and there is a fair bit in in Rutland Railways, published by Spiegl Press of Stamford in 1982. I can't recall which book it was in but there's a pic of a 9F on a mineral train near Seaton and I believe Britannias were not unknown.

 

There was Wellingborough to Skegness Summer dated train which used it, local engines prevailed with three reversals (M/ Harboro', Peterborough East or March and Sleaford)the latter two of which would probably meant a change of engine. I have a pic of it at Skegness in 1962 with a Boston B1 at the head.

 

The most famous train was perhaps the Seaton - Stamford shuttle being the last steam worked push pull in England, possibly Britain?

 

The line can still be traced along most of it's length, the Harborough - Rugby section is bisected in places by development and roads but the rest is pretty much intact. Harborough to Seaton can be seen clearly along it's length, most of which is now used for farm access. Seaton is a scrapyard ang the station is almost all intact. The box was still intact a few years ago but in a poor state. The stretch from Peterborough to Yarwell is of course still running in preservation..

 

There is coverage of the line in Forgotten Railways of the Chilterns and Cotswolds (not the East Midlands as you might expect!

[Rugd1022]

Nidge, those are brilliant thanks, and I'll look forward to the others whenever you get time. Very pleased to see the 27 (obviously ), and as for the light 47, do you think it had possibly worked down to Rugby on the Ford company train and was making its way back home via Peterboro'?

 

Hope you're finding them uselful Ian

 

Hadn't thought of that regarding the 47, I suppose it might well have done! With so many different new classes of diesel about all kinds of odd movements occured - if you think of Rugby c.1965 / 66 you don't immediately think of green diesels but there was still a heck of a lot of non electric stuff wizzing about under the wires back then. Along with Nuneaton, Leicester, Saltley, Bescot, Northampton and Bletchley, Rugby men had quite a wide variety of traction knowledge so if you throw that into the equation it builds up the overall picture somewhat.

 

I was working a train the other night over the old Peterborough line formation at Market Harborough..... looking down from the 'hump' I could easily imagine a grubby green Goyle scuttling along below with a few maroon compos in tow

 

Off to Crewe in a bit to conduct a poxy railgrinder, wish it was an AL1 or a Brush 4!

 

Nidge

['CHARD]

Nidge, those pics are fantastic! I must have driven over that M6 bridge 200 times and never known Lilbourne Station was there amid the trees, I was aware of the LC over the minor road but it's almost impossible to envision it now, compared to 1966.

 

At a wedding in the adjacent village a few years ago I was asked by a local couple (who knew I worked in the industry) that they had just had an offer accepted on 'an old station near here, we want to extend, but we're afraid the line is going to be reopened.'

 

The pic of the 31 under the wires is something I've wanted to see for as long as I've known Rugby's railways. Huge thanks for posting the link mate.

[Rugd1022]

Nidge, those pics are fantastic! I must have driven over that M6 bridge 200 times and never known Lilbourne Station was there amid the trees, I was aware of the LC over the minor road but it's almost impossible to envision it now, compared to 1966.

 

At a wedding in the adjacent village a few years ago I was asked by a local couple (who knew I worked in the industry) that they had just had an offer accepted on 'an old station near here, we want to extend, but we're afraid the line is going to be reopened.'

 

The pic of the 31 under the wires is something I've wanted to see for as long as I've known Rugby's railways. Huge thanks for posting the link mate.

 

Glad you like 'em .

 

The chap I bought the pics from is an EWS (sorry, DBS) driver at Rugby and grew up in the staion house at Lilbourne, his Dad was signalman / porter there. His Dad died many years ago but his Mum carried on living in the station house until she passed away c.2001, with no electricity or running water. I was offered the house but couldn't afford it at the time, the couple you mentioned must be the same people who actually bought it, its now been extended slightly and has all mod cons. The platforms are both intact but covered in trees and shrubs and you can hear the M6 as soon as you get out of the car by the level crossing....

 

Nidge

[Pennine MC]

 

 

The pic of the 31 under the wires is something I've wanted to see for as long as I've known Rugby's railways. Huge thanks for posting the link mate.

 

Forgot to mention, there's another one at that spot in the Janes-style volume on the 30s/31s, plus a short sequence featuring D5520 here - the second shot looks to be very near the viaduct on the loop into Rugby Mid

 

From the same site, this is of related interest, not least for the GE-prefixed Mk1

 

 

One shows Black 5 44936 with an evening Peterborough/ Northampton train at Oundle - at least (and perhaps only) 3 coaches ... There are a couple of diesel shots - D5600 at Barnwell with 3 car Peterboro/N'hampton local (Stanier stock?)

 

Other than the Birmingham - Ely working mentioned earlier, neither line seems to have seen any great use of DMUs, with the trains going over straight from the middling steam classes to equivalent diesels. In the case of the Rugby line, there is photographic evidence that many trains often conveyed significant numbers of vans, which would possibly make it simpler to stick to LHCS, but the Northampton seemed more 'local' in nature. Odd, considering that other South Midlands lines like the Cambridge - Oxford and Bedford - Hitchin used them from very early on

 

Thanks to all who've responded BTW

[Rugd1022]

Not quite so regarding the lack of DMUs Ian, just wait till I get the rest of those aforementioned prints scanned

 

Cheers,

 

Nidge

[mikeh]

Some info on train services at the Rugby end. The 10th Sept 1962 to 16th June 1963 LM WL Section A WTT covers Rugby Mid to Welford & Kilworth and list the following:

 

Freight

 

Down

5E61 12:50 am MX Nuneaton TV-Whitemoor (Rugby 1:16-1:22 am - Water)

6E62 11:25 pm MX Curzon Street-Whitemoor (Rugby 3:05-3:15 am)

6E65 7:35 am DLY Rugby Midland-Whitemoor

4E60 1015 am DLY Nuneaton TV-Whitemoor (Rugby 10:38-11:15 am)

6E63 1:40 pm SX Rugby Midland-Peterborough East Showground

6E63 1:50 pm SO Rugby Midland-Peterborough East Showground

9E70 10:15 pm SX Rugby Midland-Peterborough East Showground

6E64 11:25 pm SO Rugby Midland-Peterborough East Showground

 

Up

4V25 4:10 pm SX Grimsby-Stoke Gifford (Rugby 12:54-1:05 am - Water) via Leamington

4M08 10:10 pm SX Whitemoor-Curzon St (Rugby 1:17-2:00 am)

0Z00 12:42 am Sun Welham-Rugby MPD 2:06 am (LE after working 9:30 pm SO Whitemoor-Welham)

6M80 10:30 pm SX Whitemoor-Aston Goods (Rugby 2:19-3:47 am)

6M80 10:20 pm SO Whitemoor-Curzon St (Rugby 2:31-3:30 am)

5M99 1:40 am MX Whitemoor-Crewe (Rugby 5:12-5:42 am) Loco change

8K76 6:10 am DLY Welham-Crewe (Rugby 7:49-8:00 am)

8B96 8:30 am DLY Welham-Nuneaton TV (Rugby 9:56-10:23 am)

9B90 8:55 am DLY Welham-Leamington Spa Ave (Rugby 10:40-11:35 am)

6V00 8:57 am MO Peterboro)-Bordesley (Rugby 12:56-1:30 pm) via Leamington (The "bricks")

6V00 8:36 am MX Yaxley)

8M70 7:40 am DLY Peterborough East-Rugby Midland 5:10 am

 

Passenger

 

Down

1E58 2:45 am MX & Sun Rugby Midland-Peterborough East

3F71 5:15 am DLY Rugby Midland-Market Harboro ECS

0B71 5:40 am DLY Rugby MPD-Market Harboro (LE to work 2B71)

2E74 6:36 am DLY Rugby Midland-Peterborough East

2F71 7:20 am DLY Rugby Midland-Market Harboro

1E03 8:50 am SO Birmingham NS-Ely (Rugby 9:31-9:50 am - DMU)

1E03 9:18 am SX Birmingham NS-Ely (Rugby 10:00-10:04 am - DMU)

0Z00 10:12 am MX Rugby Midland-March MPD (LE after working 2M74 arr 8:52 am)

2E74 12:30 pm SO Rugby Midland-Peterborough East

1E06 1:40 pm SX Rugby Midland-Peterborough East

1E06 1:50 pm SO Rugby Midland-Peterborough East

1E07 3:58 pm DLY Rugby Midland-Lowestoft Central (Rugby 4:54-5:00 pm)

2E74 5:25 pm DLY Rugby Midland-Peterborough East

2F71 7:09 pm DLY Rugby Midland-Market Harboro

2E57 8:52 pm DLY Rugby Midland-Peterborough East

 

Up

2B71 6:25 am DLY Market Harboro-Rugby Midland 7:01 am

2B71 7:22 am DLY Market Harboro-Rugby Midland 7:57 am

2M74 7:05 am DLY Peterborough East-Rugby Midland 8:52

1M30 7:00 am DLY Lowestoft-Birmingham NS (Rugby 11-57 am-12:05 pm)

1M67 12:26 pm DLY Ely-Birmingham NS (Rugby 2:45-2:47 pm - DMU)

1M56 12:40 pm DLY Harwich-Rugby Midland 5:42 pm

2M74 6:18 pm DLY Peterborough East-Rugby Midland 7:55 pm

1M58 8:12 pm DLY Peterborough East-Rugby Midland 9:45 pm

3M03 8:59 pm DLY Peterborough-Rugby Midland 11:01 pm - Fish

 

Hope that's of use

 

Regards

MikeH

[Baby Deltic]

I have a great uncle who was a Peterborough driver. He told me he worked a service with a class 40 over the line in 1965. I think it was something to do with the line's centenary.

[Pennine MC]

...snip...

 

Hope that's of use

 

Regards

MikeH

 

Oh, I should think so Mike - thank you very much for taking the time to set that lot out :icon_thumbsup2:

[mikeh]

Oh, I should think so Mike - thank you very much for taking the time to set that lot out :icon_thumbsup2:

 

My pleasure.... :icon_smile:

 

Mike

[Pennine MC]

Looking at it again now having had me tea B) , the Grimsby - Stoke Gifford is interesting; it only occurred to me a few weeks ago that Leamington and Honeybourne would be a valid artery for passing WR-bound freight. It's also evident from some of those 8- codes that Welham sidings (very near the junction with the GN&LNW Joint) were still playing a significant role in handling mineral trains - possibly bringing the 9Fs that were mentioned earlier

['CHARD]

Leamington via Kenilworth or Southam? Surely the latter would need a run-round at Leam?

[Pennine MC]

Leamington via Kenilworth or Southam? Surely the latter would need a run-round at Leam?

 

Dont think so Chard, but as ever I'm open to correction - unless I'm much mistaken the Rugby line came into Leamington from the south east, then AFAIK there was some sort of connection between the LNW and GW lines enabling trains to continue north west along the GW towards Warwick (and thence if desired to Stratford and Honeybourne). Certainly the brick train ran that way without reversal because I've seen a pic of it (which IIRC I sent Mike a while ago) climbing Hatton bank behind a Super D

['CHARD]

Dont think so Chard, but as ever I'm open to correction - unless I'm much mistaken the Rugby line came into Leamington from the south east, then AFAIK there was some sort of connection between the LNW and GW lines enabling trains to continue north west along the GW towards Warwick (and thence if desired to Stratford and Honeybourne). Certainly the brick train ran that way without reversal because I've seen a pic of it (which IIRC I sent Mike a while ago) climbing Hatton bank behind a Super D

Of course the connection south of Spa station - then Hatton and double-back, in fact even sooner as it was still open then - the chord from Bearley via Henley in Arden village. And thence to Stratford, that's fantastic!

[Pennine MC]

And the fact that I have a HJ Hymek and Western for which to one day find employment is entirely coincidental

[Guest Phil]

And the fact that I have a HJ Hymek and Western for which to one day find employment is entirely coincidental

 

Nah, Rugby dain't sign 'em !!!!

 

The route does sound very plausible indeed - logical for the photo of the "bricks" you also sent to me Pennine, as well as other pics of which I've seen on Hatton bank too.

 

 

 

Course, Leamington shed could provide a traction conductor for the hydraulic ;)

[Oldfield_Park]

If it's of interest 'Diesels In The Midlands' by Derek Huntriss has a couple of shots. A 24 with a rake of Stanier/Mk1 coaches on a Rugby-Harwich and a DMU of some kind, both in colour and taken in the mid 60s.