Box by Box
This
is an ideal companion cab-ride programme to our popular ‘Joint
Diversion’ DVD. The featured train is GB Railfreight’s 4L78 Selby to
Felixstowe service and the programme covers the journey as far as
Peterborough. Filmed in July 2013, there’s a fascinating contrast of
routes, traveling over slower-speed rural lines as well as sections of
the high-speed East Coast Main Line past and present. It was filmed
shortly before the mechanical semaphores, manual crossing gates and
signal boxes were replaced on the GN&GE Joint Line on the section of
route between Doncaster’s Black Carr Junction and Lincoln. The General
Motors Class 66 hauling the train – 66737 - demonstrates why these
locomotives have been so successful - as the spirited non-stop run from
Newark up to Stoke tunnel proves!
The journey starts at the Potters terminal at Selby. Once we are out
onto the Hull to Leeds main line we are then travelling on the former
route of the East Coast Main Line. There’s a welcome 10mph speed
restriction over the 125-year-old Selby Swing Bridge prior to its
refurbishment. After passing through Selby station we continue south to
Temple Hirst Junction. We then join the ECML where there’s a good run
to Doncaster, via Joan Croft and Shaftholme Junctions. Between Selby and
Doncaster there were a number of manually operated crossing gates and
crossing boxes still in use – all of which were due to be replaced by
modern automatic barriers. The journey was also filmed prior to the
construction of the Shaftholme Flyover. South of Doncaster we leave the
ECML at Black Carr Junction and take the former GN&GE Joint Line and
head through Finningley and Beckingham. There’s even some drama when
our train is unexpectedly halted by a ‘bridge strike’ near Misterton!
At Gainsborough Trent Junction we pass the fine array of semaphores
before continuing south through nearby Lea Road station. More surviving
semaphores and crossing gates can then be seen at Stow Park and Saxilby.
On the outskirts of Lincoln we take the single-track avoiding spur from
Pyewipe Junction to Boultham Junction and continue past Hykeham,
Swinderby (with its surviving semaphores) and Collingham before reaching
Newark. Here, a standing start at the beginning of the 20-mile climb to
Stoke tunnel provides a stiff test for 66737 as the 4L78 has to fit in
between 125mph express passenger trains. Fortunately we are given a good
run and after breasting the summit, the train finally reaches its 75mph
maximum speed on the downhill run through Little Bytham, Tallington and
Werrington Junction. Our journey concludes with the trains arrival in
Peterborough Yard.
