Thhree years later its still there and the local stopper loop is being campaigned for incorporating the Blyth & Tyne(Northumberland Line) which is opening in a couple months lol
At 9:00 the field discolouration is down to the power lines. Netherton wagonway was a road connecting Netherton Colliery to Morpeth and was used to transport coal on horse drawn trailers.
Looks like most of the bit under the North of the town could be placed under the A1171 too which would make it easier and cheaper. That little kink in the southern stretch of the road doesn't look ideal though but think you could potentially just about straighten it enough for 125 or something close to it without going under the houses there. Seems like there might be enough room just using the right of way for the A road and the neighbouring residential street which has no buildings on the A road side (Too close to the main road presumably).
Pretty sure I've almost derailed in the virtual world of Traim Simulator at Morpeth Curve. It's a very frustrating part of the line when one is pretending to drive trains. How about as well as putting in the diversion, put in a loop on what would be the old ECML just past Pegswood, so that trains could return to Newcastle without having to reverse? Would allow Morpeth & Pegswood stations to remain open for local services.
I suppose it's the same reason they haven't dealt with the Carstairs curve, it's not really worth it on a cost benefit analysis just to save a few minutes. Also Morpeth wouldn't want to lose its LUMO/XC/LNER/TPE services northbound to Edinburgh at the existing station so it would just be a bypass for 1 or 2 non stop trains an hour plus freight.
There are a couple of problems with banking the track 1️⃣ banking or canted track is more about passenger comfort than trains overcoming centripetal force and not forging an alternative route through Betty at number 37 2️⃣ the line is used by regular local and intercity trains that stop at Morpeth and so would be going round the curve at low speed, as well as freight trains that wouldn't be going fast, so if you bank the track for intercity trains that are _not_ stopping then you are massively overbanking it for everything else. This not only can be a little bit uncomfortable for passengers (trains that stop at Grantham have a similar issue although it isn't too badly banked there) but, especially with heavy freight trains, puts a massive load on the lower rail and is likely to lead to premature failure. Banking for high speed trains works in you've got dedicated lines that are only used by fast or fastish trains and the curve isn't near a station where some trains are likely to be going a lot slower than others, but on mixed speed lines it is very much a mixed blessing.
Thhree years later its still there and the local stopper loop is being campaigned for incorporating the Blyth & Tyne(Northumberland Line) which is opening in a couple months lol
At 9:00 the field discolouration is down to the power lines.
Netherton wagonway was a road connecting Netherton Colliery to Morpeth and was used to transport coal on horse drawn trailers.
I'm typing this while on the Morpeth curve on an LNER train 🚆
hold tight!
With the curve eastward at Cramlington a crayon could even straighten out both curves into a much faster and straighter routeline.
Yep Cramlington to Widdrington.... straight line...
Looks like most of the bit under the North of the town could be placed under the A1171 too which would make it easier and cheaper. That little kink in the southern stretch of the road doesn't look ideal though but think you could potentially just about straighten it enough for 125 or something close to it without going under the houses there. Seems like there might be enough room just using the right of way for the A road and the neighbouring residential street which has no buildings on the A road side (Too close to the main road presumably).
Pretty sure I've almost derailed in the virtual world of Traim Simulator at Morpeth Curve. It's a very frustrating part of the line when one is pretending to drive trains.
How about as well as putting in the diversion, put in a loop on what would be the old ECML just past Pegswood, so that trains could return to Newcastle without having to reverse? Would allow Morpeth & Pegswood stations to remain open for local services.
are there any plans to resolve this at all?
if not, what would it take for someone to bother to make them?
I suppose it's the same reason they haven't dealt with the Carstairs curve, it's not really worth it on a cost benefit analysis just to save a few minutes. Also Morpeth wouldn't want to lose its LUMO/XC/LNER/TPE services northbound to Edinburgh at the existing station so it would just be a bypass for 1 or 2 non stop trains an hour plus freight.
Imagine doing Morpeth curve in a Pacer! Actually a Pacer probably couldn't traverse Morpeth curve in practice. And they're also all gone
They did used to have pacers slowing down round the curve to terminate at Morpeth.
Dumb question, can they rebuild the curve with a bank? Or would it have to be so steep it would look like the old Brooklands banked circuit?
There are a couple of problems with banking the track
1️⃣ banking or canted track is more about passenger comfort than trains overcoming centripetal force and not forging an alternative route through Betty at number 37
2️⃣ the line is used by regular local and intercity trains that stop at Morpeth and so would be going round the curve at low speed, as well as freight trains that wouldn't be going fast, so if you bank the track for intercity trains that are _not_ stopping then you are massively overbanking it for everything else. This not only can be a little bit uncomfortable for passengers (trains that stop at Grantham have a similar issue although it isn't too badly banked there) but, especially with heavy freight trains, puts a massive load on the lower rail and is likely to lead to premature failure.
Banking for high speed trains works in you've got dedicated lines that are only used by fast or fastish trains and the curve isn't near a station where some trains are likely to be going a lot slower than others, but on mixed speed lines it is very much a mixed blessing.
stevieinselby thanks!
@@stevieinselby See a previous episode of #ThePermanentWay: th-cam.com/video/a3DahvjOBa4/w-d-xo.html
Weren't there two massive accidents, in Philadelphia and in Santiago de Compostela, which showed that the world has learned nothing from Morpeth?
Not that we've learned nothing, but more that transitions between signalling systems need a lot of care and attention.
18:30 am I mistaken or has the loco's tail light switched on in the impact?
Quite possibly! Could also be the reflection from the camera flash though...
@andrew kruth let's see some of the pics