Roade Cutting in the 1960s

The point at which the line via Northampton to Euston meets the line via Weedon is Roade Cutting. Known to railwaymen as the 'New' and 'Old' lines repectively, they rejoin forming four lines of way heading south towards the capital. This short film shows trains on both the old and new lines both freight and passenger above the 'birdcage' structure - a location which is and was, I imagine, a difficult location to get to given the limited accesibility.

[@paulnolan1352]

Excellent snippet of a very familiar place for many people of a certain age. Thanks for the memories.

[@1258-Eckhart]

I was very surprised to see that the WCML electrification had been installed before the end of steam. But when I think of it, the AL1 (later Class 81) locos were ordered already in 1959.

[@beeble2003]

If you've ever seen photos of BR steam locomotives with diagonal yellow stripes on their cabs, that's because they were prohibited from working on the electrified sections of the WCML. Some types were too tall and would be too close to the wires.

[@user-gk8gg1zt7l]

Great video... Like me

[@duncancurtis5108]

What was the idea behind having the Northampton loop within a box? Cutting instability?

[@markcf83]

Possibly.