Truly brilliant! 50 years ago, I knew every inch of this journey, and although so much has clearly changed, it took me right back to my youth. I could name one or two un-named places, and I need to go back over the film to be sure of others, but I was entertained throughout. The references at the foot of the film explained the new signalling system, and ways of doing things. I am truly indebted to the makers of this film. Highly recommended.
Thank you, Don. Thanks also to the driver and to Freightliner for making the filming possible. This is such a beautiful route. And your written commentary is among your best -- so informative about operational matters. One of the best things about these freight routes is that they let you encounter routes and tracks that a single passenger train would not cover. Happy Christmas!
What a treat this was! Such a change from the countryside flashing past at high speed. I was drawn to this video because my father worked at Peterborough in the New England sidings and the main station concourse for a number years during the 50's and 60's. As I now live in Rutland I have used that line from Oakham to Peterborough a number of times. A journey through beautiful countryside, informative on operational matters with some history and geography thrown in. A plus factor was no irritating voice-over droning on, just the scrolling text to read at our own pace, especially helpful when your hearing is not so great, and it allowed me to be immersed in the ambience created within the cab, so relaxing. Very well put together and presented Don, thank you.
Thank you for the detailed feedback Milo. You’ve summed up just what I try to achieve so it’s a success as far as I am concerned! Not everybody likes the captions but that is my style and it’s a bonus if it helps the hard of hearing.
Personally the start of this reminded me of when coming home from Peterborough and the driver of the 31 thought he'd race the hst leaving from platform 4 at same time,he gave it a really good go....
I have PICOP’d possessions on the whole of this route before I retired, brings back a lot of memories of bleak windy winters nights walking out to place the stop boards, then meet a “66” on its way into engineering works. The ELR changes so many times between Manton & Leicester along with multiple mileage changes that can confuse people. I can remember when Landor street was like a scene from fast and furious with fast cars screaming down the road and being burnt out as they blew the engines, lots of people watching from the car roofs
Fascinating Mike. It always seem fowl weather when the engineers have possession so I can relate to that. As for the cars, we’ll a sign of the times I suppose.
I know you posted this some time back Don, but it’s a decent run and full of interest. In the distance of a handful of miles, you manage to leave the “race track” ECML with new infrastructure at Werrington Junction, pass over a manned level crossing and then amongst all the “you beaut” modern signalling you get a lower quadrant at Ketton!! Great stuff👍🏻 (Oh, and the the Airfix/Dapol model railway signal box kit inspiration of Oakham)
Watch out for forthcoming videos Andrew. I’ve got loads of this freight footage that Vinny has provided including the trip through that underpass at Werrington Jn towards Peterborough 👍
My cousin and I used to collect scrap along the line just before Hinckley, for beer money, when we worked on the golf course alongside the railway, over 30 yrs ago. Coincidentally I also worked at Triumph, and in a hosiery factory. Loved this vid, thanks.
Fascinating and entertaining --- just what TH-cam is at its best..... the train even went over a crossing that I often use on my walks near Oakham - great stuff !
And once again, this is a very entertaining video through the beautiful English countryside. I keep getting better at geography only by watching these great videos. I have te admit that England (and partially Wales) are much vaster than I initially thought. Great lessons. Thnx Don.
Great video through fantastic scenery. Lovely pace, can't believe I've been watching for two hours. Absolutely engrossing and the captions are perfect.
Hi Don, I really love to enjoy your train rides direct from your driver's cab. It’s quite amazing, how much effort you’ve put on all these interesting notes, details and information at all. That makes it even more exciting to watch and read it, mostly all without getting bored. And well, afterwards I felt myself by far really relaxed throughout your journey🚂. However, many greetings from Germany, and thank you for such great video trips, made with so much passion.
Thank you. I used to work in Germany at our head office at Bad Camberg near Limburg and loved it there but I’m embarrassed to say I am not able to be bilingual like you are. Thanks for the comments, they are much appreciated.
The plastic model HO scale signal box that Airfix made for many years was the Oakham signal box. I had that model on my layout and we must have driven past it on the crossing there many times in the 1960's on trips from our home in Norwich to visit the grandparents, aunties and uncles in Derby where my family comes from. Seems so long ago and far away as I sit here now with the snow coming down in northern Ontario, Canada! Love all your videos.
Another excellent video. Thank you Don and the driver. I commuted between Derby and Birmingham for 8 years between 1976-84 and knew the Water Orton-New Street line very well. How things have changed. In particular the junction at Water Orton where Leicester bound trains share tracks with Derby-New Street trains. Reminds me of the junction after Mirfield where the Dewsbury and Wakefield lines part. It is a restrictive layout. In the 'good old days' it was four tracks from Water Orton to Saltley and the freight train would have had a clear run.
Mr Hopkinson, as I live and breath! I’ve seen loads of photos in railway magazines of Water Orton but never actually seen it in this way, we can thank our friends at Freightliner for that. It’s amazing how things have changed. My main memories are from New Mills South and that has changed beyond recognition. Now these rationalised junctions are coming back to bite us in the backside and they aren’t good enough to handle todays traffic. Still, some money is going back to the railway and we will see some of these misdemeanours put right. Keep safe and keep in touch John.
Thanks, much appreciated. Yes, to get the footage and then research and edit it, does take a lot of commitment but I enjoy sharing it and of course the revenue goes to charity.
Hello Don...another great video.Love watching these, so relaxing and informative..i now preempt the driver sound the horn a second or two before the sign ha ha....
The requirement is “as you pass the board at line speed”. In that case the wise angle camera plays tricks because it looks like you are way past the object (notice how late the AWS sounds after it’s apparently gone under the train). Secondly, if the train is doing 40 in a 50 mph limit, he may hold back a while.
Whilst I didn't get to watch the premiere, I made sure to watch this video tonight: Sausage & Mash for tea and a mug of tea to wash it down with.. :) right time to settle in and watch this freight run! Thanks again for your uploads, Don.
Another high quality and highly informative video. You're setting a standard in cabview videos which most producers can only aspire to. AND you're supporting the Sams! What more could a discerning viewer ask for?
Thanks, much appreciated. I suspect you’ll like the Bedford to Earles video, that should be out in January. I’ll also announce the year’s revenue from advertising which will all go to the Samaritans around April. It all has to be squared up with the tax man! I can say that it will be several thousand pounds now the channel is doing quite well.
Thanks again. I'm at the end of the video now, and I have to commend you for making the route easy to follow and your comments interesting and informative. I followed along on Google Maps, and I never got lost ... always had a sense of where the train was in relation to the countryside as a whole.
Thanks for sharing this, wonderful video and information, evoking old memories. last travelled part of this route from Peterborough in my trainspotting days in the fifties, then my destination was Rugby which I believe is no longer possible, we have lost so much of our ralways since than, what a shame, we need them more than ever now especially with all the road traffic congestion. thanks again.
Thank you again Don for another great video,I certainly was born to early, 18 years waiting for my drivers position.ah well.Seasons greetings to you and yours! 🚂🚂🚂
In fond memory of Saltley Depot....... a regular call on our grice tours of the Midlands, highlight? classing my 60's there one night ( 040 ) absolute great video as always Don, many thanks
Thank you Don. I was born and raised Leicester and also worked in Birmingham and Peterborough. However, my first job after leaving school was to work at Empire Stone which you mentioned in your narrative. So you can imagine how familiar all of that was to me.
That’s excellent Bruce. I’d not heard of Empire until researching the video but they produced some fantastic architectural stone. No doubt you know that but it really appeals to me 👍
Lovely film once again Don, informative and unobtrusive commentary. The Saxby and Bourne railway was actually the old Midland and Great Northern railway which ran right across to Great Yarmouth. This extensive system was closed in 1959. The line leading to Old Dalby was once a through route to Edwalton and Nottingham.
I like seeing the various Midland Railway signal boxes. The one at Oakham was the prototype for the Airfix plastic kit of 1960s vintage that those of us of a certain vintage ourselves well remember
Absolutely fantastic video Don, Thank You. The foot crossing at 1:41:52 (Burbage Common) is one of my regular haunts for watching trains, plus I only live 10 minutes away :)
while i know what you mean by "make sure its facing the right way on arrival" it still made me laugh.... I hope its facing the right way when it gets there, we don't want it coming in sideways i suppose! haha
Aye, in the Hindlow to Crewe video, there is a much shorter way than trailing round Manchester but they would have to run round on the main line at Stockport.
Excellent production in every way, and especially the moving ribbon commentary in plain literate english. Have been over this route as a passenger countless times in the last forty years so to view from front end for once is fabulous. But oh dear, the speed crippling abundance of AHB and private crossings on a route otherwise laid out well for 100mph+ speeds is a shame for the passenger trains. Thanks muchly, again.
Thank you so much for showing this Don, I used to drive this line when it was manually signalled as far as Nuneaton, 3 things surprised me from those days, firstly the Syston East to South junction line being singled, then the track rationalisation south of Leicester station and the Knighton north junction line taken up to Burton on Trent then thirdly at 1 hour 48 minutes the junction missing at the one time LNW Junction box that avoided Nuneaton station there was also a Midland signalbox at Abbey junction, I believe Saltley powerbox took over from there, one pleasant surprise was to see Melton Mowbrays up distant signal still being a semophore, some lovely memories, thank you again Don.
Glad it brought back memories for you Paul. It’s a shame so much is lost but on the brighter side, most of those locations will get significantly remodelled soon.
Thank you Don for a very interesting and informative journey from East to west. I would love to see the rest of the journey from Birmingham to Bristol I expect that would most interesting. I wait and hope I will see it soon.
Hi Phillip. Good to hear from you. I can’t show you the part to Bristol because it wasn’t recorded but watch out for the next epic journey which is Bedford to Earles. Should be out late January. Have a good Christmas.
If you travel along the line north out of Peterborough you can still see some of the old Midland Railway boundary markers. The track we're on and the next right were the Midland's route to Stamford and Leicester. There used to be 7 tracks and a level crossing under where the bridge at the 6:10 mark now stands. The furthest left track was interleaved into the next track to go over the long gone level crossing. Werrington Underpass is now open. There are 3 manned gated crossings in the Peterborough area - the othervus at Whittlesey.
My father started work as a Messenger Boy at Leicester Midland in 1918 at the age of 14. He worked for the railways all his working life ending up in eventually in telecommunications planning at his retirement in 1969.
Excellent, that’s a super story and it was commonplace for loyal staff to spend their entire career on the railway. There was a time when it was the biggest employer in the country by a country mile.
21:16, even more unusual is Shrewsbury which has both the upper and lower quadrant signals as well as a middle one (technically a lower, but it pivots around the centre), as can be seen on your Chester - Birmingham video
Very good video , I was on the p way at Woking for 20 odd years and there was very little knowledge of the whys and wherefores off piloting a goods train . Great video 👍🇬🇧
Thanks Stephen. I remember working down Woking some years ago and wandered in to a yard just to the west of the station. I remember thinking that it might not be a good idea given there was lots of third rails lurking in the undergrowth! Glad you enjoyed it.
Nice to see Peterborough up close after seeing it on the Railcam there quite a lot. Enjoying watching this one too, lots of interesting stuff to see Lineside on this route. I love how you can go get a train anywhere in the uk and there will be stuff to see everywhere you go.
2:01:44 Passes By My Folks Place....We hear these trains often in the summer when sitting out in their garden with a cold one. Good to know they're driven by brilliant drivers like this one with good skills and training:-) then at 2:02:18 you can see the flat space to the left of the line where the old Arley Station Platform once was with the house after it occupying the land where the station would have been.
Great video and very interesting as I know much of this route. Bit of a devil for the relief driver standing in the middle of nowhere if it's chucking it down with rain!!!
Leicester MR station used to have a trainshed roof, but due to the smoke from steam engines it became very dark and was removed in the late 1970's. The Station used to have four Signal Boxes - the West Box on Platform 1 & 2 and the East Box on platform 3 & 4, London Road Junction Signal Box at the South end and Leicester North Signal Box at the North end. There was a very busy Motive Power Dept. with its own Signal Box, a round house with a Turn Table and a separate 6oft. Turn Table for visiting Locomotives. The Running Shed Forman always wore a black Bowler hat as his Badge of Office.
Made me feel hungry going past the pork pie place at Melton, then the Pukka Pie factory at Syston. By the time I got to Birmingham I was chewing my fingers. If I was still on the front I would have signed to Doncaster, until they put in the new junction north of Peterborough. Great video as per. Sorry I missed the premiere, not well and in bed.
I am surprised by your description of the uncomfortable conditions in the cab of a 66 seeing as they are relatively new locos! Great video, please keep 'em coming.
Don’t get me wrong, the seat is comfortable and the view is superb but they are quite primitive. They are utterly reliable which makes them popular with operators.
Looking forward to this one Don, the Peterborough to Nuneaton journey I've done many many times as a passenger, so it'll be great to see it from a proper seat.
Observation, Don, its interesting that the 'R' signals are referred to as 'relating' up your way (perfectly understandable), we call them 'repeater' signals down our way on the western. I never knew the difference existed. So interesting to learn, thanks!
It’s an interesting point but by definition, repeaters repeat the exact aspect but relaters don’t unless it’s green. So if a signal showed red, a repeater would too but a relater would show yellow.
Thank you Don!! Very informative as usual. I try and make as many of the live streams as I can. Took a Euston to Lime Street train earlier in the year, I felt like I knew every inch of the line after Crewe!!
Don, thanks for explaining how the driver gets back home.
Truly brilliant! 50 years ago, I knew every inch of this journey, and although so much has clearly changed, it took me right back to my youth. I could name one or two un-named places, and I need to go back over the film to be sure of others, but I was entertained throughout. The references at the foot of the film explained the new signalling system, and ways of doing things. I am truly indebted to the makers of this film. Highly recommended.
That’s much appreciated Tad and just what I’d hoped to achieve. Another video coming soon.
Thank you, Don. Thanks also to the driver and to Freightliner for making the filming possible. This is such a beautiful route. And your written commentary is among your best -- so informative about operational matters. One of the best things about these freight routes is that they let you encounter routes and tracks that a single passenger train would not cover. Happy Christmas!
Watch out for the next one Martin. It’s superb footage from Bedford to Earles.
Well done to all involved . A programme long overdue. What a treat.
Thanks Paul 👍
What a treat this was! Such a change from the countryside flashing past at high speed. I was drawn to this video because my father worked at Peterborough in the New England sidings and the main station concourse for a number years during the 50's and 60's. As I now live in Rutland I have used that line from Oakham to Peterborough a number of times. A journey through beautiful countryside, informative on operational matters with some history and geography thrown in. A plus factor was no irritating voice-over droning on, just the scrolling text to read at our own pace, especially helpful when your hearing is not so great, and it allowed me to be immersed in the ambience created within the cab, so relaxing. Very well put together and presented Don, thank you.
Thank you for the detailed feedback Milo. You’ve summed up just what I try to achieve so it’s a success as far as I am concerned! Not everybody likes the captions but that is my style and it’s a bonus if it helps the hard of hearing.
Personally the start of this reminded me of when coming home from Peterborough and the driver of the 31 thought he'd race the hst leaving from platform 4 at same time,he gave it a really good go....
Glad it’s another freight run 👍
Informing, entertaining and educational - a rare combination - thanks, Don.
Good to hear from you Paul.
Excellent video again Don . Will keep looking out for your videos to watch .
Quite a lot of new stuff coming Graham.
Excellent viewing again,and good example that we have plenty of green and pleasant land left around our rails!
Looks lovely in the summer doesn’t it Steve.
I have PICOP’d possessions on the whole of this route before I retired, brings back a lot of memories of bleak windy winters nights walking out to place the stop boards, then meet a “66” on its way into engineering works. The ELR changes so many times between Manton & Leicester along with multiple mileage changes that can confuse people. I can remember when Landor street was like a scene from fast and furious with fast cars screaming down the road and being burnt out as they blew the engines, lots of people watching from the car roofs
Fascinating Mike. It always seem fowl weather when the engineers have possession so I can relate to that. As for the cars, we’ll a sign of the times I suppose.
Oooooh yay another ying ying video! Love the engines on these. Class 66s do have some great nicknames.
Watch out for Bedford to Earles.
I know you posted this some time back Don, but it’s a decent run and full of interest. In the distance of a handful of miles, you manage to leave the “race track” ECML with new infrastructure at Werrington Junction, pass over a manned level crossing and then amongst all the “you beaut” modern signalling you get a lower quadrant at Ketton!! Great stuff👍🏻
(Oh, and the the Airfix/Dapol model railway signal box kit inspiration of Oakham)
Watch out for forthcoming videos Andrew. I’ve got loads of this freight footage that Vinny has provided including the trip through that underpass at Werrington Jn towards Peterborough 👍
My cousin and I used to collect scrap along the line just before Hinckley, for beer money, when we worked on the golf course alongside the railway, over 30 yrs ago.
Coincidentally I also worked at Triumph, and in a hosiery factory.
Loved this vid, thanks.
I visited the Triumph factory and I owned one too. 👍
Fascinating and entertaining --- just what TH-cam is at its best..... the train even went over a crossing that I often use on my walks near Oakham - great stuff !
Good stuff Martin, glad you enjoyed it. It’s a lovely part of the country where you live.
And once again, this is a very entertaining video through the beautiful English countryside. I keep getting better at geography only by watching these great videos. I have te admit that England (and partially Wales) are much vaster than I initially thought. Great lessons. Thnx Don.
Glad you enjoyed it Jan. I’ll be passing you out as a driver the rate you’re getting through these videos 😉👍
Fantastic route, with a wealth of information portrayed. Thank-you 👍
Glad you liked it Donald. More soon.
Great video through fantastic scenery. Lovely pace, can't believe I've been watching for two hours. Absolutely engrossing and the captions are perfect.
I think they call it high quality slow tv 👍😉
What a video well worth the wait. Thank you Don your explaining of things is very useful had 3 tots of whisky watching it.
Steady on Robert, at least until I’ve got a tot too 👍🥃
Thanks don for another wonderful journey, love the the sound of the big gm diesel cheer's bob.
Distinctive aren’t they Bob.
I like that you are supporting charity with your efforts. Thanks for sharing with us - Your view is different from the average passenger.
Yes, I’ll be announcing the year’s donation around the end of March.
Hi Don, I really love to enjoy your train rides direct from your driver's cab. It’s quite amazing, how much effort you’ve put on all these interesting notes, details and information at all. That makes it even more exciting to watch and read it, mostly all without getting bored. And well, afterwards I felt myself by far really relaxed throughout your journey🚂. However, many greetings from Germany, and thank you for such great video trips, made with so much passion.
Thank you. I used to work in Germany at our head office at Bad Camberg near Limburg and loved it there but I’m embarrassed to say I am not able to be bilingual like you are. Thanks for the comments, they are much appreciated.
Really enjoyed this - lots of useful information too. Big thumbs up.
Thanks Paul, much appreciated 👍
Thanks once again Don for an excellent video, they just keep getting better. Best wishes to you and yours for the festive season and the coming year.
Thanks Peter. Same to you of course 👍
The plastic model HO scale signal box that Airfix made for many years was the Oakham signal box. I had that model on my layout and we must have driven past it on the crossing there many times in the 1960's on trips from our home in Norwich to visit the grandparents, aunties and uncles in Derby where my family comes from. Seems so long ago and far away as I sit here now with the snow coming down in northern Ontario, Canada! Love all your videos.
Thanks Paul. That was in the days when the railway was king and I’m sure you saw some magnificent sights. Keep safe and we’ll over there.
I watched every second of this video and read every word. Loved it all! Thanks for the work that you put into making and uploading these videos.
Many thanks and there will be another soon 👍
Nothing better than a train ride through the wonderful English countryside on a spring day
Agreed Mikkie. Take care.
Another excellent video. Thank you Don and the driver. I commuted between Derby and Birmingham for 8 years between 1976-84 and knew the Water Orton-New Street line very well. How things have changed. In particular the junction at Water Orton where Leicester bound trains share tracks with Derby-New Street trains. Reminds me of the junction after Mirfield where the Dewsbury and Wakefield lines part. It is a restrictive layout. In the 'good old days' it was four tracks from Water Orton to Saltley and the freight train would have had a clear run.
Mr Hopkinson, as I live and breath! I’ve seen loads of photos in railway magazines of Water Orton but never actually seen it in this way, we can thank our friends at Freightliner for that. It’s amazing how things have changed. My main memories are from New Mills South and that has changed beyond recognition. Now these rationalised junctions are coming back to bite us in the backside and they aren’t good enough to handle todays traffic. Still, some money is going back to the railway and we will see some of these misdemeanours put right. Keep safe and keep in touch John.
Another superb video Don. Great to get an appreciation of Nuneaton from these lines and the flyover
Yes, it’s a view I’d not seen previously Scott. Our driver has an amazing route card.
Please keep those video coming thank you all ways good to watch
Next one is a gem Raymond. Late January time I expect 👍
Another excellent video Don,which I will watch over the course of the next few days.
Thanks Mark, much appreciated.
Thanks to everyone involved for another fab video 👏
Thanks as always Jess.
Another excellent video supporting a worthy cause.
Yes, I’ll publish the year end figures around April but it will be in the thousands.
Another great video Don thanks for this. I like the freight videos see tracks that we don’t normally see and once again very informative.
Thanks Mel. Watch out for the next video, you’ll like it.
Thanks for the latest upload. I really appreciate the hard work you must put in to bring these to us. Very informative as always.
Thanks, much appreciated. Yes, to get the footage and then research and edit it, does take a lot of commitment but I enjoy sharing it and of course the revenue goes to charity.
Hello Don...another great video.Love watching these, so relaxing and informative..i now preempt the driver sound the horn a second or two before the sign ha ha....
The requirement is “as you pass the board at line speed”. In that case the wise angle camera plays tricks because it looks like you are way past the object (notice how late the AWS sounds after it’s apparently gone under the train). Secondly, if the train is doing 40 in a 50 mph limit, he may hold back a while.
Whilst I didn't get to watch the premiere, I made sure to watch this video tonight: Sausage & Mash for tea and a mug of tea to wash it down with.. :) right time to settle in and watch this freight run! Thanks again for your uploads, Don.
You might need supper too on the next video, it’s a long one 😉
Absolutley amazing videos that you show. A pleasure to see.
Thanks Paul, glad you like them 👍
Another excellent video, thanks Don and Freightliner (and the driver of course)
Thanks Paul. He reads the comments so he’ll see what you said.
Thanks Don for a very interesting and informative video. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Much appreciated Chris.
66 got powaaaaaas 😮😮😮
I bet that was one of the most tiring journeys ever for you though.
I didn’t drive it but my mate would know all about it.
Another high quality and highly informative video. You're setting a standard in cabview videos which most producers can only aspire to. AND you're supporting the Sams! What more could a discerning viewer ask for?
Thanks, much appreciated. I suspect you’ll like the Bedford to Earles video, that should be out in January. I’ll also announce the year’s revenue from advertising which will all go to the Samaritans around April. It all has to be squared up with the tax man! I can say that it will be several thousand pounds now the channel is doing quite well.
Thanks again. I'm at the end of the video now, and I have to commend you for making the route easy to follow and your comments interesting and informative. I followed along on Google Maps, and I never got lost ... always had a sense of where the train was in relation to the countryside as a whole.
Glad you enjoyed it KC, there are more videos in the series and I’m constantly working on new content.
Another very enjoyable video. Thank you Don.
Much appreciated Brian 👍
Thanks for sharing this, wonderful video and information, evoking old memories. last travelled part of this route from Peterborough in my trainspotting days in the fifties, then my destination was Rugby which I believe is no longer possible, we have lost so much of our ralways since than, what a shame, we need them more than ever now especially with all the road traffic congestion. thanks again.
Thanks John. I take it you’re an ex-pat? Let me assure you that Rugby is very much on the railway map and we may well get there in one of our videos.
What always amazes me, is drivers route knowledge! I driver the same route to work everyday and can still be caught out with junctions lol 😆 😂
Yes, the driver learns it first, then does an exam and also gets a ride out. It’s very detailed.
Informative as ever. Sincere thanks to all involved.
Another one on Saturday Mr Lloyd 👍
Excellent video. I enjoyed following along using my Railway Track Diagrams Midlands and North West book.
Another premier on Saturday Nick 👍
Thank you again Don for another great video,I certainly was born to early, 18 years waiting for my drivers position.ah well.Seasons greetings to you and yours! 🚂🚂🚂
Don’t stop trying Ramon. You never just know.
Very many thanks Don, our driver and Railfreight. Another engrossing and informative cab ride treat. (That big GM engine just sounds wonderful.)
Haha, watch out for the next one Mike, it’s a gem.
In fond memory of Saltley Depot....... a regular call on our grice tours of the Midlands, highlight? classing my 60's there one night ( 040 ) absolute great video as always Don, many thanks
Many thanks Richard. I’d love to have seen it too.
Thank you for another cracking video. Happy New Year to you Don.
Same to you Andy, thanks mate.
Another great video! I've travelled on this line a few times so its good to see it from the cab!
Good to see you and glad you liked it.
Thank you Don.
I was born and raised Leicester and also worked in Birmingham and Peterborough. However, my first job after leaving school was to work at Empire Stone which you mentioned in your narrative. So you can imagine how familiar all of that was to me.
That’s excellent Bruce. I’d not heard of Empire until researching the video but they produced some fantastic architectural stone. No doubt you know that but it really appeals to me 👍
An informative and entertaining video as usual. Thanks for posting, Don.
My pleasure Steve. Another one soon 👍
Thoroughly enjoy your videos DC, especially the freight runs.
More soon Chris 👍
Lovely film once again Don, informative and unobtrusive commentary. The Saxby and Bourne railway was actually the old Midland and Great Northern railway which ran right across to Great Yarmouth. This extensive system was closed in 1959. The line leading to Old Dalby was once a through route to Edwalton and Nottingham.
I read up on some but I can’t always fit it in. I don’t know where you store your knowledge 👍
Back later in a spare moment for a brilliant route. Cheers!
Just another masterpiece from Don... ;-)
Much appreciated Pablo 👍
I like seeing the various Midland Railway signal boxes. The one at Oakham was the prototype for the Airfix plastic kit of 1960s vintage that those of us of a certain vintage ourselves well remember
I’m afraid I remember Geoff. I didn’t know about the signal box before making this video 👍
Very nice video and channel! Happy New Year and best wishes from an italian railway enthusiast from Germany!
Happy new year to you too. I used to travel to Bad Camberg frequently in my motor industry days I love Germany.
Great work Don,i love to hear that engine working
Yes, they certainly have a distinctive sound when under load.
Don, well done, another great vid. Very enjoyable.
Much appreciated.
Great video as always Don.Like the "give it the berries" saying. When I worked on the railways it was "hive it the juice".
Good to see you Richard. I alway say “give it the beans” but Vin reckons Class 66s prefer berries! Look after yourself and keep in touch Richard.
Loved this, really interesting ride and route. Thanks
Glad you liked it Paul.
Hey Don. That was a brilliant video. I enjoy freight can rides. Look forward to your next video. Anyway, Happy New Year to you and your family.
Good to hear from you Anmol. Next video tonight as it happens!
Thanks Don. Excellent as always.
Much appreciated David.
Absolutely fantastic video Don, Thank You. The foot crossing at 1:41:52 (Burbage Common) is one of my regular haunts for watching trains, plus I only live 10 minutes away :)
Nice one James. I remember you told me you were near Hinckley when I announced the vid 👍
I really enjoy these videos. The Class 66 may be noisy but the GM engine sound is one of the best for me. Greetings!!!!
Greetings to you too. Yes, it’s a distinctive sound for sure.
Finally got round to watching this. Another superb, informative video, Don, of an area that I’m unfamiliar with.
Cheers
Mike
Watch out for the next one Mike. It is superb footage.
Hello Don, I'm very much looking forward to this video, back to heavy-rail! All best from Geelong, Australia.
Wait until you see the next epic too Martin. Take care over there in Oz.
while i know what you mean by "make sure its facing the right way on arrival" it still made me laugh.... I hope its facing the right way when it gets there, we don't want it coming in sideways i suppose! haha
Aye, in the Hindlow to Crewe video, there is a much shorter way than trailing round Manchester but they would have to run round on the main line at Stockport.
Excellent production in every way, and especially the moving ribbon commentary in plain literate english. Have been over this route as a passenger countless times in the last forty years so to view from front end for once is fabulous. But oh dear, the speed crippling abundance of AHB and private crossings on a route otherwise laid out well for 100mph+ speeds is a shame for the passenger trains. Thanks muchly, again.
The crossings don’t really hamper speed but some would need upgrading for a speed improvement plan. All the best Christopher.
Great video. When we hit Melton Mowbray I realised why you pointed out the pig farm somewhere between Stamford and Oakham. Locally grown!
That’s it Jim. Poor pigs don’t know why they live there.
Happy Christmas Don - to you and all your family. Love your videos
Same to you Rob. Glad you like the vids.
Thank you so much for showing this Don, I used to drive this line when it was manually signalled as far as Nuneaton, 3 things surprised me from those days, firstly the Syston East to South junction line being singled, then the track rationalisation south of Leicester station and the Knighton north junction line taken up to Burton on Trent then thirdly at 1 hour
48 minutes the junction missing at the one time LNW Junction box that avoided Nuneaton station there was also a Midland signalbox at Abbey junction, I believe Saltley powerbox took over from there, one pleasant surprise was to see Melton Mowbrays up distant signal still being a semophore, some lovely memories, thank you again Don.
Glad it brought back memories for you Paul. It’s a shame so much is lost but on the brighter side, most of those locations will get significantly remodelled soon.
Awesome! I used to travel on part of this line in the 80's, mainly on class 31/4s and MK2s, and 120DMUs. Proper traction!
Sound idyllic Kate. Glad it took you back.
Thank you Don for a very interesting and informative journey from East to west. I would love to see the rest of the journey from Birmingham to Bristol I expect that would most interesting. I wait and hope I will see it soon.
Hi Phillip. Good to hear from you. I can’t show you the part to Bristol because it wasn’t recorded but watch out for the next epic journey which is Bedford to Earles. Should be out late January. Have a good Christmas.
If you travel along the line north out of Peterborough you can still see some of the old Midland Railway boundary markers. The track we're on and the next right were the Midland's route to Stamford and Leicester.
There used to be 7 tracks and a level crossing under where the bridge at the 6:10 mark now stands. The furthest left track was interleaved into the next track to go over the long gone level crossing.
Werrington Underpass is now open.
There are 3 manned gated crossings in the Peterborough area - the othervus at Whittlesey.
Good stuff Neil. Very interesting 👍
My father started work as a Messenger Boy at Leicester Midland in 1918 at the age of 14. He worked for the railways all his working life ending up in eventually in telecommunications planning at his retirement in 1969.
Excellent, that’s a super story and it was commonplace for loyal staff to spend their entire career on the railway. There was a time when it was the biggest employer in the country by a country mile.
Great vid. enjoyed very much Appreciate & acknowledge the route learning required. Thks
Much appreciated Brian 👍
Another gem.Please keep them coming
Next one late January all being well.
Only watched to just after Leicester but a wonderfully informative journey!! Thank you will watch the rest at a later date - dinner has arrived>
Enjoy dinner David!
Terrific video Don, love OAKHAM Box!!
Delightful isn’t it. Thanks for watching Paul.
21:16, even more unusual is Shrewsbury which has both the upper and lower quadrant signals as well as a middle one (technically a lower, but it pivots around the centre), as can be seen on your Chester - Birmingham video
Yes, those were amazing. Still I reckon a lower Quadrant over on the right is probably unique.
Very good video , I was on the p way at Woking for 20 odd years and there was very little knowledge of the whys and wherefores off piloting a goods train . Great video 👍🇬🇧
Thanks Stephen. I remember working down Woking some years ago and wandered in to a yard just to the west of the station. I remember thinking that it might not be a good idea given there was lots of third rails lurking in the undergrowth! Glad you enjoyed it.
Nice to see Peterborough up close after seeing it on the Railcam there quite a lot. Enjoying watching this one too, lots of interesting stuff to see Lineside on this route. I love how you can go get a train anywhere in the uk and there will be stuff to see everywhere you go.
If you were to come on a cab ride (not actually allowed), this is the kind of stuff I’d be telling you about! Glad you enjoyed it.
2:01:44 Passes By My Folks Place....We hear these trains often in the summer when sitting out in their garden with a cold one. Good to know they're driven by brilliant drivers like this one with good skills and training:-) then at 2:02:18 you can see the flat space to the left of the line where the old Arley Station Platform once was with the house after it occupying the land where the station would have been.
Thanks and spare a thought for the drivers in those hot cabs when having a cold one ;-)
Great video and very interesting as I know much of this route.
Bit of a devil for the relief driver standing in the middle of nowhere if it's chucking it down with rain!!!
It is I agree Neil. I guess that’s why he’s completely togged up in PPE. He was actually a perfect example of how he should look.
Leicester MR station used to have a trainshed roof, but due to the smoke from steam engines it became very dark and was removed in the late 1970's. The Station used to have four Signal Boxes - the West Box on Platform 1 & 2 and the East Box on platform 3 & 4, London Road Junction Signal Box at the South end and Leicester North Signal Box at the North end. There was a very busy Motive Power Dept. with its own Signal Box, a round house with a Turn Table and a separate 6oft. Turn Table for visiting Locomotives. The Running Shed Forman always wore a black Bowler hat as his Badge of Office.
What I wouldn’t give for the same video but recorded in say 1965. That would keep us quiet wouldn’t it Michael.
The Airfix model was based on Oakham signal box. Great video thanks Don.
I believe so Tony. Superb!
Another excellent and interesting production
Thanks Martin.
Don -Can I just say happy New year to you .x love the video's ofcthectrain journeys x Chris x
Sorry silly phone x
Haha, makes me feel human Chris. Take care.
Made me feel hungry going past the pork pie place at Melton, then the Pukka Pie factory at Syston. By the time I got to Birmingham I was chewing my fingers. If I was still on the front I would have signed to Doncaster, until they put in the new junction north of Peterborough. Great video as per. Sorry I missed the premiere, not well and in bed.
Thanks for the comments Ray, I’ll get in touch.
I am surprised by your description of the uncomfortable conditions in the cab of a 66 seeing as they are relatively new locos! Great video, please keep 'em coming.
Don’t get me wrong, the seat is comfortable and the view is superb but they are quite primitive. They are utterly reliable which makes them popular with operators.
Looking forward to this one Don, the Peterborough to Nuneaton journey I've done many many times as a passenger, so it'll be great to see it from a proper seat.
Hope it met your expectations 👍
Thanks for another very informative video.
My pleasure David 👍
Observation, Don, its interesting that the 'R' signals are referred to as 'relating' up your way (perfectly understandable), we call them 'repeater' signals down our way on the western. I never knew the difference existed. So interesting to learn, thanks!
It’s an interesting point but by definition, repeaters repeat the exact aspect but relaters don’t unless it’s green. So if a signal showed red, a repeater would too but a relater would show yellow.
Good watch! Signed the route for 6 years as a guard and will now shortly signing it as a driver!
Right up your street then, nice one.
Thank you Don!! Very informative as usual. I try and make as many of the live streams as I can. Took a Euston to Lime Street train earlier in the year, I felt like I knew every inch of the line after Crewe!!
We’ll get you signed off on the route and get you driving Craig.