Burton-leicester line info please

[merciandamo]

Hello there im a newbie to this very splendid forum so forgive me if im a little slow , i recently have moved from ashby to albert village within minutes walk from gresley tunnel and woodville junction. Ive been down to the track a few times walking the dog and i understand the line is in use but can anybody tell me when the best times to spot a train down here please?

Im also on the look out for any info or photos of the following:
Burton-leicester
Ashby-nuneaton
Swadlincote loop and coalierys including narrow gauge

If anybody can help me id be most grateful as id love to find out alot more about the railways and industry in my area. Alot of our nature reserve still follows former lines and sidings and its such a shame that its all gone for nobody to see and enjoy anymore. Il take my camera out over the next few outings and post up some pics asap.

Also, i understand the very famous 4472 once attended an open day in coalville many many years back but can anybody tell me if the train ever passed through gresley tunnel and onto burton.

Many thanks in advance
Damian

 

[Mvann]

Some of the info you are looking for has appeared in railway bylines and British railways illustrated. It might be worth looking at the index on irwell press web site.

 

[Ferret]

I think a test train traversed the line today as it happens! Been a few in the last couple of weeks. Any deliveries of Tube stock from Derby-Old Dalby/Old Dalby-West Ruislip will also use the line.

 

[merciandamo]

Thank you both il have to have a look at that website, Tube deliverys is a new one though il have to keep em peeled. Any ideas on times they come through?

 

[Wyvern]

Part of the line is the old http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_and_Swannington_Railway the oldest modern railway in the East MIdlands after, perhaps, the Mansfield and Pnxton.

THere is a fascinating book that is now out of print, and was on the web but seems to have gone from there as well. "Life On The Leicester Line" by Anthony Gregory. Well worth trying to get a copy one way or another.

 

[Phil Grain]

Hi Merciandamo,

Moira end trains at the moment are a 3 times per week 6F76 Toton/Bescot/Didicot to Bardon Hill passing Moira just after 08.00 returns the same way as 6F76 14.21 Bardon Hill - Oxford Hinksey yard, currently done as a Wed/Thurs/Fri train down to run until Mid May, the stone used for London underground/overground engineering.

The London Underground new LUL S stock, being built at Derby Bombardier, and being tested at the Old Dolby test track, Melton Mowbray are routed along the line as are the final tested units which then travel Old Dolby - Amersham/West Ruislip these being taken with 2 pairs of top & tailed class 20's, this should be going to 1 per week shortly, at the moment it's very hit and miss and gets cancelled a fair bit.

Other wise there are test trains on the route from time to time which can be anything, mainly loco hauled these days with a 31 & DBSo drivable coach or tnt train usually 37's.

I don't know if your on Facebook? If so Anthony Gregory who people have listed further up in this thread, he's got a group - A tribute to Coalville depot, with a few drivers and staff who are also on Facebook as well as a few other Coalville line groups, as there are also on Flickr photo site, in the groups.

Anthony said that the Life on the Leicester Line is off line now from the previous e-book readable version as the gent who put it online's web time has run out, so I'm hoping to have it back online for him in the near future, just waiting for Tony to send me the links/pages. I've just uploaded his second book about his time as a MOD in the 1970/1980's.

Yes Flying Scotsman did get to Coalville open day, but unsure which way it travelled in, but at the time the Moira end was still used alot as there were alot of coal trains out then.

If you're on Facebook look me up and I can introduce you to Tony Gregory and some of the chaps old and present on the line.