Ely - Peterborough disruption (22/05)

[Sleepy]

Line blocked due to freight (4L14) stuck near Whittlesea - reportedly trespassers have caused some damage. I saw this on journey check as relative travelling through area.

 

[DR18037]

There was a signal theft just beyond Whittlesea about 2 weeks back. Mabye some kids have come back for 2nds. Although from the signal blocks it doesnt look to be near Semaphores

Definitely not the average tresspass for it to take this long to move a set

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 May 2025 ==

Further from this the knockon backups have caused the ECML to lose both Northbound plats at Peterborough. Not that the ECML will feel it compared to Thirsk tonight

 

[Sleepy]

Update - apparently 2 males boarded 4L14 and caused brake pipe damage.

 

[ILikeTrains75]

I've trying to do Edinburgh to March. I've just got through Thirsk after 2 hours and now I've got this!

 

[DR18037]

You poor soul, Maybe you'll make it in time for 1L56 which was held at Leicester XD

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 May 2025 ==

Update - Down Main is also now open to line speed by the way 1N69 flew through the blocks

 

[66701GBRF]

It’s been reported internally that handbrakes have been applied to 4L14, cocks messed about with and containers broken in to.

 

[DR18037]

The Great Train Robbery comes to mind?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 May 2025 ==

Update - as of 22:50 the lines look to be open with trains running at caution in the direction that 4L14 originally stopped

 

[Egg Centric]

Is this likely to be specifically targetted, or just opportunist? Where does 4L14 go to/from?

I remember there was an accident caused a long time ago - I think before I was born - cause of people nicking car parts from shipments from Dagenham as the trains waited for a path somewhere in North London. Possibly at Bushey.

 

[Bald Rick]

Is this likely to be specifically targetted, or just opportunist? Where does 4L14 go to/from?

I remember there was an accident caused a long time ago - I think before I was born - cause of people nicking car parts from shipments from Dagenham as the trains waited for a path somewhere in North London. Possibly at Bushey.

Doncaster - Felixstowe South (today).

the same path and headcode is also used for a EM Gateway to Felixstowe (South) service sometimes.

 

[DR18037]

Realtime Trains | 4L14 1455 Doncaster Iport Gbrf to Felixstowe South Gbrf | 22/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 4L14 1455 departure from Doncaster Iport Gbrf to Felixstowe South Gbrf on 22/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

4L14 is either an East Mids Gateway or a Doncaster to Felixstowe service, tonight's run is Doncaster to Felixstowe


Also yes, that accident rings a bell to me too something along the lines of that.

With the Signal Theft (yes, theft they stole a semaphore), a reoccurring AHB fault at March and now tonight's shenanigans the Ely to Peterborough line is becoming a comedy club for delay causes.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 May 2025 ==

Edit: apologies for the duplicate post on 4L14, wasn't on my feed when I hit post

 

[Egg Centric]

they stole a semaphore

sorry, what? Like the signal head or the entire signal or...?

 

[Bald Rick]

sorry, what? Like the signal head or the entire signal or...?

The semaphore board.

 

[DR18037]

The semaphore board.

yes the board, its been gone a few weeks and because they have the plan to replace them with LEDs at the end of this month I am 99% sure they wont be replacing it and instead have just consolidated the 2 blocks together because it was only about 200 yards further from the platform starter anyway

 

[Bald Rick]

Anything obvious worth nicking or is it intermodal?

Asking for a friend



(picture shows the "hamburglar")

Containers. No idea what is inside.

 

[Egg Centric]

yes the board, its been gone a few weeks and because they have the plan to replace them with LEDs at the end of this month I am 99% sure they wont be replacing it and instead have just consolidated the 2 blocks together because it was only about 200 yards further from the platform starter anyway

How much is that worth as scrap? A fiver?

Mind boggles

 

[DR18037]

I've trying to do Edinburgh to March. I've just got through Thirsk after 2 hours and now I've got this!

Now I'm not the operator so still take this with a pinch of salt, but there is still 1 more train left from Birmingham to Cambridge, and It's 85 Late just through Oakham, and also the final train of the night so I know in the past they've just run it through late as its going to depot regardless, so ill drop you a link here and give you the best of luck!

Realtime Trains | 1L56 2022 Birmingham New Street to Cambridge | 22/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 1L56 2022 departure from Birmingham New Street to Cambridge on 22/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[LowLevel]

yes the board, its been gone a few weeks and because they have the plan to replace them with LEDs at the end of this month I am 99% sure they wont be replacing it and instead have just consolidated the 2 blocks together because it was only about 200 yards further from the platform starter anyway

It was replaced a few weeks and put back into work.

 

[P156KWJ]

Train is conveying dangerous goods of multiple types which thickens the plot more. Internal source states one arrested, one on the run.

 

[ILikeTrains75]

Now I'm not the operator so still take this with a pinch of salt, but there is still 1 more train left from Birmingham to Cambridge, and It's 85 Late just through Oakham, and also the final train of the night so I know in the past they've just run it through late as its going to depot regardless, so ill drop you a link here and give you the best of luck!

Realtime Trains | 1L56 2022 Birmingham New Street to Cambridge | 22/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 1L56 2022 departure from Birmingham New Street to Cambridge on 22/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thanks. Got back to March just before midnight having left Edinburgh at 17.00

 

[EveningStar]

I remember there was an accident caused a long time ago - I think before I was born - cause of people nicking car parts from shipments from Dagenham as the trains waited for a path somewhere in North London. Possibly at Bushey.

Horrible accident between Watford Junction and Bushey in 1975; 'Report on the Derailment and Consequent Collision that occurred on 23rd January 1975 near Watford Junction in the London Midland Region British Railways'

 

[Class15]

I remember there was an accident caused a long time ago - I think before I was born - cause of people nicking car parts from shipments from Dagenham as the trains waited for a path somewhere in North London. Possibly at Bushey.

Horrible accident between Watford Junction and Bushey in 1975; 'Report on the Derailment and Consequent Collision that occurred on 23rd January 1975 near Watford Junction in the London Midland Region British Railways'

To add to this, it is believed and the report says it is probable (but not confirmed) that the theft was at Gospel Oak.

 

[duffield]

How much is that worth as scrap? A fiver?

Mind boggles

Scrap? Surely they'd try to sell it for a fairly substantial sum to a collector? If they're stupid enough they may try to list it on a memorabilia website or via social media, and that wouldn't surprise me at all (it's very common for low-level criminals to post evidence of their crimes publically online).

 

[DR18037]

Scrap? Surely they'd try to sell it for a fairly substantial sum to a collector? If they're stupid enough they may try to list it on a memorabilia website or via social media, and that wouldn't surprise me at all (it's very common for low-level criminals to post evidence of their crimes publically online).

I was told by a family member that something similar to what I described to them ended up on Marketplace last week so maybe they did actually think to sell it

 

[38Cto15E]

Are there people of no fixed abode currently living in the area?

Back in the day, when I got back to Leicester the train crew supervisor asked me if i had seen anything suspicious in the Narborough area after working 4M50 Tartan Arrow, Glasgow Bridgeton to Kentish Town.
Someone must have fancied a container full of single malt.

 

[MadMac]

Are there people of no fixed abode currently living in the area?

Back in the day, when I got back to Leicester the train crew supervisor asked me if i had seen anything suspicious in the Narborough area after working 4M50 Tartan Arrow, Glasgow Bridgeton to Kentish Town.
Someone must have fancied a container full of single malt.

Narborough? That was usually hijacked between Cambuslang and Newton…..

 

[Falcon1200]

That was usually hijacked between Cambuslang and Newton…..

Indeed, I still recall the instruction to Signallers that Up Freightliners from Gushetfaulds were not be stopped by signal in the area! (The Caledonian Circuit housing scheme rings a bell...)

 

[6Gman]

yes the board, its been gone a few weeks and because they have the plan to replace them with LEDs at the end of this month I am 99% sure they wont be replacing it and instead have just consolidated the 2 blocks together because it was only about 200 yards further from the platform starter anyway

Didn't Fiennes have a story about a semaphore arm falling off shortly before a Royal Train was due - so a bloke went out and held it in the "off" position to avoid delay?

 

[John Webb]

Didn't Fiennes have a story about a semaphore arm falling off shortly before a Royal Train was due - so a bloke went out and held it in the "off" position to avoid delay?

Yes, the up starter at Tottenham. A porter was sent to carry the arm up the ladder of the signal and hold the arm in the 'Off' position!
(Mentioned in "I Tried to Run a Railway")

 

[rower40]

“Take the signal, driver…”

 

[MadMac]

Th

Indeed, I still recall the instruction to Signallers that Up Freightliners from Gushetfaulds were not be stopped by signal in the area! (The Caledonian Circuit housing scheme rings a bell...)

The very place!