Mile posts Nottingham-Beeston

[David Pemberton]

Hello

Every day I take the train from Nottingham to London and I wonder why to the south of Nottingham the numbers on the yellow mile posts go up (first 125, then 126) and before they go down again.

Is it really that the distances are measured from London and to begin with the train is actually getting further from the Capital? If so which is the shorter route? I thought it might be via Grantham but the figures in the national timetable suggest not.

Some ideas for a puzzled commuter please!

David

 

[Tomnick]

The mileage through Nottingham, turning right at Mansfield Junction and thence towards Bulwell and Trowell is measured from St. Pancras via Corby and Melton (the last part of that route now closed, of course - but used to run into the east end of Nottingham Midland). That's why the mileage increases as you leave Nottingham - once you get to Mansfield Junction, you 'meet' the increasing mileage from St. Pancras via Leicester, so it starts decreasing again in your direction of travel.

 

[David Pemberton]

Ah thank you, I see it now on this map

http://www.joyce.whitchurch.btinternet.co.uk/maps/LMR1961c.jpg

Thought it might be a Great Central thing, but couldn't work out why that would influence Midland mile posts, but your explanation to look at the Midland route via Melton and Corby explains all.