I've been intending to traverse Wing Junction to Corby for some time but never got around to it. My aim was to tick it off before the end of the Easter break.
I aimed for the 0603 Melton Mowbray service as the over 3 journeys would need me to travel further or have a later day on what would be a busy day on the roads.
I made a jump start in everyone by leaving the night before travelling M6, M56, A555 and A6 making extremely good time including a 15 minute journey from the M56 to the A6 at Hazel Grove!!
I was in the prowl for somewhere near to Melton Mowbray to sleep so initially pulled up at Cromford. I had only just drove through Matlock Bath all lit up like Blackpool and with a group of orange men parked up for a shift on the Matlock branch I presume.
I forgot how steep Cromford station approach was. I always think my handbrake will loosen during sleep so have to keep the car level. Nonetheless I had 20 minutes of relaxation and a walk down to the Derwent before I got back to the car.
I saw on my atlas that on the same double page as Cromford was Whatstandwell, Elton & Orston and Melton Mowbray.
The second station was far too close to me and too faraway from Melton in the event I would oversleep.
I traced a route along the A6, A610, A38, A617, A614 and the A52 which satisfied avoiding major towns and motorways but didn't avoid over keen lorries trying to overtake me when we were both adhering to the 50mph limit around Lowdham.
I got to Elton and Orston for 1am which was reasonable. It is silent barring creature calls and distant vehicles on the A52. I had thought to check RTT but I had drove over an empty Bingham level crossing so assumed that this line is not needed at night time.
I had a peaceful snooze at Elton albeit quite chilly when I arose. Google told me I had 45 minutes and 12 miles in which to arrive at Melton which was easily done via some picturesque villages that I didn't have time to bask in.
At Melton, I see a town almost asleep but the parking fees always in force so I pay £4 at the station and decide to not go all the way to St Pancras and back as I really just need to go as far as Harlington for completing the MML and hence all through to Brighton for coverage.
I pay for a return to Kettering forfeiting a cheap £13. The 0603 was all mine as no other passenger was on it until Corby although we also stopped at Oakham. At Corby more than 10 joined us.
I didn't realise until it was much too late that as I arrived at Kettering, a Sheffield bound train was going to leave. That a wait until 0830 to get me to Leicester.
I hoped faintly that Kettering would have somewhere open on Good Friday and thank goodness McDonald's was there.
I returned with half an hour to wait at the station which was now filling quickly with passengers for London as well as to the North. I could see electrification masts around here but I'm not well read on the MML electrification progress so far.
At Leicester was a shorter wait for the 0918 IIRC. This train was almost full but not standing. A trolley host was able to come down.
I returned to Melton Mowbray in time to leave about 0945. Now I aimed true for Wigan and drove down the A6006 with only a temporary traffic light causing some concern. Next was the A50 which ground to a halt at the roundabout near Uttoxeter for no apparent reason. A second delay was much longer in Stoke due to a truck completely imploding on the roundabout with the A500. I chose the A34 and a quick trip through Wilmslow to avoid the possibility of hold ups on the dreaded M6 through Cheshire and returned home to become catatonic on the sofa but accomplished around midday.
Track covered: Wing Junction/Winston Junction to Kettering
Cost: £13 train ticket + £4 parking + £3 food
I aimed for the 0603 Melton Mowbray service as the over 3 journeys would need me to travel further or have a later day on what would be a busy day on the roads.
I made a jump start in everyone by leaving the night before travelling M6, M56, A555 and A6 making extremely good time including a 15 minute journey from the M56 to the A6 at Hazel Grove!!
I was in the prowl for somewhere near to Melton Mowbray to sleep so initially pulled up at Cromford. I had only just drove through Matlock Bath all lit up like Blackpool and with a group of orange men parked up for a shift on the Matlock branch I presume.
I forgot how steep Cromford station approach was. I always think my handbrake will loosen during sleep so have to keep the car level. Nonetheless I had 20 minutes of relaxation and a walk down to the Derwent before I got back to the car.
I saw on my atlas that on the same double page as Cromford was Whatstandwell, Elton & Orston and Melton Mowbray.
The second station was far too close to me and too faraway from Melton in the event I would oversleep.
I traced a route along the A6, A610, A38, A617, A614 and the A52 which satisfied avoiding major towns and motorways but didn't avoid over keen lorries trying to overtake me when we were both adhering to the 50mph limit around Lowdham.
I got to Elton and Orston for 1am which was reasonable. It is silent barring creature calls and distant vehicles on the A52. I had thought to check RTT but I had drove over an empty Bingham level crossing so assumed that this line is not needed at night time.
I had a peaceful snooze at Elton albeit quite chilly when I arose. Google told me I had 45 minutes and 12 miles in which to arrive at Melton which was easily done via some picturesque villages that I didn't have time to bask in.
At Melton, I see a town almost asleep but the parking fees always in force so I pay £4 at the station and decide to not go all the way to St Pancras and back as I really just need to go as far as Harlington for completing the MML and hence all through to Brighton for coverage.
I pay for a return to Kettering forfeiting a cheap £13. The 0603 was all mine as no other passenger was on it until Corby although we also stopped at Oakham. At Corby more than 10 joined us.
I didn't realise until it was much too late that as I arrived at Kettering, a Sheffield bound train was going to leave. That a wait until 0830 to get me to Leicester.
I hoped faintly that Kettering would have somewhere open on Good Friday and thank goodness McDonald's was there.
I returned with half an hour to wait at the station which was now filling quickly with passengers for London as well as to the North. I could see electrification masts around here but I'm not well read on the MML electrification progress so far.
At Leicester was a shorter wait for the 0918 IIRC. This train was almost full but not standing. A trolley host was able to come down.
I returned to Melton Mowbray in time to leave about 0945. Now I aimed true for Wigan and drove down the A6006 with only a temporary traffic light causing some concern. Next was the A50 which ground to a halt at the roundabout near Uttoxeter for no apparent reason. A second delay was much longer in Stoke due to a truck completely imploding on the roundabout with the A500. I chose the A34 and a quick trip through Wilmslow to avoid the possibility of hold ups on the dreaded M6 through Cheshire and returned home to become catatonic on the sofa but accomplished around midday.
Track covered: Wing Junction/Winston Junction to Kettering
Cost: £13 train ticket + £4 parking + £3 food