Strangest Diversion

[cambsy]

longest diversion I've done was Glasgow to Birmingham via Dumfries then S&C,then via Manchester and Styal line to Crewe,was when upgrade work was on and was a Saturday,been often diverted via Bushbury Junction-Bescot and Stetchford on WCML trains,done through Glasgow Central Low Level on sleeper years ago done Lifford curve to double back to St Andrews on a 31 hauled train to East Anglia,done the Sheffield avoiding route when track work was on,and loads of others can't remember

 

[12CSVT]

How about this 'track-bashing' mystery tour in a 221 unit on 15th June 2007, following severe flooding in Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

Birmingham New Street - Whitacre Jct - Tamworth - Derby - Ambergate Jct - back to Derby (due to flooding in Clay Cross tunnel)

There was then a wait of about 30 to 45 minutes at Derby while we waited for the all clear to proceed north (the Erewash Valley was closed at the time due to a major resignalling project).

Derby - Clay Cross - Sheffield - South Kirkby Jct - Hare Park Jct - Calder Bridge Jct - Wakefield Kirkgate - Wakefield Westgate (reverse) - Wakefield Kirkgate - Normanton - Woodlesford - Leeds

 

[cambsy]

just remembered another diversion,which was East Coast on Sleeper northbound,the route was Euston to Willesden sidings,reverse towards Euston taking the Primrose Hill line,Camden Town,Kings Cross Goods line then Hertford loop.

 

[trc666]

RE the Southampton / Romsey diversions, that's been happening the last few weekends and will be until at least Christmas. Also offers the rare opportunity to run non stop from Basingstoke to Southampton Central and some also run non-stop through Romsey.

 

[150222]

The unit on the Grand Tour normally goes into 1, into the siding, and back into one. Avoids conflicting moves with 2 which is normally expecting something going towards Leeds.

Never seen it do what you say but I suppose Westgate is flexible if a long distance train is coming in, so the Northern unit can be sent into either platform.

No it can terminate at either platform and usually leaves at 2. This is the reason that it is advertised as Huddersfield/Bradford until Halifax then Leeds.

 

[Simon Poole]

I was coming back from seeing the Scarborough Spa Express from York, on the 11th August 2010 there was cable theft at Dewsbury area on the same day, but after departing Leeds the train back to Manchester which was a First Transpennie Express 185 went through WAKEFIELD KIRKGATE! to get to Huddersfield, it was also the 1st time i saw Wakefielld Kirkgate!

 

[DarloRich]

there is one in this months railway magazine of a gc HST being badly dleayed at Seaham, running into the Seaham Harbour branch inclinem reversing, running wrong road back to Sunderland, Up to Newcastle and south along the ECML to Kings Cross.

Now that Seaham branch IS a bit of North East track i need!

 

[Tomonthetrain]

london - birmingham virgin service. boarded at rugby after getting off the pretendo there from birmingham, went: Rugby - Rugby North Junction - Rugby Trent Valley Junction - Brinklow - Attleborough Shilton - Attleborough Junction - Nuneaton South Junction - Nuneaton - Atherstone - Polesworth - Tamworth (Low Level) - Lichfield Trent Valley (Low Level) - Armitage Junction - Rugeley Trent Valley - Colwich - Whitehouse Junction - Stafford Trent Valley Junction - Stafford (REVERSED) - Stafford Trent Valley Junction - Rickerscote - Penkridge - Littleton Rowntree Mackintosh - Four Ashes Loop - Bushbury Junction - Wolverhampton North Junction - Wolverhampton to Birmingham.

reason for that routing - incident at Tile Hill

 

[SS4]

Mine are pretty boring by comparison!

EUS-BHM went via Nuneaton due to problems at Rugby so I went EUS-NUN-LTV-CRD (where I naughtily stopped short)

Even more mundane was Aston to Wolverhampton via Bescot with a reversal at New St

 

[pmgarvey]

Maybe not strange but definitely obscure for me was the following one:

Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe via Warrington Bank Quay after departing P3 at Piccadilly, all due to an incident in the Wilmslow area!

It was an ATW service which reversed to go through P13 at Piccadilly, P1 at Oxford Road and then to Earlestown before running nonstop down the WCML to Crewe!

Out of curiosity where did it reverse? The first place I can see it being able to is Ardwick.

 

[Oracle]

1996: Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford diverted to Eastleigh then past Hedge End to Fareham, stopping at Woking and Eastleigh only because of leaf problems causing stuck units south of Haslemere.

 

[SWTCommuter]

It hasn't happened recently, but two or three times over the years I've been on Weymouth/Waterloo services that have been diverted to run between Wimbledon and Clapham Junction via East Putney and Wandsworth Town. The best bit was seeing the faces of District Line passengers waiting at Wimbledon Park and Southfields as a ten-car 442 glided through.

My most entertaining diversion was on a peak time Waterloo to Weymouth service during the 1980s. The train in front had broken down near Micheldever so we made an extra stop at Basingstoke and the Winchester passengers were told to change there. A Class 33 was hitched on to the front and, combined with the 4-REP, it achieved some very impressive acceleration as far as Worting Junction. The driver managed to maintain momentum and we went like a bat out of hell down the Salisbury line as far as Laverstock Junction, where we had to slow for the curve. From then on it was a slow trundle down to Romsey and through Chandlers Ford to Eastleigh, where the 33 was unhitched and normal service resumed. Sadly, with the demise of the REPs, TCs and 33s that sort of flexibilty is no longer possible. Perhaps the designers of the IEP should be thinking along those lines?

 

[tirphil]

Once worked a Southampton - Wakefield Euro service from Donny that was diverted via ECML, Hambleton, Gaswood, Ferrybridge, Pontefract Goods, Crofton East before picking up the booked route at Crofton West.

Booked route was Donny - Hare Park - Crofton West.

 

[Smethwickian]

Obviously the more recent ones which many would consider to be strange are Birmingham-Euston via Chiltern Line and of course the Paddington-Bristol services via the Chiltern Line and Banbury last year!

Yes, I enjoyed a 'mini-railtour' on board one of those VT 'blockade busters' via Willesden, Acton and Greenford, if I recall correctly.

I didn't enjoy a diversion last year due to a lineside fire and points failure which saw my Saturday afternoon Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street XC Voyager diverted, after a very lengthy delay, from Smethwick via Perry Barr then to Bescot Stadium then reversing back via Aston to New Street!

 

[Dreadnought]

Out of curiosity where did it reverse? The first place I can see it being able to is Ardwick.

We literally crossed straight over to the line that goes through P13 and reversed there. It was near the loop where the Holyhead - Piccadilly ATW units park waiting to return to Wales!).

 

[Eric]

We thought the Ousing Dove might have used the through line yesterday at Wakey, but we went very very slowly through the platform in a sort of trying-not-to-actually-stop sort of way; and then stopped

Additional random question - which platform(s) do the Great Central services use at Kirkgate?

Platform 3

 

[Tim B]

During 1983/84 when I commuted daily to London from High Wycombe I would often catch the 08:32 non-stop diesel loco service to Paddington, due to arrive Paddington 09:10 (return 17:40 to Wolverhampton arriving Wycombe 18:12 as I recall). Due to problems one day at Paddington, the train was diverted via Wembley Stadium (Wembley Complex as then was) into Marylebone. At that time - years before Chiltern Mainline Silver or WSM - the only locomtoves to be seen as Marylebone were the occasional rail tour - so you can imagine my excitement !

 

[Hyphen]

Nottingham to Birmingham in Central days.

Leaving Nottingham followed the path of Sheffield/Manchester/Liverpool trains up as far as Langley Mill. Train stopped just clear of the station.

Reversed back through the station, down the Erewash Valley and through Toton TMD. Turned right at Trent junction and headed towards Derby.

Reversed as normal out of Derby, then stopped Burton as normal. Passed Central Rivers where we headed west onto what I can only presume is a freight line. This took us through Lichfield and into Birmingham (non-stop after Burton).

These days EMT just throws a coach on

 

[Buttsy]

1985: A sunday service to Edinburgh from Oxford (usual route Oxford-Coventry-New Street-Wolverhampton-Stafford-Crewe-Wigan-Preston-Carstairs). from Oxford we went through Worcester Shrub Hill and Kidderminster to get to New Street. from there, through Walsall and up to Rugeley (this before the chase line reopened for passengers) and Stafford. Fine on the WCML until Wigan NW when a 47 was attached on the rear to take us to Lostock. A quick run-round and off we went to Preston. At this point, me & my mate were hoping for an S&C diversion, but it didn't happen and it was normal routing from Preston to Edinburgh, splitting at Carstairs.

 

[AJP62]

There used to be a few regular Sunday diversions on the WCML between Crewe and Preston. Late 70s when I was route bashing.

If the work was around Wigan the route would be Crewe - Stockport - Stalybridge line but avoiding Guide Bridge then round the curve at Ashton to Victoria - Bolton - Preston. This was pre Windsor link so no access to Bolton line from Piccadilly in central Manchester.

If the work was around Warrington the route was Crewe - Styal line - Piccadilly - Ince Moss - Golborne - Preston.

Same route was used if work as south of Weaver Junction but this also got the Liverpools. They would go Crewe - Chester Station - onto Birkenhead line - reverse around curve to Holyhead line - Chester station - Frodsham - Runcorn. That could be done in both directions back then!

One I managed to get was a Liverpool when the Crewe - Chester route was also closed. We went Crewe - Sandbach - Middlewich - Greenbank - Chester station.

These were all done with the leccy still attached so some thunderous runs up the bank from Victoria, usually with a 47 but occasionally a 40.

Around that time the Hope Valley route would often be shut on a Sunday and the Manchester - Sheffields would go over the Woodhead route, reversing at Nunnery to get back into Sheffield. Did that one very wet Sunday on a trans Pennine unit!

 

[sprinterguy]

I've seen a reasonable amount of the bits of the rail network not witnessed by many regular passenger trains over the last couple of years, primarily courtesy of Crosscountry services.

I've done the Stllington line from Ferryhill to Stockton (Freight only normally) while en route to York.

I've been on a Voyager routed direct from York to Sheffield via Sherburn-in-Elmet and Pontefract Baghill. It took me months to fathom out what had gone on there: I recall passing a depot filled to the brim with withdrawn 56s (Turned out to be Ferrybridge) and remember seeing the "Pontefract" station signs as we passed through.

I've been round the "old road" from Sheffield to Chesterfield via Beighton and Barrow Hill a couple of times: Once on a railtour, and once on an XC service that was bypassing an EMT service that had failed around Dronfield.

I've also been on one of the XC services that was diverted from Wichnor Junction to Lichfield on the freight only line through Alrewas, and then down the Cross-city line into Birmingham.

Finally, I boarded a southbound Wrexham & Shropshire service at Tame Bridge Parkway that traversed the Hamstead chord between Perry Barr and Soho Junctions. Nothing too unusual about that, as that is the route taken by LMs' Chase Line services, but there was a difference: It was a mid-winters day and was snowing heavily, and the train was already running over an hour late by the time it reached Tame Bridge Parkway (It had been touch and go for a while as to whether it would run via Tame Bridge at all, or whether it would take the more direct route via Sandwell & Dudley and bypass us altogether to make up time). Shortly after we had boarded it was announced that there was a non-functioning windscreen wiper and the train would have to be turned at the earliest opportunity so that the "good" cab was leading. This was effected by bringing the train to a halt beyond Perry Barr South Junction, and then reversing our direction to run over the usually freight only chord between the South and West junctions onto the Hamstead Chord to continue our journey.

 

[marks87]

Not a strange diversion, but I did enjoy a trip once on a (then-NXEC) HST between Dundee and Edinburgh via Perth and Stirling.

 

[DarloRich]

I've seen a reasonable amount of the bits of the rail network not witnessed by many regular passenger trains over the last couple of years, primarily courtesy of Crosscountry services.

I've done the Stllington line from Ferryhill to Stockton (Freight only normally) while en route to York.

I did that in both directions on an HST - very relaxing run

I've been on a Voyager routed direct from York to Sheffield via Sherburn-in-Elmet and Pontefract Baghill. It took me months to fathom out what had gone on there: I recall passing a depot filled to the brim with withdrawn 56s (Turned out to be Ferrybridge) and remember seeing the "Pontefract" station signs as we passed through.

There are some strange routes from York to Leeds/Sheffield

I've been round the "old road" from Sheffield to Chesterfield via Beighton and Barrow Hill a couple of times: Once on a railtour, and once on an XC service that was bypassing an EMT service that had failed around Dronfield.

I have been that way recently on a Northern 158 after there was some problem at Dore. Took me ages to work out where we were going. Confused a lot of people running the wrong way into Sheffield. I had been after that route for ages and got in by chance!

 

[fairysdad]

The only one I've done that was in the vein of those listed here was during the Christmas Reading blockade when I took the Devon - Waterloo train. Must admit, it felt odd going through the south-west London suburbs on it, mainly because of the slow speed we were doing, and the number of level crossings. It did seem as if we were this huge thing travelling through small things... that made little sense...

 

[142094]

No it can terminate at either platform and usually leaves at 2. This is the reason that it is advertised as Huddersfield/Bradford until Halifax then Leeds.

Aye but note I said "normally". It can use either platform but normally only uses 1.

 

[Whistler40145]

I once had a Preston to Euston diverted via Edge Hill (Liverpool), quite unusual as the Windsor Link had been built.

 

[wensley]

Mine was on Grand Central, when the train was still running as 1N25. Cable theft between Stockton Cut and Hartburn. Train ran into Thornaby platform 2, crew change ends as driver was being route conducted, got the dolly across onto the Up Main back to Bowesfield where we took the Up Hartburn Curve and rejoined the Durham Coast Line. Interesting bit of track for a 180!

 

[MadCommuter]

Early 90s during a wcml possession Liverpool to Euston were dragged from Nuneaton to Bedford via Leicester. At Bedford the dragging 47s were taken off and the 86s went under their own power to St Pancras.

Holyhead to Euston also went this way but were less exciting being HSTs.

I believe this occurred on several weekends.

 

[Whistler40145]

Has anyone ever had a diversion from Coventry to Birmingham New Street via Nuneaton?

 

[yorkie]

Most are not that strange, and are actually fairly common, such as TPE via Wakefield Kirkgate (there's a train booked to do this from Leeds in 8 1/2 hours time) and the Sleeper via the ECML happens from time to time.

But one diversion that I doubt will ever be repeated was Birmingham New St - Bourneville - Lifford West Jn - Lifford East Jn - St Andrews Jn - Birmingham New St (non-stop) - Galton Jn - Stourbridge Jn - Kidderminster - Droitwich Spa - Worcester - Cheltenham Spa. I think this was on "The Cornishman" HST, 21 June 2002.
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Early 90s during a wcml possession Liverpool to Euston were dragged from Nuneaton to Bedford via Leicester. At Bedford the dragging 47s were taken off and the 86s went under their own power to St Pancras.

Holyhead to Euston also went this way but were less exciting being HSTs..

Personally I found the sound of a Valenta to be far more exciting than the sound of a 47 (and I know I'm not alone in that!)
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Has anyone ever had a diversion from Coventry to Birmingham New Street via Nuneaton?

Not from Coventry, but I boarded a Class 47 at Nuneaton that was on a diversion to Birmingham. The platform announcer said not to board as it was "not in public use", but on board the TM made an announcement welcoming passengers who had boarded at Nuneaton.
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I've done the Stllington line from Ferryhill to Stockton (Freight only normally) while en route to York.

That is quite rare.

I've been on a Voyager routed direct from York to Sheffield via Sherburn-in-Elmet and Pontefract Baghill. It took me months to fathom out what had gone on there: I recall passing a depot filled to the brim with withdrawn 56s (Turned out to be Ferrybridge) and remember seeing the "Pontefract" station signs as we passed through.

There are around 3 passenger trains each way per day by this route, as well as being an XC diversionary route.

I've been round the "old road" from Sheffield to Chesterfield via Beighton and Barrow Hill a couple of times: Once on a railtour, and once on an XC service that was bypassing an EMT service that had failed around Dronfield.

That's not that uncommon, the 2045 Nottingham - Sheffield is booked that way daily.

I've also been on one of the XC services that was diverted from Wichnor Junction to Lichfield on the freight only line through Alrewas, and then down the Cross-city line into Birmingham.

Yes, that's fairly rare, I'll grant you that! Only done it once (though not on anything decent).