Northampton & Lamport Railway
From Open Encyclopedia
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The Northampton & Lamport Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway in Northamptonshire England, and is based at Pitsford and Brampton station, roughly 5 miles (8 km) north of Northampton.
The line between Northampton and Market Harborough finally closed in August 1981, the intermediate stations on the route having been closed for many years.
In 1984 a group was formed with the intention of opening a section of the line as a heritage railway. The site opened to the public shortly afterwards. Following the granting of Light Railway Order, the line carried its first fare-paying passengers in November 1995. The official Grand Opening Ceremony took place on 31st March 1996.
Currently, passenger trains operate on a section of line approximately 1¼ miles (2km) in length. Extensions in both directions are in the planning stages with much of the materials already purchased. Before work can start, however, extensive (and indeed expensive) repairs are needed to bridges which carry the track over rivers. The most recent extension opened after several years' work and around £50,000 was spent on repairs to Bridge No. 13.
The signalling system, with two working signalboxes, is one of the most comprehensive and detailed on any heritage railway. The Booking Office at Pitsford and Brampton station was built using the disused Lamport signalbox, originally located around 5½ miles away on the same line. It has been converted in such a way that it can be easily converted back into a signal box if required in the future.
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The Brampton Valley Way is a "linear park" offering a traffic-free route for cyclists and pedestrians, and which runs alongside the railway, separated by a stout safety fence. Access is also available to horseriders on other sections away from the railway.
The railway is open for viewing from 13:30 - 17:00 Monday to Friday, and 10:00 to 17:00 on Sundays. Train rides are available on Sundays from March to October, steam-hauled from April to September (subject to availability).
A number of special events take place throughout the year, the popular Santa Specials run throughout the month of December.
Locomotives
- Steam Locomotives
- GWR 2-8-0 2884 Class no. 3862
- Kitson 0-6-0ST no. 5470 (Stewarts & Lloyds no. 45) "Colwyn" - featured on Dad's Army TV Series
- Peckett 0-4-0ST no. 2104
- Peckett 0-6-0ST no. 1378 "Westminster"
- Tkh 0-6-0T no. 5374 "Vanguard"
- Tkh 0-6-0T no. 7646 "Northampton"
- Main Line Diesel Locomotives
- BR Bo-Bo Class 26 no. 26010 (Soon to move to Riccarton Junction)
- BR Bo-Bo Class 27 no. D5401 (ex-27056/27112)
- BR A1A-A1A Class 31 no. 31289 "Phoenix" - long term loan from FM Rail
- BR Bo-Bo Class 33 no. 33008 (Not arrived as of December 2005)
- BR 1Co-Co1 Class 45 no. 45118 "The Royal Artilleryman"
- BR Co-Co Class 47 no. 47205
- BR Co-Co Class 56 no. 56098
- Industrial Diesel Locomotives and Shunters
- BR Class 08 0-6-0 DE no. D3429 (08359) - long term loan from FM Rail
- BR Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0 165DE British Rail Departmental "PWM" no. 97651
- Ruston & Hornsby 4wDM 88DS no. 1 "Merry Tom"
- Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 165DS no. 764 "Sir Gyles Isham"
- Fowler/Thomas Hill 0-4-0 DH no. 146C "Bunty" - donated by Redland Aggregates
- Fowler 0-4-0 DH no. 21
External links
- Homepage of the Northampton & Lamport Railway
- Vintage Transport Group which runs events at the Railway.
