25th September 1955

Ian Allan (Trains Illustrated Excursion)
High Peak Express

Locos Used 40927, 41077, 41167, 43268, 46100 'Royal Scot', 58850 & 58860
Stock Used [1] : 11x ex-LMS coaches
[2] : 4x open wagons & 3 brake vans
[3] : 4x open wagons & 3 brake vans
[4] : 5x ex-LMS coaches

Route :
M792 : London St Pancras to Buxton Midland
???? : Middleton Top to Friden
W560 : Friden to Buxton Midland
?M792? : Buxton Midland to London St Pancras

Traction Stock Route
46100 [1] London St Pancras - (via MML) - Trent - Sheet Stores Jn - Derby Midland
40927 + 41077 [1] Derby Midland - Ambergate - Whatstandwell (1) - Rowsley - Millers Dale - Buxton Midland
bus - Whatstandwell - Cromwell Wharf
walk - Cromwell Wharf - Sheep Pasture - Middleton Top
58860 + 58850 (2) [2] then [3] Middleton Top - Hopton Top
58860 + 58850 [2] + [3] Hopton Top - Friden
43268 [4] Friden - Buxton Midland
40927 + 41167 [1] Buxton Midland - (reverse of outward route) - Derby Midland
46100 [1] Derby Midland - (reverse of outward route) - London St Pancras

Notes :
(1) Passengers either alighted at Whatstandwell for the Cromford & High Peak Railway visit else stayed on the train to Buxton.
(2) 58860 & 58850 took half the train from Middleton Top to Hopton Top then returned to pick up the other half. The two halves were then combined for the journey to Friden.

Sources : John Debens, Andrew Fairholm, Paul Harrison & Bruce Nathan

Photo Review


46100 at London St Pancras (photo: Bruce Nathan)


58850 & 58860 at Middleton Top (photo: Bruce Nathan)


43268 at Friden (photo: Bruce Nathan)


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Paul Harrison & Bruce Nathan)

Miles Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual Miles
0 St Pancras 09.40d 09.39½   20.41a 21.13 165¼
? Islip Street Jn 09/44 ? [SL]   ? ? ?
? Carlton Road Jn 09/47 ? [GL]   ? ? [FL] ?
4 West Hampstead 09/54 09/51   20/28 20/57½ 161¼
? Welsh Harp Jn 09/58 09/56½ [FL]   ? ? ?
12½ Elstree 10/07 10/08   ? ? 152¾
20 St Albans City 10/16 10/18½   20/13 20/38½ 145¼
30¼ Luton 10/26 10/31   20/03 20/28½ 135
49¾ Bedford Midland 10/43 10/47   19/43 20/07 115½
56¾ Sharnbrook Jn 10/52 10/54 [GL]   19/36 19/59 108½
62½ Irchester Jn 11/02 11/03   19/24 19/48½ [GL] 102½
65 Wellingborough 11/04 11/06   19/22 19/44½ [SL] 100¼
- Neilsons Sidings - -   19/19 19/37 [GL] 99
70¾ Kettering Jn 11/22 11/14½   ? ? ?
72 Kettering 11/25 11/17½ [FL]   19/13 19/29½ 93¼
83 Market Harborough 11/38 11/31½   19/01 19/18 82¼
99 Leicester 11/55 11/52½   18/42 18/59 66¼
114¼ Loughborough 12/08 12/05½   18/27 18/46½ 55¾
119¾ Sheet Stores Jn 12/15 12/15   18/19 18/37½ 45½
128½ Derby Midland 12L30 ~ 12L35 12.33 ~ 12.42   18L03 ~ 18L08 18.14 ~ 18.23½ 36¾
138¾ Ambergate 12/50 12/58   17/51 18/02½ 26½
140¾ Whatstandwell 12.55a ~ 13.00d 13.01½ ~ ??.??   ? ? ?
150 Rowsley 13/21 ?   17/39 17/42½ 15¼
159¾ Millers Dale 13/36 ?   17/29 17/29½ 5½
161 Buxton Jn 13/39 ?   17/27 17/26½ 4½
165¼ Buxton Midland 13.46a ?   17.20d 17.20 0


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