Northampton and Lamport Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northampton & Lamport Railway |
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Peckett 0-4-0ST Works No. 2104 with a train
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| Locale | England |
| Terminus | Pitsford and Brampton |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Northampton to Market Harborough line ("Harborough Line") |
| Built by | London and North Western Railway |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | Northampton & Lamport Railway Preservation Society |
| Stations | 1 |
| Length | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1858 |
| Closed | 1981 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1984 | Work started at (and around) Pitsford and Brampton station site |
| 1995 | Light Railway Order, Granted with First public passenger train operated |
| 1996 | Grand Re-opening (NLR re-opened, officially) |
| Headquarters | Pitsford and Brampton |
The Northampton & Lamport Railway is a special railway in Northamptonshire, England. It's called a "heritage railway" because it keeps old trains and railway lines working. You can find it at Pitsford and Brampton station. This is close to the villages of Pitsford and Chapel Brampton, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Northampton.
Contents
Discovering the Northampton & Lamport Railway
The railway line between Northampton and Market Harborough was closed by British Rail on 16 August 1981. Many smaller stations along this route had already been closed years before.
How the Railway Was Reopened
Just three years after the line closed, in 1984, a group was formed. Michael William Papworth from Northampton started this group. Their goal was to reopen a part of the line as a heritage railway.
The site soon opened to the public. In November 1995, the railway carried its first passengers who paid for tickets. This happened after they received a special permission called a Light Railway Order. The official Grand Opening Ceremony took place a few months later, on 31 March 1996.
Current Train Rides and Future Plans
Today, passenger trains run on a section of track about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) long. Trains leave from and arrive at the only station, Pitsford and Brampton.
As of November 2013, work was underway to extend the line south. This extension will add another 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) of track. Most of the track was already laid by spring 2012. Once finished, this part will have a new station with extra tracks and a loop for trains. This new station will be at the old Boughton Crossing on the A5199 near the village of Boughton.
There are also plans to extend the railway north towards Spratton. An earlier northern extension opened after many years of work. About £50,000 was spent to fix Bridge 13. A similar amount will be needed for Bridge 14 when the railway focuses on extending further north.
Understanding the Signalling System
The railway has a detailed signalling system. It includes three working signal boxes. These are located at Pitsford and Brampton station, Pitsford Sidings, and Boughton. This makes it one of the most complete signalling systems for a heritage railway of its size.
The Booking Office at Pitsford and Brampton station was built using an old signal box. This box was originally from Lamport, about 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles) away on the same line. It was changed so it could easily become a signal box again if needed in the future.
Exploring the Brampton Valley Way
The Brampton Valley Way is a "linear park" that runs next to the railway. It's a safe route for walking, cycling, and other activities, with no cars. A strong safety fence separates it from the railway. In other parts away from the railway, horse riders can also use the path.
When to Visit the Railway
You can visit the railway for viewing from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays. Train rides are available on Sundays from March to October. These trains are usually pulled by diesel engines. Steam-hauled trains run for special events, depending on availability. The railway is also open throughout December for Santa's visits.
Special Events at the Railway
The railway hosts many special events throughout the year. A very popular event is the Santa Specials, which run during December.
On 18 July 2007, the Railway at War weekend won an award. This event, held every September, was named Best Event in the 2007 Northamptonshire Renaissance Heritage Awards.
Locomotives: The Trains That Run Here
The Northampton & Lamport Railway has many different types of locomotives. These include steam engines and diesel engines.
Steam Locomotives
- GWR 2-8-0 2884 Class No. 3862. Built in 1942. This engine is currently being restored.
- GWR 4-6-0 4900 Class No. 5967 Bickmarsh Hall. Built in 1937. This engine is also being restored.
- Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 2104. Built in 1948. It was taken out of service in January 2017 and is waiting for a major repair.
- Peckett and Sons 0-6-0ST No. 1378 Westminster. Built in 1914 for the Fovant Military Railway. It is currently being restored.
- Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-4-0ST No. 776 Firefly. Built in 1896. This engine is under restoration.
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 2323. Built in 1952. It is currently being restored.
- Hawthorn Leslie and Company 0-4-0ST No. 3718 Swanscombe No. 4. Built in 1928. This engine is working and returned to steam in 2019.
Main Line Diesel Locomotives
- British Rail Class 31 A1A-A1A No. 31289 Phoenix - This diesel engine is working.
- British Rail Class 47 Co-Co No. 47205 - This diesel engine is also working.
Industrial Diesel and Shunters
- Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 165DS No. 764 Sir Gyles Isham. This was the first locomotive to arrive at the railway and is working.
- Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0 165DS No. 53 Sir Alfred Wood - This engine is currently being repaired.
- Fowler 0-4-0DH No. 21 - This engine is being used for spare parts before it is taken apart.
Carriages: Where Passengers Ride
The railway also has several carriages for passengers to ride in.
- British Rail Mark 3 DVT No. 82114 - This carriage is being prepared for service by its owners, NLRCIO.
- British Rail Mark 2 TSO No. 5174 - This carriage is in service.
- British Rail Mark 2 TSO No. 5132, once named Clan Munro - This carriage is working.
- British Rail Mark 2 BSO(T) No. 9102. - This carriage is in service.
- British Rail Mark 1 TSO No. 3919. - This carriage is being fully repaired by its owners, NLRCIO.
- British Rail Mark 1 RBR (Buffet Car) No. 1647 - This carriage is out of service for repairs.
- British Rail Mark 1 NAV No. 84031 - This carriage is working and is used as a temporary buffet car.
Gallery
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The booking office and platform at Pitsford and Brampton
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The platform at Pitsford and Brampton Station
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Pitsford and Brampton signal box
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Pitsford Sidings signal box
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Steam locomotive 7646 "Northampton" officially named by the Mayor of Northampton
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Peckett 0-4-0ST Works No. 2104 in the yard, preparing for a day's use on passenger trains
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The first passenger train to cross Bridge 13, with headboard from 1981 (Class 117 51402 has since moved to the Strathspey Railway)
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Boughton — end of the Brampton Valley Way which runs alongside the railway
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JCB excavator used in the railway's construction
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Stanley Steamer visiting an event at the railway
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Hunslet 0-6-0ST 'Ring Haw' and a short goods train
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Santa Special hauled by № 7646
