Guinness World Record: Longest-running railway series, established in 1901
IT was to be more than 30 years from the introduction of 125mph-capable trains to the Midland Main Line before matching track was provided.
As we have seen in the previous Midland Transitions article (RM September 2023), the main line from St Pancras to Sheffield in 1982 was the fiefdom of Sulzer Class 45s, by then fitted with electric train heating and hauling air-conditioned stock, but limited to only 90mph over what could be a racing ground – especially sections of the 99.1miles from London to Leicester.
Sectorisation resulted in the appointment of Cyril Bleasdale (my management training mentor) as director of InterCity Services, with his ambitions for the Midland service group. After the new West Hampstead signalling installation assumed control of nearly 60 route miles from St Pancras to Sharnbrook, and completion of electrification to Bedford, 100mph running became a possibility. With an eye on turning around falling revenue and making best use of the overall IC125 HST fleet, Mr Bleasdale purloined some less remunerative sets from the Western Region for the Midland’s October 1982 timetable, concluding the conversion process the following May.
Immediately before the HSTs arrived on the Midland, the down flagship ‘Master Cutler’ was booked 80min from St Pancras to Leicester, at a 74mph average, then another 70min to Sheffield via the Erewash Valley. Most other trains took 83min to Leicester and nearer to three hours for the overall journey via the 6.35 mile-longer Derby route.
In contrast, the May 1983 operation had all the hallmarks of Bleasdale’s visionary approach. London to Leicester times were immediately reduced by 22%, compared with loco-hauled schedules, to 68min net. Semi-fasts were not forgotten either, benefiting from an even better 25% improvement, from a typical 120min to 91min. This was the sort of enhancement formerly associated with electrification. Further incremental upgrades, eventually to 110mph top speeds, continued (might one say ‘in typical Eastern Region fashion’?) so that by the end of the decade the net schedule was down to an astounding 64min at a start-to-stop average of 92.8mph, despite
