Peterborough to Birmingham (Landor St) 

Don, thanks for explaining how the driver gets back home.

Thank you, Don. Thanks also to the driver and to Freightliner for making the filming possible. This is such a beautiful route. And your written commentary is among your best -- so informative about operational matters. One of the best things about these freight routes is that they let you encounter routes and tracks that a single passenger train would not cover. Happy Christmas!

while i know what you mean by "make sure its facing the right way on arrival" it still made me laugh.... I hope its facing the right way when it gets there, we don't want it coming in sideways i suppose! haha

Truly brilliant! 50 years ago, I knew every inch of this journey, and although so much has clearly changed, it took me right back to my youth. I could name one or two un-named places, and I need to go back over the film to be sure of others, but I was entertained throughout. The references at the foot of the film explained the new signalling system, and ways of doing things. I am truly indebted to the makers of this film. Highly recommended.

Personally the start of this reminded me of when coming home from Peterborough and the driver of the 31 thought he'd race the hst leaving from platform 4 at same time,he gave it a really good go....

I know you posted this some time back Don, but it’s a decent run and full of interest. In the distance of a handful of miles, you manage to leave the “race track” ECML with new infrastructure at Werrington Junction, pass over a manned level crossing and then amongst all the “you beaut” modern signalling you get a lower quadrant at Ketton!! Great stuff👍🏻 (Oh, and the the Airfix/Dapol model railway signal box kit inspiration of Oakham)

Glad it’s another freight run 👍

What a treat this was! Such a change from the countryside flashing past at high speed. I was drawn to this video because my father worked at Peterborough in the New England sidings and the main station concourse for a number years during the 50's and 60's. As I now live in Rutland I have used that line from Oakham to Peterborough a number of times. A journey through beautiful countryside, informative on operational matters with some history and geography thrown in. A plus factor was no irritating voice-over droning on, just the scrolling text to read at our own pace, especially helpful when your hearing is not so great, and it allowed me to be immersed in the ambience created within the cab, so relaxing. Very well put together and presented Don, thank you.

21:16, even more unusual is Shrewsbury which has both the upper and lower quadrant signals as well as a middle one (technically a lower, but it pivots around the centre), as can be seen on your Chester - Birmingham video

66 got powaaaaaas 😮😮😮 I bet that was one of the most tiring journeys ever for you though.

Yes, thank you Don and your collaborators. What struck me was the whole gamut of types of signal on view, the pre-grouping Midland semaphore through to the latest LED types. Surely that old signal will be for the museum or a heritage railway when it comes out. Where was the train from and where was it bound? Unanimous likes I notice, I hope it results in lots of support for your cause.

And once again, this is a very entertaining video through the beautiful English countryside. I keep getting better at geography only by watching these great videos. I have te admit that England (and partially Wales) are much vaster than I initially thought. Great lessons. Thnx Don.

I have PICOP’d possessions on the whole of this route before I retired, brings back a lot of memories of bleak windy winters nights walking out to place the stop boards, then meet a “66” on its way into engineering works. The ELR changes so many times between Manton & Leicester along with multiple mileage changes that can confuse people. I can remember when Landor street was like a scene from fast and furious with fast cars screaming down the road and being burnt out as they blew the engines, lots of people watching from the car roofs

Excellent video again Don . Will keep looking out for your videos to watch .

Observation, Don, its interesting that the 'R' signals are referred to as 'relating' up your way (perfectly understandable), we call them 'repeater' signals down our way on the western. I never knew the difference existed. So interesting to learn, thanks!

Hi Don, I really love to enjoy your train rides direct from your driver's cab. It’s quite amazing, how much effort you’ve put on all these interesting notes, details and information at all. That makes it even more exciting to watch and read it, mostly all without getting bored. And well, afterwards I felt myself by far really relaxed throughout your journey🚂. However, many greetings from Germany, and thank you for such great video trips, made with so much passion.

Hiya Don. You wouldnt mind if I used this video for a reference to make a virtual version of the route for Train Simulator, would you? I’ll credit you if it’s published

As a newcomer to watching these fascinating and very informative videos, I have a question. On these multitrack lines, is there a standard ( or minimum) gap specified between individual lines, to ensure safe passing of trains? Thanks in advance George

when did they remove the freeman's bridge straight into parcel force,did freeman's pay for it ,it was their bridge,they payed p/f to look after it,when p/f was demolished contractors said not our job then when it was pointed out freeman's own it. they were very very grateful when it was made known to them. i worked for parcel force for 18yrs .

Don can you send me a copy of what it left of the Pennine railway from the 60s to now please if you can please

Thanks once again Don for an excellent video, they just keep getting better. Best wishes to you and yours for the festive season and the coming year.

If you travel along the line north out of Peterborough you can still see some of the old Midland Railway boundary markers. The track we're on and the next right were the Midland's route to Stamford and Leicester. There used to be 7 tracks and a level crossing under where the bridge at the 6:10 mark now stands. The furthest left track was interleaved into the next track to go over the long gone level crossing. Werrington Underpass is now open. There are 3 manned gated crossings in the Peterborough area - the othervus at Whittlesey.

Still get nervous going past a level crossing, just waiting for a idiot to think they don’t need to wait!!

Lovely film once again Don, informative and unobtrusive commentary. The Saxby and Bourne railway was actually the old Midland and Great Northern railway which ran right across to Great Yarmouth. This extensive system was closed in 1959. The line leading to Old Dalby was once a through route to Edwalton and Nottingham.

The plastic model HO scale signal box that Airfix made for many years was the Oakham signal box. I had that model on my layout and we must have driven past it on the crossing there many times in the 1960's on trips from our home in Norwich to visit the grandparents, aunties and uncles in Derby where my family comes from. Seems so long ago and far away as I sit here now with the snow coming down in northern Ontario, Canada! Love all your videos.

Driving a train into Birmingham is definitely preferable to driving a car. Horrendous city.

A great driver's eye view of my local line, but may I add one or two corrections. Firstly, the 'loops' between Oakham and Langham are not loops - they are the Up and Down Goods Lines as they a controlled by two boxes. It's only a loop if it's managed by one box. Secondly, unless the rules & terminology has recently been changed, the prefix 'R' for some two aspect cautionary signals stands for Repeater, not 'relating.'

Another high quality and highly informative video. You're setting a standard in cabview videos which most producers can only aspire to. AND you're supporting the Sams! What more could a discerning viewer ask for?

Another excellent video. Thank you Don and the driver. I commuted between Derby and Birmingham for 8 years between 1976-84 and knew the Water Orton-New Street line very well. How things have changed. In particular the junction at Water Orton where Leicester bound trains share tracks with Derby-New Street trains. Reminds me of the junction after Mirfield where the Dewsbury and Wakefield lines part. It is a restrictive layout. In the 'good old days' it was four tracks from Water Orton to Saltley and the freight train would have had a clear run.

Lucky you riding on the freight locomotive from Peterborough to Birmingham and going through the heart of The Midlands. As Peterborough isn’t too far from the East Midlands.

Well done to all involved . A programme long overdue. What a treat.

Thank you Don, I've travelled along this line many times in the past. Have enjoyed most of your videos during lockdown - is there any chance you could get some covering East Anglia/Cambridge?

Absolutely fantastic video Don, Thank You. The foot crossing at 1:41:52 (Burbage Common) is one of my regular haunts for watching trains, plus I only live 10 minutes away :)

Why could they not provide a bit of sound proofing in the cabs and more comfort for the drivers? Heathens.

Fascinating and entertaining --- just what RU-vid is at its best..... the train even went over a crossing that I often use on my walks near Oakham - great stuff !

A few interesting anecdotes to throw in here as this is the closest line to my house. Early in the video we pass Helpston and 'Maxey' LC's that have 6 running lines, which I believe is only matched by Exeter and the gate-to-gate distance at Helpston is almost 80yds, making it the largest in the UK. This is also one of the very few locations where flashing green signals still remain as the line was signalled for 140mph use, but that was never adopted and it remains limited to 125mph. Further along you pass through Narborough and the signal box was almost demolished by a derailed Leicester-bound mineral wagon train in the early 1970's. Some trucks rode up onto the platform and the lever frame suffered substantial damage. If you look closely at the brickwork, evidence of the rebuild is still very visible (I noticed it last night when a Black 5 with load 10 went through). Because the wagons were across the crossing, the road was blocked for days and it's about a 4 mile diversion to get around it! Also worth a mention is that slightly past Narborough is Croft Quarry sidings, which are about to be remodelled as the already enormous hole (over 600' deep) is about to be made significantly bigger and many of the pre-fab tunnel lining sections under the channel were produced here.

Is this the same Freightliner that makes Semi Trucks in the US? The engine sounds amazing. 🤗

Sorry I missed the start will watch it from the beginning ☺️☺️☺️

Great video and very interesting as I know much of this route. Bit of a devil for the relief driver standing in the middle of nowhere if it's chucking it down with rain!!!

Just wondering, when do you next plan yorkshire like sheffield, doncaster or hull videos?

Why is only Stamford Down electrified out of Peterborough?

Salutări din România Prietene Drag Don Coffey 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🇹🇩🇹🇩🇹🇩

As a fellow rail enthusiast since the 1950s, but only with videos since the 1980s, I have never downloaded a clip of over 1 hour. Can you tell from the YT statistics how many watch until the end? I have quite a few cab rides not yet downloaded. Mike ( now in my 78th year!)

It seems a very fuel inefficient route just to arrive facing the correct direction or are shorter routes already full?

Looking forward to this

Another superb video Don. Great to get an appreciation of Nuneaton from these lines and the flyover

Can a freight driver drive a passenger train and can a passenger driver drive a freight train

The Airfix model was based on Oakham signal box. Great video thanks Don.

2:01:44 Passes By My Folks Place....We hear these trains often in the summer when sitting out in their garden with a cold one. Good to know they're driven by brilliant drivers like this one with good skills and training:-) then at 2:02:18 you can see the flat space to the left of the line where the old Arley Station Platform once was with the house after it occupying the land where the station would have been.

Why is the train put in the freight loop when no passenger train overtakes it?

What would be the driver’s duty consist of on the day this was filmed?

Just wondering how do the train driver. Get Back to is destination 🤔

Oakham Crossing Signal Box is also the box on which Hornby signal boxes were modelled.

Another great video! I've travelled on this line a few times so its good to see it from the cab!

Thank you Don. I was born and raised Leicester and also worked in Birmingham and Peterborough. However, my first job after leaving school was to work at Empire Stone which you mentioned in your narrative. So you can imagine how familiar all of that was to me.

Long time fan Don, first off thank you for all you do :-) Secondly, could you tell me what the full journey was? PBO to Bristol? Trying to see if I can find it on RTT (not this particular one as its 2021) to see it's full path and times. Thank you in advance to you or anyone who can help.

Informing, entertaining and educational - a rare combination - thanks, Don.

I don't think you are allowed to show Oakham Signal Box without saying: It's the model for the Airfix signal box model. Or pass through Oakham without saying it's the most used, and the least used, station in Rutland!

Why did you not film from Kennett? As people would see what a bottleneck Ely North Junction is and places like Whittlesea with Semaphores and Gated Crossing. Apart from that a lovely video. Thank you as always.

David John Jenvey gaurd Bescot then driver but sadley died

Cracking video,really injoyed this one,Fort Dunlop is not what it used to be,mainly offices for the local papers,and apartments I think,the only part left of Dunlop is just pass the office block on the right,and Wallsall is Walsall,but we know what you meant,stay safe and merry Xmas Don

nice train video bro ❤❤❤❤❤❤

I was watching a Drivers eye view freightliner video from Peterborough to Bristol, then it stopped and I can not find it anywhere why ??????????

You missed the other Stamford station (site passed around the 17:00 mark. This was the Stamford and Essendine station that was eventually leased to the GNR in the 1890s and later the LNER. The Sibson extension of this railway crossed the line to Leicester at Uffington opened in 1867 and was closed by the LNER in 1929 after 50 odd years of poor receipts. Their Stamford station li gered on until 1957 before being closed and all services transferred to the Midland Railway station until the line to Essindine was closed in 1959. The station goods yard remained in use until 1963.

Very informative video, just to note and apologies, you may already know this now but Derby EMCC is still known as the EMCC, it never became a ROC although there was plans for it to be one it does not meet the criteria at this time.

Sorry to disabuse you Don but Vale of Mowbray Pies come from Leeming Bar, which is in the Vale of Mowbray, in North Yorkshire. Excellent vid though, I'm enjoying it.

1:52:00 What does a "Relief Driver" do? He drives "Reliefs", of course, but we want him to drive trains! LOL

what is the engine in this loco ? sounds very like the V16 on the old class 71s built by General Motors EMD in USA and used by both CIE in the Irish Republic and NIR in Northern Ireland

And further to previous; I have just realised that there are both Melton Mowbray Pies and Vale of Mowbray Pies. Different animals from different pastures. I didn't mean to sound sarky before.

My cousin and I used to collect scrap along the line just before Hinckley, for beer money, when we worked on the golf course alongside the railway, over 30 yrs ago. Coincidentally I also worked at Triumph, and in a hosiery factory. Loved this vid, thanks.

Perhaps it's me but British railways always look scruffy and ramshackled compared to French and German Railways.

Made me feel hungry going past the pork pie place at Melton, then the Pukka Pie factory at Syston. By the time I got to Birmingham I was chewing my fingers. If I was still on the front I would have signed to Doncaster, until they put in the new junction north of Peterborough. Great video as per. Sorry I missed the premiere, not well and in bed.

Another question regarding the station in Syston. If I understand things correctly, there is a single Up and Down line through this station? (only saw a platform on one side). While their are two lines immediately to the right, how are trains controlled into Syston? Is there an absolute block on this track for a single train, likely a local, so that only one train can be in this section at any one time? Hope I'm using the correct terminology here.

Nice vid, thanks! At 1:18:45 , I was wondering why there was an AWS warning for a green signal? I'm pretty sure the ramp was for a signal and not for a speed warning board. Maybe the signal had just stepped up to green?

In fond memory of Saltley Depot....... a regular call on our grice tours of the Midlands, highlight? classing my 60's there one night ( 040 ) absolute great video as always Don, many thanks

Interesting film. Will you be using the Werrington Junction dive-under off the ECML any time soon? A film of that would be fantastic. Cheers!

The gentle toot "W" given by the train sounds very genteel ,almost apologetic, compared to the cacophony of bells / horns etc used by freight in the USA. Mind you the right of way over there is largely unprotected / unfenced .Quite a difference.

You mentioned the proliferation of roller bearing axle boxes, or journals. Do NR have automated hot bearing detectors? Here in North America they tend to place them about every 25 miles.

At 5:35, on the right behind the trees is Morrisons. It was built on the site of the former Peter Brotherhoods factory. They made the prototypes of the Dambuster's bouncing bombs there. My Nan worked in the Director's canteen as a waitress and Great Uncle Wheaton was the managing director.

excellent a video featuring my patch of Britain may I point out a minor error though as you pass Uffington (midland railway) signal box the line which used to go overhead was the Stamford (east) to Wansford line the Stamford to Essendine line only comes alongside as you reach the houses on the edge of Stamford the complex of flats on the right hand side was the site of the old east station. The line closed in the mid 1920's but the track bed is amazingly largely intact !

Regarding the use of "W" whistle. Is it up to the drivers discretion to use both or only one of the two horns at the W sign? After watching this clip (and many others) I can´t find any system in using one or two horns, giving just a short single or double toot. Compared to the US where signalling with the horn is used as if their lives was depending of how much noise they could accomplish. (By the way: Your clips are fantastic! Keep up the good work!!)

Top vid Don...good to see the open pig farm where they get space and fresh air,unlike some ive seen..Don the junction we passed to cement works is that the line out of site?..as no cross over from our line I could see.

1:24:30 why do freight drivers stop so far away from signals? are the brakes that unreliable?

In watching this, I am amazed at the Billions of pounds in the excess unused rail and material that has lined the route. This is something that the citizenry never take the time to view and never ask the Rail Company why it is just left and if possible recycled.

All that lovely open countryside! Drop a postage stamp in Sussex and they'd build a house on it. Coffey No1 for trips in 2021 and sure to be in 2022. Happy Christmas Don.

Another most enjoyable and informative video. May i politely ask Why is foliage/ bushes allowed to grow and make the p/w look so unloved. Particularly around Leicester Station especially southern side? It is dreadful on most lines,I've noticed recently!

Oakham signal box may look familiar to railway modellers. It's design was used by Airfix for there plastic kit signal box.

Leicester MR station used to have a trainshed roof, but due to the smoke from steam engines it became very dark and was removed in the late 1970's. The Station used to have four Signal Boxes - the West Box on Platform 1 & 2 and the East Box on platform 3 & 4, London Road Junction Signal Box at the South end and Leicester North Signal Box at the North end. There was a very busy Motive Power Dept. with its own Signal Box, a round house with a Turn Table and a separate 6oft. Turn Table for visiting Locomotives. The Running Shed Forman always wore a black Bowler hat as his Badge of Office.

I'm a little surprised given Network Rail's risk assessments for UWC that some of the sight lines e.g. @31:01 for the train driver are quite minimal. I thought the vegetation would be pared back a lot more.

At manned crossings, what is the minimum elapsed time before the closure of the gate and the arrival of the train? Some of them have quite a few cars stacked up when the crossing comes into view.

Nice video! Trying to learn from the sounds, but also asking for my more realistic sim drives... what's the preferred notch (and brake) use on a 66? It did sound like start in 4-5, then on to 6-8 until the speed limit where obviously flip-flop use whichever maintains this speed. Short term needs aside I prefer to avoid above 75% to conserve the engine (prime mover) and the additional effort is minimal, but the 66 has a fairly different config iirc (judging by Amps).

Couple of questions if I may. Why does the train keep slowing down on dead straight track, why did it go through Leicester on its own track at only 10mph, why does it sound as though it needs to go in a lower gear when cruising along and why are the whistle boards 'W' so far off the obstacle, is it for faster trains?

FROM 1:19 always love a ride past the Leicester L.I.P you never know what will be parked up. lots of 37s 47s (some now at west coast railways) and 56s. and of course the former 58223.

A couple of snippets to add as you passed Stamford station you just about caught the weathervane on top of the tower this has the letters SPR on it which stands for Syston to Peterborough railway which became part of the midland railway and predates the ECML which was built alongside as originally the (midland) line went to Peterborough east and the current platforms were a 1970's addition followed by two extra a few years ago (from where you started) I believe the midland railway lower quadrant was retained for sighting purposes and is of course on the opposite side of the tracks. In BR days the boundary between eastern region and London Midland region was Ketton Box

A map of the railway from the Pennines from the 1960s to the current era please

On the Liverpool Docks Branch, you'll certainly know when a class 66 is approaching with either the Biomass to Drax Power Station (GBRF) or containers from Seaforth Container Terminal to either Mossend, East Midlands Gateway, Hams Hall or Lawley Street in Birmingham (DB Cargo, GBRF or Freightliner). With the 1:30 gradient from Derby Road, under the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to Bootle Junction (Where the line connects with the Merseyrail's Southport Line) and the 1:60 gradient to the Former Walton & Anfield station, the 66 is full power as the load would by over 2000 tonnes or more.

Landor street used to be Saltley diesel depot where I started my footplate career back in 1977. Used to do a lot of banking on nights back then, All gone now😔

Re: Running non-stop through the loop at Oakham. In these carbon-conscious days, that does seem plain daft - I wonder how much extra fuel the train consumed as a result?

Hi Don, thanks blessedly for uploading these railway cab view videos and I enjoy watching them! One railway line I would like to see a 2020s cab ride of is the line from Derby via Burton-on-Trent and Tamworth and via Birmingham New Street. Cheers and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

the service frequency for passenger trains is one an hour (if they run) there was a proposal a while back to up that to 40 minute intervals BUT suddenly freightliner started running loads of "driver training" light engine runs to make sure they didn't lose their freight paths and to scupper those plans !