Image ID: 16383

Deltic Class Diesel Engine Entering Retford Railway Station, 1964

Courtesy of John A Thickitt

Railway Station
Retford
England

A 'Deltic' class diesel-electric locomotive, no. D9001, heads a northbound express along the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The locomotive is negotiating Retford Crossing, where the Worksop to Lincoln line crosses the ECML on the level. D9001 was allocated to Finsbury Park (London). Travelling over Retford crossing at 60 miles per hour (the maximum permitted speed here for ECML traffic) resulted in the carriage wheels making a continuous, loud clattering sound. It was named 'St. Paddy' and, as all the Deltics shedded here, carried the name of a winner of one of the Classic horse races. The line in the foreground is the 'notorious' Retford-Curve, which connects these two lines. It was notorious because not only does the line curve, but also it has a short but stiff gradient (for trains from left-to right in this photo). Consequently, steam locomotives used to slip very readily whilst working trains onto the ECML. This line lead to the platform for Lincoln-bound trains, which was off the photograph to the left.

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Keywordsrailwaytransporttrackrailslinetrainlocomotiveenginesleeperswagonselectricsignalbox

Retford Library