The Midland Main Line is undergoing great change with the electrification of the route from Bedford to Leicester. Eventually this will become part of a major ‘Spine Route’ linking the Midlands with the South Coast. In this programme we document the line in recent months, and go back to the 1980s and the era of mechanical signal boxes and semaphore signalling.

The Programme Comprises:

St Pancras in the 1980s with Peaks and HSTs.

The Early 1980s on the line from Bedford to Market Harborough with a range of motive power including HSTs in early BR livery, Class 20s, Class 31s, Class 58s, Class 56s and ‘Peaks’.

The Midland Main Line Past & Present
Scenes from the late 1980s and 2015 on the line from Bedford to Leicester. Includes the climb to Sharnbrook Summit at various locations, the Wymington Deviation, Irchester, Wellingborough Station, Finedon Yard, Neilsons Sidings, Kettering, Glendon Junction, Market Harborough and the line north to Wigston Junctions on the approach to Leicester. Includes Class 56s, 58s, 31s, the final ‘Peak’ workings and Class 47s from the late 1980s and Class 60s and a variety of Class 66s plus test trains and passenger workings in recent months. Also explores the bridges and structures on the line prior to electrification work plus signalboxes and semaphores in the 1980s.

Produced by - Transport Video Publishing
Running time - 75 Minutes approx.
Blu-ray and DVD
Released - September 2015