A northbound Freightliner on the WCML just north of Hanslope Junction

Roade Cutting (SP750525) - Just north of the village, it is around sixty feet deep and one and a quarter miles long. The construction was difficult, but the result is impressive! The Northampton loop line, opened 1881, diverges from the "old line" at a lower level and runs parallel under a "grid iron" structure, installed after a landslide in 1881.

The London and Birmingham Railway viaduct of 1837, near Blisworth on the "Old Line".

Northbound Virgin Pendolino at Milton Crossing near Blisworth

Blisworth to Kilsby - A scenic stretch of the "Old Line" through undulating countryside, often close to the Grand Union Canal. There are two tunnels, Stowe Hill and Kilsby. The canal towpath provides a good view of the line, particularly at Bugbrooke (SP676565), Nether Heyford (SP655578) Weedon (SP633593) - where both railway and canal are on high embankments and Whilton Locks (SP618644).

One of the 60 ft. diameter vents of Kilsby Tunnel seen from the A5 road.

One of the smaller vents of Kilsby Tunnel seen from the A5 road.

Kilsby Tunnel (SP565714) - Great difficulties were encountered during the construction due to quicksand and flooding, with twenty-six men losing their lives. It is approximately one and a quarter miles long with two 60 feet diameter ventilation shafts. The southerly one of which can be seen from the M45 motorway and the northerly one, which is 120 feet deep, by the A5 road just south of Kilsby village.

Northampton Station Entrance

350 102 at Northampton

Northampton - On the Northampton Loop Line, the Station(SP569709) was rebuilt during the 1960s WCML electrification. A spur to Bridge Street and Brackmills Industrial Estate diverges immediately south of the station, this is all that remains of the Northampton to Peterborough and the Northampton to Bedford routes. A notable survivor is the vandalised and partially burned LNWR signal box at Bridge Street level crossing (SP755595) together with the last semaphore signal in the county. A little to the east of here is the former Midland Railway Co. Locomotive shed on the north side of the line, all traffic over this line has presently ceased.

Class 56 at Northampton

66 577 at Northampton

325 002 at Northampton

Siemens Transportation Systems have constructed a £31m purpose built Traincare Facility at Kings Heath for servicing the Class 350 EMUs operated by London Midland. It has been built on the site of the former down sidings north of the Station. The 100mph Class 350 Desiro’s built by Siemens in Germany began operation in 2005 as part of a multi billion pound upgrade of the West Coast Main Line. The thirty 4 car EMU sets cost £100 million are operated by London Midland on services between Birmingham New Street, Northampton and London (Euston).

Standard Class interior, 211 seats

First Class Interior, 24 seats.

GBRf 66705 heading its southbound train on the Northampton loop line crosses the bridge by Long Buckby station.

DIRFT (Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal) - Unmissable, just west of the M1 motorway junction 18. A large rail/road interchange still developing, alongside the Northampton loop line, immediately east of the A5 road over-bridge (SP564726). It can be seen from the train if you are quick.

Two DRS Class 37s entering DIRFT (Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal)

DRS Class 66 430 photographed at DIRFT from a passing train

	A Northbound Pendolino at Rugby

Rugby – either side of the Station there are flyovers where ‘old line’ the original London and Birmingham Railway, the Northampton Loop and the Trent Valley lines diverge. Much reconstruction work is taking place to the north, south and in the Station area. A new platform has been built on the downside of the Station for Birmingham bound trains. Currently the fast lines are being re-aligned in all the areas mentioned to facilitate faster running. To the South of the Station the Northampton line flyover has been re-aligned in conjunction with the new Platform 1. North of the Station a fourth track is being installed.