The history of the 01:15 from King's Cross

[Harlesden]

In 1963, the 01:15 from King's Cross was a Grimsby Town train
Peterborough 03:05; Spalding Town 03:26/03:34; Boston 03:55; Firsby 04:28/04:32; Louth 05:10/05:15; Grimsby Town 05:36

In the mid-1970's, the 01:15 still ran but remained on the ECML with a connection at Retford (at around 04:00) for Grimsby Town 05:32

Is there anywhere I can see a mid-1970's timetable for this service? I cannot recall its ultimate destination (York or Newcastle). I remember it stopping for some time at Peterborough, but can't recall whether it stopped at Newark or Grantham

 

[flymo]

In the '74/75 TT the 0115 ran from KX to Newcastle and ran via the Durham Coast arriving Newcastle 0902 and conveyed sleeping cars.

Some times from the '74/75 tt

KX Dep 0115
Peterborough 0231 - 0241
Grantham 0313 - 0321
Retford 0350 - 0357 (connects with the 0415 to Cleethorpes)
Doncaster 0420 - 0430
Leeds 0513 - don't know the dep time
York 0619 - 0650
Stockton 0745
Billingham 0753
Hartlepool 0806
Seaham 0824
Sunderland 0837
Newcastle 0902

 

[Welshman]

Interesting.

In my 18th June- 9th September 1962 ER timetable, it's shown as leaving Kings Cross at 1.10am, and calling at Peterborough, Retford, Doncaster, Selby and York, arriving 5.13am.

It called at Peterborough North between 2.27-2.35am. There's a train shown in Table 45 from Peterborough North at 3.05am to Grimsby, calling as you've described. Did this train then convey through coaches from Kings Cross, or was the Kings Cross train diverted to Grimsby the following year?

 

[Harlesden]

Here is the link to Table 45 (scrolling down required). I never actually noticed Peterborough shown as Peterborough (North).
http://www.davesrailpics.bravehost.com/table45/table45.htm
I was rather amazed that the two subsequent services 04:00 and 05:55 took almost three hours to get from King's Cross to Peterborough.

 

[Batman]

Do you know of any other websites where you can view historic rail timetable?

I've always been interested in how the timetable/service frequencies of local rail services in the Birmngham area have developed over the years.

 

[harz99]

I was rather amazed that the two subsequent services 04:00 and 05:55 took almost three hours to get from King's Cross to Peterborough.

Timetable only shows departure times from both KGX and PBO; so could arrive at PBO very much earlier, or maybe not even the same train?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In the '74/75 TT the 0115 ran from KX to Newcastle and ran via the Durham Coast arriving Newcastle 0902 and conveyed sleeping cars.

Some times from the '74/75 tt

KX Dep 0115
Peterborough 0231 - 0241
Grantham 0313 - 0321
Retford 0350 - 0357 (connects with the 0415 to Cleethorpes)
Doncaster 0420 - 0430
Leeds 0513 - don't know the dep time
York 0619 - 0650
Stockton 0745
Billingham 0753
Hartlepool 0806
Seaham 0824
Sunderland 0837
Newcastle 0902

Presumably the extended station stops were for the purposes of loading/unloading mail sacks in those days?

 

[Welshman]

Here is the link to Table 45 (scrolling down required). I never actually noticed Peterborough shown as Peterborough (North).
http://www.davesrailpics.bravehost.com/table45/table45.htm
I was rather amazed that the two subsequent services 04:00 and 05:55 took almost three hours to get from King's Cross to Peterborough.

Yes - as harz99 says, those are connections from Peterborough.
The 4am off Kings Cross actually went to Leeds, and arrived Peterborough at 5.34am; and the 5.50am was a stopping service to Grantham, and arrived Peterborough at 8.19am.

You have to look at Table 2 of the Eastern Region timetable for full details of the services from London.

You also need to remember, of course, that in those days, timetable presentation was not as clear as it is now. Whereas today, times in bold print mean a through service and times in feint a connection, then, "major" stations and their times were printed in bold and "smaller"stations and their times in feint. So, all times from Peterborough were in bold, whether through trains or connections, and all times from North Thoresby, for example, were in feint, whether connections or through trains.

I see you have uploaded a copy of Table 45 of the Eastern Region book. Have you got the whole book? If you want the full times from London to Peterborough, send me a PM and I'll photcopy table 2 to you.

 

[142094]

Bloody hell, London to Newcastle on a sleeper? That would be fantastic these days.

 

[Harlesden]

The best part of the (mid-70's) 01:15 and the connecting train at Retford to Grimsby Town was the use of old compartment stock. A compartment to myself throughout and I would be listening to Diana Ross' "Touch Me In The Morning" album on my Walkman on the first train and Betty Wright's "Danger! High Voltage" on the second train.
Younger members may never have seen an original Walkman, that played cassette tapes.

 

[flymo]

Just for completeness, in the '74/75 tt, the connecting train from Retford came from Manchester Piccadily dep 0200 calling at

Sheffield 0300 - 0313
Worksop 0337 - 0344
Retford 0359 - 0415
Gainsborough 0430s
Brigg 0502s
Barnetby 0516s
Habrough 0526s
Grimsby Town 0539 - 0545
Grimsby Docks 0549
Cleethorpes 0555.

Also just noticed there was an 0426 from Retford to Lincoln (0341 ex Sheffield).

And yes I remember the Walkman all too well. When they came out it was like a whole new world opened up. .

Marvellous

 

[Lee_Again]

Do you know of any other websites where you can view historic rail timetable?

I've always been interested in how the timetable/service frequencies of local rail services in the Birmngham area have developed over the years.

here you go

http://www.timetableworld.com/

 

[sprinterguy]

The service was reportedly withdrawn on the 30th of April, 1977, working through to Newcastle via the Durham Coast right to the end. Here's Ian Carrs' shot of that final working passing through the old Monkwearmouth station. Two mark 1 sleeping cars, three seated mark 1s and a van on the rear, headed by 45053:

 

[sprinterguy]

Younger members may never have seen an original Walkman, that played cassette tapes.

Hey! I had a cassette walkman when I was in my early teens, and I'm only 21! I've never been the most technologically advanced of sorts, admittedly...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Bloody hell, London to Newcastle on a sleeper? That would be fantastic these days.

Well, it looks like there's going to be a comparably timed Kings Cross to Newcastle service operating during the course of the Olympics, albeit seated accommodation only in the form of a 225, but arriving in Newcastle considerably earlier than the sleeper of old: Leaving Kings Cross at 00:45 and arriving in Newcastle at 03:43!

 

[Harlesden]

Thanks for the picture sprinterguy.
It was definitely old compartment stock on each of my journeys. I remember the two buffets on Platform 8 at King's Cross. The big one at the southern end which I rarely went in, and the smaller one close to the Gents which I visited frequently.

 

[142094]

Well, it looks like there's going to be a comparably timed Kings Cross to Newcastle service operating during the course of the Olympics, albeit seated accommodation only in the form of a 225, but arriving in Newcastle considerably earlier than the sleeper of old: Leaving Kings Cross at 00:45 and arriving in Newcastle at 03:43!

Saw the thread - might do this just to say I have, although depends on the price. I did get a decent deal on the last KGX - LDS service operated by National Express EC, think it was £4 at the time or something rediculous like that.