duffield
Established Member
| Leg | From | Dep. WTT | Dep. Real | To | Arr. WTT | Arr. Real | Distance | ID | Oper Code | Origin | Destination | Class | Car. | Loading | Ref. |
| 1 | Nottingham | 0813 | OT | London St. Pancras | 1005 | 1006+1 | 126m34c | 1B22 | EM | Nottingham | London St. Pancras | 222 | 5 | Light | *1 |
| 2 | London St. Pancras | 1012 | 1013+1 | Sutton (Surrey) | 1114 | OT | 17m51c | 9V31 | TL | St. Albans City | Sutton (Surrey) | 700 | 8 | Medium | *2 |
| 3 | Sutton (Surrey) | 1143 | OT | Dorking | 1207 | OT | 11m56c | 2I22 | SN | London Victoria | Dorking | 377 | 4+4 | Light | *3 |
| 4 | Dorking | 1340 | OT | Horsham | 1402 | OT | 13m30c | 2I28 | SN | London Victoria | Horsham | 377 | 5 | Light | *4 |
| 5 | Horsham | 1425 | OT | London St. Pancras | 1545 | OT | 41m74c | 9J44 | TL | Horsham | Peterborough | 700 | 12 | Light | *5 |
| 6 | London St. Pancras | 1605 | 1607+2 | Nottingham | 1751 | OT | 126m34c | 1D90 | EM | London St. Pancras | Nottingham | 222 | 5 | Light | *6 |
| ALL | Nottingham | 0813 | OT | Nottingham | 1751 | OT | 337m39c |
*1: On the approach to Kettering where we attach to the rear of 1P22 from Melton Mowbray, we were on time at Kettering North but then had a much slower approach to Kettering than normal despite 1P22 being at platform in good time. Arrived at Kettering at 0911, 5 late, attachment was slow (usually pretty slick on this service) and we left 6 late at 0918. However, we made up all but 1 minute by St. Pancras, so I still made my tight connection.
*2: Sutton journey: When trains from St. Pancras to Sutton leave Streatham they continue either via the longer Tooting and Wimbledon route or via the shorter Carshalton route. The normal pattern is for the 4tph to alternate between the routes, and to return via the “other” route after terminating at Sutton. I took the more circuitous Tooting and Wimbledon route, which averages less than 20mph end to end and passes through a typical London urban/suburban mix.
Sutton Town: A brief excursion while waiting for the connection: The pedestrianised High Street leads directly from the station, it seemed busy and prosperous. The “Famous” Sutton cockerel sign (recently restored) features prominently. The station confusingly masquerades as a Marks and Spencer from the outside, with the station signage barely visible from more than a few yards away.
*3: Dorking stations: The town has three stations, in addition to Dorking (previously Dorking North) on the Mole Valley Line from London (operated by Southern, also served by South Western), there are two stations on the North Downs Line (operated by Great Western), these are Dorking West (previously Dorking Town) and Dorking Deepdene (previously Deepdene). I passed through the NDL stations frequently as a child when travelling from Reading, visiting my Grandmother in Redhill, but had not previously used the Mole Valley line.
Dorking Town: Overall an attractive town, with some very expensive looking properties, many historic and interesting buildings and a traditional long High Street with some raised and railed pavements. The shops are varied, interesting and mostly local-seeming, with relatively little sign of the uniformity found in many towns today. However, as is common it is significantly spoiled by the volume and constancy of traffic which passes right through the middle.
Willow Walk and the Meadowbank area are very pleasant ways to access the town centre when passing to and from Dorking station, being a short distance north of the parallel High Street. The ends of the main section of High Street are marked by a small museum and heritage centre to the West and a statue of the master builder Thomas Cubitt to the East.
*4: The Mole Valley line south of Dorking down to Horsham is quite sleepy and rural, with only one train per hour in each direction on this section. Other services from London all terminate and turn back at Dorking.
*5: Horsham: Only a few minutes were available here before the Thameslink service departed for London, but it was enough for a brief walk to the pond in the large park right opposite the station. The service from Horsham to St. Pancras (and Peterborough) runs every 30 minutes and connects comfortably with all the EMR services, allowing 17-20 minutes from the low level Thameslink platforms to the EMR platforms.
Photo: Sutton Station platform view
Photo: Sutton Station exterior, disguised as Marks & Spencer
Photo: The famous Sutton Cockerel
Photo: Dorking Station view from the footbridge looking north
Photo: Dorking Station exterior
Photo: Dorking High Street
Photo: Dorking Deepdene station entrance, footpath work in progress, access via temporary steep stairs only
Photo: Horsham Station platform view
Photo: Horsham Station exterior
