The LNER Encyclopedia

Hello members,

I am trying to find out if there is any readily available source of LNER distance/mileage diagrams?

Specifically I am looking for the section of mainline between Melrose and Portobello Junction, Edinburgh, i.e. not via the Peebles loop.

Searching on the internet only returns me references to the well known reprints of the MR diagrams.

Any info or pointers much appreciated!

Evenin' all

If you look at the timetable world website, I think the LNER timetable gives mileages between stations.

Earlswood nob

I suggest Granville F. Bilbrough. Bilbrough's Railway Mileage Tables. Published by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps 1928 edition?

Probably lurking in the depths of a library somewhere, so not 'readily available'. A Leicester institution I think has a copy.

PM me for more information.

John

earlswood nob wrote:Evenin' all

If you look at the timetable world website, I think the LNER timetable gives mileages between stations.

Earlswood nob

No mileages given in my September 1929 UFN LNER Scottish Area public timetable, but they should be in the Working Time Table.

However, have just looked in 'Gradients of the LNER' and Portobello is 3.0 miles out of Edinburgh Waverley and Melrose is 37.2, so distance is 34.2 miles.

The NRM have a collection of official gradient/mileage books if you are able to get there, or contact their "Search Engine". If not, Robert Humm might have the relevant official books for your area http://www.roberthumm.co.uk/acatalog/ov ... -tock.html

Thanks chaps for your various replies, for which I am most grateful

Certainly given me something to get on with in the New Year.

I do have a book, by David Cross which has a gradient diagram but although it would be possible to transpose from a station name to a mileage on the scale at the bottom it would be very rough especially as the size of the chart is not very big in the book.

I will follow up all leads given though, so many thanks again and a Happy New Year to you all!!

From the Hours of opening of Signal Boxes book of 11th September 1961 UFN distances are shown as:

Signal Box Miles Yards

Portobello East
Niddrie North 1100
Millerhill Station 1 1058
Hardengreen Junction 2 1049
Lady Victoria Pit 2 46
Gorebridge Station 1 1296
Borthwick Bank 2 763
Tynehead 2 0
Falahill 1 926
Heriot Station 1 344
Fountainhall Junction 3 817
Stow Station 4 319
Bowland 3 14
Galashiels Station 3 1265
Melrose Station 3 1157

Total 33Mls1353Yds

The spacing of the miles and yards between signalbxes seem to have gone wrong in transmission but it should be easy enough to understand.

POL 64E wrote:Hello members,

I am trying to find out if there is any readily available source of LNER distance/mileage diagrams?

Specifically I am looking for the section of mainline between Melrose and Portobello Junction, Edinburgh, i.e. not via the Peebles loop.

Searching on the internet only returns me references to the well known reprints of the MR diagrams.

Any info or pointers much appreciated!

In case possibly of help, I've looked through The Railway Magazine's 1947 book "Gradients Of The British Main-Line Railways" [ (The Railway Publishing Co. Ltd., 33 Tothill Street, Westminster, S. W. 1; "Price Ten Shillings"), some profile charts of which, from their style and typeface, look as if they formed the contents of the 1960's Ian Allan book "Main Line Gradient Profiles"].
Unfortunately, Melrose-Portobello seems not have been included.

StevieG wrote:In case possibly of help, I've looked through The Railway Magazine's 1947 book "Gradients Of The British Main-Line Railways" [ (The Railway Publishing Co. Ltd., 33 Tothill Street, Westminster, S. W. 1; "Price Ten Shillings"), some profile charts of which, from their style and typeface, look as if they formed the contents of the 1960's Ian Allan book "Main Line Gradient Profiles"].
Unfortunately, Melrose-Portobello seems not have been included.

But it is in the LNER edition published shortly after Grouping (undated, but mentions the 'new Pacifics'), being the source for the information I posted above and therefore much more helpful and comprehensive as far as the LNER is concerned...

65447 wrote:

StevieG wrote:In case possibly of help, I've looked through The Railway Magazine's 1947 book "Gradients Of The British Main-Line Railways" [ (The Railway Publishing Co. Ltd., 33 Tothill Street, Westminster, S. W. 1; "Price Ten Shillings"), some profile charts of which, from their style and typeface, look as if they formed the contents of the 1960's Ian Allan book "Main Line Gradient Profiles"].
Unfortunately, Melrose-Portobello seems not have been included.

But it is in the LNER edition published shortly after Grouping (undated, but mentions the 'new Pacifics'), being the source for the information I posted above and therefore much more helpful and comprehensive as far as the LNER is concerned...

Ah, good.
I saw your post but somehow didn't pick up that the source was a gradients document; an LNER item of which I had not been aware.
Thanks v.m..

StevieG wrote:

65447 wrote:

StevieG wrote:In case possibly of help, I've looked through The Railway Magazine's 1947 book "Gradients Of The British Main-Line Railways" [ (The Railway Publishing Co. Ltd., 33 Tothill Street, Westminster, S. W. 1; "Price Ten Shillings"), some profile charts of which, from their style and typeface, look as if they formed the contents of the 1960's Ian Allan book "Main Line Gradient Profiles"].
Unfortunately, Melrose-Portobello seems not have been included.

But it is in the LNER edition published shortly after Grouping (undated, but mentions the 'new Pacifics'), being the source for the information I posted above and therefore much more helpful and comprehensive as far as the LNER is concerned...

Ah, good.
I saw your post but somehow didn't pick up that the source was a gradients document; an LNER item of which I had not been aware.
Thanks v.m..

It's also a Railway Publishing Co. publication, by 'Voyageur' (C.J. Allen) undated but estimated by references in it to be shortly after Grouping, original price Two Shillings! My bound edition cost rather more but it is worth every penny. It includes all the LNER's main lines and most principal branch lines in 48 pages.

CJA was a GE then LNER employee until his retirement (in 1947 I think) and wrote many articles about companies and train workings at home and overseas and concerning other subjects (e.g. permanent way) for the GE and LNE Company Magazines as well as the railway press and contributed much of the content of the Railway Year Books.

65447 wrote:

StevieG wrote:

65447 wrote:But it is in the LNER edition published shortly after Grouping (undated, but mentions the 'new Pacifics'), being the source for the information I posted above and therefore much more helpful and comprehensive as far as the LNER is concerned...

Ah, good.
I saw your post but somehow didn't pick up that the source was a gradients document; an LNER item of which I had not been aware.
Thanks v.m..

It's also a Railway Publishing Co. publication, by 'Voyageur' (C.J. Allen) undated but estimated by references in it to be shortly after Grouping, original price Two Shillings! My bound edition cost rather more but it is worth every penny. It includes all the LNER's main lines and most principal branch lines in 48 pages.

CJA was a GE then LNER employee until his retirement (in 1947 I think) and wrote many articles about companies and train workings at home and overseas and concerning other subjects (e.g. permanent way) for the GE and LNE Company Magazines as well as the railway press and contributed much of the content of the Railway Year Books.

Much there of CJA's background of which I was unaware. Thanks again 65447.