The LNER Encyclopedia

Does anyone actually know the location of the summit, as I am trying to build a new website, on the A4s and I want to locate Mallards locations on it's run 69 years 359 days ago. I can find the Tunnel

I have the half way point at Barkson Junction where Mallard Turned, and the run started for real, although one of the important tracks has been lifted.

I think the bank starts in or around Stoke tunnel and i hope to pin thing's down more accurately when i find my gradients book. The ariel shot of Barkston Junctions is a little out of date as there are no connections with the East Coast Main Line now. Heading up road from Grantham the line is certainly on a rising gradient as far as High Dyke and maybe even into the tunnel. I missed the chance to work in Stoke tunnel recently due still being off sick with this blasted back injury.

The important place is milepost 90.25 but nothing comes up on google for that, and I can't find anything relating to a map of where all the mileposts are as they reguallly get mentioned.

The tunnel is north of the summit. The actual summit is just south of Stoke tunnel at almost exactly 100 miles from Kings Cross, give or take a few yards. I don't know the current situation but in steam days there were four tracks approaching it from the south, the middle two were the fast lines which continued through the tunnel, the other two were up and down reliefs which began or ended near Stoke Box.

Have you tried using Google Earth to measure from a known location? I find this most accurate. Quail maps or the sectional appendix should help you here. Most of the LNER style signalbox diagrams on my website show how far signals are from the box etc. This is most helpful when walking old lines... The most recent use has been the complete opposite though. During clearance operations for the misguided busway at St Ives the base of 51/54 signal has been exposed. This signal was 80 yards from the box. What could be easier? Walk 80 paces in the right direction at the photograph can be captioned 'taken from the site of the signalbox'...(I've had a look at Stoke box diagram and there is no mention of the summit) I hope to be able to add High Dyke, Ponton, Colsterworth and the Granthams soon.

My copy of Jowett's shows the summit as being south of the tunnel also.. altho theres no indication of scale so its not possible to pinpoint its exact position

Stoke box diagram.
http://richard2890.fotopic.net/p21926242.html

I think I have the location of the box

I think the ECML was remeasured in metric units after electrification, but Part 2 Yorkshire & Lincolnshire in the Michael Oakley pocket guide series gives Stoke Summit as 100 miles and 7 chains from Kings Cross buffer stops. This guide was published in the 1980s before electrification. If the platforms at KX have been shortened since then the actual distance to Stoke will have changed.

[If the platforms at KX have been shortened since then the actual distance to Stoke will have changed]

Mileages as an item of record will not have changed. To many items on the railway are dependant on mileage record detail. A remileing of a route is only done if really required.
The last one that I was involved with was the Hull Dock branch to eliminate 4 separate mileages and convert to 1 common mileage based on Hessle rd as zero.
Also to alter the mileage every milepost would have to be relocated.
However as you state the actual real mileage will alter.
The kilometerages on the ECML are an additional item of measure and can be used to locate features. If you can identify a meterage then all you need is to identify the nearest OH mast as this has the Kilometerage as the first 3 numbers with on average 36 - 40 masts per Km you can estimate the location.[/quote]

At what point would they have re measured it all? The half way point has always been at Shipton, and is still there today, but this can't be it now with the Selby diversion the distances will have changed.

The mileage did alter with the diversion.
But the new line was measured continuously from Temple Hirst to York.
Where the mileage changes to zero point at the footbridge.
How much the diversion altered the original route I am unsure about though.

Checked with Quail maps and with Network Rails 5 mile diagrams today.
Stated summit is recorded at 100m 7 chain (154yd)
This is near to OHLE masts 161. 03 and 04 (either side of tracks) if you can spot these as you pass.
A relay room is also listed as being at the summit point on the Down side.