The LNER Encyclopedia

I was treated to a flying lesson on Saturday and got a chance to see the new Hitchin Flyover from the air.. This new line will add around half a mile for down Cambridge trains to cover.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32297024@N ... otostream/

Nice shot there, Richard. Looking SW down the bank towards Hitchin from the SW corner of Letchworth. Looked a nice day for flying, too, you lucky people.

R. pike wrote:I was treated to a flying lesson on Saturday and got a chance to see the new Hitchin Flyover from the air.. This new line will add around half a mile for down Cambridge trains to cover.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32297024@N ... otostream/

Very interesting and helpful pics. Thanks v.m. RP

Although the down road journey will potentially* be that much further (-*existing Down routes at Cambridge Jn. towards Letchworth also retained?), as the speeds of the Down Fast-Down Slow crossover, and the flyover line's entry from the DS, probably (definitely?) being 70mph (& the same for the whole of the new route?), compared with the existing route's 40 through Camb.Jn. (25 from the Down platform) and round the long curve towards Letchworth, perhaps any time penalty from using the new flyover will be minimal; probably even less for the non-stopping "Cambridge Express" services than for those calling at Hitchin.

G'Day Gents

Couple of things, caught my eye, 'Letchworth Carriage sidings'...........is it in the old goods yard, I don't remember it being there, must be new ! post 1976.

From the air, it looks as if the new route is on part of the old 'Midland' line to Bedford !!

manna

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manna wrote:G'Day Gents
" .... From the air, it looks as if the new route is on part of the old 'Midland' line to Bedford !! "

manna

I think you may well be right there manna, as far as the new line's turnout from the Down Slow is concerned, but then it must briefly become parallel-ish with the main line before gently veering back towardsthe ML while rising to the flyover by which to pass over the 'four-tracks'.

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Micky, the 'old GN' line is where it always was . Going north, it still curves off to the right heading down towards Ickleford. The view in the photo is taken from over Letchworth, looking south west. The main line to the north is off in the distance and runs from left to right. It's all but obscured by trees and such.

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Er . . . not quite, Micky. The curve going off to the right of the picture is the new earthworks for what will be the new 'down' to Cambridge (next stop Letchworth). It shows up quite well because the 'earth' around that area is almost 100% chalk. If you follow the curve off the right hand edge of the photo, you see how it comes back in a little higher up, that's the continuation of the curve around to the beginning of the flyover out of Hitchin, just north of Cambridge Junction.

Maybe our Richard will be up over that way again soon with his trusty Brownie at the ready. Yeah, Richard

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giner wrote: Maybe our Richard will be up over that way again soon with his trusty Brownie at the ready. Yeah, Richard

I certainly have the bug for flying now as does the other half. I may have to take any future flights a bit more seriously though..

G'Day Gents

I would suggest, you take your camera with you every flight, some nice new shots of the ECML, would be very attractive to the members of this forum, especially, the new works at Wood Green , Cambridge, etc.

manna