Trivia: Longest scheduled non-stop run on any National Rail service

[GW43125]

No. This was a non stop charity run. It wasn't in public service.

Fair enough.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I don't think so.
I have just found it and it was a record run attempt which did the full WCML in 3 hours 55 minutes 27 seconds so was never a regular timetabled service.

There were scheduled "non-stop" Pendolino services operated on the WCML between Edinburgh and London during the volcanic ash cloud event (2010).
They probably stopped at Preston for a crew change though.
Didn't last more than about a week I think, when the airspace reopened.
Going a long way back (1979), there were also non-stops Edinburgh-London via the WCML during the Penmanshiel tunnel disruption on the ECML (5 months).
This was before Carstairs-Edinburgh was wired, so they probably changed loco at Carstairs.

 

[Mag_seven]

The Eurostar to Marseille would be a good shout if it didn't have crew stops at Lille and Marne-la-Vallée. Technically passenger calls are Ashford International then Gare de Lyon-Part-Dieu.

here are several St Pancras-Paris Nord trains that are non-stop. That's 492 km versus the 432 km of King's Cross-Newcastle.
Several more Eurostars run Ebbsfleet-Paris non-stop in 457 km.
There's also the winter ski-train which is first stop Moutiers after Ashford which must be further, but as you point out it might have crew stops.

Eurostar isn't "National Rail" though is it

 

[cambsy]

The Glasgow-Euston non stop Pendolino was a special record attempt run within the limitations of the TASS system,so no speed dispensations were allowed, and top speed was 128mph, the only dispensation was harder braking and acceleration, tickets were booked through Railway Magazine so in a sense was public run, it did the whole journey non stop with just one driver at the controls, Russell southworth I think, I was lucky enough to get hold of a ticket and was a memorable trip, which went very well to plan, achieving the run in about 3 mins over the APT record run set in the mid 80’s, we had some luck too as a bridge bash happened a short while, just before we passed through Preston area, and was cleared just before we passed through, I think if virgin trains wanted to try beat the APT record they could, as quite a few of the speed restrictions through Trent valley and Rugby have been eased.

 

[BluePenguin]

Eurostar isn't "National Rail" though is it

No, but HS1 is operated by National Rail on contract to the government...is that cheating?

 

[ainsworth74]

No, but HS1 is operated by National Rail on contract to the government...is that cheating?

National Rail don't operate any services or infrastructure. Network Rail do however have the contract to look after HS1's infrastructure. So, sadly, even by cheating Eurostar services can't count as National Rail.

 

[cuccir]

Given we have our answer on the original question, a supplementary one: what's the longest non-stop run on any service that doesn't serve London? There's one a day each way that does Carlisle - Haymarket non-stop as part of an Edinburgh-Birmingham train - that's 100miles. Any further?

 

[Kite159]

Given we have our answer on the original question, a supplementary one: what's the longest non-stop run on any service that doesn't serve London?

Maybe Newcastle to Edinburgh on one of the few XC services which run non-stop along that route?

 

[cuccir]

Maybe Newcastle to Edinburgh on one of the few XC services which run non-stop along that route?

I was wondering that but couldn't find any which do run non-stop between the two and I'm not sure if there are now any???

 

[Mag_seven]

There's one a day each way that does Carlisle - Haymarket non-stop as part of an Edinburgh-Birmingham train - that's 100miles. Any further?

Similarly there is one northbound TPE (M-F) that runs non stop Carlisle - Haymarket.

EDIT - I've found one that trumps that - the 18.40 Glasgow Central to Birmingham New Street on Saturdays, runs non stop Glasgow-Carlisle (102 miles)

 

[Kite159]

Similarly there is one northbound TPE (M-F) that runs non stop Carlisle - Haymarket.

There is a Saturday only 15:10 Manchester Airport - Glasgow which runs nonstop from Carlisle to Glasgow, which is longer than to Haymarket

I was wondering that but couldn't find any which do run non-stop between the two and I'm not sure if there are now any???

15:41 Reading - Edinburgh (Sundays) is nonstop, I'm sure there was another one on a weekday which is nonstop

 

[BluePenguin]

National Rail don't operate any services or infrastructure. Network Rail do however have the contract to look after HS1's infrastructure. So, sadly, even by cheating Eurostar services can't count as National Rail.

That is exactly what I said/meant

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Similarly there is one northbound TPE (M-F) that runs non stop Carlisle - Haymarket.

EDIT - I've found one that trumps that - the 18.40 Glasgow Central to Birmingham New Street on Saturdays, runs non stop Glasgow-Carlisle (102 miles)

Ah, that rings a bill. Done that one, I'm a bit surprised that it's an outlier! I guess the non-stop running must be to enable it to stay within WCML possessions limits and/or to alleviate Saturday overcrowding?

 

[Mag_seven]

I guess the non-stop running must be to enable it to stay within WCML possessions limits and/or to alleviate Saturday overcrowding?

I doubt there is anything particularly special about this one as there are others that also run non-stop Glasgow to Carlisle but they are all bound for London. The poster specifically wanted examples of non-stop runs that involved a service that didn't serve London of which this is one.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I doubt there is anything particularly special about this one as there are others that also run non-stop Glasgow to Carlisle but they are all bound for London. The poster specifically wanted examples of non-stop runs that involved a service that didn't serve London of which this is one.

Ah, sorry, I misunderstood it as referring to the longest non-stop run that wasn't to or from London.

 

[43055]

Maybe Newcastle to Edinburgh on one of the few XC services which run non-stop along that route?

Not XC but there are LNER services which is non stop Edinburgh to Newcastle at 0540 and 1130 there are probably some others going north as well.

 

[Mag_seven]

Not XC but there are LNER services which is non stop Edinburgh to Newcastle at 0540 and 1130 there are probably some others going north as well.

These LNER services serve London - the XC example was quoted as an example of a long non stop service that doesn't serve London as per the request:

what's the longest non-stop run on any service that doesn't serve London?

 

[Glenn1969]

Re the OP- how does 1S31 KGX-EDI running non stop London- York compare?

 

[Kite159]

Re the OP- how does 1S31 KGX-EDI running non stop London- York compare?

Kings Cross - York is beaten by Newcastle - Kings Cross.

 

[Glenn1969]

0820 Aberdeen-Penzance must be the longest end to end journey possible. I wonder if anyone actually goes through on it all the way?

 

[Mag_seven]

0820 Aberdeen-Penzance must be the longest end to end journey possible. I wonder if anyone actually goes through on it all the way?

It's not non stop though is it? (and yes some people do go all the way, mainly enthusiasts!)

 

[Killingworth]

Back in 1961 the Elizabethan departed Kings Cross 9.30am and arrived Waverley 4.05, non-stop. Return from Waverley 9.45am, Kings Cross 4.20pm. The Flying Scotsman left at 10.00am and arrived at KX 5.02 after stopping at Newcastle from 12.16 to 12.19 - change of engine I think.

I remember spotting it A4 hauled at Newcastle because it was unique in not stopping. Corridor tender for crew relief I think, and lots of water drawn from troughs along the way. I'll let someone else calculate average speeds but it wasn't bad over jointed track.

 

[30907]

The Elizabethan was just shy of 60mph - and I imagine Cecil J Allen or OS Nock complaining that just 2 minutes faster would give the magic 60.

 

[Killingworth]

The Elizabethan was just shy of 60mph - and I imagine Cecil J Allen or OS Nock complaining that just 2 minutes faster would give the magic 60.

Not bad on those old tracks, pre-Selby diversion, and with a stoked steam locomotive.

 

[big all]

Back in 1961 the Elizabethan departed Kings Cross 9.30am and arrived Waverley 4.05, non-stop. Return from Waverley 9.45am, Kings Cross 4.20pm. The Flying Scotsman left at 10.00am and arrived at KX 5.02 after stopping at Newcastle from 12.16 to 12.19 - change of engine I think.

I remember spotting it A4 hauled at Newcastle because it was unique in not stopping. Corridor tender for crew relief I think, and lots of water drawn from troughs along the way. I'll let someone else calculate average speeds but it wasn't bad over jointed track.

was that the one with the pullmans that went to glasgow late afternoon or early evening through sighthill[edinburgh park]??
remember seeing it occasionally from school or later

 

[Killingworth]

was that the one with the pullmans that went to glasgow late afternoon or early evening through sighthill[edinburgh park]??
remember seeing it occasionally from school or later

No, it ran between Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley only.

 

[big all]

ok cheers definatly occasionally saw brown and cream pulmans some times

 

[big all]

racking my brains it may be something like "queen off scots" or something like that even remember a north british on it i think ??

 

[Killingworth]

was that the one with the pullmans that went to glasgow late afternoon or early evening through sighthill[edinburgh park]??
remember seeing it occasionally from school or later

Probably the Queen of Scots. All Pullman, in 1961 left KX 11.50, Darlington 4.44, Newcastle 5.32a, 5.38d after loco change, Edinburgh 7.48, Glasgow 8.55.

Brings back memories. I recall joining it with my father about 1957/8 at Darlington when it was running very late. We had tea before leaving at Newcastle. Dad was rather pleased that we got aboard the more luxurious train for which he had to pay a supplement.

 

[big all]

Probably the Queen of Scots. All Pullman, in 1961 left KX 11.50,

Probably the Queen of Scots. All Pullman, in 1961 left KX 11.50, Darlington 4.44, Newcastle 5.32a, 5.38d after loco change, Edinburgh 7.48, Glasgow 8.55.

Brings back memories. I recall joining it with my father once about 1957/8 at Darlington when it was running very late. We had tea before leaving at Newcastle. Dad was rather pleased that we got aboard the more luxurious train for which he had to pay a paid supplement.

4.44, Newcastle 5.32a, 5.38d after loco change, Edinburgh 7.48, Glasgow 8.55.

Brings back memories. I recall joining it with my father once about 1957/8 at Darlington when it was running very late. We had tea before leaving at Newcastle. Dad was rather pleased that we got aboard the more luxurious train for which he had to pay a paid supplement.

yes thanks that looks right my dad was a haymarket fireman so would probably suggest the train we saw if the roof boards wherent displayed or too small to read but at the age off 7 or8 in 61 would be quite feral and left to amuse our selves as we please