Freight line that crosses Lock Lane, Sawley

[Iammonomi]

Good afternoon,

I am visiting here as I am hoping somebody with knowledge of freight lines can help me out. I am currently looking to buy a house and have been looking at houses in Sawley near long eaton.

Some of these houses are quite close to the rail crossing on Lock Lane near Trent lock. I believe this is only a freight line but after trying to search the web have been unable to find out what this line is called and how often trains run along it?

Also I am concerned about how the East Midlands gate way and distribution centre will effect traffic on this line?

Is there anybody out there that can help me?

 

[CallySleeper]

Hi there,

The line which crosses Lock Lane is indeed a freight line. However it is quite a busy one, for example I count around 60-70 trains which were timetabled to use the line on Tuesday (in a 24 hour period). It's worth stressing though that due to the nature of freight rail, unlike passenger trains not all of these trains will run - indeed only about a third of them actually did.

So, while on some days there might only be a train over the crossing every hour or so, I'd say the best way to actually tell what difference it makes is spend some time in the area and see how often they come and if you notice them.

Couldn't answer re: Gateway DC i'm afraid. Hope that helps!

 

[Iammonomi]

Hi there,

The line which crosses Lock Lane is indeed a freight line. However it is quite a busy one, for example I count around 60-70 trains which were timetabled to use the line on Tuesday (in a 24 hour period). It's worth stressing though that due to the nature of freight rail, unlike passenger trains not all of these trains will run - indeed only about a third of them actually did.

So, while on some days there might only be a train over the crossing every hour or so, I'd say the best way to actually tell what difference it makes is spend some time in the area and see how often they come and if you notice them.

Couldn't answer re: Gateway DC i'm afraid. Hope that helps!

Thanks, that does help. Was hoping it was going to be more like a few trains a day, maybe I need to stop by and listen out for a while.

Out of interest how long do these trains tend to be, and how quickly do they travel?

 

[dcsprior]

I think this line is called the Castle Donnington Line.

This search on realtimetrains shows trains through Castle Donnington tomorrow (which may not be everything on the line)

It lists 74 trains, but 37 are listed as '(Q)' - which I think means they don't always run as scheduled?

 

[CallySleeper]

It lists 74 trains, but 37 are listed as '(Q)' - which I think means they don't always run as scheduled?

Correct. Some are also on the same path.

The majority of freight traffic in this area is coal trains to/from power stations and collieries, and oil trains. Both of these are usually quite long, whether they're loaded or not. Here's an example.

 

[Asriel]

Ha! I live around there! I don't really notice it to be honest.

Not sure on the exact line name but the ELR is SSJ1 and it runs from Sheet Stores Jn just before Long Eaton Station to Chellaston. Its not the busiest line to be honest, most of the traffic seems to be very long coal trains for the nearby power station and line speeds are very low, maybe 20-30mph?

There is a stopping signal at the end of Mikado Road / Turner Road so you might have the occasional train sitting at the bottom of your garden for a while.

 

[edwin_m]

Passenger trains are diverted that way from time to time as well.

There could be an increase in freight over the next few years, because electrification of the MML will probably also clear it for larger sized containers, and with the WCML getting full this becomes a possible alternative route for intermodal trains.

I'd also suggest you spend some time near the line and listen to several passing trains in both directions. The section nearest the junction is quite tightly curved so there could be some wheel squeal, and the locos starting away from signals or accelerating away from the slow curve will be noiser than if they are just rolling through at a steady speed.

Many years ago while driving to the Trent Lock I had the interesting experience of being held up twice by the same train, once at the crossing in central Long Eaton and again at Lock Lane.

 

[Iammonomi]

Ha! I live around there! I don't really notice it to be honest.

Not sure on the exact line name but the ELR is SSJ1 and it runs from Sheet Stores Jn just before Long Eaton Station to Chellaston. Its not the busiest line to be honest, most of the traffic seems to be very long coal trains for the nearby power station and line speeds are very low, maybe 20-30mph?

There is a stopping signal at the end of Mikado Road / Turner Road so you might have the occasional train sitting at the bottom of your garden for a while.

It's Reedman Road and Netherfield Road I am looking at, towards the lock lane end so the house will not be backing on to the line but will be close enough to hear the trains.

 

[Asriel]

It's Reedman Road and Netherfield Road I am looking at, towards the lock lane end so the house will not be backing on to the line but will be close enough to hear the trains.

Honestly with the windows closed you wont hear it. You cant really hear it outside during the day either. If you sleep with the window open at night you might hear a few freight trains going past but I actually find the rhythmic clunking of the coal wagons quite soothing when I'm trying to get to sleep. You might disagree though

 

[IKBrunel]

As you're probably aware, you're at the opposite end of Trent Junction from HS2, so should be any immediate impact from HS2, unless Trent Junction is remodelled as a result, which it might be a bit, since HS2 will take use up a pair of tracks from the Junction into Toton, so there might be some other changes at the east side of the Junction for HS2.

There is also currently a very early discussion about where the 'slow speed 2 cycleway' should cross the River Trent.

 

[Iammonomi]

As you're probably aware, you're at the opposite end of Trent Junction from HS2, so should be any immediate impact from HS2, unless Trent Junction is remodelled as a result, which it might be a bit, since HS2 will take use up a pair of tracks from the Junction into Toton, so there might be some other changes at the east side of the Junction for HS2.

There is also currently a very early discussion about where the 'slow speed 2 cycleway' should cross the River Trent.

Your absolutely correct, I did have HS2 on my radar, and had a mild panic when i saw it was going across Trent Lock. I am assuming it could not get too close to where I am looking to buy as it would go through the golf course, the track around the fish pond near Lock Lane I am guessing would be to sharp curved for a fast train. (Sorry, my knowledge of trains lets me down - especially as my family are all from a rail engineering background!!!)

Can i ask what a slow speed 2 cycleway is?

 

[Wyvern]

There are also plans to develop a container freight route from Peterborough to Crewe via Syston Junction, Sheet Stores Junction, Stenson Junction and on to the Crewe Line.

However I've lived my life with the sound of the railway and, like Asriel, I find it comforting. Looking at the map Reedman Road, it is about as far from the railway as my home is except that in my case the line is in a cutting. If I've got the present plans for HS2 right, it will pass some distance away to the east of Trent then curve northwards.

 

[Iammonomi]

Hello again,

I went to view a house on netherfield road tonight. I was there between 5.45 and 6.20 and didn't hear a thing. I've looked at realrailtimes and I think a couple passed by whilst I was there but not sure whether I am reading it correctly?

 

[Tomnick]

The Kingsbury tanks certainly ought to have passed during that time, returning empty - reported 18:02 at Castle Donington, then stood at Sheet Stores Jn until 18:25.

 

[Iammonomi]

The Kingsbury tanks certainly ought to have passed during that time, returning empty - reported 18:02 at Castle Donington, then stood at Sheet Stores Jn until 18:25.

Thanks that's good to know!

 

[High Dyke]

Thanks, that does help. Was hoping it was going to be more like a few trains a day, maybe I need to stop by and listen out for a while.

Out of interest how long do these trains tend to be, and how quickly do they travel?

Ah the Chellaston Branch... When the box at Lock Lane was still open you could do a Saturday shift and not see any trains - i certainly did a few quiet morning turns. The most regular traffic is the Immingham - Kingsbury tanks, though they don't always run.

AFAIK the current linespeed is 50mph; however trains approaching Sheet Stores Junction (from Castle Donington) may be travelling slower if getting signal checked.

 

[IKBrunel]

Can i ask what a slow speed 2 cycleway is?

I've started a new thread on it here:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=98465

In this area it will likely serve the airport, Toton HS2, Derby, Nottingham.
My guess is that it will include upgrades to Sustrans national cycle network routes 6 and 15, sections of the Erewash Valley Trail, maybe the Trent Valley Way and 'The Big Track'. but also some new paths around Toton HS2. Getting an additional cycle/footbridge is considered a key objective in this area. Somewhere near the existing rail bridges over the Trent at Trent Lock would be a likely contender.

As a seperate project Sustrans are also looking at opening the Bennerley viaduct as part of a walking/cycling route, from Nottingham-Ilkeston.