Good morning! So, for the first proposal of the day, we shall be taking a look at a section of the Transpennine Express route between Cleethorpes and Manchester Airport. This section being , as the title says, Cleethorpes to Doncaster. Oh, and the Barton Upon Humber line shall be thrown in there as well because, why not? The Line This 63.87 mile line covers the section between Cleethorpes and Doncaster as well as the Barton upon Humber branch line. Cleethorpes to Doncaster is mostly double track, with a single track section from Cleethorpes to Grimsby. However, the Barton upon Humber branch line is double tracked until just before New Holland station, where it then runs single tracked to Barton. Stations Major stations are marked in Bold. Cleethorpes-Doncaster Cleethorpes New Clee (Request stop) Grimsby Docks Grimsby Town Great Coates Healing Stallingborough Haborough Barnetby Scunthorpe Althorpe Crowle Thorne South Hatfield & Stainforth Kirk Sandall Doncaster Barton Upon Humber line Haborough Ulceby Thornton Abbey Goxhill New Holland Barrow Haven Barton Upon Humber Operators and Rolling Stock Three operators will be featured, these being: Transpennine Express, Northern and East Midlands Railway. Three trains will also be included, these being: Class 185 and Class 153 and Class 142 The Class 66 can be layered in for freight to Scunthorpe Steelworks and Immingham Docks Services TPE Cleethorpes-Manchester Airport: Limited stops with 1tph [operated by Class 185] {ends at Doncaster} Northern Sheffield-Scunthorpe: All stops with 1tph [operated by Class 142] {starts at Doncaster} Cleethorpes-Barton Upon Humber: All stops with 1tp2h [operated by Class 153] EMR Grimsby Town-Newark Northgate: 1tp2h [operated by Class 153] {ends at Barnetby} (2 trains a day, 1 morning and 1 evening, are extended to Cleethorpes) Pictures Cleethorpes Grimsby Town Scunthorpe Doncaster Class 185 Class 142 Final Words This route would make a fine addition to TSW2, with some nice trains, stations and scenery . Also, the track around Scunthorpe Steelworks and Immingham could be added in for use, Scunthorpe feeling like its own rail network!
Now this is a route I could get behind and it's one I'd like to see. I frequently travelled the route between Scunthorpe and Grimsby/Cleethorpes as a toddler with my dad and then later (2001-2005) between Doncaster and Scunthorpe visiting family. It definitely should include the docks and refineries at Immingham, the docks at Grimsby and the steelworks at Scunthorpe for added freight services.
Sounds like a great modern British route to me! Also the distance of ~63 miles is very possible, just slightly longer than Clinchfield. I like the sound of this. Plus Transpennine (albeit not my local operator) is by far my favourite, also got to have a pacer. Absoluetly.
Also, having now has a further look into the timetable as well, this looks very much so like it has variety in service, and great selection of rolling stock.
I think this line would be better suited as a freight route (and set back 20 years to take advantage of the semaphores, signal boxes immingham depot and much more freight!) it could include the vast immingham docks, bulk terminal and refineries. Freight could come in the form of tankers out of Lindsey, Humber and Immingham, coal to Scunthorpe CHP and iron ore to Santon locos could be class 56s and class 60s instead of the Barton branch the freight line to Roxby with Tioxide and steel trains (layers could be added from TVL for the steel wagons and HEAs and the 37s, 31s, 20s and 08 just a thought
