While the doubling of track at Dore & Totley ends the bottleneck at the east end of the south trans-Pennine route, a short single-line section remains at the western end, at Hazel Grove. Tracks to the right lead to/from Buxton.
Today marks the first day of the eastern end of the Hope Valley Resignalling Scheme. This has closed two signal boxes, one of which is seen here in happier times: Totley Tunnel East.
As dusk fell at Mansfield Woodhouse I spotted this Greater Anglia train being dragged through towards Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Coincidentally I was in 170206, also in the identical colour scheme.
I had hoped to have recorded “non-stop” through Derby. We didn’t quite achieve this in the very strictest sense. But the doors didn’t open so I think it still counts.
Some Cheshire Lines regulation today. Northern’s 156428 is held in the Glazebrook Loop, allowing my beleaguered, battle-worn, late single unit to pass by.
The only lower quadrant semaphore stop signal in the Eastern Region (apparently) is located at Ketton, twixt Peterborough and Leicester. It’s sited on the “wrong” side so drivers can see it better.