Northampton & Lamport Railway

INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR

RCD’s Overview

In 2024 this heritage railway opened its second station, transforming itself from a railway operating from a single station site to a heritage railway operating between stations. The heritage line covers a distance of just over 2 miles on the former Northampton to Market Harborough main line, closed in 1981. Its main base is at Pitsford and Brampton Station from where it runs southwards to Broughton station. The railway has a couple of operational industrial steam locomotives (with more in the process of or awaiting restoration), together with an operational Class 31 diesel locomotive. Dependent on volunteers, the railway runs on Sundays between March and October.

Key Facts (where and when)

Extent of Railway (where to where):

Pitsford & Brampton Station to Broughton station (2 miles)

Principal Visitor Centre:

Pitsford & Brampton Station

 Period of Operation*

- March to October (Sundays)

- December (Special event trains)

[* This is a summary. Please go to the railway’s website for definitive operating days] 

Key Facts (what you’ll see)

Services usually steam or diesel?

Varies, Steam days and Diesel days

Type of Steam / Diesel Locomotives Used:

Industrial steam engines and BR Class 31 diesel locomotive

Length of Line:

2 miles

Time taken for a round trip:

45 minutes

Number of trains per day:

Operates on Sundays during its season. 5 or 6 trains per day

Number of Stations:

2 stations

Prices:

Adult: £8. Senior: £7. Child: £7. Family (2x2): £23.50

Rover Adult: £16. Rover Child: £15

Time to allow for Visit:

2 hours

Museum:

No

Shop/Cafe:

Yes/Yes

Picnic/Play areas:

[No]

Preservation Established:

1983

Car Park Facilities:

Free car parking available at Pitsford & Brampton station

Key Facts (Galas/Events/Dining)

Dining Trains:

- Yes, Cream Tea Specials

Event Trains:

- Santa Specials

Principal Galas:

- None currently advertised

Experiences:

- Driver Experience (steam and diesel)

- Footplate Ride (steam and diesel)

Contacts

Email:                                                                     enquiries@nlr.org.uk

Telephone:                                                           01604 820327

Website:                                                                www.nlr.org.uk

Social Media:                                                      https://www.facebook.com/NLRailway

                                                                                Also on X and Instagram

INFORMATION FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

Brief History of the Railway and its Preservation

The railway operates on part of the former line that ran between Northampton and Market Harborough. The London to Birmingham Railway was opened in 1838 but by-passed Northampton, a 6-mile branch being provided from Blisworth opening in 1845, and extending to Peterborough. The L&B became the LNWR (1846), which took an expansionist approach, seeking to build further lines off its core London – Birmingham - Manchester route. In the 1850s extensive iron ore fields were re-discovered in Northamptonshire and Rutland, and numerous railway projects were proposed to exploit these resources.

The line between Northampton and Market Harborough was engineered by George Stephenson and opened in 1859, requiring a new Northampton station to be built (Northampton Castle) which is today the town’s main railway station (subsequently substantially redeveloped, in particular after completion of the Northampton Loop in 1881).

The line was always a freight artery with passengers being of secondary importance. This freight role was enhanced with completion of the GNR & LNWR Joint Railway, giving the LNWR access to the East Nottinghamshire coal fields. Its main passenger services ceased in 1960 (some sporadic through services ran occasionally) but survived as a through freight route until 1981, serving as a useful link between the Midland main line at Harborough and the LNWR main line at Northampton. There were even proposals in the 1960s to close the Midland main line and divert all London bound Midland traffic via this route.

Having closed in 1981, Northamptonshire County Council purchased the track way to create a 14-mile long ‘linear park’, called the Brampton Valley Way. After closure, a group of enthusiasts formed (eventually becoming the Northampton and Lamport Railway) to reopen the line so far as possible, basing themselves in the old goods yard at Pitsford & Brampton station. They succeeded in restoring the Pitsford & Brampton station, two signal boxes, three quarters of a mile of running line and some sidings. The first passengers were carried along the newly restored section in November 1995.

Principal Aspiration

To extend railway northwards to Merry Tom Halt and in due course further to Spratton.

Steam Operational Locomotives:

Hawthorn Lesley - 3718 ‘Swanscombe No.4’

Hunslet Austerity - No. 3193

Diesel Operational Locomotives:

BR Class 31 - 31 289 (D5821) ‘Phoenix’

Shunter: Ruston & Hornsby - No. 764 ‘Sir Gyles Isham’

Diesel Locomotives Under Overhaul:

BR Class 47 - 47205

Ruston & Hornsby - No. 53 ‘Sir Alfred Wood’

Under Restoration/ Stored

GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 - 5967 ‘Bickmarsh Hall’

Andrew Barclay - 2323 ‘Irchester Quarries No.9’

Peckett R4 Class - 2104

Peckett - 1378 ‘Westminster’

Andrew Barclay - 776 ‘Firefly’

INFORMATION ON THE SUPPORT GROUP

Name of Support Group:

Northampton & Lamport Railway Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Annual membership fee:

Adult: £20. Junior: £10. Family: £30. Life(ordinary): £500

Benefits of membership:                                    

-          Discount (50%) on normal services

-          Special offers at the railway shop

-          Periodic Magazine, ‘Premier Line’

-          Opportunity to volunteer

How to Join:                                                          Go to https://nlr.org.uk/memberships

What They Say About Volunteering:

You may have a particular skill you feel you can offer the railway; you may wish to learn a new skill or take on a particular project. Whatever your interest in the railway, you will soon find the right job to suit you.

One aspect of the Railway which is very important is that Volunteer Working Members are permitted to give as much or as little of their time to the railway as they wish. Time is a precious commodity these days and this is a fact that is very much respected by all of the Volunteer Working Members. Ofcourse there is nothing stopping an individual from spending every moment of their spare time on the Railway if they wish to do so.

Another aspect which is essential is that everyone is permitted to work at their own speed. Slowly but surely the job is completed, which produces good end results and allows the work to be completed safely. Occasionally, staff from all departments are called upon to help with a larger project which is beyond the scope of an individual or department. Many hands make light work!

How to Volunteer:                                               Go to https://nlr.org.uk/volunteering-nlr

How to Donate:                                                    Go to https://nlr.org.uk/help-the-railway

WHY JOIN: These are exciting times for this railway, with its new extension open and realistic scope to extend further. Fully volunteer run, this is an ideal railway to get involved with, or simply to financially support to see real progress.

INFORMATION ON OTHER SOCIETIES WITH RELATED INTEREST

Those interested in this railway may also be interested in the following railway societies also listed on this

website:

Traditional Railway Societies:

- London & North Western Railway Society

- Harborough Railway Association

Model Railway Clubs:

- Northampton & District Model Railway Club

- Northants & Rutland O Gauge Group           

- Kingsway Model Railway Society