Thames-Clyde Express
Encyclopedia
The Thames–Clyde Express was a named express passenger train operating on the Midland Main Line
, Settle-Carlisle Railway
and the Glasgow South Western Line
between London St Pancras and Glasgow St Enoch
.
In September 1927, the London Midland & Scottish Railway gave the name to its morning services departing from London St Pancras and Glasgow St Enoch. After the service was speeded up in 1932, trains departed Glasgow at 09:30 and London at 10:00. There was a similar service running between London St Pancras and Edinburgh Waverley
—known as the Thames–Forth Express—was renamed The Waverley by British Railways
in 1957.
|}
, The Thames Clyde Express travelled by the former Midland Railway
's main line through Leicester, sometimes with reversals to serve Derby and Nottingham, as far as Leeds. After another reversal the train crossed the Pennines
to the scenic Settle-Carlisle route, still on former Midland railway territory. Crossing into Scotland the train used the former Glasgow and South Western Railway
's Glasgow South Western Line
into Glasgow St Enoch, the city's G&SWR terminus. The train could not compete for London to Scotland traffic with the faster trains travelling on the West Coast Main Line
. Its route was longer and steeper, and Midland expresses could not ignore major population centres en route, especially Leicester
, Sheffield
and Leeds
. In Scotland, it took a longer route in order to provide a service to Dumfries
and Kilmarnock
.
As a result, few travellers after the 1920s travelled the full length of the route.
The Thames-Clyde lost its title at the outbreak of World War II
in common with almost all named trains in the UK. However the title was restored in September 1949 as part of the Post-war return to normality.
However the effect of regional division, mining subsidence along part of the route between Trent
and Leeds, and underpowered locomotives meant that its performance was actually inferior in time to that achieved in 1939.
In 1962, the Thames Clyde took eight hours and 50 minutes for the complete journey, leaving London at 10.15, and then calling first at Leicester London Road at 11.52. Further stops were made at Trent and Chesterfield, before reaching Sheffield Midland station at 13.19, and Leeds City at 14.25 - so this latter stage of 39 miles took over an hour as a result of subsidence-induced speed restrictions. From here the train ran non-stop to Carlisle (Arrival 16.38). Three more stops were made at Annan
, Dumfries
, and Kilmarnock
before reaching Glasgow, St Enoch at 19.05.
The rival Royal Scot
on the West Coast route stopped only twice and took seven hours, twenty minutes. However the Thames Clyde provided a useful service from the East Midlands
and Yorkshire
to Scotland
.
and Appleby West railway station. The 1966 closure of St Enoch
resulted in the transfer of the service to Glasgow Central. In 1968, a further delay was added by a stop at Nottingham
, which meant a reversal. In 1970 a short lived Sunday diversion to Derby brought another reversal, although this had ceased by 1973. The train had acquired a bad reputation for slowness and unpunctuality.
was electrified
, but the service continued to run until 1976.
Publisher British Railways
Passenger Timetable 1973 / 74 London Midland Region
Publisher British Railways
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
, Settle-Carlisle Railway
Settle-Carlisle Railway
The Settle–Carlisle Line is a long main railway line in northern England. It is also known as the Settle and Carlisle. It is a part of the National Rail network and was constructed in the 1870s...
and the Glasgow South Western Line
Glasgow South Western Line
The Glasgow South Western Line is a mainline railway in Scotland that runs from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, and then either via Dumfries, or Stranraer via Ayr, with a branch to East Kilbride.- History :...
between London St Pancras and Glasgow St Enoch
St Enoch railway station
-External links:* *...
.
In September 1927, the London Midland & Scottish Railway gave the name to its morning services departing from London St Pancras and Glasgow St Enoch. After the service was speeded up in 1932, trains departed Glasgow at 09:30 and London at 10:00. There was a similar service running between London St Pancras and Edinburgh Waverley
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
—known as the Thames–Forth Express—was renamed The Waverley by British Railways
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
in 1957.
|}
The route (from London)
Starting from St PancrasSt Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
, The Thames Clyde Express travelled by the former Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
's main line through Leicester, sometimes with reversals to serve Derby and Nottingham, as far as Leeds. After another reversal the train crossed the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
to the scenic Settle-Carlisle route, still on former Midland railway territory. Crossing into Scotland the train used the former Glasgow and South Western Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow and South Western Railway , one of the pre-grouping railway companies, served a triangular area of south-west Scotland, between Glasgow, Stranraer and Carlisle...
's Glasgow South Western Line
Glasgow South Western Line
The Glasgow South Western Line is a mainline railway in Scotland that runs from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, and then either via Dumfries, or Stranraer via Ayr, with a branch to East Kilbride.- History :...
into Glasgow St Enoch, the city's G&SWR terminus. The train could not compete for London to Scotland traffic with the faster trains travelling on the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
. Its route was longer and steeper, and Midland expresses could not ignore major population centres en route, especially Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
and Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. In Scotland, it took a longer route in order to provide a service to Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
and Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
.
As a result, few travellers after the 1920s travelled the full length of the route.
The Thames-Clyde lost its title at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in common with almost all named trains in the UK. However the title was restored in September 1949 as part of the Post-war return to normality.
However the effect of regional division, mining subsidence along part of the route between Trent
Trent railway station
Trent railway station was situated near Long Eaton in Derbyshire at the junction of the Midland Railway line from London to Derby and Nottingham...
and Leeds, and underpowered locomotives meant that its performance was actually inferior in time to that achieved in 1939.
In 1962, the Thames Clyde took eight hours and 50 minutes for the complete journey, leaving London at 10.15, and then calling first at Leicester London Road at 11.52. Further stops were made at Trent and Chesterfield, before reaching Sheffield Midland station at 13.19, and Leeds City at 14.25 - so this latter stage of 39 miles took over an hour as a result of subsidence-induced speed restrictions. From here the train ran non-stop to Carlisle (Arrival 16.38). Three more stops were made at Annan
Annan railway station
Annan railway station serves the town of Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located on the Glasgow South Western Line 28 km north west of Carlisle and is managed by First ScotRail who provide all passenger train services....
, Dumfries
Dumfries railway station
Dumfries railway station serves the town of Dumfries in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located on the Glasgow South Western Line and is managed by First ScotRail who provide all passenger train services...
, and Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock railway station
Kilmarnock railway station is a railway station in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is served by trains on the Glasgow South Western Line.- History :...
before reaching Glasgow, St Enoch at 19.05.
The rival Royal Scot
Royal Scot (train)
The Royal Scot was a British named express passenger train that ran between and , the length of the West Coast Main Line , with previously a portion also going to Edinburgh. For many years it departed from both ends at 10:00...
on the West Coast route stopped only twice and took seven hours, twenty minutes. However the Thames Clyde provided a useful service from the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Run down and cessation
In 1964, The Waverley ceased to run during the winter, and so additional coaches for Edinburgh were carried on the Thames-Clyde. But the train then made additional stops on the Settle & Carlisle line which were otherwise served by The Waverley - Skipton, Hellifield, SettleSettle railway station
Settle railway station serves the town of Settle in North Yorkshire, England. It is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services. It is situated at the southern end of the Settle-Carlisle Line north of ....
and Appleby West railway station. The 1966 closure of St Enoch
St Enoch railway station
-External links:* *...
resulted in the transfer of the service to Glasgow Central. In 1968, a further delay was added by a stop at Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, which meant a reversal. In 1970 a short lived Sunday diversion to Derby brought another reversal, although this had ceased by 1973. The train had acquired a bad reputation for slowness and unpunctuality.
Cessation of services
The train lost its title in May 1975 when the West Coast Main LineWest Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
was electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
, but the service continued to run until 1976.
Timetables used as sources
Passenger Timetable 1970 / 71 London Midland RegionLondon Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
Publisher British Railways
Passenger Timetable 1973 / 74 London Midland Region
London Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
Publisher British Railways