Driver's Eye View: Northampton to Stoke-on-Trent via Birmingham New Street

Welcome aboard the New Measurement Train again for a trip from Northampton to Stoke via Birmingham. Filmed from 43062 on 1st February 2024. We even got up to 125mph once, for about a second - can you work out where?

[@luketear4452]

As a Northamptoner who now lives in Stoke and does this journey reguarly - thank you!

[@ChangesOneTim]

Thanks for the video. Blimey! Northampton-Rugby linespeed is still the original 75mph of the 1966 electrification. Some things never change. Bit surprising that WCRM didn't upgrade it to 90 if not 100 to save the Pendos time on diversions when the Old Road is blocked for any reason. Glad to know you got your two-second thrill of 125 at Four Ashes before spying a double yellow 🤣

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Excellent. Thank you

[@johnwhitehouse9885]

Great video Enjoyed. Thank you for your Time

[@andrewholloway231]

Thank you for your time. A very enjoyable video. Superb. 😊

[@ianclarkson2251]

Superb again Ben, great footage from the Cab with quality sound. More please cheers IAN

[@johntipper29]

Another enjoyable video. Thank you.

[@tomward3656]

Thank you Ben for a most interesting journey.

[@grahamwalls9379]

Great video . Really appreciated the captions too . Enjoyed watching .

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you or the video this day. Every one is a satisfying watch. See you on next, Ben. Cheers Ben. 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@brianknowles7130]

Yet another great vid. Many thanks to all concerned.

[@mrbluesky2050]

good one Ben, a road travelled often, even the depths of Mordor ! many thanks.

[@jessicamorgan3073]

Thanks Ben and team.

[@jasperj1000]

Nice one Ben ! Many thanks .

[@davidwatson5014]

Thanks for anorher great video Ben👍

[@user-hy6cb1ev2k]

Great video Ben 👍

[@Adullamite]

Very good, enjoyed that. Thanks!

[@brianlawrence7119]

great video thanks to all my home ground New St went there as a kid many times when in two halves seperated by Queens Drive they are all appreciated

[@philipbroomhead9406]

Thank you.

[@EthansPhotography82]

SUPERB!❤

[@heckelphon]

A fascinating run. Many thanks. It struck me that the junctions either side of New Street are especially complex, but I suppose they look that way principally because they are constrained within such a short space and because of the extreme number of routings being provided for. I hadn't realised that the monitoring gear on those trains was actually crewed. I had thought it was all just recording everything without human assistance.

[@ChangesOneTim]

Exactly so; twelve through bi-di platforms to/from two pairs of unidirectional lines at each end within such a short narrow footprint and this is what you need! The tight pointwork explains the 10mph limit through the whole lot.

[@markas850]

I know this journey well did over five years new st to Macclesfield nice to see going forward view!

[@sidthekid1960]

Hi Ben, thanks again for letting us into your world. I thought I saw you in Les Gilpins vid of Carlisle, infront of of the Yellow test train, (Banana doesnt do it justice due to the important work it does),well greens all the way my friend and thankyou.

[@beneliastrains]

Oh yes, I just spotted myself in the video 😅

[@Top-Gold]

It was a nice video I'll subscribe to the channel😍

[@keystonedriving8180]

Thanks for another great video. With about 15HP per Tonne it gets up and goes pretty rapidly, although with the MTUs there's not too much drama in the sound track.

[@WCML730]

Mega Video

[@tammycompany]

Great Video, greetings TammyCompany👍

[@wattstransportenthusiast621]

Love your videos Ben. What others have you got planned

[@johnmorgan6176]

Another excellent and enjoyable video, thanks Ben.! Can you remind us what are the speed restrictions on the MT?

[@RobertSmith-ue8if]

What would be great to see, is some driver eye footage that also shows the cab, that way we can see your inputs and get a better perspective :) great video though!

[@ramonwilliams5721]

Enjoyed your video Ben, as a ex steam Fireman/Driver, it’s all to fast you cannot take in the scenery.Kind Regards🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@ukaszsylwia3725]

53:25 Birmingham International to najpiękniejsza stacja kolejowa w Wielkiej Brytanii 😮 53:47 😊

[@ukaszsylwia3725]

Coventry 22:13 to najpiękniejsza stacja kolejowa w Anglii 😊😊😊

[@deltic1964]

Another belter Ben

[@57305northernprincess]

Great video and nice to see my line The Stour Valley being filmed. You say filmed from 43272 but the number on the reflection on the the window says 43062

[@markcf83]

272 is probably the rear power car.

[@beneliastrains]

Cheers. You're quite right, my records must be wrong. 272 is on the back. Don't tell anyone, hopefully nobody else will notice.

[@EthansPhotography82]

Spotted myself at Marston green

[@richaxe3099]

Thank you for the video. Sorry for those here who are experienced and for the likely stupid question, but was interested as to what the constant beeping was?

[@DownTheLineASMR]

The single beeps are from the AWS (Automatic Warning System) which alerts the driver to the state of the signal ahead, the several beeps in one is the DSD (Driver Safety Device) which acts as a dead man’s pedal, if controls aren’t moved for a certain amount of time, usually 1 minute, the beeping sound plays. both of them bring on the emergency brakes if not acknowledged within a few seconds except when the AWS plays the higher beep for a green signal (low beep for yellows and reds)

[@firstfreeone]

Great video, Ben. Is your train recognised as an ordinary train or an MU with regard to the split speed boards?

[@beneliastrains]

MU!

[@markcf83]

I've not long recently watched a video from Don Coffey that travelled via Northampton and I was of the thinking that the line speed limit was higher than 75-his video was of a Manchester to Wembley Frieght service.

[@beneliastrains]

It's faster than 75 south of Northampton but for whatever reason it's never been increased north of the station. The track is quite rough and it's all 3 aspect signalling so that may have something to do with it.

[@markcf83]

​@@beneliastrainsthat would be the case having read another post on this video.

[@jamieshaw2693]

So many red and yellow lights on this route haha

[@johnwebster3224]

125mph before being signal checked south of Penkridge!

[@beneliastrains]

Bingo!

[@hamshackleton]

What does the MT on the speed sign indicate? The only thing I can think of that fits is Mail Train!

[@beneliastrains]

MU. Multiple unit. Various trains can follow MU speeds including the train I'm driving in this.

[@seanobrien16]

Forgive my ignorance, but what does a measurement train actually measure? Great video!

[@Tina-rg1cb]

Track gauge

[@paulrerrie75]

What was the radio message at 1:02:28? Can't quite make it out.

[@terratec1001]

A reminder that a crew change was taking place at Birmingham New Street.

[@johnestowell]

Hi from Down Under. My question is, Does this train run to a schedule? it seems to get slowed down by yellows alot on this trip.

[@johnwebster3224]

Runs to Special Train Timings and has to fit in with the regular traffic. He was chasing a stopping train from Rugby!.

[@beneliastrains]

It does run to a schedule yes. We usually catch up with things either if we are early, or if the thing in front is late.

[@ianmelling6810]

19:40

[@ukaszsylwia3725]

1:26:48 Wolverhampton Wanderers❤

[@VICTOR-pf9eg]

I've never heard of this train before to me it looks like a 125

[@beneliastrains]

It is indeed a 125

[@TamasKiss-bv9hz]

👍👍👍❤🤍💚 Tom from Hungary.

[@rossnolan2883]

😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@wilsonflood4393]

Captions are so important on non regular routes thanks

[@EXSKIN]

It starts off with one, then you are at the mercy of every other train operator and Network rail.

[@eftalanquest]

it's an MTU equipped power car, is it?

[@beneliastrains]

Yeah, we only operate MTUs now.

[@timdaugherty5921]

Wish we saw this in USA...Cameras are not allowed

[@terratec1001]

1:25:23 - Didn't the 15 mph start here, rather than 1:25:52?

[@beneliastrains]

No. The 15 board at the signal has an arrow on it, indicating that it applies to movements over the points.

[@terratec1001]

@@beneliastrains Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

[@terratec1001]

Although some sound many times throughout, what do the tones mean at 1:38:38 & 1:38:46 & 2:04:12? Also, what are the 2 red lights beside track at 1:43:24?

[@DownTheLineASMR]

1. Driver’s Safety Device/Vigilance, pretty much a dead man’s pedal, if controls aren’t moved for 60 seconds that beep goes off and if it’s not acknowledged the emergency brakes come on 2. AWS (Automatic Warning System) does a low boop if there’s a yellow or red signal ahead, like dsd if it’s not acknowledged the brakes come on, and there’s a higher beep for green signals 3. I believe it’s part of the GSMR radio system but I’m unsure 4. Shunt signal, mostly used for clearing trains onto sections of track that aren’t clear like sidings and station platforms

[@terratec1001]

@DownTheLineASMR Thanks for detailed information. Much appreciated.

[@davidpanton3192]

Good stuff, but could you take the scenic route next time?

[@beneliastrains]

I don't think any part of Birmingham is scenic 😅

[@2760ade]

Haven't been to New Street for years, but can't believe how dirty it still looks!

[@carlcaulkett3050]

@@beneliastrains I was hoping that after Stechford, you'd take the right hand branch and skip Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and take the Bescot/Wednesfield Heath route. Not scenic, necessarily, but new, to these eyes, at least 😉

[@noeldunford4955]

Good morning Dave totally correct brother it's a fucking piss take

[@user-md1bp6zv9k]

اللهم صل على محمد وآل محمد goood

[@roboftherock]

With all the meandering around the country you do (and get paid for), how often do you get to sleep in your own bed?

[@beneliastrains]

The majority of the time but I do lodge plenty! I don't mind lodging.

[@user-se2pq4xq6s]

Silent sound?

[@beneliastrains]

No there's definitely audio

[@user-se2pq4xq6s]

Yes ----- today it worked.

[@johanea]

Train driver, a job a child can do.

[@MobBoss-zj2nn]

Sure 😂😂😂😂

[@johanea]

@@MobBoss-zj2nn Sure is. Push a lever, go forward. Pull a lever, go backwards. Pull another lever, break. Push a button, sound the horn. How hard can it be? Don’t even need to steer or navigate, just follow tracks. Learn all various signals may be the only part that is harder.

[@JamBar1873]

Think I’m going to have to be the idiot asking the stupid questions here, what are we measuring?? And why, is what we are measuring likely to have changed, why is it important to measure??

[@TheMrWinthorpe]

Search the internet for 'New Measurement Train (NMT)'. The top link will be the Network Rail information page, which is very good. I'd post the hyperlink to the web page, but it might be flagged as 'SPAM'

[@aetch77]

The condition of the track and the overhead wires.

[@philipbroomhead9406]

May I ask how the track upon arrival at Stoke is both down and up main? Thanks.

[@beneliastrains]

​@@philipbroomhead9406trains can travel in either direction on that line. In fact, both lines through the station are bi-directional

[@video125com]

That's a cab ride not a Driver's eye view.....

[@beneliastrains]

Much of a muchness!