I Went to Every Station in Northamptonshire!

[@NickBadley]

The site I use at 2:30 is opentraintimes.com in case you were wondering. Since I've had about 10 comments asking me!

[@terratec1001]

Thanks. I wonder why it doesn't cover the Southport to Manchester route...?

[@samuelsmith9945]

Oh lol just seen this reply Thank you

[@SebastianBari-h2q]

Do you do videos or shorts every day @NickBadley?

[@Thornaby37]

​@terratec1001 it depends on the type of signalling Anywhere that still uses semaphore signals won't appear either on Open Train Times or Traksy

[@davidreichle6948]

16:14 Hi Nick - Northampton is a weird station. As well as being my local! It (and Long Buckby) are actually on what's called the 'Northampton Loop' which is a branch of the WCML that splits off at Hanslope Junction to the south (after Wolverton), and runs north until Daventry Internal Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) to the north (just before Rugby). The longer dwell times at Northampton are essentially because it's on that loop, and is geographically roughly the midpoint of the WCML from London to Birmingham. A lot of train crews change over there.

[@Trainspotting_Mayhem]

For april fools you should visit every station in Rutland

[@Sacroooooooooooooooooooooooooo]

Better than going to every motorway in Rutland. At least you'd get something.

[@Roblilley999]

The classic Oakham 😀

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Rutland doesn’t exist anymore!

[@paulharvey9149]

@Trainspotting_Mayhem Or Clackmannanshire

[@jenniferpollock9570]

Rutland does exist.

[@christophersanton]

The first carriage used to be Chiltern Business class but hasn't been since before Covid. I've frequently sat in there at Marylebone as late comers have got on mumbling "this is first class" to themselves and walked through to busier carriages. And the joy of Mark 3 carriages where window seats actually have windows.

[@MrCJSutcliffe]

25:38 Thank you for your dedication to the bit in capturing that gorgeous slice of pure 68 thrash! Symphonic sound of hells gates opening! Nothing better!

[@dylantaylor9495]

If you ever decide to make it back to Wolverton, there is a great disused branch line from Wolverton-Newport Pagnell which has now been turned into a cycle path. the platforms remain at new Bradwell and great linford with other features remaining along the path. I live in one of the houses which was constructed for the Wolverton works.

[@karmanline2005]

I think the county had 64 stations at the peak of railway dominance.

[@aarondoesyt3194]

Nice to see you in my home county, unfortunately the rail links aren't the best here as the county was hit really hard by railway closures during Beeching and even before. I hope that some day we will get better rail links in Northants I would absolutely like to see a link for Northampton to Wellingborough and Kettering onto the Midland Main Line and potentially extending it through to Peterborough for an Esst Coast Mainline link much like the line that existed via Thrapston and Oundle pre Beeching. Brackley also had two stations that were closed on the Banbury and Verney Junction Line, sadly we probably won't see a reopening for either of the Brackley stations due to HS2 being built through there, despite Chiltern Rails plans to reopen the line through Brackley to Rugby back in 2008 that was rejected. Stations for Daventry and Towcester were shut even further back in 1958 and 1952.

[@TheSpotify95]

Yeah, I would also love to see Northampton to Wellingborough (and then Kettering via Wellingborough), as well as possibly Wellingborough to Peterborough. This would allow me to travel, via Northampton, from Wellingborough to Milton Keynes. Sadly I doubt this will happen anytime soon and getting a car will likely be a better shout.

[@aarondoesyt3194]

@@TheSpotify95 Yeah it'd be really useful I think, public transport is pretty non existent out here for a county with 750k people living in it. Especially if you live in a village you could potentially be like 6 miles from the nearest bus route for a 2 hourly service. I think pretty much everyone has to drive round here because there's no other option, I'd rather travel by train if the option is there definitely

[@JBFlytography]

25:44 I miss this! I live in Kirkcaldy and my house backs onto the railway just north of the station. The Scotrail 68s used to be my kids alarm clock!

[@kevinellis8869]

I've just christened you Nick 'It's not the end of the world' Badley. Good to keep to your own rules within hobbies, I do the same. Always good when an ultra tight connection works, the ones National Rail don't tell you about - once managed Platform 3 to Platform 10 at Crewe in 3 minutes. The Coventry-Wolverhampton corridor is crowded enough without Chiltern and GWR, it's just a shame seating capacity isn't sufficient e.g. XC.

[@TheBT]

Visiting every station in Northamptonshire is as complicated as I would think. Also easiest way to tell if someone ain't local, it is how they pronounce Kettering. Though weirdly my local station now is the one you begin your journey in.

[@TheBT]

Oh additional - there was a shop on Platform 1 in Wellingborough. They have sandwiches and drinks. The long wait at Northampton is the 2 different lines. Northampton is weird and off the line. A station I used to use for 3 1/2 years :(

[@smogmonster1876]

That Board with all the tickets on it at Northampton is really cool.

[@rockerjim8045]

@@smogmonster1876 until you see the price of the Tickets

[@MrBreadman1966]

Nick I noticed at 15.05 Sandal & Agbrigg Station pops up on the station wall. S&D is one of my local station here in Wakefield. Its a station that was reopened around 20 years ago and has done very well ever since. It might worth your while paying a visit a some stage.

[@tsungiraichiramba]

Good video nick, next time to save time, you should catch the X4 bus from Wellingborough to Northampton

[@berniegw]

The dwell time at Northampton is for crew change as most are based there. There’s also the Seimens TMD at Kings Heath just outside the station where many of the units are stabled.

[@Nooticus]

In my opinion, one of your best videos on the channel! Idea and execution were both great. That ticket thing at Northampton is incredibly cool and I’ve never heard of it before

[@rockerjim8045]

the noise of the TPE 68s ticking over in Scarborough was one of the reasons they were withdrawn

[@Echoes1910]

Opportunity missed. If you’d started at Melton you could have got the 8.15 service to Corby which goes over the Seaton/Harringworth Viaduct.

[@daveworrall7853]

Great video as usual. One suggestion you could do is all the stations in Nottinghamshire. Looking at it, as long as the trains stop at each station it can be done in a few hours.

[@Mike_5]

Have you visited Brampton Halt yet?

[@thomasedwards5700]

I think it's a pathing thing to allow freight trains to pass at Northampton.

[@Thornaby37]

Must admit I never realised Kings Sutton is in Northamptonshire, but it certainly made this challenge more interesting Very wise decision to avoid Cross Country between Coventry and Banbury, as they get very overcrowded

[@andyclark8991]

What a cool, awesome video. Love it, love to see 6 stations. Way cool

[@fishandchipdiaries]

You are correct when you say those Corby trains are always empty.

[@computerwizkid1002]

There used to be alot more prior to beeching and there used to be a line connecting the lines but that also got ripped out

[@robertwilloughby8050]

In an ideal world the Leicester-Northampton line wouldn't have been closed (a Beeching cut, and a TOTALLY unjustifiable one too.)

[@trainjedi9651]

That railway line wasn't a beeching cut? It remained open until the 80s carrying mostly freight

[@robertwilloughby8050]

@trainjedi9651 Oh sure, but Beeching was pivotal in the removal of the passenger service.

[@Mat0305]

Hard to imagine only 6 stations in the whole of Northamptonshire, Birmingham city center has 3 but if include the wider Birmingham area then there's probably more than 30

[@samanthasimms9630]

Try living next to Northampton station working next to Wellingborough station and not being able to travel by train because it's a 2 hour 30 minute journey each way and driving is only 30 minutes 🙃

[@LocoMotive142]

22:16 they got Avanti’d in like 2019, and were swiftly told off (something something grade 2 listed?), so they de-Avanti’d the signage.

[@TheSpotify95]

Also, you could have got some food from Wellingborough's Bewiched coffee shop... that would have been a good use of the 30 minutes you spent there :)

[@paulspeed8460]

It's a fab little coffee shop

[@HamishG199]

I was amazed you had watched ‘A Perfect Misunderstanding” when the Silverlink 150 passed the Starter at Danger at Kemptson Hardwick

[@christophersanton]

LNW trains from Euston to Birmingham often divide at Northampton.

[@dansoper]

So glad you made this so now I know not to tick them off in one go!

[@SamsVlogstrainsmore]

Great job on visiting all the stations in Northamptonshire Nick. I’m still yet to visit the ones on the MML!

[@nigelkthomas9501]

While watching this I’d forgotten about Kings Sutton. I was expecting you to include the Northampton Lamport station of Pitsford!

[@smithr27]

Double 350/2's - Sadistic 20:58 made me giggle! Nat should put that on a t-shirt 😅

[@MRTransportVideos]

When you were looking at the unopened stations in Northumberland, you failed to notice the unticketed station next to it - Birmingham (Curzon Street): yes, they've got themselves ready for HS2... And the Chiltern 68/Mk3s are among the nicest, smoothest, and most comfortable trains in use - my go-to for trips to London.

[@paultidd9332]

“22/2’s that’s sadistic” has to be the quote of the video 😂

[@TravelSoGood]

Very sensible - getting straight back on the train out of Corby. It's not a place you wanna stay! Trust me, I grew up there!

[@rockerjim8045]

@@TravelSoGood I bet the locals have Double Shots of Vodka with their Irn Bru

[@arthurerickson5162]

Another monumental journey! Thanks for all the good work. Keep ‘em coming 👍

[@ReubenAshwell]

Brilliant video Nick, there's been plenty of tight connections in this one lol.

[@Anonymoususer_8823]

Despite that King’s Sutton is in Northamptonshire. It is very much close to the county border with Oxfordshire and could have been in Oxfordshire and is few miles from Banbury. I only have been to Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering and I would like to go to Corby.

[@tonyskinner1643]

As I understand it, the delay/s at Northampton were due to being sponsored by different sectors in BR days, NSE south of Northampton and Regional Railways north thereof, in privatisation they tried to remove those dwell times but it didn't work, the trains were for a time operated by Silverlink to Norhampton and Central from Northampon when going S to N.. As a result there is an inbuilt catch up mechanism for any delayed train here and it works well, so it remains.

[@lewis72]

A shame that you didn't have time to give each station the full Geoff Marshall.

[@reptongeek]

I haven't woken up thinking I should visit every station in Northamptonshire, but having visited every London Underground station, I am considering visiting more of the stations in the Oyster fare zone

[@TheHappywheels1]

Hey Nick, could make a video on how to read those signal maps ( 2:47 ), I can't wrap my head around them 😊

[@Vtarngpb]

Ah yes, Kettering: where the people are called Legends 😂

[@terranceparsons5185]

If you spell leg b e l l

[@ReeseofEastAnglia]

It's a shame that Northamptonshire only has six stations and getting between them is so difficult, it's definitely a very compelling argument for East West Rail. There's a compelling argument for a station at Rushden, either on the midland main line or the branch line to Higham Ferrers that’s been largely preserved. At 40,000 residents the Rushden-Higham area is one of the largest in the country with no train service. Maybe if there was a lot more money for rail then reopening the line from Northampton to Peterborough would be a good idea. An interesting fact about the Nene Valley Railway (which is a heritage railway in Northamptonshire) is that it was restored to a continental loading gauge and has a number of European locomotives in its collection.

[@chrismcintyre2145]

The nene valley is also in Cambridgeshire because it starts at peterbourgh

[@aarondoesyt3194]

The line used to go from Bridge Street Station in Northampton through to Wellingborough, Thrapston, Oundle and Peterborough which would have been a really useful link to both the midland mainline and the east coast mainline, but unfortunately the line was shut due to Beeching cuts

[@dominicbarden4436]

@@chrismcintyre2145 I thought it was wholly in Cambridgeshire, unless Wansford or Yarwell are actually in Northamptonshire, but I'm pretty sure they're not.

[@chrismcintyre2145]

@@dominicbarden4436 yea I thought it to but I don’t really know

[@chrismcintyre2145]

Yeah I just checked it fully in Cambridgeshire

[@MasterTramsYouTube]

26:22 Interestingly, albeit slightly wonky, you could say your journey was a reverse "N" for Northamptonshire...

[@TheSpotify95]

Ooh, Northamptonshire eh? It's a shame I didn't see you on my commute, since I commute between Wellingborough and Corby for my work (both of which are in Northamptonshire)! I'd have definitely given you a wave if I'd have seen you on my regular travels.

[@IowaTrainGay]

6 stations!? That's the same number of stations in Iowa (USA) and you can only "visit" 5 of them in a day if you're traveling through on the 1 train a day that serve most of them (the California Zephyr)

[@AFCManUk]

A shame you had to back to Northampton from Long Buckby to 'tick it off' as it were, otherwise you could have stayed on the train to Milton Keynes, and changed for the faster Avanti service up to Coventry. I used to travel to Coventry from MK a lot around 15-20 years ago, and I'd always try to time my journey to get what was then the Virgin Trains service direct via the Kilsby Tunnel, as the route via Northampton was a good 30 minutes longer due to that pointless wait time.

[@PaulGodfrey]

Really interesting video. Is there a list of the ststions still required at Northampton?

[@_.seraphina._]

actually, I've done the exact thing you mentioned in the intro except for the 48 railway stations of Cumbria!

[@sonadagothalus]

I've always had an issue with Kings Sutton being deemed as in my home country of Northants. It has an OX postcode for Banbury, is classified within the town of Banbury (which is Oxfordshire) and has an 01295 area code allocated by BT which is for Banbury. Northing about this Oxfordshire locale is really Northants.

[@bluehairminerboy]

Quite a few villages near the border are, Middleton Cheney also has OX and is under 1295

[@S0rtedF0rEsAndWizz]

Can you go to sandy station in Bedfordshire

[@OfficialTrainboy2598]

Northern to Thameslink between stations is at least an 1hr 30mins involving LNER or EMR....... well that all ends here, Northern now travel to Bedford with the Marston Vale line!

[@jacobporrett]

Northampton and 350/2 are horrid things. Hope you sat in the coach by the 68 Nick? Can't believe you had to go in and out the county to complete this. I used to live in Wellingborough. Midland Mainline HST's and 170s were a thing back then.

[@trash80media]

Nice video Nick, went to Kings Sutton myself on Saturday though not crazy enough to do the other 5 stations in 1 day 😀

[@JBMtravels]

Great video 👍 love your channel and I know how hard it is TBH plus yes I hate delays & 100% agree with how annoying it can be!

[@Andrewjg_89]

The East Midlands Railway Class 360 are pretty nice since they were transferred from Greater Anglia. And London Northwestern Railway are to replace the Class 350/2 once the Class 730/2 have started being introduced from next year. The only stations in Northamptonshire I have been to is Wellingborough, Northampton and Kettering. And I haven’t been to Corby yet and I don’t think I have ever been to Kings Sutton before.

[@mushdawggg6667]

It's mad to think how many stations there used to be in Northants. I'm from Corby and to get to Northampton via train takes about 2 hours. Iirc you have to go Corby -> Bedford -> Bletchley -> Northampton. Whereas the X4 bus takes an hour 20 and costs £2. It's still double the time it'd take to drive but it is what it is. Only a minute in but I'm looking forward to this one and have dropped a sub 💪💯

[@dianekivi5349]

In Network South East days, the train @ Northampton became a West Midlands Train! i.e. it changed operators!

[@paulkitson390]

Great video Nick - Many thanks mate 😁

[@simonlloyd74sl]

Why didn't you go on the Leicester to London that runs a couple times/day via Corby? South into Corby, touch the platform, and straight to Kettering and Wellingborough

[@Trainspottinkid]

2:44 what is that app? I've been wanting it

[@tsungiraichiramba]

Nick, Northampton has a long wait because drivers normally change over there. The LNWR Euston - Birmingham New Street service sees the first driver go from Euston-Bletchley/Northampton and the second goes from either Bletchley/Northampton through to Birmingham - no driver drives the whole route sadly. I live in Rugby, so my local line lol

[@GoFasterRedStripe]

The dwell at Northampton is for a number of reasons, including contingency to recover lost time, tanking/servicing the toilets, cleaners servicing the interiors. It not just drivers changing either, Conductors too. And there are Traincrew who sign and work the whole route from Euston to Brum and vice versa; granted not every trip but this happens quite regularly.

[@mattpilgrim2607]

What another awesome KZbin video by you Nick! Your KZbin channel is absolutely amazing to watch 😊

[@chrismcintyre2145]

2:52 btw what app/wedsite is this

[@jiml6026]

6:17, 11:47 and 26:22 - just two seconds to digest the map’s a bit of a challenge!

[@MercenaryPen]

well, next year should give you a little more exposure to Milton Keynes with the opening of Oxford to Bletchley (and the newly possible Pointless Journey from Bletchley high level to Bletchley low level)

[@jmckenzie962]

I noticed that some of the yet-to-be-filled-in station slots on the ticket wall at Northampton appear to be in Brat green with the same font as Brat as well. Please someone tell me those have been there pre-Brat Summer, because if they were that'd be fucking amazing

[@gazwj]

Which track map tracking site do you use? Didn’t quite look like traksy 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@NickBadley]

opentraintimes.com Never actually used Traksy yet!

[@Welshy1717]

Nice bro…. You’re in my neck of the woods. You guys always over look our EMR line. They are empty until you get to Bedford....... its chaos the amount of people that commute from Bedford. 8:20 mins My Town.. born, raised & still living there. No shop at station, only a B*wiched on platform . Our barriers are always open, we always wonder why we bother getting tickets. LOL The view from Platform 4 at the New estate Stanton Cross in operation, and taking shape.

[@Ulleskelf]

I'm with you, my rules are that you can't get back on the same service so I'm with you on the first visit to Northampton not counting.

[@johncrwarner]

Chiltern Trains were "upgraded" in the nineties to a single "comfort" class so on the Banbury to King's Sutton part you would be on one of their trains.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

Are they doing up the Marston Vale for EWR yet ?

[@rwm2986]

Thanks Nick. Is it me or does a video making trip go much better when Nat is there to 'manage' the journey?

[@brilliantbuilder4228]

Time for a new series. Visit every station in a county.

[@terranceparsons5185]

..... and Corby is station 2. Well thanks for clearing that up.

[@ludwigtails]

Haven’t nick already got on every station on the marathon vale?

[@samuelsmith9945]

Hey Buddy Good content + thank you What app are you using while looking at the platform allocation while waiting at at nottingham station please?

[@jonhigginson4096]

Peterborough used to be part of Northants.

[@NameReveal-yy7qb]

24:21 best toilets for any uk train

[@andyallthings]

New challenge for you to try to get from Sheffield to Manchester not using the hope valley line

[@Ulleskelf]

For the last year I've been making monthly trips to Northampton for work. So have been buying my tickets from other local stations to home to add to the ticket boards at Northampton. Snowdown and Bekesbourne are my tickets!

[@Someone36991]

Point to point idea: Mill Hill (London) Mills Hill (Mcr) Mill Hill (Blackburn)

[@markstarmer3677]

Or Wrexham to Hexham.

[@mattevans4377]

Maybe do this again when East West Rail is open, just to see how much quicker it is

[@NickBadley]

That's a solid shout!

[@jbrails444]

Iv always wanted to go on EMR so it definitely sounded like a fun trip

[@samsmette8043]

If you do the Chiltern line again it’s worth noting that 1st Class is declassified on three Mark 3’s so anyone can sit in there (usually the front carriage)

[@rockerjim8045]

@@samsmette8043 depends on which way your travelling

[@markback1684]

Hi Nick! Hope you’re well, would love to be a guest on your channel with you sometime! 😉

[@quintuscrinis]

You got a Chilten silver service. Thats some luck - so jealous.

[@simonmason8582]

It's "SHEDULE" in the UK. "SKEDULE" is American.

[@stephenmcculley7]

You mention Northern trains and Thameslink being a strange mix. Northern did for a time have 319372 which was in debranded Thameslink livery (with First interior).

[@NickBadley]

I remember that! I never got to ride it though

[@beanieshark05]

Finally, you have arrived in my home country. I hope you enjoyed Northamptonshire Nick Badley

[@lawrenceporter8389]

There are only two syllables in Kettering. Locals pronounce it Kett’ring.

[@MercenaryPen]

I have to wonder whether there were buses that could have expedited the Wellingborough to Northampton part of the journey

[@aarondoesyt3194]

It's like a 20 minute walk to the bus station from Wellingborough Station and then another 30-40 mins on the X4. Could have saved a tiny bit of time I suppose the purpose is to do it all on the train though?

[@craighobbs3708]

Northampton has an awful service these days for the size of the place! Great video! I know your objective is to travel by rail, but the bus from Wellingborough to Northampton would be much quicker!

[@Railways_Explorer]

If you go to buy train tickets from Nottingham train station ticket machine for Kettering they only give you the option to buy 1st class tickets

[@NameReveal-yy7qb]

2:38 what is that app

[@alfiehnotts]

Opentraintimes