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959:, was intentionally crashed at about 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) into a pre-arranged, derailed, flask-carrying wagon. Witnessed by roughly 1,500 people, the behaviour of the flask was monitored in detail and the observations used to validate numerical modelling of flasks subjected to impact loading. A photographic record is available, as well as a video.
947:(OHLE) testing. Activity on the track was kept from the public and security measures were present against uninvited intrusions, neither journalists or enthusiasts were typically allowed to view the Research Division's activities outside of rare invitations. On 17 July 1984, the track was used to test the integrity of
919:
and thus was retained. Following the line's full closure as a through route in 1968, work was undertaken to convert this roughly eight-mile section into a dedicated test track; during
September 1970, with the modifications complete, it was re-opened and promptly put to use for the Research Division's
1125:
to be operated along the Old Dalby Test Track later that year; reportedly, spare paths on the test track are said to be scarce due to testing demands associated with the high volume of new rolling stock being acquired by various operators around this time. That same year, the local council suggested
890:
to conduct testing. Alstom electrified the former Down line using 25 kV AC OHLE at a reported cost of ÂŁ25 million, and reinstated a six-mile portion of the Up line, to support its activities. During the 2010s, there was public speculation that the test track could form part of a direct link between
1117:
high speed train took place at the track. Two years later, some high-speed testing for the IEP programme was still ongoing at the track; some of these tests involved the novel use of balloons to intentionally obstruct ventilation shafts inside
Stanton Tunnel.
1071:(TSI) high-speed noise compliance, electromagnetic compatibility, wheel slide protection, coupling compatibility, surge pressure in tunnels, low adhesion, and new technology trials and demonstrators. The organisation officially refers to Old Dalby as the
1025:. It was on this track that the type first attained a recorded speed of 100 MPH. Alstom also re-instated six miles of the former Up line from Old Dalby to the southern portal of Stanton Tunnel to test and commission the proposed
990:, testing activity at Old Dalby proceeded at a diminished rate compared with the British Rail era. Following the abolition of the BRBR, ownership of the track was transferred to the national railway infrastructure company
1126:
that the line could be reopened to passengers to allow a direct link between
Nottingham and Melton Mowbray, as part of the Government's strategy to open up new areas for housing by recommissioning disused rail lines.
1052:
from Old Dalby (milepost 111) to a point near milepost 114. The former Down line retains its 25 kV OHLE. Testing of the 'S' stock at Old Dalby commenced in March 2009 and was still underway seven years later.
866:
train was conducted, witnessed by a large crowd; most testing has been closed to the public and security measures are typically present around the line to deter intrusion. During the mid-1990s, as a result of
1292:
1075:. During January 2014, Network Rail applied for changes to the original planning controls to increase train passes on the line substantially during weekdays, citing commissioning of the new
1060:
was awarded the contract to manage the Old Dalby Test Track on behalf of
Metronet, giving it the opportunity to attract other users. During April 2010, the track in use for the testing of
653:
646:
970:, a specially-created body established to own former BR assets that were not sold off or assigned to other entities. During the following two decades, the track was leased for a
927:
1577:
1351:
1068:
1113:
system for London
Underground, and new mainline infrastructure such as the Series One OCS system by Network Rail. During early 2015, testing of the first
1401:
1033:
1014:, which electrified the former Down line using 25 kV AC OHLE at a reported cost of ÂŁ25 million. As configured, it was used to test and commission the
983:
887:
847:'s route between Kettering and Nottingham which closed to passengers on 1 May 1967, and to goods in 1968. It is 13.5 miles (21.7 km) in length.
1369:
850:
Since its first use at a test track in May 1966, the Old Dalby Test Track has been involved in numerous projects, one early major initiative being
1538:
1026:
907:'s main line, cumulating in its closure during the majority of traffic during 1966. As early as May 1966, a portion of the infrastructure between
423:
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Network Rail uses the track on an ongoing basis for calibration and testing of measurement and gauging trains; other testing includes the
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1433:
1206:
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540:
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862:(OHLE) and signaling equipment, have also been tested on the line. During July 1984, a destructive full-scale integrity test of a
1032:
When Alstom withdrew from the United
Kingdom train-building market, the track was threatened with closure before being leased to
831:
is a railway in the United
Kingdom which is used for testing new designs of trains and railway infrastructure. It runs between
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The Old Dalby Test Track saw extensive use in the heyday of the
Research Division, frequently being used for
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1048:. The former Up line was equipped with approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) of London Underground-style
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project. In addition to its use by trains, various elements of line-side infrastructure, such as
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shall operate the Old Dalby test track on behalf of
Network Rail for the following four years.
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In the privatisation era, Old Dalby has been leased out to various companies, including
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Youtube video of the
Asfordby storage sidings with SERCO LU stock testing December 2012
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diesel locomotive (No. 46009), weighing 138 long tons (140 tonnes) and pulling three
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Nottingham and Melton Mowbray for the purpose of re-introducing a passenger service.
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1500:"GB Railfreight signs contract to operate Network Rail's RIDC Melton test facility"
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During 2001, the Old Dalby Test Track was leased to the rolling stock manufacturer
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The Old Dalby website contains photographs and a comprehensive history of the line
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1540:
1149:
Daniels, G. and L. A. Dench. "Passengers No More." Ian Allan, 1964. page 65.
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diesel multiple units, which were also manufactured by Bombardier in Derby.
1240:"Category:Old Dalby nuclear flask rail crash test 1984 – Wikimedia Commons"
20:
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875:, while its historic main user, the Research Division, was abolished.
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1272:"The Public Bodies (Abolition of BRB (Residuary) Limited) Order 2013"
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In 2013, planned activities for Old Dalby included the testing of
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in the mid-1990s, the Old Dalby Test Track became the property of
926:
879:
1525:
1482:"Passenger services could return to county line 51 years on"
1352:"Network Rail seeks to do more train testing at Old Dalby"
1467:"UK Railtours heads for Old Dalby Test Track in December"
1415:"First pre-series Class 800 due in the UK next spring",
1121:
During summer 2017, an agreement was finalised for two
584:
576:
569:
951:used to transport nuclear fuel elements by rail. A
1434:"IEP Class 800 moves under its own power in tests"
1293:"Melton Rail Innovation & Development Centre"
1287:
1285:
986:(LUL). However, according to industry periodical
931:The aftermath of an intentional crash test of a
899:The Old Dalby Test Track has its origins in the
1073:Rail Innovation and Development Centre (Melton)
1314:
1312:
1310:
1164:The Nottingham and Melton Railway 1872 – 2012
1101:undergoing dynamic testing at Old Dalby, 2015
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1258:"Train test crash 1984 – nuclear flask test"
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1069:Technical Specification for Interoperability
903:, which saw the intentional rundown of the
871:, ownership of the line was transferred to
1157:
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42:
1502:. globalrailwayreview.com. 19 March 2021.
1129:During March 2021, it was announced that
984:Metronet (British infrastructure company)
915:began to be used for testing purposes by
689:
681:
459:
451:
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1027:European Rail Traffic Management System
1021:trains that were later operated on the
16:English railway used for testing trains
1400:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
1393:
1087:for the future electrification of the
707:
699:
1578:British Rail research and development
974:rent to various companies, including
7:
1322:. railengineer.co.uk. 24 March 2016.
1432:Browne, Stephanie (23 April 2015),
1333:Photos of the class 172s under test
1192:"It's a lovely day – bring a flask"
964:privatisation of Britain's railways
133:
14:
1224:Garside, Jack (5 November 2014).
631:
592:
1480:Martin, Dan (10 December 2017).
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1036:in 2007 to test and commission
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647:Great Northern and London &
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489:
442:
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329:
238:
1465:Hewett, Sam (16 August 2017).
1450:Stacy, Mungo (13 March 2017).
1190:Harris, Nigel (29 July 2009).
917:British Rail Research Division
852:British Rail Research Division
763:
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734:
467:
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107:
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1:
1040:trains being manufactured by
1006:Old Dalby railway test centre
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672:
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1452:"Balloons in Stanton Tunnel"
869:British Rail's privatisation
786:Birmingham–Peterborough line
541:Birmingham–Peterborough line
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654:North Western Joint Railway
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1228:. National Railway Museum.
1056:The public services group
1046:Derby Litchurch Lane Works
1038:London Underground S Stock
1421:(755): 16, 20 August 2014
1338:13 September 2009 at the
1029:system for Network Rail.
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1469:. railwaymagazine.co.uk.
1162:Aldworth, Colin (2012).
962:As a consequence of the
922:Advanced Passenger Train
856:Advanced Passenger Train
1320:"ATO in Leicestershire"
1111:automatic train control
1089:Great Western Main Line
968:BRB (Residuary) Limited
873:BRB (Residuary) Limited
843:, on the course of the
119:Nottingham–Lincoln line
1207:"Crash Test Old Dalby"
1115:British Rail Class 800
1102:
1099:British Rail Class 800
1007:
994:on 30 September 2013.
936:
1454:. railengineer.co.uk.
1244:commons.wikimedia.org
1226:"Operation Smash Hit"
1097:
1005:
930:
1554:52.80889°N 0.99333°W
1260:– via YouTube.
1213:on 28 December 2016.
1023:West Coast Main Line
998:Twenty-first century
829:Old Dalby Test Track
424:Waltham-on-the-Wolds
26:Old Dalby Test Track
1583:Railway test tracks
1550: /
1194:. railmagazine.com.
935:train, 17 July 1984
1559:52.80889; -0.99333
1382:on 17 October 2013
1358:. 14 January 2014.
1276:legislation.gov.uk
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1486:Leicester Mercury
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1375:. Archived from
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1209:. Archived from
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1384:. Retrieved
1377:the original
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1356:Melton Times
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417:Mineral line
117:
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1557: /
157:River Trent
1572:Categories
1542:52°48′32″N
1386:17 October
1137:References
1042:Bombardier
1016:Class 390
972:peppercorn
941:pantograph
270:Widmerpool
88:Nottingham
1545:0°59′36″W
1123:railtours
1062:Class 172
1018:Pendolino
957:carriages
549:Leicester
315:Old Dalby
1396:cite web
1336:Archived
1034:Metronet
953:Class 46
913:Edwalton
888:Metronet
841:Edwalton
361:Grimston
226:Plumtree
185:Edwalton
1278:. 2013.
895:History
1299:14 May
1107:Thales
982:, and
980:Alstom
949:flasks
886:, and
884:Alstom
794:Oakham
35:Legend
1380:(PDF)
1373:(PDF)
1058:Serco
976:Serco
880:Serco
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155:over
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1418:Rail
1402:link
1388:2013
1301:2022
988:Rail
911:and
839:and
827:The
1083:on
1044:at
854:'s
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547:to
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