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DMU Operations: London Midland Region

Workington - Whitehaven - Carlisle

This was the third and final part of the West Cumberland Diesel Scheme, the green line on the route map, introduced on the 7th February 1955. Vehicles required window bars for working over the former M&CR (Maryport & Carlisle Railway) which had restricted clearances.

Initially Derby Lightweights were used, allocated to Carlisle and Workington, they were replaced in 1969 by Class 108s allocated to Carlisle then Newcastle. They were replaced by Second Generation units in November 1991.

February 1955 timetable

On weekdays there had been ten steam services in the previous timetable (from Carlisle at 5.40am, 6.50am, 8.25am, 11.07am, 1.25pm, 4.20pm, 5.06pm, 6.15pm, 7.50pm and 9.05pm). With the diesels the 5.40am and 6.50am departures remained — most likely to fit in with factory starting times etc. — the rest were replaced by an even interval service at 25 minutes past the hour from 8.25am till 4.25pm, and then at 5.15pm, 6.15pm, 7.50pm, 8.30pm and 9.25pm. This increased the services from ten to sixteen. On Saturdays there had been additional trains at 1.00pm and 9.10pm, and the 1.25pm was replaced by a 1.50pm departure.

The services stopped at Dalston, Wigton, Aspatria, Bullgill, Maryport, Flimby, Workington, Harrington and Parton. Timings for the 27¾ miles to Maryport was 42 minutes (previously 47-50 minutes), the 33¼ miles to Workington in 54 minutes (previously 62-65 minutes), and the 40 miles to Whitehaven in 74 minutes (previously 86-92 minutes). All the services kept these timings except the 5.40am, 6.50am and 9.25pm which were given extra time for handling parcels, although most of this work was done by two steam hauled parcels trains.

From Whitehaven services were hourly from 6.55am to 2.55pm and then at 4.15pm, 5.15pm, 6.15pm, 6.45pm, 7.55pm and 9.55pm. Journey times were the same in this direction. The turnaround times at both ends was 16 minutes, allowing a set to do up to five return journeys a day — a total of 400 miles.

Overall, the timings were little improved over previous steam schedules, particularly as the steam schedules had been decelerated in the year or two prior. The 7.55am from Whitehaven managed to knock 15 minutes of the schedule of the previous 7.48am steam train, although it only knocked 13 mins of the previous summer's schedule. The 5.15pm from Whitehaven now took one minute longer, and three minutes longer than the previous summer's. In the up direction accelerations ranged up to 15 minutes, although the 5.40am from Carlisle took only the minute less, and the 7.50am two minutes.

It was mentioned that standing times at stations seemed to be excessive, and that the schedules could be cut once experience had been gained in operating the sets. The diesels made it necessary to introduce a service of steam-hauled parcels trains between Carlisle and Whitehaven, and the two trains were run daily in each direction comprised mainly of LNER six-wheeled parcels vans.

The Sunday service was a vast improvement, with nine services instead of the original two at 6.45am and 4.00pm from Carlisle and 11.00am and 6.30pm return. The DMU times were well spaced out, and as Dalston, Bullgill, Flimby, Harrington and Parton were all closed on a Sunday, the journey only took 66-67 minutes.

This third stage of the West Cumberland Diesel Scheme was thought to have particularly good prospects, as the stations at Carlisle, Maryport, Workington, Whitehaven and Aspatria were all fairly centrally situated in the towns, allowing them to compete better with road transport.

Success

Between the start of the Carlisle and Whitehaven service in February 1955 and the end of April 1955, 91,600 passengers were carried compared to 59,000 in the corresponding period in 1954.

1959 Sample Diagram

A typical 1959 summer diagram (no. 352) involved a Carlisle set starting with the 5.45am to Whitehaven coupled to the Cravens parcel car, which it remained with for the return journey. On its own the power/trailer then made another three trips to Whitehaven before returning around 6.20pm. The 8.25am weekday service to Whitehaven was operated by a 6-car set, and 4-cars were use on other services during the day.

To Barrow

By 1965 some services were extended through to Barrow.

Class 108s

In March 1969 Class 108s were transferred to Carlisle to replace the Derby Lightweights. They would remain as the main traction for the route until replacement by second generation units in November 1991.

Sample Timetables

11th June to 16th September 1956

Paper, 4 3/4" x 6 1/2" when folded.