Stoke Bank

Stoke Bank is an inclined stretch of the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between Peterborough and Grantham, it is named after the village of Stoke Rochford which is close to Stoke Summit, which at 345 feet (105 m) above sea level, is the highest point of the ECML between London King's Cross and Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is not however, the highest point of the entire ECML, which is Grantshouse Summit between Berwick and Edinburgh at 400 feet (120 m).[1]

The climb up the bank begins roughly 15 miles (24 km) north of Peterborough, which is near sea level, and then ascends to Stoke Summit over a distance of roughly 10 miles (16 km) with gradients of up to 1 in 178. Shortly after the summit, the line runs through the 880 yards (800 m) Stoke Tunnel. It then descends for around 5 miles at 1 in 200 before reaching Grantham station, and then continues on a more gradual descent for around 15 miles, until reaching Newark North Gate, which is also near sea level.[1]

Speed records

Stoke Bank is most famous as being the scene of a number of high speed runs by various trains, most famously, LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard broke the world speed record for a steam locomotive of 126 miles per hour (203 km/h) on 3 July 1938.[1]

On 17 September 1989 the British speed record for electric traction, was achieved on Stoke Bank, by a Class 91 (91 110, formerly 91 010) which reached 161.7 miles per hour (260.2 km/h).[2]

References
  1. Buck, Martin, Rawlinson, Mark (2002). Line By Line: The East Coast Main Line, King's Cross To Edinburgh. Buck & Rawlinson. pp. 34–39. ISBN 0-9537540-2-2.
  2. "Moving Memorials – railways and commemoration". National Railway Museum.

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