Master Cutler (train)
Encyclopedia
The Master Cutler is a British named express passenger train that operates on the National Rail
network from Sheffield
to London and return. It has a somewhat complicated history, with the route and composition changing several times, but has always been seen as Sheffield's premier business train.
in the winter timetable of 1947, running on the Great Central Main Line
route from to , calling at and . Upon nationalisation the following year, the service became the responsibility of the Eastern Region of British Railways
.
Known to staff simply as "The Cutler", the train initially left Sheffield at 07:40, the return journey departing London at 18:15. It carried a restaurant car and was generally hauled by a Gresley A3 Pacific
.
In 1958, passenger services on the former Great Central route were beginning to be run down, and in September of that year the title of the train switched to a new all-Pullman
service from Sheffield Victoria to , using the East Coast Main Line
.
It called only at Retford
in both directions, and was diesel-hauled from the outset. A Pullman supplement was required for all passengers. However, in early 1966 British Railways decided to concentrate Sheffield traffic on the Midland Main Line
route to (and Leeds traffic on King's Cross). So the Pullman coaches were withdrawn on 15 April 1966, and the train reverted to normal carriages.
From 7 October 1968 the Master Cutler title was moved over to a fast train running to London St Pancras via the Midland line. It was later de-named, but the name was revived by InterCity
in May 1987, for a daily train operated by InterCity 125
high-speed trains.
When Midland Mainline
took over from InterCity after privatisation
, it decided to run the Master Cutler from Leeds
to London St Pancras, via Doncaster
and Sheffield, using a Pullman (with an additional first-class coach replacing a Standard Class coach) InterCity 125 train. The Master Cutler operated like this until December 2008 (under East Midlands Trains
(EMT) from 12 November 2007), when EMT launched its new timetable.
As part of the timetable changes on 14 December 2008, EMT reverted the service to its post-1968 historic route, and it now operates from Sheffield to London St Pancras, via Chesterfield
, Derby
and Leicester, not starting from Leeds. Another change came with the use of a 7-car Class 222 Meridian
train to run the service instead of an InterCity 125 train that had operated it for the previous 21 years. The substantial reduction in the number of first-class seats caused by this change of train has led to noticeable overcrowding, and in response East Midlands Trains has actively sought to persuade business travellers to consider the other two named trains between Sheffield and London.
. The service is run by 7-car Class 222 Meridian
trains in both directions.
, Doncaster
, Sheffield and Chesterfield, and then ran non-stop to London St Pancras.
This was unusual in that it was the only regular passenger train booked to run non-stop through Leicester
, as well as avoiding both Nottingham and Derby, running the full length of the Erewash Valley Line
.
In the 'down' (northbound) direction, after leaving St Pancras it called at Leicester, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, and Wakefield Westgate, terminating at Leeds.
also runs re-enactments of the train on certain days using a rake of "Blood and Custard" Mark 1s. One of their locomotives used to work on the original trains during the 1950s, jointly-owned BR standard class 5 73156
; as of 2009 it is being restored to working order.
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
network from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
to London and return. It has a somewhat complicated history, with the route and composition changing several times, but has always been seen as Sheffield's premier business train.
History
The Master Cutler was introduced by the London and North Eastern RailwayLondon and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
in the winter timetable of 1947, running on the Great Central Main Line
Great Central Main Line
The Great Central Main Line , also known as the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway , is a former railway line which opened in 1899 linking Sheffield with Marylebone Station in London via Nottingham and Leicester.The GCML was the last main line railway built in...
route from to , calling at and . Upon nationalisation the following year, the service became the responsibility of the Eastern Region of British Railways
Eastern Region of British Railways
The Eastern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992...
.
Known to staff simply as "The Cutler", the train initially left Sheffield at 07:40, the return journey departing London at 18:15. It carried a restaurant car and was generally hauled by a Gresley A3 Pacific
LNER Gresley Classes A1 and A3
The London and North Eastern Railway LNER Gresley Classes A1 and A3 locomotives represented two distinct stages in the history of the British 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley...
.
In 1958, passenger services on the former Great Central route were beginning to be run down, and in September of that year the title of the train switched to a new all-Pullman
Lounge car
A lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
service from Sheffield Victoria to , using the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
.
It called only at Retford
Retford
Retford is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands of England, located 31 miles from the city of Nottingham, and 23 miles west of Lincoln, in the district of Bassetlaw. The town is situated in a valley with the River Idle and the Chesterfield Canal running through the centre of the...
in both directions, and was diesel-hauled from the outset. A Pullman supplement was required for all passengers. However, in early 1966 British Railways decided to concentrate Sheffield traffic on the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
route to (and Leeds traffic on King's Cross). So the Pullman coaches were withdrawn on 15 April 1966, and the train reverted to normal carriages.
From 7 October 1968 the Master Cutler title was moved over to a fast train running to London St Pancras via the Midland line. It was later de-named, but the name was revived by InterCity
InterCity (British Rail)
InterCity was introduced by British Rail in 1966 as a brand-name for its long-haul express passenger services ....
in May 1987, for a daily train operated by InterCity 125
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
high-speed trains.
When Midland Mainline
Midland Mainline
Midland Mainline was a British train operating company owned by the National Express Group and based in Derby. It was created after the privatisation of British Rail. Midland Mainline services operated from April 1996 to November 2007....
took over from InterCity after privatisation
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
, it decided to run the Master Cutler from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
to London St Pancras, via Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
and Sheffield, using a Pullman (with an additional first-class coach replacing a Standard Class coach) InterCity 125 train. The Master Cutler operated like this until December 2008 (under East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
(EMT) from 12 November 2007), when EMT launched its new timetable.
As part of the timetable changes on 14 December 2008, EMT reverted the service to its post-1968 historic route, and it now operates from Sheffield to London St Pancras, via Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and Leicester, not starting from Leeds. Another change came with the use of a 7-car Class 222 Meridian
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
train to run the service instead of an InterCity 125 train that had operated it for the previous 21 years. The substantial reduction in the number of first-class seats caused by this change of train has led to noticeable overcrowding, and in response East Midlands Trains has actively sought to persuade business travellers to consider the other two named trains between Sheffield and London.
From 15 December 2008
The train operates between Sheffield and London St Pancras, calling at , and . Leaving Sheffield at 0727, arriving London at 0937 and returning at 1655 arriving back at 1904, it remains one of the fastest scheduled services to operate along the Midland Main LineMidland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
. The service is run by 7-car Class 222 Meridian
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
trains in both directions.
Until 12 December 2008
In the 'up' (southbound) direction, after leaving Leeds the Master Cutler called at Wakefield WestgateWakefield Westgate railway station
Wakefield Westgate railway station is the mainline railway station for the city of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on the western edge of the main city centre, on the opposite side from Wakefield's other station, Kirkgate.-Services:...
, Doncaster
Doncaster railway station
Doncaster railway station serves the town of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the East Coast Main Line north of London Kings Cross, and is about five minutes walk from Doncaster town centre. The station is managed by East Coast...
, Sheffield and Chesterfield, and then ran non-stop to London St Pancras.
This was unusual in that it was the only regular passenger train booked to run non-stop through Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, as well as avoiding both Nottingham and Derby, running the full length of the Erewash Valley Line
Erewash Valley Line
The Erewash Valley Line is a railway line in Britain running from south of Chesterfield along the Erewash Valley to Trent Junction at Long Eaton, joining the Midland Main Line at each end.- History :...
.
In the 'down' (northbound) direction, after leaving St Pancras it called at Leicester, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, and Wakefield Westgate, terminating at Leeds.
In preservation
The preserved Great Central RailwayGreat Central Railway (preserved)
The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway split into two adjacent sections, one in Leicestershire and the other Nottinghamshire.The Leicestershire section is currently Britain's only double track mainline heritage railway, with of working double track, period signalling, locomotives and...
also runs re-enactments of the train on certain days using a rake of "Blood and Custard" Mark 1s. One of their locomotives used to work on the original trains during the 1950s, jointly-owned BR standard class 5 73156
BR standard class 5 73156
British Railways Standard Class 5 No. 73156 is a preserved British steam locomotive. It is presently undergoing restoration at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway...
; as of 2009 it is being restored to working order.
Other named trains
East Midlands operates three other named trains called:- The Robin HoodRobin Hood (passenger train)The Robin Hood is one of the four flagship named passenger trains operated by East Midlands Trains inherited from Midland Mainline in the UK. There are two trains named the "Robin Hood"; the 0750 train from Nottingham to London, St. Pancras on weekday mornings, and the 1615 train from London, St....
- The South YorkshiremanSouth YorkshiremanThe South Yorkshireman is a British named passenger train. In its modern version it is one of four named expresses operated by East Midlands Trains, and runs between and ....
- The Sheffield ContinentalSheffield ContinentalThe Sheffield Continental is one of the four flagship named passenger trains operated by East Midlands Trains. There is only a south-bound Sheffield Continental service which is the 0647 train from Sheffield to London St Pancras....
External links
- East Midlands Trains website
- National Rail Enquires website - main web portal for UK train fares, times and other travel information