The Old Dalby Test Track is a railway test track in the United Kingdom used for testing new designs of train. It lies between Melton Mowbray and Edwalton on the course of the former Midland Railways route between Kettering and Nottingham that had previously closed to passengers in 1968. The line is 13.5 miles in length.
The test track was originally set up by British Rail Research Division who had been using the line for testing since May 1966. After closure as a through route, it was converted into a test track for the Advanced Passenger Train APT-E project, re-opening in September 1970. The test track saw extensive use in the heyday of the British Rail Research Division and was used for pantograph development and OHLE testing.
In 2001 the test track was leased by Alstom Transport who electrified the former Down line at 25kV AC OHLE to test and commission the Class 390 Pendolino trains for introduction by Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line.
When Alstom withdrew from the United Kingdom train-building market, the line was threatened with closure before being leased to Metronet in 2007 in order to test and commission the next generation of London Underground S Stock trains. To facilitate this, the former Up line, which was re-instated by Alstom during their upgrade between Old Dalby and Widmerpool, was equipped with approximately 4km (2.5 mi) of London Underground-style conductor rails from Old Dalby to a point near to Folley Hall Bridge. Testing of the S stock began at the end of March 2009. The former Down line retains its 25kV OHLE.
Serco has been awarded the contract to manage the whole of the test track on behalf of Metronet, giving them the opportunity to attract other interested parties to the line.
As of April 2010, the test track was being used by Class 172 diesel multiple units in addition to the London Underground S Stock, both of these being manufactured in Derby.
More information about the test track can be found at http://www.old-dalby.com/
The cache is located at the roadside near a convienient pull in. Please park considerately! You DO NOT need to enter private or railway property to get to the cache, it is accessible from the verge!
I have never seen any railway traffic along this part of the test track, but if you are lucky enough to, please add a photo to the page!
Congratulations to loopylol666 and James@Bunny for a very quick FTF!