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, close to Stoke Summit, which at 345 ft 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 ft.

The climb up the bank begins roughly 15 mile north of Peterborough, which is close to sea level, and ascends to Stoke Summit over a distance of approximately 10 mile with gradients of up to 1 in 178. Shortly after the summit, the line runs through the 880 yd 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.

Speed records
Stoke Bank is most famous for being the scene of a number of high speed runs by various trains. Most famously, 4468 Mallard broke the world speed record for a steam locomotive of 126 mph on 3 July 1938. In July 1998, a trackside sign was erected at the 90 1/4 mark milepost to commemorate the record.

On 23 May 1959, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley set the post-war steam record speed of 112 mph. As with Mallard record, this was descending southward from Stoke Bank, but unlike Mallard run, which was a special attempt, this was with a full train of passengers returning from an excursion to Doncaster Works.

On 2 February 1978, the fastest speed achieved by a Class 55 "Deltic" diesel locomotive was attained by 55 008 The Green Howards, which was on a special record breaking run, hauling 10 coaches (343 tons gross). The train achieved a speed of 125 mph whilst descending Stoke Bank.

On 17 September 1989 the British speed record for an electric locomotive was achieved on Stoke Bank, by a (91 110, formerly 91 010) which reached 161.7 mph.