Nene Valley Railway
Encyclopedia
The Nene Valley Railway (NVR) is a preserved railway
in Cambridgeshire
, England
, running between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction. The line is currently seven and a half miles in length. As well as stations at each terminus, there are currently three stops en route: Orton Mere, Ferry Meadows and Wansford
.
in Northamptonshire
to Peterborough
. Completed in 1847, it became Peterborough's first railway line, terminating at Peterborough, later 'Peterborough East' station. The sheds and one platform face of this redundant station are still clearly visible next to the former Matalan store on East Station Road off of London Road.
The line was of little significance until the late 19th century, when the London & North Western Railway (L&NWR), which had absorbed the L&BR constructed a line, via Nassington and King's Cliffe to Seaton
, below Welland Viaduct. This turned Wansford, previously an unimportant village station, into a major junction. Its importance was increased a few years later when the Great Northern Railway constructed another line, via Sutton
, Southorpe
and Barnack
to Stamford
, on the Midland Railway
line. In 1884 the line received a royal visit when the royal family travelled between Peterborough and Barnwell, some 13 miles (20.9 km) beyond Wansford, to visit Barnwell Manor
, home of the then Duke of Gloucester
. The station building is now preserved at Wansford station on the NVR, and is known as the Barnwell building.
Between the turn of the century and the 1960s, the line formed an important connection from Norwich
, Cambridge
and eastern England to Northampton
and the Midlands. The line was generally acknowledged to be a secondary mainline and regularly saw large engines such as Black 5
s and B1
s. However, the NVR was one of the last passenger line closures of the Dr Beeching era
, services to Northampton and Rugby having ceased in 1964 and 1966 respectively. It remained open until 1972 for freight traffic only.
The Nene Valley Railway has a full-scale 'replica' of Thomas the Tank Engine
working for passenger and freight service on 'Thomas' events; it was the first railway in the world to possess one. The Nene Valley Railway's Thomas is considered the 'official' Thomas The Tank Engine, because it was named by the fictional characters' creator the Rev. W. Awdry in 1971. For this (and other) reasons, the Nene Valley Railway does not host official 'Day out with Thomas
' events like most railways do. The Nene Valley Railway run Thomas at various special events, weekends and bank holidays.
In 1968, the Reverend Richard Paten had bought British Railways Standard Class '5' 4-6-0 locomotive, number 73050, for its scrap value of £3,000. His intention had been to exhibit it outside Peterborough Technology College as a monument to Peterborough's railway history. However, there was one problem - the locomotive was found to be in good working order. Because of the engine's condition there was a large amount of opposition to the idea of the engine being 'stuffed'; many people pressed the idea of the locomotive being restored to full working order.
On 28 March 1969, the Peterborough Branch of the East Anglian Locomotive Society was formed, with the intention of purchasing and restoring the BR Pacific locomotive, number 70000 'Britannia'
. By 1970, the group was sufficiently strong to form its own group - the Peterborough Locomotive Society (PLS). In 1971, 73050 was moved to the British Sugar Corporation's sidings at Fletton, where it was joined by Hunslet
0-6-0 locomotive 'Jack's Green'. Later that year, the PLS held a meeting at which the group's name was changed to 'Peterborough Railway Society' and the idea of the Nene Valley Railway was formally launched.
In 1974, the Peterborough Development Corporation (PDC) bought the Nene Valley line between Longville and Yarwell Junctions and it began leasing it to the PRS to operate the railway - a major milestone in the society's history.
in 1978. However, with the PRC's lack of stock and locomotives this looked highly improbable.
In 1973, PRS member Richard Hurlock had approached the society for a home for his ex-Swedish railways 2-6-4T class S1 oil-fired locomotive, number 1928. Because the engine was higher and wider than British stock, it was to be a static exhibition only. During 1974, it was realised that the use of foreign stock and engines could answer the NVR's aspirations. After a feasibility study was carried out, it was discovered that only one bridge would have to be demolished to allow the running to continental loading gauge
. Some reductions would also have to be made to the width of the platforms. In 1973, BR gave PRS permission to use Wansford signal box and, in September of that year, the first items of stock arrived at the PRS depot.
owned by the Southern Electric Group.
Although however, The site of the old station is still intact (but currently all but free land), with the extension to Yarwell Junction now complete, there's still hope that one day fundraising (for a possible extension to and reconstruction of the old station at Elton) could be made officially once all current projects have finished and finances could possibly allow after a couple more years to come.
and Market Harborough
. It is the current terminus of the NVR's operating line. During April 2006 a track realignment was conducted, allowing for the construction of a platform at Yarwell Junction, which opened at Easter 2007 (there was never previously a station on the site). The new station is served by footpaths to Nassington and the mill village of Yarwell, but there is no vehicular access. Yarwell Junction is situated approximately 1 mile west of Wansford station, at the other end of Yarwell Tunnel.
The current station building was opened in 1995 and contains a ticket office, shop, cafe and toilets. The locomotive sheds are located at this station. Also at the station there is a picnic area and children's playground. The station was formerly the junction for a branch to Stamford, which separated to the north just east of the river bridge at Wansford.
The original Wansford station is located on platform three and was built in 1844-1845 in Jacobean style for the opening of the railway. This building does not belong to the railway, though the railway is trying to acquire this building.
However there is hope that the station could be restored when funding officially permits and local residents (in/near Castor itself) would interestingly support.
and provides access to the nearby country park. The current building was moved brick by brick from its previous location of the old goods yard at Fletton Junction on the East Coast Main Line, it replaced a portable building desperately in need of repair. NVR plan to add a canopy. The station building was offered to the NVR for £1 plus transportation costs.
The Park is open throughout the year, but most facilities such as the miniature railway and pedaloes only run from Easter to the end of October. Ferry Meadows station is on the site of the former Overton station
.
This station provides access to the eastern end of the Nene Park.
Visitors
Scenes from the James Bond
film Octopussy
were shot here and Castor
church can clearly be seen in the background, even though this section of the film was set in West Germany
and East Germany (pre unification
).
Also, the Bond film Golden Eye was filmed on the line. For the film, a Class 20 was disguised as a Russian armoured train. In the film, a tunnel that the train seemingly goes into is in fact a small bridge over the tracks.
BBC TV drama "Casualty
" has also filmed here.
Between 1977 and 1979, many sequences for the BBC's wartime drama Secret Army were filmed here, principally at Wansford station, notably in the episodes: The Hostage, A Matter of Life and Death and The Last Run.
In Spring 1989, the rock band Queen
shot a video at the railway called "Breakthru
" that reached number 7 in the British charts. They are filmed on a steam train (a GWR 2884 Class
, No.3822 from Didcot, repainted) that was given the name 'Miracle Express' after the title of their 1989 album The Miracle.
In October 2008, the filming of the musical Nine
, starring Penelope Cruz
and Daniel Day-Lewis
, took place at Wansford.
In November 2009, ITV spent three days at the Nene for their remake of 'Murder on the Orient Express' for Agatha Christie's Poirot
Series. They used the BR Standard Class 5
73050 'City of Peterborough' numbered '305' and the Belgian Coaching Stock, with most filming taking place at Ferry Meadows.
In September 2010, scenes were filmed for the BBC soap opera, EastEnders
, on the line, in which characters Janine Butcher and Ryan Malloy
were trapped on a level crossing with a train approaching them.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, running between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction. The line is currently seven and a half miles in length. As well as stations at each terminus, there are currently three stops en route: Orton Mere, Ferry Meadows and Wansford
Wansford railway station
Wansford railway station is the headquarters of the Nene Valley Railway. The current station building was opened in 1995 and contains a ticket office, shop, cafe and toilets. The locomotive sheds are located at this station. Also at the station there is a picnic area and children's playground...
.
History
In 1845, the London & Birmingham Railway (L&BR) company was given parliamentary assent to construct a line from BlisworthBlisworth
Blisworth is a village and civil parish in the South Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England. The West Coast Main Line, from London Euston to Manchester and Scotland, runs alongside the village partly hidden and partly on an embankment...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
to Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
. Completed in 1847, it became Peterborough's first railway line, terminating at Peterborough, later 'Peterborough East' station. The sheds and one platform face of this redundant station are still clearly visible next to the former Matalan store on East Station Road off of London Road.
The line was of little significance until the late 19th century, when the London & North Western Railway (L&NWR), which had absorbed the L&BR constructed a line, via Nassington and King's Cliffe to Seaton
Seaton, Rutland
Seaton is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England.Nearby is the large Seaton Viaduct, on the Oakham to Kettering railway line. It is three quarters of a mile long and took four years to build. It has 82 arches which are up to high. The railway is now...
, below Welland Viaduct. This turned Wansford, previously an unimportant village station, into a major junction. Its importance was increased a few years later when the Great Northern Railway constructed another line, via Sutton
Sutton, Cambridgeshire
Sutton is a civil parish in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. For electoral purposes it forms part of Glinton and Wittering ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency....
, Southorpe
Southorpe, Cambridgeshire
Southorpe is a civil parish in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For electoral purposes it forms part of Barnack ward in North West Cambridgeshire constituency....
and Barnack
Barnack
Barnack is a village and civil parish in the City of Peterborough unitary authority of Cambridgeshire, England. It is located in the north-west of the district, only four miles south-east from Stamford in Lincolnshire. According to the 2001 census, it had a population of 851 people. Barnack's...
to Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
, on the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
line. In 1884 the line received a royal visit when the royal family travelled between Peterborough and Barnwell, some 13 miles (20.9 km) beyond Wansford, to visit Barnwell Manor
Barnwell Manor
Barnwell Manor is the historic former home of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. It is located by the village of Barnwell, near Oundle, Northamptonshire in England.-The house and estate:...
, home of the then Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Gloucester is a British royal title , often conferred on one of the sons of the reigning monarch. The first four creations were in the Peerage of England, the next in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the last in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; this current creation carries with it the...
. The station building is now preserved at Wansford station on the NVR, and is known as the Barnwell building.
Between the turn of the century and the 1960s, the line formed an important connection from Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and eastern England to Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
and the Midlands. The line was generally acknowledged to be a secondary mainline and regularly saw large engines such as Black 5
LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0
The London Midland and Scottish Railway's Class 5 4-6-0, almost universally known as the Black Five, is a class of steam locomotive. It was introduced by William Stanier in 1934 and 842 were built between then and 1951...
s and B1
LNER Thompson Class B1
The London and North Eastern Railway Thompson Class B1 is a class of steam locomotive designed for medium mixed traffic work. It was designed by Edward Thompson.- Overview :...
s. However, the NVR was one of the last passenger line closures of the Dr Beeching era
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
, services to Northampton and Rugby having ceased in 1964 and 1966 respectively. It remained open until 1972 for freight traffic only.
The Nene Valley Railway has a full-scale 'replica' of Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
working for passenger and freight service on 'Thomas' events; it was the first railway in the world to possess one. The Nene Valley Railway's Thomas is considered the 'official' Thomas The Tank Engine, because it was named by the fictional characters' creator the Rev. W. Awdry in 1971. For this (and other) reasons, the Nene Valley Railway does not host official 'Day out with Thomas
Day out with Thomas
Day Out With Thomas is a trade name, licensed by HiT Entertainment, for tourist events that take place on heritage railways and feature one or more trains decorated to look like characters from the children's TV series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
' events like most railways do. The Nene Valley Railway run Thomas at various special events, weekends and bank holidays.
Peterborough Locomotive Society
On 28 March 1969, the Peterborough Branch of the East Anglian Locomotive Society was formed, with the intention of purchasing and restoring the BR Pacific locomotive, number 70000 'Britannia'
BR standard class 7 70000 Britannia
British Railways standard class 7 , number 70000 Britannia is a preserved steam locomotive.-British Railways:...
. By 1970, the group was sufficiently strong to form its own group - the Peterborough Locomotive Society (PLS). In 1971, 73050 was moved to the British Sugar Corporation's sidings at Fletton, where it was joined by Hunslet
Hunslet
Hunslet is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is south east of the city centre and has an industrial past.Hunslet had many engineering companies based in the district, such as John Fowler & Co...
0-6-0 locomotive 'Jack's Green'. Later that year, the PLS held a meeting at which the group's name was changed to 'Peterborough Railway Society' and the idea of the Nene Valley Railway was formally launched.
In 1974, the Peterborough Development Corporation (PDC) bought the Nene Valley line between Longville and Yarwell Junctions and it began leasing it to the PRS to operate the railway - a major milestone in the society's history.
The Nene Valley Railway
When the PRS acquired the line, the intention was to work the line with British locomotives and stock. However, enthusiasts from other railways and preservation societies had already acquired almost all of the serviceable ex-BR locomotives - all that was left was a collection of rusting hulks. Apart from 73050, the society's locomotives were mostly small, industrial shunting engines and therefore not suitable for the 11 miles (17.7 km) round trip. Ex-BR rolling stock was also in very short supply following the disposal of most pre-nationalisation (pre-1948) stock. The PDC, having paid out a considerable sum of money for the line, was anxious that trains should start running as soon as possible - certainly before the opening of the new Nene ParkNene Park, Peterborough
Nene Park is a country park in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. Opened in 1978, it occupies a site approximately three and a half miles long, from slightly west of Castor to the centre of Peterborough. The Park has three lakes, one of which houses a watersports centre...
in 1978. However, with the PRC's lack of stock and locomotives this looked highly improbable.
A continental solution
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
. Some reductions would also have to be made to the width of the platforms. In 1973, BR gave PRS permission to use Wansford signal box and, in September of that year, the first items of stock arrived at the PRS depot.
The first train
Before the stock could be moved from the BSC depot to Wansford, the missing 400 yards (366 m) of the Fletton Loop had to be rebuilt, allowing access to the Nene Valley line. The track was completed in March 1974 and the stock moved to Wansford in time for the Easter weekend, when the new 'Wansford Steam Centre' opened for the first time. Between 1974 and 1977, the line was upgraded to passenger-carrying standard and the first passenger train ran on 1 June 1977, hauled by the 'Nord' - a French locomotive and '1178' - another Swedish tank engine, pulling a set of ex-BR electrical multiple unit coachesBritish Rail Class 404
The Southern Railway gave the designations 4-COR, 4-RES, 4-BUF and 4-GRI to the different types of electric multiple unit built to work the route between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour. The 4-COR type units survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPS Class 404...
owned by the Southern Electric Group.
The Peterborough extension
In the early 1980s, the NVR decided to extend its running line, which then terminated at Orton Mere station, along the route of the original Nene Valley Line to a new station west of the East Coast Main Line, adjacent to the new Railworld Museum. Peterborough Nene Valley opened, for the first time, on the Late Spring Bank Holiday Weekend 26TH May 1986. This extended the length of the NVR to its current length, 7.5 miles (12.1 km).Crescent Link
Since 1999, there has been talk of the 'crescent link' project promoted by 'Railworld' - a scheme to allow the NVR to run trains through the westernmost end of the Nene Park, across the river Nene into the Peterborough mainline station to connect directly with East Coast, National Express East Anglia, East Midland Trains, Arriva Cross Country and First Capital Connect services. It is thought likely this might be done in accordance with the proposed redevelopment and modernisation of Peterborough station. However, no fixed date has been set for this development, and it is uncertain if the project will ever go ahead.Elton
Elton was a railway station in Cambridgeshire and was the last stop along the line before crossing the border into Northamptonshire, However the station has been demolished completely, since closure in the past ... however the NVR had attempted to extend the line to Elton back in the 1990's but was dropped following lack of funding at the time.Although however, The site of the old station is still intact (but currently all but free land), with the extension to Yarwell Junction now complete, there's still hope that one day fundraising (for a possible extension to and reconstruction of the old station at Elton) could be made officially once all current projects have finished and finances could possibly allow after a couple more years to come.
Stations currently on the Nene Valley Railway:
Yarwell Junction
Yarwell Junction was formerly the junction between the lines to NorthamptonNorthampton railway station
Northampton railway station is a railway station serving the large town of Northampton and other parts of Northamptonshire in England. Other parts of South Northamptonshire are better served by Kings Sutton, Banbury and Milton Keynes Central stations....
and Market Harborough
Market Harborough railway station
Market Harborough railway station serves the town of Market Harborough in Leicestershire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, 16 miles south-east of Leicester and is served by the fast and semi-fast East Midlands Trains Class 222 "Meridian"/HST services...
. It is the current terminus of the NVR's operating line. During April 2006 a track realignment was conducted, allowing for the construction of a platform at Yarwell Junction, which opened at Easter 2007 (there was never previously a station on the site). The new station is served by footpaths to Nassington and the mill village of Yarwell, but there is no vehicular access. Yarwell Junction is situated approximately 1 mile west of Wansford station, at the other end of Yarwell Tunnel.
Wansford
Wansford is the headquarters of the railway and most of the facilities are based here.The current station building was opened in 1995 and contains a ticket office, shop, cafe and toilets. The locomotive sheds are located at this station. Also at the station there is a picnic area and children's playground. The station was formerly the junction for a branch to Stamford, which separated to the north just east of the river bridge at Wansford.
The original Wansford station is located on platform three and was built in 1844-1845 in Jacobean style for the opening of the railway. This building does not belong to the railway, though the railway is trying to acquire this building.
Castor
Castor was (but is currently disused) a railway station located between Wansford and Ferry Meadows, however the station closed in the 1960's and despite the NVR (whom passes through the site) re-opening, the station currently remains closed as of August 2011.However there is hope that the station could be restored when funding officially permits and local residents (in/near Castor itself) would interestingly support.
Ferry Meadows
Ferry Meadows is located near the site of Orton WatervilleOrton Waterville railway station
Orton Waterville railway station was a station serving the villages of Orton Waterville and Orton Longueville in Cambridgeshire. It was on the London and North Western Railway Northampton to Peterborough line. The station was originally called Overton. The station was closed to regular passenger...
and provides access to the nearby country park. The current building was moved brick by brick from its previous location of the old goods yard at Fletton Junction on the East Coast Main Line, it replaced a portable building desperately in need of repair. NVR plan to add a canopy. The station building was offered to the NVR for £1 plus transportation costs.
The Park is open throughout the year, but most facilities such as the miniature railway and pedaloes only run from Easter to the end of October. Ferry Meadows station is on the site of the former Overton station
Overton railway station
Overton railway station serves the village of Overton in Hampshire, England. It is located in the adjacent village of Quidhampton. The station is served and operated by South West Trains.-Typical hourly off-peak service pattern:...
.
Orton Mere
Orton Mere is a two platform station with a station building (built in 1983) and signal box. Until 1986 this was the terminus of the line. Most trains depart from platform one. Just outside of the station towards Peterborough is the Fletton Loop which links the NVR to the mainline. The signal box controls the passing loop and had to be adapted from 1 lever to three.This station provides access to the eastern end of the Nene Park.
Longville Junction
Longville Junction is located about a mile close to Peterborough (Nene Valley) and links to the nearby East Coast Main Line which also crosses of there to the Junction. As of August 2011, There is currently no platform here at present.Peterborough (Nene Valley)
Peterborough Nene Valley is the end of the line. Here there is a platform, a bay platform and a station building housing a ticket office, a small souvenir shop & toilets. It is a 10 minute walk from here to Peterborough City Centre. Railworld is next to the station with a wide variety of rolling stock on display.Operational steam locomotives
- Hudswell ClarkeHudswell ClarkeHudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
0-6-0T No 1800 'Thomas' - restricted around Wansford Yard and hauling Wansford - Yarwell shuttles only - BR Standard Class 5BR standard class 5The British Railways Standard Class 5MT 4-6-0 was one of the standard classes of steam locomotives built by British Railways in the 1950s. 172 were built, essentially being a development of the LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 .- Background :...
4-6-0 No 73050 'City of Peterborough' - Polish 0-8-0T Class Slask/TKp No 5485
- LMS Fowler Class 4FLMS Fowler Class 4FThe London Midland and Scottish Railway Fowler 4F is a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed for medium freight work. They represent the ultimate development of Midland Railway's six coupled tender engines.- Background :...
0-6-0 No 44422 courtesy 44422 Locomotive Fund
Visitors
- Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0STHunslet Austerity 0-6-0STThe Hunslet Engine Company Austerity 0-6-0ST is a steam locomotive designed for shunting. The class became the standard British shunting locomotive during the Second World War, and production continued until 1964 at various locomotive manufacturers....
(HE3846) No 22 from Appleby Frodingham RailwayAppleby Frodingham RailwayThe Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society is based at Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire. The society owns locomotives and rolling stock but not the railway it runs on. The name comes from the Appleby-Frodingham Steel Company, now simply known as Scunthorpe Works...
Steam locomotives undergoing overhaul or restoration
- BR (Southern) Bullied 4-6-2, Unrebuilt Battle of Britain class, No. 34081 '92 Squadron'. Arrived on 20 May 2010 at Wansford, from the North Norfolk Railway, for its impending major overhaul. The locomotive originally left the line in 2003.
- Danish 0-6-0T Class F No 656 'Tinkerbell' (unofficial name). Undergoing a major restoration which is going well, the loco is now completely dismantled and the frames have been cleaned. The wheels will go away for repair soon. Motion being rebuilt and the cab and bunker are being restored.
- Swedish 2-6-2T Class S No 1178. Undergoing major restoration. Work on the frames is going well with the needle gunning now complete and also replacement of the rods and bearings on the pony truck has also been completed. Making new pins for the brake rigging is underway and new angles have been made and are now welded onto the frames. A new cab floor has also been made and has been fitted to the loco frames.
- Hudswell ClarkeHudswell ClarkeHudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
0-6-0ST No 1308 'Rhos'. Undergoing a major overhaul and restoration. {Currently no activity on overhaul} - Cockerill 0-4-0WT Tram Engine. No.1626 'Toby' Undergoing a major overhaul and restoration. {Currently no activity on overhaul}
Stored steam locomotives
- Swedish 4-6-0 Class B No. 101A. Withdrawn towards the end of January 2005 for overhaul and is currently stored awaiting an overhaul.
- HunsletHunslet Engine CompanyThe Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
Austerity 0-6-0ST 75006. Awaiting overhaul after being withdrawn in 2004. - German 2-6-2T Class 64 No 64.305. Overhaul of this engine will start once 1178 is complete as lots of people want to see this engine in service.
- Hudswell ClarkeHudswell ClarkeHudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
0-6-0ST No 1539 'Derek Crouch'. On display in the yard at Wansford. - HunsletHunslet Engine CompanyThe Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
0-6-0ST No 1953 'Jacks Green'. Has recently been cosmetically restored and is on display awaiting overhaul. Its cab is accessible to visitors. This locomotive can be found between the 1995 built station building and turntable.
Operational diesel locomotives
- BR Class 31British Rail Class 31The British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from 1957-62.- Description :...
A1A-A1A No 31108 (Original RailFreight livery),in regular use. - BR Class 14British Rail Class 14The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was yard shunting, trip work and short distance...
0-6-0 No D9520. Sometimes used on passenger trains. - Yorkshire Engine Co. 0-6-0 "Janus" No D2670 'Stanton No 50'
- SentinelSentinel Waggon WorksSentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries and locomotives.-Alley & MacLellan, Sentinel Works, Jessie Street Glasgow:...
4 wheeled No 10202 'Barabel'. In regular use in the yard. - SentinelSentinel Waggon WorksSentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries and locomotives.-Alley & MacLellan, Sentinel Works, Jessie Street Glasgow:...
0-6-0 No DL83. In service. A regular shunter in the yard. Sometimes used on passenger trains. - Class 107 3 car DMU set Nos 52005+59791+52031
Diesel locomotives undergoing overhaul or restoration
- BR Class 14British Rail Class 14The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was yard shunting, trip work and short distance...
0-6-0 No D9504 Stratrail undergoing maintenance - HibberdF. C. Hibberd & Co LtdF. C. Hibberd & Co Ltd was a British locomotive-building company founded in 1927 to build industrial petrol and diesel locomotives. In 1932 the company acquired the goodwill of James and Frederick Howard Ltd...
0-4-00-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
No 2896 'Frank'. Undergoing a major restoration. - Yorkshire Engine Co. No D2654. Undergoing repairs.
- BR Class 56British Rail Class 56The British Rail Class 56 is a type of diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight work. It is a Type 5 locomotive, with a Ruston-Paxman power unit developing 3,250 bhp , and has a Co-Co wheel arrangement...
Co-Co No 56128. Arrived at Wansford early in 2008 for overhaul. Once complete, the locomotive will be departing for use on the mainline under the management of Hanson Traction Ltd as No. 56313 - SJ Class Y7 Diesel Rallcar 1212SJ Y6Y6 was a series of diesel railcars operated by Statens Järnvägar of Sweden. 378 motor cars and 321 trailers were delivered between 1953-61 by Hägglund & Söner, Svenska Järnvägsverkstäderna, Kalmar Mekaniska Verkstad and Eksjöverken. They were used throughout the unelectrified Swedish rail network...
B-2 'Helgar' Undergoing bodywork restoration
Stored diesel locomotives
- Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 No 304469. Stored awaiting major restoration.
- English ElectricEnglish ElectricEnglish Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
0-4-0 No 1123. Stored awaiting overhaul. - BR Class 14 0-6-0 D9518. Arrived from the Rutland Railway MuseumRutland Railway MuseumRutland Railway Museum now trading as Rocks by Rail: The Living Ironstone Museum is a heritage railway on part of a former Midland Railway mineral branch line. It is situated NE of Oakham, in Rutland, England.-Overview:...
and is for spares only, to keep the other Class 14s in working order.
Locos that have left the line
Steam Locomotives
- German/Polish Kriegslok 2-10-0 Class 52/Ty2 No 7173. Withdrawn from service in 2001. This locomotive has been sold to a museum collection in Belgium and has left Wansford MPD.
- French DeGlen Compound 4-6-0 NORD No 3.628. Has left the railway and went to France to be restored to work on the mainline. Is currently being cosmetically restored.
- LNER 4-6-0 Class B1 No 1306 'Mayflower' 1991-2006 Battlefield Line, Shackerstone
- Avonside 0-6-0ST Class B4 No 1945. Elsecar Railway, Barnsley.
- BR 4-6-2 Class 7MT No 70000 'Britannia' 1980-2000 Crewe Heritage Centre
- German 0-6-0T Class 80 No 80.014 1981-1997 Holland
- Danish 2-6-4T Class S No 740 1980-1995 Denmark
- LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT No 5321 1988-1993 Ropley
- Barclay 0-4-0ST (2248)/90432 1972-1991 East Kent Light RailwayEast Kent Light RailwayThe East Kent Light Railway was part of the Colonel Stephens group of cheaply built rural light railways in England. Holman Fred Stephens was engineer from its inception, subsequently becoming director and manager...
, Shepherdswell - Swedish 2-6-4T Class S1 No 1928 1973-1989 Tunbridge
- Peckett 0-6-0ST No 2000 1977-1984 Barrow Hill
- Avonside 0-6-0ST No 1917 'Pitsford' 1973-1983 Elsecar Steam Railway
- Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST No 3837 'Corby No. 16' 1974-1981 Leatherhead (now Lavender LineLavender LineThe Lavender Line is an informal name for a heritage railway based at Isfield Station, near Uckfield in East Sussex.- History :The Lavender Line formed part of the Lewes to Uckfield Railway when it was opened on the 18 October 1858...
with Hawthorn Leslie 3837 Preservation Society) - Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST No 1604 1975-1981 Wetheringsett
- Avonslde 0-4-0ST No 1908 'Fred' 1976-1981 Dendermonde, Belgium
- Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No 1844 1976-1980 Scrapped (spares for 1800 'Thomas')
- Southern Railway 4-6-0 Class S15 No 841 'Greene King' 1977-1978 Grosmont
Diesel Locomotives
- D306 'Atlantic Conveyor', BR Class 40. Departed May 2011 to Washwood Heath
- D9516 BR Class 14. Sold following death of owner, April 2011 To Wensleydale
- D9523 BR Class 14. Sold following death of owner, April 2011 to Derwent
- SentinelSentinel Waggon WorksSentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries and locomotives.-Alley & MacLellan, Sentinel Works, Jessie Street Glasgow:...
4 wheeled No 11. May 2010 to Washwood Heath - BR Class 47British Rail Class 47The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
Co-Co No 1971/47270 'Swift'. 'BREL', Mainline use. Departed 30th July 2009. - BR Class 56British Rail Class 56The British Rail Class 56 is a type of diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight work. It is a Type 5 locomotive, with a Ruston-Paxman power unit developing 3,250 bhp , and has a Co-Co wheel arrangement...
Co-Co No 56114. Hanson Traction Ltd. Departed 14th August 2009 - BR Class 31British Rail Class 31The British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from 1957-62.- Description :...
A1A-A1A No 31190. Hanson Traction Ltd.Departed 30th July 2009 - BR Class 50British Rail Class 50The British Rail Class 50 is a diesel locomotive built from 1967-68 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works in Newton-le-Willows. Fifty of these locomotives were built to haul express passenger trains on the, then non-electrified, section of the West Coast Main Line between Crewe,...
No. 50008 'Thunderer'. Hanson Traction Ltd. Departed 9th October 2009 - BR Class 117British Rail Class 117The British Rail Class 117 diesel multiple units were built by Pressed Steel from 1959 to 1961.When first introduced, these three-car units were all based with the similar Class 121 single carriage units on British Railway's Western Region for suburban work out of London Paddington, as well as...
3 car DMU Nos 51347 / 59508 / 51401, 1998-2009. Destination: Gwili Railway, Wales - BR Class 56British Rail Class 56The British Rail Class 56 is a type of diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight work. It is a Type 5 locomotive, with a Ruston-Paxman power unit developing 3,250 bhp , and has a Co-Co wheel arrangement...
Co-Co No 56057 "British Fuels" 2004-2007 Main Line use - 2894 "Percy" HibberdF. C. Hibberd & Co LtdF. C. Hibberd & Co Ltd was a British locomotive-building company founded in 1927 to build industrial petrol and diesel locomotives. In 1932 the company acquired the goodwill of James and Frederick Howard Ltd...
0-4-0 1972-2006 Norfolk - 31108 BR Class 31 A1A-A1A 200?-2005 Midland Railway, Butterley
- D9529 "14029" BR Class 14 0-6-0 DH 1988-2000 Stratrail (Kent & East Sussex Rly)
- D2112 BR Class 03 0-6-0 DM 1991-1998 Boston Docks
- 08704 BR Class 08 0-6-0 DE 1993-1997 Boston Docks
- 319294 Ruston & Homsby DS165 0-6-0DM 1991-1996 Northampton & Lamport RailwayNorthampton & Lamport RailwayThe Northampton & Lamport Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway in Northamptonshire, England. It is based at Pitsford and Brampton station, near the villages of Pitsford and Chapel Brampton, roughly north of Northampton.-Overview:...
- 4220033 John Fowler 0-4-0DH 1991-1996 Northampton Ironstone Railway Trust, Hunsbury Hill
- D7594 BR Class 25 Bo-Bo DE 1992-1994 K&ESR
- 804 Alco 1986-1991 Railworld, Peterborough (adjacent to Peterborough Nene Valley station)
- 8368 "Horsa" RSH 262 hp 0-4-0 DH 1980-1991 East Dereham
- 294268 Ruston & Homsby DS48 4wDM 1975-1991 East Kent Light Railway, Shepherdswell
- 321734 Ruston & Homsby DS88 4wDM 1979-1991 East Kent Light Railway, Shepherdswell
- D2089 BR Class 03 0-6-0 DM 1991 Mangapps Railway Museum, Bumham-on-Crouch
- 1212 SJ Class Y7 Diesel Rallcar 1984-1989 Fleggburgh then Tweddle Animal Farm *** Returned to NVR 22/11/11
- D9016 "Gordon Highlander" BR Class 55 Co-Co DE 1984-1989 East Lancs
- D9000 "Royal Scots Grey" BR Class 55 Co-Co DE 1983-1986 East Lancs
- D615 Hudswell Clarke 153 h.p. 0-6-0DM 1977-1978 Ellastone
As a film location
The line has been a location for a number of films, TV shows, and music videos.Scenes from the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film Octopussy
Octopussy
Octopussy is the thirteenth entry in the James Bond series, and the sixth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's title is taken from a short story in Ian Fleming's 1966 short story collection Octopussy and The Living Daylights...
were shot here and Castor
Castor, Cambridgeshire
Castor is a village and civil parish in the City of Peterborough unitary authority, about west of the city centre. The parish is part of the former Soke of Peterborough, which was considered part of Northamptonshire but was more recently part of Cambridgeshire.-History:Castor's toponym is derived...
church can clearly be seen in the background, even though this section of the film was set in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and East Germany (pre unification
Unification of Germany
The formal unification of Germany into a politically and administratively integrated nation state officially occurred on 18 January 1871 at the Versailles Palace's Hall of Mirrors in France. Princes of the German states gathered there to proclaim Wilhelm of Prussia as Emperor Wilhelm of the German...
).
Also, the Bond film Golden Eye was filmed on the line. For the film, a Class 20 was disguised as a Russian armoured train. In the film, a tunnel that the train seemingly goes into is in fact a small bridge over the tracks.
BBC TV drama "Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
" has also filmed here.
Between 1977 and 1979, many sequences for the BBC's wartime drama Secret Army were filmed here, principally at Wansford station, notably in the episodes: The Hostage, A Matter of Life and Death and The Last Run.
In Spring 1989, the rock band Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
shot a video at the railway called "Breakthru
Breakthru (song)
"Breakthru" is a song by British rock band Queen. Credited as being written by Queen, it was released in June 1989 from the album The Miracle. The single reached #7 in the UK, and peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands and Ireland, but failed to chart in the US...
" that reached number 7 in the British charts. They are filmed on a steam train (a GWR 2884 Class
GWR 2884 Class
The Great Western Railway 2884 Class is a class of 2-8-0 steam locomotive designed for heavy freight work. They were a development of the earlier 2800 Class. The 2884s differed from the original engines in a number of respects, the most obvious being that a more modern Collett side window cab was...
, No.3822 from Didcot, repainted) that was given the name 'Miracle Express' after the title of their 1989 album The Miracle.
In October 2008, the filming of the musical Nine
Nine (film)
Nine is a 2009 musical-romantic film directed and produced by Rob Marshall. The screenplay, written by Michael Tolkin and Anthony Minghella, is based on Arthur Kopit's book for the 1982 musical of the same name, which was itself suggested by Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical film 8½...
, starring Penelope Cruz
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz Sánchez is a Spanish actress. Signed by an agent at age 15, she made her acting debut at 16 on television and her feature film debut the following year in Jamón, jamón , to critical acclaim...
and Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis is an English actor with both British and Irish citizenship. His portrayals of Christy Brown in My Left Foot and Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood won Academy and BAFTA Awards for Best Actor, and Screen Actors Guild as well as Golden Globe Awards for the latter...
, took place at Wansford.
In November 2009, ITV spent three days at the Nene for their remake of 'Murder on the Orient Express' for Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that has aired on ITV since 1989. It stars David Suchet as Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was originally made by LWT and is now made by ITV Studios...
Series. They used the BR Standard Class 5
BR standard class 5
The British Railways Standard Class 5MT 4-6-0 was one of the standard classes of steam locomotives built by British Railways in the 1950s. 172 were built, essentially being a development of the LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 .- Background :...
73050 'City of Peterborough' numbered '305' and the Belgian Coaching Stock, with most filming taking place at Ferry Meadows.
In September 2010, scenes were filmed for the BBC soap opera, EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
, on the line, in which characters Janine Butcher and Ryan Malloy
Ryan Malloy
Ryan Malloy is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Neil McDermott. From his arrival on 28 April 2009, the character remained a mystery in the show for a number of months until he was revealed as the half brother of established character Whitney Dean...
were trapped on a level crossing with a train approaching them.