Category: History

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Look Mom it’s a train.

The Fletton loop is an important part of the railway, it’s our link to the outside world railway wise.

From time to time we run trips for visitors down it, normally either with brake vans or the Swedish railcar. We even did a weekend of cab rides in a couple of class 31’s down there, they were extremely popular.

But it’s rare that we put the MK1 coaches down there, and when we do they are top and tailed as there is no run round at the far end.

So last weekend was the Three Peaks diesel gala, and one of the highlights on the Saturday and Sunday were two trips for the Mk1’s down the Fletton loop each of the two days with peak locomotives at one end and a class 14 at the other.

They were popular and I have seen lots of positive comments.

Here are some pictures sent to me by Harry Wheeler who was visiting the railway and he took them on the Fletton loop.

My thanks to him for sending the pictures they are much appreciated.

© Harry Wheeler.
Over Celta Road Bridge © Harry Wheeler.
© Harry Wheeler.

If you visit the railway and have any pictures you would like to send me for the blog then I would love to receive them. Please send them with full details to the email address for comments that’s on the right had side of the blog.

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You can’t get the staff, except when the trains are running.

One question that’s often asked by visitors is what’s passed between the driver and the crew as they pass the signal boxes.

The answer is they are passing the staff. This is given to the driver and authorises the train to proceed, and ensures there is only one train in section at any one time.

The sections are:-
Wansford to Yarwell.
Wansford to Orton Mere.
Orton Mere to Peterborough Nene Valley.
Orton Mere to Fletton Junction.

The staff for each section is unique, and here are pictures of them plus the ticket that’s also used between Wansford to Orton Mere. This is to enable a another train to go between Wansford and Orton Mere after the first has gone out of section. The ticket goes with the first train and the staff with the second.

Wansford to Yarwell Mill
Wansford to Orton Mere Ticket
Wansford to Orton Mere
Orton Mere to Peterborough
Fletton Junction to Orton Mere

Not easy things to loose. They are an essential part of the safety when running trains on a single line.

My thanks to Zak for taking the images.

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The River Nene in Flood April 1998

Often over the years visitors have looked with doubt when I have explained how the Nene Floods around Orton Mere. Here are a few pictures from April 1998, regretfully I don’t know the copyright info. If you do please let me know.

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The Wansford Station Masters Office

Part of the Barnwell building on platform 2 houses the Station Masters office.

This has been refurbished in recent years, and here are some pictures of how it looks today.

© Kim Shaw
© Kim Shaw
© Kim Shaw

Should you visit Wansford then take a look at this office, well worth the visit to see what can be achieved on a refurbishment with some effort.

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The Orton Mere Signal Box

A few months ago we published pictures of the inside of Wansford Signal Box. So now it’s the turn of the Orton Mere Signal Box.

Now I know it’s not very large, and I still remember when we had the allotment at the station a visitor asking me if it was a potting shed.

So here are some internal shots of the box.

The box that holds the Staff.
The train register
The signal leavers and instruments.
Signal leavers, instruments and diagram of signal layout at the station

Pictures © Keith Parkinson. My thanks to Keith for taking and sending me the pictures.

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The Old Station Building

I am sure that every volunteer and visitor knows the Old Station Building at Wansford.

But we rarely get a good look at it, as often there are carriages in either or both of the main platforms.

So here is an old picture I came across in my misc collection. It shows the building some years ago.

The Old Station Building Wansford © Unknown

I hope that at some stage the railway will be able to restore this fine victorian building to its original state. It’s an asset to the railway.

Should you wish to donate to it’s renovation then please contact the office.