A few people have asked me if I could post some pictures of tickets.
So here just for you are a few tickets.
Tickets please!
Jason’s Picture of the month July 2021
Class 40 leaving Orton Mere during the 2010 spring diesel gala..
Thinking Inside The Box.
One part of the railway that’s only seen from afar by the majority of visitors is the signal box at Wansford.
There is no truth in the rumour that it is home to a group who chant, and dance around levers whilst clutching a mug of tea in one hand and a duster in the other. No, it is home to the Signalmen who work to keep the trains running and the passengers safe.
So let us take a look inside this building built upon bricks.
The Wansford Signal Box.
Now lets have a look inside.
Here is a view looking towards the station of the frame of levers that control the signals.
The view of the big outdoors in front of the box
A view away from Wansford over the river towards Peterborough. Note at the end the comfortable seating and extensive catering facilities. Ideal for a leisurely drink or a read between trains.
Here on the right you can see the wheel that’s turned to open and close the crossing gates.
Here is the diagram of the signals, points etc. controlled from the box.
Zak proudly told me that he refurbished this instrument himself. It is impressive and a lovely piece of work
© Zak Harding
So there you have it, a view inside the Wansford Signal Box. Part of the railways history that was in use when trains ran on the line many years before the Nene Railway was even thought of.
If you ever get a chance to look round the box then please do so, it’s a part of railway history preserved and in use every running day.
Thomas’ 50th Birthday Bash.
The Nene Valley Railway is home to a little blue engine named ‘Thomas’ by the Rev. W. Awdry author of the famous books about Thomas and Friends. On 26th June 2021 it will be 50 years since Rev. W. Awdry signed Thomas’ cab at The Nene Valley Railway & we at the railway want to celebrate this day with all of Thomas’ friends old & new.
The 0-6-0T engine No. 1800 was built by Hudswell Clarke in 1947 at about the time when Rev.W Awdry wrote his second book in which Thomas appeared. The little blue engine spent its entire working life at the British Sugar Corporation Peterborough factory pushing wagons of sugar beet up an incline until the day came when a diesel engine replaced the steam power of Thomas. The Peterborough Railway Society purchased this delightful little engine on 9th September 1973 and he was moved to the Nene Valley Railway, where he has since delighted his friends and children of all ages.
Thomas lives at Wansford and can been seen most of time in the yard when not in steam, on some occasions he is moved in the shed to let the engeineers work on him.
Coming soon….
A series of hand drawn to scale images of LNER stations between Peterborough & Doncaster, these colour drawings date from 1891 onwards to the 1930’s.
Here is a sample…
The magic of The Nene Valley Railway.
When I joined the railway some sixteen years ago people often commented about the magic of the Nene Valley Railway, and I never quite understood what they were on about.
Today I am sitting here watching families arrive at Wansford Station, and see them showing their young children the view through the gates. I see the children hopping from one foot to another excitedly, looking forward to seeing Thomas and having a trip behind him.
Then I see the adults smiling as well already enjoying their visit and looking forward to what’s ahead.
Looking at that I now understand what people mean when they talk about the magic of the Nene Valley Railway.
Ready Steady GO!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow sees the recommencement of services on the NVR, hopefully with no more lockdowns ahead.
Services will still be far from what we are used to, we still have social distancing.
Looking at the official railway web site we have lots of special events coming up, please support them. This is still a critical time for the railway.
For those who do visit and travel, you are most welcome, thanks for your support it is appreciated.
The railway has played a very important part in Peterborough’s history and development and it’s fair to say the city would be very different if that first train had not steamed into the city in 1845.
Whilst we can’t fully recreate those days, travelling on the railway does give you the opportunity to travel on part of the first railway route into the city.
If you take some nice photographs during your visit and would like to share them please feel free to send them to me and I would love to include them on the blog. The email address can be found to the right of this posting.
Welcome back to The Nene Valley Railway.
Coming to a screen near you.
For several years Railcam have had three cameras on the NVR.
Well I am pleased to announce that one of the cams showing the Main Wansford station and crossing is now available on YouTube.
Our thanks to Railcam for providing this for the railway it is appreciated.
Jason’s Picture of the month for May
Oh those tickets are big!
I was reminded today of a comment often heard when people looked at the display on the walls of Orton Mere station.
We had pictures of various things on the wall, amongst them were pictures of old tickets enlarged to A4.
One off the most common comments we heard was:-
“Oh look how big tickets were in the old days!”
Most were amazed when we told them that they had been enlarged so they were easier to see, I could never imagine anybody walking round with an A4 sized ticket in their pocket.