Well another year gone!

Here we are at the end of another year. Today saw the last of the 2021 Santa trains run, and as always they were full and busy.

Now we have a short rest before we begin 2022 services on the 8th January with the Swedish Railcar.

It’s been a funny couple of years with great challenges and unexpected hurdles at every turn. But the railway is still running.

So if you have visited and spent money with us, thanks for your support, it is appreciated.

We look forward to seeing you in 2022, hopefully with more events and visiting locomotives.

So on behalf of the members & staff I would like to wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to seeing you again in the coming year.

Thomas in the Christmas Spirit.

The Santa Locomotives. Through the eyes of a visitor.

After I posted some of Christopher Walker pictures he has sent me two more of the Santa locomotives yesterday.

Both images are © Christopher Walker

Class 14 arriving back at Wansford.
92 Squadron awaiting to depart Wansford for Peterborough Nene Valley.

My thanks to Christopher for sending the above images, it is appreciated.

Except for the Santa trains the railway is dead in the winter!

The Polish Tank Engine on Santa duties

Over the years I have lost count of the number of people who would comment every autumn that except for the Santa trains the railway was dead in late autumn & winter.

This of course is far from the truth. In both November and January we are running services, yes it’s just the railcar but it’s still a service and the Swedish railcar is popular with many visitors. Not to mention we have some steam driver experience days.

But that’s not all that will be going on. Remember that it’s a busy period in the office with plans for next year. As well as enquiries and the normal work that has to be done to keep the railway running through the year.

No doubt down in the shed people will be working away at both routine maintenance as well as rebuilds etc.

The cafe will be open at weekends and Wednesdays, which hopefully will encourage people to visit on non-running days and help with both turnover and profit for the railway in the process.

Around the railway there will be maintenance along the line, the civils will no doubt be out and about making sure that the line is clear and safe for the trains that will use it.

As usual the monthly electronic newsletter for working members will be prepared and sent out on the 1st of the month.

So next time somebody says that the railway is dead in the winter point out those working members and paid staff that will be working to make sure that we have a safe, busy and profitable railway in the coming year.

Santa Service Pictures From Wansford.

Here are some pictures from the Santa services at the weekend taken at Wansford.

Wansford Signal Box © Robin Neighbour.
The yard at Wansford © Robin Neighbour.
Class 14 with Santa train arriving back at Wansford © Robin Neighbour.
Wansford Car Park in the sunshine © Robin Neighbour.

The Santa Specials 6th December 2020.

Some pics from this morning nice trip out to get some photos of the morning frost. enjoy

Before First Train. © Jason Isaac
The Polish Tank Engine Heading Towards Peterborough. © Jason Isaac
Smoke & Steam © Jason Isaac.

I hope you enjoy these images.

A little bit of the white stuff.

This morning we awoke to snow, well to be 100% accurate we awoke to white stuff falling and not sticking because it was just too warm.

But it’s a good mood setter for the Santa trains that start this weekend.

So to get you further in the mood here are a few pictures of the railway in the snow that I have taken over the years.

City of Peterborough leaving Ferry Meadows (Overton)

Nothing like a steam engine in steam in the snow.

Now a few general shots, starting with a shot at the east end of Ferry Meadows Station (Overton)

Here we have Orton Mere in the snow. Facing west towards Wansford.

Here is a shot at Ferry Meadows before it’s excellent refurbishment.

Winter is an excellent time for photography around the railway and Nene Park, well worth a visit even if the trains are not running.

Come and pay a visit in the winter, you will get some excellent shots.