We are spending today preserving yesterday, so you can enjoy it tomorrow.
The signal box at Orton Mere was re-opened on the 9th March 2024 after it’s rebuild following the arson attack on it.
Thomas was in attendance and carried passengers from Wansford Station and back again for the event.
The following images are © Jon Benton and my thanks to him for sending them to me.
The box looks excellent and it’s thanks to both the fundraisers, of all ages. And the team that did the practical work. They can all feel proud of their efforts.
Last weekend saw Danish locomotive 656 hauling passengers for the first time in 38 years.
Here it is arriving at Peterborough Nene Valley on Saturday.
It looked right hauling the three Belgian coaches and the single Danish coach. There are many members who were not even born when this locomotive was last in service.
Sunday saw it in service again, and here it is approaching Overton on its way to Peterborough.
I have seen lots of comments from both members and visitors with very positive comments.
Without doubt this will be a popular locomotive, and it’s nice to see it back on the line.
656 has today passed its loaded test runs with four coaches and will enter service on 10th and 11th February running with the air stock.
Image believed to be © Paul Roe. If this is incorrect please let me know so correct credit can be shown.
73050 CITY OF PETERBOROUGH OVERHAUL APPEAL
Now in her 55th year in preservation, the locomotive has been overhauled three times. The current work started in 2017 and has progressed to the stage where re-assembly of the frames, wheels and motion is gathering momentum in the NVR workshops at Wansford. The boiler, with the 70-year old steel fabric needing a most comprehensive overhaul,
Help is Needed
Thanks to generous donations from individuals and from the Peterborough City Council the overhaul has been able to proceed quite well, although the Covid-19 pandemic has had direct and indirect effects. But we need more money, the estimated cost to complete the overhaul is over £500,000 and funds are currently about half that amount. We’re running a series of programmes to suit all pockets.. We hope that one of them will appeal to your kindness.
To find out how to help and donate https://nvr.org.uk/article…/152/73050-city-of-peterborough
Many regard January and February as quiet times of the year. But you just have to look below the surface to see this is not whooly true.
Yes the trains are not running public services so the number of visitors has gone down. But there is a lot going on behind the scenes with maintenance in various parts. Have a look at the work going on with the 73050 rebuild for example. That’s progressing well. Events for the coming year are being planned as well.
Just pop down to Wansford, you will perhaps not only be surprised, but perhaps see something you would like to get involved with.
Perhaps after all the railway is not as quiet as you think…
Here are a couple of pictures taken of the Thomas rebuild. They were taken a week apart.
they are © Nathan Wilson.
We hope Thomas will be back to carry passengers in the not too distant future.
Some months ago the Orton Mere box was set on fire in an arson attack. With extensive damage being caused.
Her are three images showing some of the internal damage.
My thanks to Tim Hobman for all these images.
Since that time a lot of work has been put in to bring the box back into service. Here are three pictures of how work is progressing
As you can see the difference is remarkable.
Now work starts on reinstalling signalling etc.
We are lucky on the railway in that we have many skills and talents across the membership. With members who use them to enhance and improve the railway.
I look forward to posting more images when the box is fully completed.
From Nathan Wilson
A great day in the works today – water is going back into the boiler for the first time since being withdrawn for the boiler overhaul!
Today 656 has done a run to Peterborough. The last time the locomotive ran there was no line past Orton Mere.
The small loco group are to be congratulated on their excellent work.
