Category: Diesel

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Nice time of year for the weather!

Here I am sitting writing this entry with the temperature nudging 29c and fairly high humidity. I have a gloss finish on my face and I am doing nothing more active than typing.

Nice to have seen decent weather last weekend for the trains, makes a change from driving rain and howling winds.

Over the coming months we have some excellent events planned so all being well the weather will be on our side.

Of course this culminates at the end of the year with the Santa trains. Seems funny thinking about the Santas in this weather, but they are the most important services of the year. The profit from the Christmas services helps immensely during the quiet period at the start of 2024.

Mention must be made of both the Pacer and the Swedish railcar. They are running on some of the quieter days, and provide a variance to the normal diesel and steam services.

So let’s look forward to a busy summer, and welcome visitors with our normal enthusiasm, and make sure they go away after having a super visit.

Pictures of services and events always welcome for the blog, as are articles from events and happenings across the railway.

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Deltic to visit NVR.

Nene Valley Railway in partnership with our long standing supporters The Deltic Preservation Society are pleased to announce the visit of Deltic 55009 ALYCIDON for a stay in October 2023.

Tickets and more information coming soon via our web page

6th October. Freight Train Driver Experience,

11th October. Driver Experience Day.

14th October. Gala with 55009 hauling the Evening Dining train.

15th October. Gala.

16th October. Driver Experience Day.

Please watch both the Nene Valley Railway and Deltic Preservation Society media pages for any updates. This is the second and last Heritage line visit for 55009 this year.

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Well we finally got there.

After many fits and starts plus the odd hiccup the railway finally got there.
The pacer finally did it’s first day in commercial service.

© ROBERT PHIPPS.

Here it is crossing Ham Lane approaching Overton station, shame there was no sunshine but you cant have everything.

Here are a couple more of it at Overton station.

© ROBERT PHIPPS
(C) ROBERT PHIPPS

I gather from reliable sources that rumble heard as it got back to Wansford after its first run was not the result of many held breaths being let out.

I think that thanks must be aimed at those who put in many hours, getting the Pacer ready for service, dealing with all the problems along the way. All of us on the railway appreciate your hard work.

I am sure the Pacer will be popular with visitors and be a good earner of revenue for the railway.

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Class 14 failed today.

The class 14 failed today on the first Santa service.

Here it is at Peterborough Nene Valley all on its own. Awaiting recovery back to Wansford.

© Ron Smith

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Here we go then……..

Tomorrow, (Saturday 26th November) sees the start of the Santa trains for 2022.

Fifty four services up to Christmas Eve mainly on the weekends. Plus three evening trains and a day just for Just Go Holidays.

As always it will be a busy time for the railway, and some of the many working members. As well as paid staff beavering away behind the scenes.

Hopefully the weather will be in our favour on the running days.

The three webcams on Railcam will give good coverage of trains at Wansford & Orton Mere, as well as one of the Wansford ones covering the station and crossing being available on YouTube complete with a chat room that’s in operation not only on running days but all others as well.

So if your a working member involved then many thanks for your commitment over this run up to the festive weekend, and most importantly have fun, because thats what it’s all about.

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Not much happening now until the Santa’s. Who are they kidding?

Well yet again I have heard comments that the railway is quiet at the moment until the Santa trains start at the end of November.

How wrong a statement that is!!

Let us take the coming week shall we.

Saturday starts with a steam driver experience day with 92 Squadron, an event that never ceases to be popular. There is still a big appeal in driving a steam locomotive.

Sunday brings us a running day with the Swedish Railcar, doing four runs each way. The railcar is popular with visitors, if only perhaps because of it being so unusual.

Monday to Friday brings something a little different. The crossing gates at Wansford are due to be replaced, and the new gates have been constructed in-house by some very skilled members.

Thursday brings us a private charter up the line,.Charters like this are popular with people who for a variety of reasons want their own train.

This brings us back to Saturday and another four each way railcar service.

So there you have it a week in the life of the railway heading towards Winter. So much for not a lot happening!!!

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Right now Pacer yourselves

The Pacer finally made it up the line on driver training.

The Pacer at Peterborough Nene Valley. © Paul Roe.

Once fully in service it will be a great asset to the railway and I am sure very popular.

I look forward to seeing it in service very soon.