Category: Timetables

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Locomotive Legends.

25th 26th & 27th May 2024

D9009 will be appearing as 55013 BLACK WATCH

Named at Doncaster Works on July 21st 1961 before introduction to traffic, D9009 maintained the ‘racehorse’ tradition of the LNER by commemorating the winner of the 1949 Ascot Gold Cup. Based at Finsbury Park in North London, Alycidon was one of eight ‘racehorse’ Deltics stabled there. In May 1981, she moved to York after the closure of Finsbury Park and was one of four Deltics prepared to work a series of farewell rail-tours during their final six months of operation. Her final outing in BR service was on January 2nd 1982 as standby locomotive for the ‘Deltic Scotsman Farewell’.​ Whilst at the NVR D9009 will be appearing as 55013 BLACK WATCH.

Saturday 25th May

34081 will be renamed as Bulleid No 34111 Royal Auxiliary Air Force for the weekend (only operating on the 14:15 service from Wansford to Yarwell and back)
Battle of Britain Memorial Fly Past at 14:03 over Wansford 

British Railways Blue
Deltic 55013 The Black Watch 
Peak Class 45041 Royal Tank Regiment
Class 14 9529

Triple Headed Service with Deltic 55013, Peak Class 45041 and Class 14 9529

Evening Fish and Chips: The Fenman with Bulleid No 34111 Royal Auxiliary Air Force for the weekend

Sunday 26th and Monday 27th May

Bulleid No 34111 Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Deltic No 55013 Black Watch
Peak No 45041 Royal Tank Regiment 
Double Headed service on Sunday: Bulleid No 34111 and Peak No 45041
Double Headed service on Monday: Peak No 45041 and Deltic No 55013

All weekend 

  • Mk1 coaching stock in use
  • Express fully fitted Freight Train and Brake Van Rides (payable on the day)
  • Five services per day with the last train double heading 
  • Licensed Buffet Cars
  • Wansford Café serving hot/cold food and refreshments from 08:30 
  • Wansford Shop and Second-Hand Book Shop open
  • Overton Tea Room and station open for the sale of food and beverages and their famous Hot Sausage Rolls
  • Shed Tours at Wansford
  • Ale on Rail
  • Other attractions to be advised

Trade Stands

  • NVR Wagon Group
  • Wansford Miniature Railway Shop
  • B&E Models
  • B17 Locomotive Trust 

Car Parking

If you are travelling by road, please note the car parking arrangements below:

  • Wansford Station: free parking in our car park
  • Railworld, Orton Mere and Ferry Meadows Country Park: car parking available (charges apply)
  • Limited Disabled parking is available in the Wansford Station car park
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The weekend after Easter.

I was sitting today thinking back to the weekends after Easter when I ran Orton Mere station. I remember that if we were busy over Easter the we were quiet the weekend after.

But as often seemed to happen if Easter had been a washout due to rain over the Easter weekend then the weekend after was always busy.

Somewhere on an archive drive I have the sales figures for the booking off and shop at Orton Mere. I will dig them out when I get time and have a look to 100% confirm this.

One thing I do remember are some Easter weekends with appalling weather, A couple we did not get a single visitor on the Saturday & Sunday. Not even a bedraggled dog pulling its owner!

So we will see what tomorrow and Sunday bring, I will watch the webcams with interest!

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Last chance before New Year’s Eve.

This weekend sees the last steam services until the winter warmers on New Year’s Eve.

As per usual first service leaves Wansford at 10am.

Hopefully we will be busy, so if you want your last steam fix travelling this side of Christmas pop along to have a ride.

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Winding down, or are we?

Many people think that with the end of the summer holidays the railway will be winding down for the autumn and winter. Now this is I suppose a logical thought after all nothing happens in the autumn and winter at the railway.

This if course is not true, the railway never sleeps, it may have the odd doze but it never truly shuts down.

Let us look between now and Christmas. We are running services at weekends between now and the end of October. With several events planned and ready to go. Hopefully the first week of November should see the installing of the new crossing gates at Wansford and of course we have not only the preparation for the Santa services but the services themselves. Throughout this period S&T and the civil’s will be doing work out and about.

The office will function normally as will other departments. So as you can see the railway is far from winding down, and after Christmas the railway will start and do it all over again.

So please if you are able come along and support the railway, this is a lovely time of year to travel the line.

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Another warm day.

Well we were back to the hot weather again today with the temperature peaking at 32c. thankfully we are currently running diesel services, so no hot footplate or fire risk to contend with.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we are running the hot weather timetable. this gives the crews and of course the train staff a thirty minute break between arriving and departing again. this will I am sure be welcomed by those who are able to take advantage.

Monday we have rain forecast, though wether it appears or not is a subject open to debate, we shall see.

Now to have a quiet evening and relax ready for tomorrow, although I am based at home it’s still very hot and as the afternoon wears on it gets hotter and more humid.

All being well tomorrow will be a nice relaxing day with no major problems and all the services on time.

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Second Set Sundays.

On the following Sundays we will be running as well as the main service the Swedish Railcar.
The dates are:- 31st July, 14th August & 21st August.

Both the main service and the railcar will be doing three runs each , but the railcar will not be servingYarwell Junction. If you have a Rover ticket it will cover both trains.

Below is the timetable for the three Sundays.

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The First Day of Summer.

Well today is the first day of summer and we have started off with wall to wall sunshine and a nice temperature of just over 27.5c at peak.

So what’s ahead for the railway over the summer? Well I guess the honest answer is that nobody knows. We have some super events announced and in the pipeline. I am sure that, weather permitting we will have a great summer.

If you’re reading this as a working member of the railway then enjoy the summer and above all have fun. If you’re not a member then please if you can come along and visit.

It has often been said that the railways greatest asset are it’s working members. So please come along and say hello to them, look round the stations and ride the trains. Or in other words have a great day out.

Please take a look at our website at nvr.org.uk and see what tempts you.

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Cream Tea time.

Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the railway running the popular cream tea service.

This is one of the regular events on the railway that’s always popular. So we have three runs with a main diesel service and two runs with a steam cream tea service.

The services will be passing at Orton Mere, so nice to see both lines in use there.

If you’re interested in the cream tea service then take a look at the main site for more details.