We are spending today preserving yesterday, so you can enjoy it tomorrow.
Tomorrow sees the arrival of Bahamas to help with Christmas services.
Not too long to the Santa services, this year they have a completely new look.
Hopefully we will have an excellent busy Christmas. Its not too late to buy tickets, have a look on the NVR web site for full details.
Well Tornado has arrived safely at the railway. On Friday it will be on driver experience, and at the weekend it is pulling public services.
Will be a good busy weekend, if you plan to visit then I hope you have a great time.
Currently it’s facing east towards Peterborough.
Wednesday saw the dedicating of Rosemary’s bench on Platform 2 at Orton Mere Station.
I am personally most upset that my health prevented me from attending.
Here are a few pictures of the event, and my thanks to Paddy Knight for taking them.
Rosemary’s step daughter and nephew sitting on the bench.
Without doubt Rosemary is sadly missed by the Orton Mere volunteers that worked with her.
Jubilee Class locomotive No 45596 ‘Bahamas’ to haul “The North Pole Adventure
45996 Bahamas will arrive at the Nene Valley Railway in late November to haul our North Pole Adventure Trains, 45596 will also haul our popular Jolly Fisherman Fish and Chips service on the evening of Saturday 4th January 2025,
The locomotive will also be available for our Driving Experience courses on 3rd and 4th January. On Sunday 5th January 45996 will haul passengers services.
The attendance of Bahamas to the NVR is with kind thanks to the Bahamas Locomotive Society
This is excellent news, North Pole adventure tickets available on the NVR web site.
Opening on a Wednesday at Orton Mere could be very unpredictable, We could be busy or totally dead, there were rarely days in-between.
Weather was not a factor either we have had wet days and been busy all day, then we have had nice sunny days and been totally dead all day.
Most business on a Wednesday was not from train tickets, it was from people passing, such as cyclists, dog walkers and the like. We always found that cyclists were often a strange breed, they ranged from the silent ones to the cycling fanatics, who would want to give you every last detail of the bike they were riding, they could out talk diesel fans with their desire to give you details. right down to the valves keeping the air in their tyres. Dog walkers were normally a friendly bunch, and the ones who said their dogs were no trouble normally had the worst ones for yapping, often constantly. Often you could hear them as they passed the signal box. But they often bought something to munch and drink for themselves together with a bottle of water for the dog. Many were regulars as well and seen most weeks.
So if you ever visit and travel on a Wednesday keep and wye out for those cyclists, they don’t take prisoners.
This weekend marked a very monumental milestone in the history of the NVR – 50 years since the first train in preservation ran on the railway.
The train consisted of Hudswell Clarke no.1539 “Derek Crouch” and one Mk1 and ran from the BSC site up to Wansford and return, departing at just gone 13:00 on Sunday 7th April 1974. The trip was a members special acting as a test run for the first public train on the 9th April which would carry local dignitaries.
Nathan Wilson.
Four days of services.
Good Friday. The Pacer with services between Yarwell & Peterborough Nene Valley.
Saturday. Thomas shuttle between Wansford & Yarwell
The Peak 45041 between Wansford & Peterborough Nene Valley.
Easter Sunday. Thomas shuttle between Wansford & Yarwell
The Class 14 between Wansford & Peterborough Nene Valley.
Easter Monday. The Peak 45041 between Yarwell & Peterborough Nene Valley.
The Peak and the class 14 are both popular locomotives and Thomas on Saturday & Sunday will be an enjoyable trip for children of all ages.
Have a look on the NVR.ORG.UK web site for times etc.
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.
656 of course ran in Denmark before it arrived at the Nene Valley Railway.
I have been kindly sent two images, one from 1955 and a second from 1971. Please respect the copyright of these images.
First we have 1955. Taken in Nyborg.
Secondly we have 1971. This image was taken at Esbjerg.
I hope you enjoy looking at these images and I hope to be able to post more in due course.
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.