We are spending today preserving yesterday, so you can enjoy it tomorrow.
This weekend sees the return of the travelling post office.
In the past this has always been very popular with visitors. On both Saturday and Sunday it’s doing two runs to the equipment at Sutton Cross to give demonstrations of mail exchanges.
Let’s hope it will be a regular occurrence. At one stage it did a non-stop run from Orton Mere to Yarwell and did a mail exchange at Sutton Cross. That would be nice to see again.
Hopefully the weather will be favourable on both days.
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.
It is with immense sadness that I have to post that Rosemary Galloway passed away this morning Saturday 15th June 2024.
Her introduction to the railway was when she did a driver experience on 73050, she was in her early eighties at the time. She saw the garden at Orton Mere as she passed and muttered to herself that the garden needed sorting. The rest as they say is history.
So Rosemary, for a number of years tended the garden at Orton Mere Station. To do this she caught a train to Peterborough from St Neots and then walked to Orton Mere.
She did this well into her late eighties, she came to do the garden in all weathers and always had a smile.
There was a regular flow of banter between the two of us, and I fondly remember that she mentioned on a number of occasions that she wished she could adopt me so that she could tell me off and keep me in line properly!
I fondly remember standing in the station building doorway with her watching the summer rain pour down and she would utter the words. “Robert! Robert! Always remember we don’t have seasons we have samples!”
Rosemary was always happy to chat to both visitors and railway staff & volunteers. I can honestly say that she was liked and respected by all.
I can say with certainty that she will be remembered with both fondness and respect by all the staff at Orton Mere that worked with her.
Rosemary Rest in Peace. Thanks for your hard work and dedication. You will always be missed and remembered.
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
Trade Stands
Car Parking
If you are travelling by road, please note the car parking arrangements below:
By Finlay Elliott.
On the 28th of April 2024 I decided to cycle the entire length of the Nene Valley Railway, it was quite a long bike ride, but I decided I was up for the challenge.
Leaving the house at around 12:20 I made my way over to Peterborough Nene Valley station.
Just as I arrived the train was pulling in, I snapped a photo of the station and then I had a short chat with the platform staff told them what I was planning on doing, I left just before the train was set to leave and made my way over to Orton Mere station.
As usual it was not very busy, just a couple of people in the signal box and someone doing some work on platform one, I said hello to the staff, snapped a quick shot of the station, and then went on my way to Overton. I arrived just as the train was pulling in.
I stopped off and had a quick chat with the station staff about how there was a lack of milk in the station the previous day, and that I had to make an emergency run to the Tesco express, told them about where I was going and then went on my way to Wansford.
This was the trickiest part of the journey as due to the wet weather I couldn’t just travel alongside the railway line as I had done previously so had to use google maps to work out a route. I ended up going through Ferry Meadows, up Love Hill, through Castor and Ailsworth, even along the A47 for a mile until I finally reached Wansford!
I was greeted by Thomas steaming away while the main service train went across the level crossing on its way back to Peterborough. I locked up my bike went onto the platform had a chat with the bar staff about how the day had been and how busy it was and then went on my way to the final station, Yarwell.
I entered the station into google maps and followed the route it had sent me, it led me down a gravel road which I biked down, I then went past a car which rolled its window down which revealed a rather disgruntled older man who asked where I was off to, I told him I was off to Yarwell, and he then seemed much less annoyed and gave me directions to take the next turn and it will lead me right down there, although the story doesn’t end here as I misunderstood his directions and turned down a path instead of back onto the road. I realised my mistake and turned back, but by then the gates to the gravel road I was on had been closed and locked, and I could hear the train departing, I still carried on however hopping over the fence as it was the only way out (I had effectively been trapped on the road.) I then made my way to the next turning. I went down the other gravel road, went past another older man who gave me more directions and finally arrived at Yarwell. I was absolutely shattered.
I took my photos and had a well-deserved sit down, had a little nose around the station, and then went on my way home. It was an interesting experience, not sure I would fancy doing it again anytime soon – although I’m glad I did it!
Text and images are all © Finlay, My thanks to him for submitting the article.
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.
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.
Here is a picture of Orton Mere Box taken at night. Awaiting a guest locomotive that was spending the night with us.
© 2024 Phil Venn
The box is rarely open at night so pleased to get this picture sent by Phil Venn and my thanks to him for sending it.
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.