Thomas Is Back.
Here we go…………
25th November sees the start of our Santa services.
If you’re a working member volunteering for the Santa services, have fun and enjoy yourself.
If you’re a visitor with your family on the Santa services have a great time, and if you’re not sure of anything please just ask.
Pictures for the blog will be most welcome.
The wrong time of the year.
With this being the run up to the Santa services I was reminded of a visitor to Orton Mere Station some years ago.
She asked if we had thought of running the Santa services in the summer when the weather was warmer and often sunny as it would encourage more people to book! She then added the following gem. When I lived in Australia we had Santa in the summer and events were very popular!
No, she was not blond and actually looked quite sensible as well! It was one the very rare times when I was truly lost for words!
Wansford cams back on Railcam
Pleased to report that the Wansford cams have returned to the Railcam site following the extensive maintenance carried out on the Wansford box.
The Orton Mere Signal Box.
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.
The travelling post office
Last Sunday saw the first public running in a long time of the TPO.
It’s always been a popular attraction with visitors, and I remember when it used to start from Orton Mere and do a non-stop run to Yarwell doing two drops and pickups on the run.
© Chris Walker
Above is an excellent image from Chris Walker showing it arriving back at Wansford.
Hopefully the TPO will become a regular feature on the railway once again.
It’s a diesel weekend.
This weekend we are running a diesel service. Yesterday we had the class 14 and today we are running the Peak.
Ever since I joined the railway there have been two camps, one for and one against running diesels in the summer.
Personally I have always been of the opinion that we should, on a regular basis run all that we have available. We are not just a steam railway we are a heritage railway, a fact that many often forget about.
From when I ran Orton Mere I can count on one hand the number of times that a visitor decide not to travel because we were running diesel.
I would hazard a guess that most of our visitors have never travelled behind a steam train when they were in service on the network. but many have travelled behind diesels when they have needed to travel by rail.
So enjoy whatever we are running it is all part of our history!
Teddy Bears picnic
To start these 6 weeks of exciting events, on Wednesday 26th July, we have Reginald the bear hosting his ever-popular Teddy Bears Picnic!
Full details on our website at www.nvr.org.uk
If you’re visiting have a great day!!
The HST in service.
The 11.30 Wansford departure crossing the Nene by Lynch Farm looking resplendent.
My thanks to Peter Wickens for the above picture.
The services last Sunday were all run by the HST and with four services each way were very popular. Nice to see a service like this popular with the visitors.
HST in public service.
Sunday 9th July sees the first public services on the NVR of the HST.
This is sure to be popular. The timetable is below.
| Orange Timetable. | |||||
| Wansford | 10:00 | 11:30 | 13:00 | 14:30 | |
| Yarwell arr | 10:05 | 11:35 | 13:05 | 14:35 | |
| Yarwell dep | 10:10 | 11:40 | 13:10 | 14:40 | |
| Wansford | 10:15 | 11:45 | 13:15 | 14:45 | |
| Overton (for Ferry Meadows) | 10:28 | 11:58 | 13:28 | 14:58 | |
| Orton Mere | 10:33 | 12:03 | 13:33 | 15:03 | |
| Peterborough arr | 10:38 | 12:08 | 13:38 | 15:08 | |
| Peterborough dep | 10:50 | 12:20 | 13:50 | 15:20 | |
| Orton Mere | 10:55 | 12:25 | 13:55 | 15:25 | |
| Overton (for Ferry Meadows) | 11:00 | 12:30 | 14:00 | 15:30 | |
| Wansford arr | 11:13 | 12:43 | 14:13 | 15:43 |
Hopefully the weather will be on our side.
If you do visit and travel then your pictures will be most welcome for the Blog.