Category: Timetables

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Jogging through January

Well here we are approaching mid January, a traditionally quiet running month for the railway. Though as per usual there’s a lot going on through the month behind the scenes.

A diesel gala lies ahead of us in March with a class 66 amongst the running locomotives. This is something to look forward to. Diesel enthusiasts are generally keen an knowledgeable group.

The other day I received an email, now that fact in itself is not unusual, but this one was from a past regular visitor to Orton Mere on gala days. It’s always nice to receive communication from old visitors, many of their comments remind me of how long it’s been since I ran Orton Mere. Time progresses at a steady pace and I was in my 50’s when I joined the railway and last November I marked my 70th birthday.

He commented on how time has flown by and referred to some past events, I must dig out some of my pictures of the past at the railway, and put a few on here., we shall have to see.

Somebody once said that you don’t have a future if you don’t remember the past. So with that in mind let’s look forward to services in 2026, looking forward to not only special event days but also normal running days. Have a great time when you next visit the railway and tink positive about the coming year.

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Happy New Year.

Well here we are with a shiny new year stretched out in front of us, ready for volunteers, services and visitors.

It’s anybody guess as to what 2026 will be like and the challenges we will face and the rewards we will have.

So onwards and upwards withe the first public services being the winter warmers.

If you’re a volunteer have fun and enjoy your time at the railway..

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Rail200

This weekend is our rail200 weekend, a great weekend ahead with visiting steam locomotives and many services.

If you are visiting us this weekend I hope you have a great time. You can pay on the day if you wish. Have a look on our web site for all the information you will need.

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Well that was August.

Well that’s August out of the way. A busy month with lots of activity around the railway.

It’s months like this when we can forget the activity that goes on behind the scenes. In the sheds and along the line doing work that enables the railway to run safely.

Mention must also be made of those working in the office both paid and volunteer. Now we are into September with events still to come, then on towards the Santa services.

The railway never sleeps, it may appear to have the occasional doze but it never sleeps.

So well done for a busy August and here’s to a busy autumn and full Santa trains.

Every person is important be they paid staff, volunteer etc. It’s often been said that the railways best asset is its volunteers. That is very true irrespective of the job they do.

These days I am housebound and unable to get to the railway. I desperately miss chatting to both the volunteers and visitors, and I enjoy those who pop onto the Wansford YouTube web cam I am on there every running day answering questions and giving service information out. Please feel free to pop on.

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The First Weekend

Well that’s the first weekend of the visit by Flying Scotsman out of the way.

Sitting at home looking after two web cams and answering questions and posting train details I must say I enjoyed it.

Yes, I would loved to have opened Orton Mere, but I realise that’s not going to happen again. But I got the pleasure of exchanging information about the event with not only locals and UK visitors but with people as faraway as Argentina and Canada.

Explaining about heritage railways, our general aims, aspirations and goals. Now you may well say did that bring in money for the railway and I must admit in the case of our overseas visitors I doubt it. but, perhaps some of our locals and UK connections learnt something new, perhaps we sowed seeds of interest, you never know. To survive heritage railways need young blood, we need keen young minds that can approach things differently.

One of the visitors to the cams, mentioned how few youngsters were to be seen, there were some but the percentage did not look that great.

So perhaps next time you see a young visitor, stop and say hello, communicate with them and show interest. Now I am aware many do this but equally many do not. It costs nothing but it can reap rewards.

So lets enjoy the rest of Flying Scotsman’s visit and not forget Britannia straight after it.

Have fun and with luck it will be a great year not only for the railway but also for each of us.

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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.