Nene Valley Railway

From NVR Facebook this evening, a nice chunk of money for track renewal.

"The Department of Media Culture and Sport has announced that NVR has been awarded a grant of £669,873 from the Arts Council England, Cultural Investment Fund.

This supports the Nene Valley Railway in executing three major infrastructure projects:
1. To relay worn-out track through Wansford tunnel, including new drainage.
2. To relay track and roadway at Wansford Level Crossing.
3. To relay track in Wansford yard, where old track has been buried in ash for over forty years.

While infrastructure is one of the less glamourous aspects of railway preservation it is fundamental to being able to run trains. No track - no trains!

This outstanding award means that we can look forward to running trains long into the future. The track renewals made possible by the grant will have a life-expectancy of around 40 years and are focussed at three weak areas on our line.
Work will start later this year and continue through 2024 and complete in mid-2025.

"With thanks to DCMS and Arts Council England for their support and investment in our railway heritage” @DCMS @ace_national @dcmsgovuk @aceagrams"

 

There are problems with getting any engine in or out of the KWVR by road at present that are beyond the railway’s control. It’s why all the guest engines for the recent Gala came in on the hoof.

 

Just a couple for @240P15 from last Sunday.





(note the missing axle set)

 

Many thanks for the photos!

Knut

 

Can any railway apply for one of these or was there certain requirements?

 

Having a Tory MP cover your locale probably doesn't hinder matters...

 

I had an enjoyable trip on the line yesterday. No coal tank as we know but I'd never been behind the Polish 0-8-0 so that was a treat, and I'd not been to the NVR in a good twenty years. It was interesting how loved certain stations like Overton looked, compared to my joining station of Peterborough where I assume vandalism has kept any hope of a more grandiose creation away. Railworld next door looks more like a scrapyard with piles of rubble all over the place... But there were plenty of volunteers, the train buffet was open as was catering options at Washford and Overton. I hope to back when some of the European carriges are out to play.

 

Peterborough NVR will eventually be home to the currently derelict Wansford Road station on the former Stamford East to Wansford branch.

 

Glad you had a good day.

As The Green Howard's says, Railworld is a bit of a building site at the moment. The demountable buildings that were there have been demolished and they should be starting work on the new Wansford Road station building in due course when it is dismantled as part of the A47 widening.

The plan is to have it sitting perpendicular to the platform so visitors see the frontage of it as they approach.

Generally speaking the main use the European stock gets is at Christmas on the First Class service and on the cre tea services, though it occasionally also comes out for other events.

 

Interesting, great to know things are changing for the better!

 

On this note… anyone know, hypothetically, if Hunslet Picton would fit the NVR if restored to steam one day? Obviously there’s around a 1.8% chance of it ever happening. Just curious!

 

At 1.8% you obviously think it’s a better chance than me. Fifty years under dripping trees have taken their toll. The boiler is good internally but not externally. Good wheel tyres is about the only plus point. From memory it’s about 10’-8” wide, I don’t know what the NVR can cope with.

 

The Swedish Y7 railcar is 3.1m wide, so about 10' 2", and is very close to the platform edge in places. The Kriegslok was marginally narrower. I didn't think Picton would be that wide, but those buffer beams look massive!

 

Doesn't seem to have been much singing and dancing to confirm it, but the Fletton Loop repairs ARE done and ready for the A4 which is arriving tomorrow according to RTT: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91563/2023-04-05/detailed

 

I understand it's job partly done, enough for trains to access at least...

Around 500 sleepers have been replaced since the works began earlier this year. Without looking back through the updates I believe it was around 400 was the minimum which needed to be done to get the branch back open, but it was closer to 2,000 in total which have been identified as in need of replacement sooner or later.

But fundamentally yes, the NVR is back connected to the mainline, but there's still a job to do so we're not back in the same position in a year or 2.

 

When I get some spare cash I'll make a donation. I used to enjoy the rare trips down the Fletton Loop - my first one was in a cab of a 31!

 

I get the feeling it's going to be very busy at the NVR over Easter, if this scene is anything to judge by:



(apologies for the crap quality, it was at this point I discovered the battery in my DSLR was flat)

There's about a dozen cars gathered around the crossing and lots of people with Reassuringly Expensive cameras - Bainton is in the middle of nowhere but it does have a nice uninterrupted view to Stamford from that point. I was on my own and further away, hoping for a nice broadside shot until the Gods of Stored Energy intervened

...whilst a peak of 128 people watched an extremely shiny 60007 roll into Wansford on Railcam at about 2.20pm.

For those who find such things important, SNG is facing towards Yarwell.

 

Great to see SNG back in its Blue livery on the webcams at Peterborough and Orton Mere this afternoon.

 

Looking at the website suggests all the advance tickets are sold out, limited walk on tickets available on the day.

 

Really enjoyed my first ever filming visit to the Nene Valley yesterday, platform tickets at £5 a bargin and the trains and railway looked full, hopefully the event is a success for everyone! My video from Good Friday...