NVR Wagon Group Updates

Interesting - it's a shame, as it would have been something a bit different. (We may try it again another time - the particular setup was requested by a regular, but the date had to be moved due to the whole Tornado saga!).

 

Not everything went exactly to plan (including the fact that I wasn't able to be there having been taken out for a fortnight by a particularly vicious lurgy and chest infection), but last weekend saw another new variation of our freight driving experience (full length runs from Wansford to PNVR or the other direction, crossing with service trains) and the driving slots for both days were all sold out, with lots of happy participants. It also saw the first outing for what we thought was my now complete LMS Medfit in BR livery, but flagged up that the label clips hadn't been refitted when Tim went to put the labels on it - doh!

https://nvrwagons.co.uk/2024/11/04/01-11-24-03-11-24-wagons-roll-for-our-goods-weekend/

https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagons/...sKcoc8ewUarZEmJF3Ykoo9EkQsoNtt9SsxzX63QnEJFKl

 

Looked good, Stu - hope you feel better soon. I was playing with much smaller wagons over the weekend, to wit my numerous LNER "Hornby-Dublo" tinplate ones at the Spalding Model Railway Club show! They all ran beautifully, but I had spent a good afternoon of maintenance on them - not bad considering they, and the black LNER 0-6-2T that hauled them, are all over seventy years old...

I am led to believe 60163 is going to be around a bit longer?

 

I can neither confirm nor deny that is the case If I were a betting man though, I wouldn't bet against it...

 

That last photo of 60163 and 34081 in the shed, both wearing their "January 1948" liveries... great!.

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...24-11-16/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

60007 and 44871 arriving back at Wansford on Saturday 16th. Add in the previous mentioned pair, plus 1800 and 656 and the NVR will briefly be home to 6 working steam locos! Possibly 7 if 5485 is fit by then.

 

Yup, and with the 16th being our next wagon group session as well, I suspect we will hang around to se them come in

 

Seriously?!

 

Just thinking - is the arrival of 60007/44871 on the evening of the 16th anything to do with the two "Christmas White Rose" services that day?

 

Yes - 44871 works KGX - YRK - PBO, stables at NVR and leaves again Monday evening.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U32838/2024-11-18/detailed

60007 arrives on Friday afternoon after turning at March and Whitemoor. Looks like it'll be 60007+support coach+diesel, as some of the reversals are very short. Diesel then heads back to Peterborough.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U32066/2024-11-15/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U32067/2024-11-15/detailed

 

Josh and I were late arriving on Saturday, but we then spent the afternoon completing the coach screws on the side cappings of LMS Medfit 470944 and then fitted the label holders to each side, thus completing the refurbishment of our wagon in to BR livery. We then hung around to see both LMS Black 5 44871 and LNER A4 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' come in from the mainline for stabling at Wansford. Having started my day at 04:30 on dad taxi duty, we finally got home around 23:00 - knackered!

https://nvrwagons.co.uk/2024/11/17/16-11-24-best-laid-plans/

https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagons/...Q5Xqkq7UEQZsKWYXfk78jQm8oQBMdq19YgDXfyyk1vaPl

 

From our FB (https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagons/...rfSb1AESAzh9kH2S68Ux4Dpsme61dfZDEUugArBmR56Dl):

"It has now been publicly announced that Battle of Britain Class locomotive No 34081 ‘92 Squadron’ will be leaving the NVR very shortly to a new home at ELR that will provide new partnership opportunities for the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society (BBLS).
We would like to thank everyone from the BBLS for a fantastic relationship over the years that has helped to promote what we in the wagon group are trying to achieve.
We couldn’t have hoped for a better final event with the locomotive than the ‘Auxiliary Action’ photographic charter back in May. Below are some shots from that and other events.
All the best from us and good luck for the future."

On a personal note, I've added a couple of shots where I got to drive a run round at Wansford when 92 was the motive power for one of our freight driving experiences - I had joined the BBLS just a couple of weeks prior to being let loose on the regulator!

 

I'm gonna miss the old girl...

 

Happy Christmas everyone - it's been an interesting year! Last time out, rather than a normal session, most of us met up in the pub early to discuss plans for next year (stay tuned - if all goes to plan it could be our busiest year yet for events!), and then we all participated in the Wagon Group Christmas meal! One more session in the year (Sunday 29th December) which should hopefully see a start on our major new project for next year...

 

I've got the feeling I should know that boozer, it seems familiar?

 

You probably should - Harvester at Alwalton

 

Not been there, but may bookmark for the future.

 

As hinted at in my Christmas meal post, at our most recent session, work has started on what we hope will be an extensive and exciting project - creating a 50s/60s era goods yard at Overton to be the centre of all non-passenger traffic at NVR alongside our friends in the TPO group. This has been a long time in the making, and we are pleased to finally be able to announce the outline plan and start of its implementation. 2025 will see further site tidying and relocation of all non-relevant stock from Overton to other parts of the railway, with freight and TPO stock then being brought in from Wansford/PNVR. Wagon restoration will continue alongside this long term project, but the intention is to undertake that work at Overton going forwards rather than split between Wansford and PNVR locations.

https://nvrwagons.co.uk/2024/12/31/29-12-24-new-year-new-prospects/

https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagons/...4WXsZGqCKUQuZbQa9FLbzGtEAJuvwchPs8uY4dq9VBt4l

"The outline plans for the site show all of the usual goods yard facilities, with creation of an LNWR style goods shed, museum building, second platform and finally signalling. The goods shed is planned to be a multi-use space, primarily used as restoration facilities for the wagon and TPO groups, but also an occasional undercover events space. Similarly the museum space has been considered as a multi-use space to tell the story of the TPOs, but also encourage educational opportunities with visiting groups and partnership working with the NVR museum group."

 

@big.stu This is brilliant news: I seem to recall Mr. Hobman alluded to this in his talk at Peterborough Museum a few months ago.

I might also have to gently remind Mr. H. about that photo of a V2 on a brick train taken from Yaxley Bridge...

 

Our first event for 2025 is now available:

"Rule Britannia" a full day Eastern Region themed freight photo charter with Standard Class 7 70000 Britannia, Wednesday 12th March, £140 a head.

Booking and full details: https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/567/rule-britannia