FENLAND RAILWAY FOTOS http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/ 38 rows en-gb 60 A10 ELY BYPASS OVERBRIDGE, CHETTISHAM. http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c1221973.html As I may have mentioned previously, there are only 2 road overbridges between Whittlesea and Ely North Junction and this one of them. It's not ever so brilliant as, being modern, the parapets are high, which I solved by standing on my motorbike's footrests! Also, it is quite shadowy looking west are there is quite a cutting on that side. Thursday 1 January 1970: As I may have mentioned previously, there are only 2 road overbridges between Whittlesea and Ely North Junction and this one of them. It's not ever so brilliant as, being modern, the parapets are high, which I solved by standing on my motorbike's footrests! Also, it is quite shadowy looking west are there is quite a cutting on that side.

31 428 is on 1E85 birmingham - Norwich approaching Chettisham 56 058 goes into the cutting with 6L23 March - Trowse Redland stone. A Class 101 DMU tackles the short but quite stgeep climb away from the site of Chettisham Station on a local for Peterborough.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 MARCH SOUTH http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c1220471.html The level crossing at March South is a terrible spot for photographs with the the exception of up trains and freight leaving the up loop. There is no pavement, nowhere to park, house right up against you on your right and it's on a sharp bend. The outsikde of the bend is really no better and the sun is against you all day. Mind you, the signalbox is well worth a picture in it's own right. Thursday 1 January 1970: The level crossing at March South is a terrible spot for photographs with the the exception of up trains and freight leaving the up loop. There is no pavement, nowhere to park, house right up against you on your right and it's on a sharp bend. The outsikde of the bend is really no better and the sun is against you all day. Mind you, the signalbox is well worth a picture in it's own right.

31 102 approaches Creek Road with a down parcels train. 45 048 is back with 6H44, the empty Kennett/Barham Redland split. 37 054 drops into the Down Loop with 6D42 Parkeston - Wrenthorpe imported Ford cars. 20 101/20 177 cross Creek Road with 6H94 Kings Lynn - Whitemoor. I don't think they often sent 20's to Lynn. 31 421 and 31 425 sweep towards Creek Road on the SO Birmingham - Cambridge. 47 428 has a good load on with the Blackpool - Cambridge. 45 014 has come all the way from Lynn with just one BIS PAA cripple. 47 533 passes South Box with the Blackpool - Cambridge. 31 249 has just passed March South Box with a Class 9 ballast train for Whitemoor. 37 084 is on a westbound engineer's train just past South Box. 56 067 is pulling out of the Up Loop with 6L23 for Norwich whilst 45 051 waits to back on to the remainder, 6Y41 to Kennett/Barham, as soon as it's gone. 25 191 has taken the road for the Down Loop with 6E07 Foxton - Thoresby Colliery MGR empties. 45 070 has just picked up 6L23 Mountsorrel - Trowse from the Up Yard. 47 118 is continuing its journey to Felixstowe with 4E97 from Coatbridge afcter a couple of hours in the Up Loop. 37 216 has a bit of work to do with this rake of Seacows as it tackles the climb from East to South signalboxes. 31 152 has been laid by with this engineer's train in the up loop. March South Signalbox, freshly painted, sporting its famous enamel sign - it must be worth a fortune. The gable end of March South Signalbox with the Up and Down Yards in the distance. Most of March's remaining semaphores are in this picture taken from March South.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 STONEA PITS http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c1219622.html This is an occupation crossing between Horsemoor and Stonea and the fishing pits are the nearest identifiable object! It is reaqched by leaving the A1101 at the first left-handed, 90 degree bend (straight on, basically) after Horsemoor AHB and then down an extremely long farm track, part metalled, but I've never done it in my car - a very large off-road motorbike is recommended! Thursday 1 January 1970: This is an occupation crossing between Horsemoor and Stonea and the fishing pits are the nearest identifiable object! It is reaqched by leaving the A1101 at the first left-handed, 90 degree bend (straight on, basically) after Horsemoor AHB and then down an extremely long farm track, part metalled, but I've never done it in my car - a very large off-road motorbike is recommended!

47 573 passes Stonea Pits on the down 'European' from Parkeston Quay. 150 123 heads for Cambridge with a local from Peterborough - the shape of things to come! 31 158 and 31 109 rumble westwards with another load of industrial sand for the Yorkshire glassworks. 31 168 on 9X40 to Whitemoor. Class X trains were usually 'out of gauge' loads but I can't see where this might be. 31 417 is seen here on H76, Chesterton - Peterborough, but this time running Class 6. 56 059 approaches the pits on 6L23 for Trowse. Obviously good weather - ploughing going on. 47 199 speeds across the Fens on 6M20 Colchester - toton coal empties. There were two 31/4's with 'Stratford Grey' roofs. 31 412 was one and this, 31 416, the other, seen here on 9H76 Chesterton - Peterborough. 47 201 heads towards March with a rake of empty HTV's on a misty morning. 37 142 passes the pits in question on 6H94 Kings Lynn - Whitemoor. A classis class 9 freight - 31 146 is trundling along on 9H77 Peterborough - Chresterton Junction. 31 252 heads east with a short rake of track empties. Look at the line of telegraph poles and tell me life is easy in the Fens! 31 411 is towing Class 101 DTS 54392 eastwards, probably bound for Cambridge Depot. 47 114 is on 6Y41, the March - Kennett/Barham Redland split. Class 47 power for 6H94 today! 47353 has a good load on as it heads for Whitemoor from Lynn. 31 125 trundles along with 9H77 Peterborough - Chesterton Junction engineer;s train I have no idea what vehicle 31 427 has just turned on Ely West Curve but that's where she's been. 31 464 heads for Cambridhe with the lunch time parcels from Peterborough. 6H90 Norwich - Whitemoor will not be presenting any problems to 37 101 today! 37 241 and 37 057 are on 4M00, the Felixstowe - Trafford Park freightliner. 47 146 is making light work of 6Y61, the March - Kennett/Barham Redland split. 37047 and 37 219 would seem to provide ample power for a single crane and brake. 47 311 has a good load on 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard. 20004 and 20021 have a train of scrap metal for Mayer Newman at Snailwell. 31 289 heads east with a rake of MERMAID side tippers. 37 087 is making a bit of an effort of the Peterborough - Cambridge vans. 47 314 heads 6S96 Parkeston Quay - Mossend, formed mainly of imported cars. 56 065 approaches with 6L23 for Trowse. I was 6E23 until it split at March and 6L23 thenceforward. 31 180 is about to be swallowed by this Triffid as it heads 7H86 from Kings Lynn back to Whitemoor - that's a lotta soup in there! 31 427 heads for Cambridge with 5L53 Parcels plus a couple DPU's slung on the back. 31 439 is headed west with 5E45 for Peterborough, TPO's well visible. 47 214 doesn't seem to be having too much trouble with this hefty load!

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 MARCH STATION YARDS http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c1218425.html I have decided to separate off the shots taken in the actual station from those of train either in the station goods yard or in, entering or leaving the loops, as they are essentially seperate locations. However, I will trains on the main running lines in the station collection. Complicated, innit? Thursday 1 January 1970: I have decided to separate off the shots taken in the actual station from those of train either in the station goods yard or in, entering or leaving the loops, as they are essentially seperate locations. However, I will trains on the main running lines in the station collection. Complicated, innit?

56 108 runs into the Down Loop with a late-running down freightliner. 47 361 is in the up loop with 4E97, the Felixstowe freightliner. 45 015 is parked up in the Down Yard to act as weekend standby loco. 47 289 waits the road in the Up Loop with 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe. March 10th finds 45 020 selected as weekend standby loco. 31 260 has arrived in the Down Yard with a rake of what look Class 305 EMU's for storage in Whitemoor. 36 044 arrives in the Down Loop with 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard. 45 074 is weekend standby loco at the end of the month. 25 245 stands in the down loop with an LWR train. 31 106 has just got the road from the down loop with a train of rail empties. This is the only time I saw 56 042, leaving the down loop with a short Redland train. 25 173 has just got the road from the down loop with 6E07 Foxton - Thoresby - I think they only worked it empty! 47 473 waits in the down loop with 4S93 Felixstowe - Coatbridge. A rake of what look like Class 302 EMU's backe4d into the Up Yard, destined for Snailwell. Great Western pattern 'Toad' brakevan on an engineer's train in the Up Yard. 20 104 and 20 133 are on the 6E07 Foxton - Thoresby Colliery coal empties. 25 059 arrives at March with 6H94 Bury - Whitemoor. 37 105 and 37 101 wait in the Up Loop in a blizzard with 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe. 47 363 waits with a freightliner in the Up Loop - two in a day - one must have been delayed or diverted due to the weather. 37 174 has the BR Exhibition Train stock behind it in the Up Loop. 31 410 waits for the road from the Down Loop with a short engineer's train. Class 105 Cravens dmu's 51255 and 51273 lay over in the Down Yard en route for scrap. 31 278 is leaving the Up Loop with 9H77 Peterborough - Chesterton Junction. 45 051 draws 6Y41 March - Kennett/Barham slowly uphill and out of the Up Loop. 47 363 is heading for Whitemoor past 25 034 laid by with a train of pressure tanks for Merseyside. 45 022 basks in the winter sun on standby duty in the Down Yard. 47 004 is leaving the Up Loop with a long engineer's train I was standing in the Down Yard, freezing cold, when the driver of 08 711, the travelling pilot, saw me and took pity on me, offering me a tea and a warm - gratefully accepted. A section of track is guided into place by the crane and its assistants. 31 135 leaves the Down Loop with a short train of grain hoppers. A weekend track possession allowa relaying of part of the Up Loop. Hard at work! Probably on overtime too. The driver of 45 111 is deep in conversation with March East signalman. 45 111 leaves the yard with 6M09 Colchester - Toton coal empties. 47 664 awaits departure from the up loop with 4Y79 Leeds - Felixstowe. 47 107 had been laid by on 4E97 Leeds - Felixstowe to await a path. 31 174 leaves thye down loop for Whitemoor with the Lynn line electrification train. 47 192 has the road out of the down loop with a ballast train. Class 110 dmu 51832/52072 is forced to run through the freight loops with its Peterborough train as 1M88 is still blocking the mainline. The breakdown crane has obviously been out on a job and then abandoned in the Up Yard on return. A long rake, needing splitting to fit in the sidings, of Class 101 and 104 DMU's in the Up Yard for scrap at Snailwell. I can't quite remember how DM478332 came to grief but, as it was condemned, it was decided to remove it by road, due to its awkward position. So they brought in a road crane and it prompty caved the drains in and got stuck. They removed the crane but the wagon was there a long time. As you can see, it was well and truly sruck, fortunately clear of the running lines. Is the Tangoman having a pee on that Class 31? 37 051 inches past the cripples on 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard. 43 065 arrived in the Up Yard en route to Works with what must be the ropiest barrier van in the World. 43 065 again. Note the front valance has been removed for transport purposes. 56 060 is the Down Loop with 6M25, the Redland empties. 37 213 waits for the road to Whitemoor with 6M09 Colchester Hythe - Toton. 47 097 has arrived in 6J90 from Norwich and now waits for the road into Whitemoor.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 FROM THE SIGNALBOX http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c1214141.html As my friend was area relief signalman, with a range that extended frolm Shippea Hill in the east to Uffington in the west. He often used to call me and let me know where he was and so ad hoc visits were made to a number of boxes in the area. He would let me work the le3vers but not allow me touch the telegraph because I was absolute crap at it, me an ex merchant seaman, top in his morse class, too! Thursday 1 January 1970: As my friend was area relief signalman, with a range that extended frolm Shippea Hill in the east to Uffington in the west. He often used to call me and let me know where he was and so ad hoc visits were made to a number of boxes in the area. He would let me work the le3vers but not allow me touch the telegraph because I was absolute crap at it, me an ex merchant seaman, top in his morse class, too!

45 052 is returning to Whitemoor with the Bury Speedlink at Horsemoor Box. A lovely collection 'Fen Verticals' here! An immaculately turned out 47 130 is really giving it some as it passes Horsemoor Box on 6E23 Mountsorrel - Trowse. Class 116 dmu 53862/59600/53872 leads a sister on a Saturday Birmingham - Yarmouth excursion past March South Box. 31 159, seen from Manea Signalbox, is on a Norwich - Birmingham train. 31 183 passes March South with an up test train including the coach 'Mentor'. March East on this occasion as 31 283 and 31 233 leave the loop with 9L42, the Cambridge - Peterborough empty vans. Is that a DMU on the rear? March East again as 47 107 and 'Slasher', her driver, pass on 7M86 Harwich - Whitemoor. Towards the end of their lives, many DMU's were made into power twins. 51822 and 51835 is one such, displaced from Yorkshire by Sprinters. March South this time as 53849 leads this 6-car 116 train into the loop on a Yarmouth - Birmingham excursion - it really shouldn't have been allowed - they didn't even have a toilet! 47 628 races past Manea 'box on 1P98 Newcastle - Yarmouth. Unfortunately, I failed to get the number of the Class 31 towing two DMU's (all 5 numbers, actually) as the pass Horsemoor Box. 45 070 is headed with this rake of ballast wagons passing Horsemoor Box - my house is about half a mile to the loco's right. Class 105 Cravens DMU 53359/54412 passes Horsemoor Box on a Peterborough - Ipswich train. I bet you thought it was all technical, didn't you? The railway equivalent of Kwikfit - Slowcoach! Get it? BIS PAA in the Marcroft Works from March East. I don't remember precisely what 45 104 and 1Z12 were doing but I guess it was some kind of 'Last Peak' railtiour passing March Station. 31 229 approaches March East with (yet another!) experimental Tiphook road-railer - it won't work in our pathetic loading gauge! 31 200 has arrived in the down loop with 7Z07, the weedkiller train, seen from March East. 31 200 then proceeded to run round its train and propel it towards Peterborough. Seen from March South, 31 188 is on 7N75, the Chesterton Junction - Peterborough engineer's train. 31 466 is piloting 1Z24, the 'Mentor' test coach, past March East. How are the might fallen! 47581 approaches March East with 6H76 to Whitemoor. 56 058 goes rumbling past March East and into tghe up loop with 6E23, the Redland from Mountsorrel. 31 264 approaches March East with 6X30, the Kings Lynn line electrification train, based at Whitemoor. Whitemoor Junction signalbox today and 31 422 leaves Whitemoor with 6H99 for Peterborough. 31 458 comes off the west curve with cement wagons from Ketton for Whitemoor. 47 201 has just come off the Wisbech Branch with a couple of steel empties. Note the Branch signal is still off. 47 573 brings 6H76 from Lynn under Norwood Road Bridge for Whitemoor. 47 159 passes March South with a westbound engineer's train. 47 214 brings 6P89 Whitemoor - Norwich round the bend towards March South. 45 037 has brought 6H44 from Kennett/Barham into the Down Loop. 45 037 goes on depot, just 5 months left in traffic. Who are all those people on the footbridge? An almost aerial shot of the sad remains of DM478322 from March East. Oh, yes - HST's at March! All GN passenger service were regularly diverted through March for a long period during the ECML wiring. Here 43 047 leads on 1N24 Kings Cross - Newcastle. 31 410 thunders through March Station on 5L53 Peterborough - Cambridge vans - I think I've been spotted by the driver! I'm on the steps at March South as a pristine 56 036 backs into March Up Yard.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 THREE HORSESHOES AHB No.1 http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c1055390.html This AHB is the most easterly of the four in the village of Turves and is practically useless to the photographer except when there is no sun or late in the afternoon when the sun gets onto the up side of the line. Eastbound shots from the down side are OK but the other direction is virtually impossible as you can see. Thursday 1 January 1970: This AHB is the most easterly of the four in the village of Turves and is practically useless to the photographer except when there is no sun or late in the afternoon when the sun gets onto the up side of the line. Eastbound shots from the down side are OK but the other direction is virtually impossible as you can see.

66 720 has a good load on the Selby - Felixstowe liner. 66 710 and 66 718 head light engine for Whitemoor. 66 094 returns loaded from Middleton Towers with sand for Goole. 60 020 heads back towards Tunstead with an rake of empty sugarstone MBA's. 66 572 is hardly struggling with this load on the Felixstowe - Doncaster liner. 60 040, in EW&S livery, trundles west with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMS empties. The OC it's crossing is Australia Farm. 60 092 has charge of a very considerable rake of wagons on 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel. 60 092, still with nameplates and a baragin-basement relivery job. 60 092 disappears westwards with its long rake of LaFarhe empties. 66 710 heads east light engine. I thought it was Whitemoor-bound but it never came back. 66 577 approaches the crossing, red lights galore, with 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 721 carving its way across the very intersting landscape on 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster Railport. 66 721 spent most of that week working 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster. Isaw this coming and couldn't work out what it was at all! It's 66 716 and refurbished DVT 82121 forming 5Z42 Derby - Norwich. 82121 trails 66 716 eastwards as 5Z42 rattles across the Fens. 66 722, the last of the Metronets to fall to me, hurries west on 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster Railport. 66 161 looms out the thick fog on 6E84 Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton. 66 404, my first DRS 66 on this line, heads for the north west with the now redundant water canons from Stowmarket. 60 015 looms out of the fog with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. December 22nd was a truly grotty day as shown by this shot of 999600/601 heading for Peterborough. 66 704 straggles out across the Fen with a rake of new MLA's on the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel VQ train. 66 727, in 'Barbie Doll' livery, heads for Whitemoor. Quite unusually, the Peterborough - Whitemoor light engine for the Tallington trip is fully loaded today. 60 096 crosses Australia Farm OC with 6M70 Ely - Peak Forest. 60 096 seems to have rather an odd number - perhaps it's just the light. 66 174 returns an hour later with a rake of empties for Tallington. 66 719 is not having much trouble with this rake oe empty flats on 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster Railport. 66 079 heads for Middleton Towers with 6L98 from Peterborough, the Goole Docks sand empties. 66 179 is bound for Monk Bretton with 6E84 from Middleton Towers 66 703 is on the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel trip, PNA's today. 60 029 heads for Potter's at Ely with a very late 6L73 from Peak Forest 66 172 has quite a good train on the Whitemoor - Tallington trip today. 66 568 is bathed in light from the setting sun as it heads east on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich, 66 710 is caught in the glow of the setting sun as it heads west on 4E33 for Doncaster Railport. 66 710 approaches the crossing with the GBRf Selby - Felixstowe liner.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 WHITEMOOR DROVE AHB http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c1024471.html The AHB on Whitemoor Drove is visible from the A141 bridge and is just beyond Tufts No.1 Crossing. It's best when the there is no sun as there is no shot eastwards from the down side of the line but both views are ok from the up side. Thursday 1 January 1970: The AHB on Whitemoor Drove is visible from the A141 bridge and is just beyond Tufts No.1 Crossing. It's best when the there is no sun as there is no shot eastwards from the down side of the line but both views are ok from the up side.

31 162 and 31 257 stretch out across the Fen with very mixed train for Toton. 31 175 approaches Whitemoor Drove with a parcels train for Peterborough. 66 020 heads east for Trowse with 6L39 from Mountsorrel. 66 607 is going quite a speed on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties as it hits the crossing. 66 247 heads for Peterborough with a rake of empties for Tallington. 66 145 is on the empty MEA's of 6Z26, Bury St. Edmunds - Stud Farm. 66 718 is eastbound with the Selby - Felixstowe liner. 66 050 is headed for Tunstead with a rake of empty sugarstone MBA's. Notice the almost total absence of containers on 66 111's Wakefield - Felixstowe Intermodal. 66 703 rolls towards Whitemoor with the evening ballast train from Mountsorrel. 66 191 heads for Tallington with a very light load. 66 020 heads west with 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel. 66 720 heads for Doncaster with the GBRf liner from Felixstowe. 66 533 doesn't even appear to be joined to 4L85 and its very light load. 66 201 is on the Middleton Towers - Goole Docks sand train. 66 704 is bound for Bishops Stortford with a train of stone for new runway at Stansted Airport. 66 502 is on the Felixstowe - Doncaster 'pick up and go' freightliner. 66 202 heads for Hitchin with the scrap empties from Cardiff. 66 188 runs under the National Grid with a rake of HGA's for Middleton Towers. 60 095 picks up speed on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 THE WASH BRIDGES http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c970858.html This spot is at the extreme eastern end of the eastern bridge over the Welney Washes. The eastbound shot is excellent as it overlooks the bridges but the westbound shot is not so good with only a couple of gaps in the shrubbery to catch locos in. The road bridge is very nice though. If you think these pictures look a bit odd, thats because the water level in the Washes is about 12 feet higher than the level of the road! Hence, you can barely walk under the railway bridge on one side and have a 14 foot headroom road bridge on the other side of the bank! Thursday 1 January 1970: This spot is at the extreme eastern end of the eastern bridge over the Welney Washes. The eastbound shot is excellent as it overlooks the bridges but the westbound shot is not so good with only a couple of gaps in the shrubbery to catch locos in. The road bridge is very nice though. If you think these pictures look a bit odd, thats because the water level in the Washes is about 12 feet higher than the level of the road! Hence, you can barely walk under the railway bridge on one side and have a 14 foot headroom road bridge on the other side of the bank!

Class 105's 'top 'n' tail' a Class 101 on a Cambridge - Peterborough train. This is probably an ecs move with only one unit in use. 31 102 follows 31 226 onto the bridges with the down sand from Lynn. 31 164 approaches the bridges with 6H76 Chesterton Junction - Peterborough. 31 264 and 31 102 tackle the stiff climb from Black Bank onto the bridges with the down sand. 31 290 heads east with a Peterborough - Cambridge ecs move. 37 003 rumbles across the bridges bound for Kings Lynn from Whitemoor. 37 218 is on 6E86 Whitemoor - Parkeston Quay as it crosses the Washes. 47 341 is on 6P89, one of the two daily feeders from Whitemoor to Norwich. 31 406 and 31 452 are headed for Norwich on 1E66 from Birmingham. 47 534 heads for Yarmouth with the Summer Saturday Special from Manchester. 66 577 gradually emerges from behind the trees on 4L85 Leeds - Felixstowe. 66 717 is taking this CWR train for turning on Ely West Curve. 66 573 rattles over the viaduct with the Wilton - Felixstowe liner. 66 131 heads east on a short engineer's train ovedr the Washes Viaduct. 60 097 approaches on 6M87, an unusual working on a Saturday. 60 097 rumbles across the Pymoor Road bridge on the westbound 6M87 RMC empties. Now this is unusual! 66 572 and 66 526 doublehead the 4E34 Felixstowe - York (SO). 66 709 leads 66 710 on a very long rake of eastbound PNA's. 66 710 brings up the rear of 66 709, which is only just visible in the distance. 66 533 clatters onto the viaduct with the Wilton - Felixstowe. 66 214 looms out of the mist on a very long 6M70 LaFarge self discharge train. 66 137 crosses the viaduct tailed by 66 090 on a short rake of rail flats. 66 090 is tailing 66 137 on a short rake of rail flats. In Fen terms, at 1 in 188 this is a steep bank! 66 540 rumbles across the Pymoor Road on 4E34 Felixstowe - York. 66 714 heads east with a rake of loaded PNA's, tailed by 66 710, not yet visible.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 BIELD DROVE AHB http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c944842.html Bield Drove (or Beald Drove, as the Railway would have it be!) is a farm track in Little Downham, just west of the A10 Ely Bypass. Quite why there is an AHB on an unmetalled farm road is a mystery to me. I sat there from 1130 until 1800 and saw the same man on the same tractor 3 times, a bloke on a bike and drunken pedestrian who, on navigating his tortuous way over the crossing, promptly turned round and went back! The journey down to the ahb was murder on the Great White Whale and the suspension took a right hammering - the track is so rough that in one place they've bypassed it with one that's even worse! Only to be attempted in dry weather. Mind you, if you crave isolation, this really is the middle of nowhere. Thursday 1 January 1970: Bield Drove (or Beald Drove, as the Railway would have it be!) is a farm track in Little Downham, just west of the A10 Ely Bypass. Quite why there is an AHB on an unmetalled farm road is a mystery to me. I sat there from 1130 until 1800 and saw the same man on the same tractor 3 times, a bloke on a bike and drunken pedestrian who, on navigating his tortuous way over the crossing, promptly turned round and went back! The journey down to the ahb was murder on the Great White Whale and the suspension took a right hammering - the track is so rough that in one place they've bypassed it with one that's even worse! Only to be attempted in dry weather. Mind you, if you crave isolation, this really is the middle of nowhere.

25 201 heads for Peterborough with aa Class 9 engineer's train. Bield, or Beald, Drove AHB - is it worth it? I love the white line in the centre - it has the footpaths marked out too. I tried to get the camera as vertical as possible - and none of these trackside objects is vertical! This crowd of young bucks got nearly as excited as I did each time a train appeared. They were just about the only company I had all day. 66 707 tails 66 710 on a rake of Whitemoor-bound empty rail flats. 66 578 is westbound on 4E34 Ipswich - York (SO). 66 192 has just passed under the A10 Bypass on 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel. 66 535 has just passed Black Bank on well loaded 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 715 leads 66 711 on an eastbound CWR train. 66 711 brings up the rear of this eastbound CWR train headed by 66 715. 66 543 heads east in the dimming light on the Wilton - Ipswich. 66 708 leads as 66 707 follows on an eastbound engineering train. 66 707 is tailing 66 708 on this rake of JNA's and Salmon wagons.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 NORWOOD ROAD LEVEL CROSSING http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c897114.html This is the leve3l crossing that lies just west of March West footbridge and probably best known as being about 200 yards from the old entrance to March Depot. It's not usually possible to do much here but they've recently hacked back all of the foliage to erect security fencing and so, for the time being at rate, it offers the chance of some decent shots. Another advantage is that everything passes here very slowly, about 20 - 30 mph. Thursday 1 January 1970: This is the leve3l crossing that lies just west of March West footbridge and probably best known as being about 200 yards from the old entrance to March Depot. It's not usually possible to do much here but they've recently hacked back all of the foliage to erect security fencing and so, for the time being at rate, it offers the chance of some decent shots. Another advantage is that everything passes here very slowly, about 20 - 30 mph.

25 323 is on the Foxton - Thoresby MGR empties. 45 056 is really stirring it up as it gets 6E07 Foxton - Thoresby MGR empties going. 25 037 and 25 023 have hold of what appears to be a rail crane and a long rake of empty track wagons. 37 076 has the hammer down on 6S96 Whitemoor - Mossend, usually a good load for a single Class 37. 45 128 is a rare performer on 6S96, Whitemoor - Mossend. 37 194 has jusr pulled out of Whitemoor with a rake of Polybulk hopper wagons 45 015 heads west on 6B01 Whitemoor - Peterborough. 03084 brings up the rear as 37 097 heads for Doncaster Works with 31407, 31 215 and 03 399 also in tow. 37 097 gathers speed, conveying 31 407, 31 215, 03 399 and 03 084 to Doncaster Works - bet that's not a quick journey! 20 158 and 20 134 get underway on 8M43 Bury - Croft which has run via Whitemoor. 20 124 and 20 187 head for Peterborough with the March breakdown crane. I don't think there any such things anymore. Missed opportunities! I walked past this damned thing every time I visited the depot but I never took the least notice of it. Doh! 60 078, with sticker over its Mainline Blue livery, has ample power for Whitemoor - Tallington trip. 60 002 passes under West Footbridge with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. 66 050 approaches the crossing from the west on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 66 149 heads 6M14 Harlow - Croft stone empties towards the crossing. 66 701 is on the new GBRf Felixstowe - Doncaster freightliner. 66 537 is at the head of an early 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich liner. 66 179 is negotiating the crossover out of Whitemoor Yard on the Tallington trip. 66 711 trails as 66 701 drags it into Whitemoor Yard, only to return about 10 minutes later, still light engine, and return to Peterborough ??? 66 617 gains speed as it passes West Junction with the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 721 approaches the crossing on the Felixstowe - Doncaster liner. Note how quickly the grass has grown. Taking me totally surprise, Network Rail Bubble Car 960 011 is headed for Peterborough. 66 501 is well loaded on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 117 is westbound on 6E84, the Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton sand.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 WELNEY WASHES http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c875558.html I spotted this place on my last trip to Welney Road. A farm track leads off towards the Washes and ends in a field quite close to bank. It's a bit dodgy just now but might be worth another go when the weather improves. Thursday 1 January 1970: I spotted this place on my last trip to Welney Road. A farm track leads off towards the Washes and ends in a field quite close to bank. It's a bit dodgy just now but might be worth another go when the weather improves.

66 240 is headed for Kings Lynn with the MWFO Goole sand empties. 66 250 is silhouetted against the skyline on 6M14 Harlow - Croft. 66 166 bursts from behind the bushes on 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel. The barriers at Welney Road have failed in the down position as up and down LaFarge trains meet behind 66 142 and 66 166 respectively. 66 142 was busy rescuing 66 017 at Melton yesterday and is heading for Trowse today. 66 709 had a fairly light load on the Felixstowe - Doncaster GBRf liner.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 THE WISBECH BRANCH. http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c855299.html The Wisbech Branch was the remains of the GER line from March to Kings Lynn via Wisbech East, closed in 1966 I think. The nine-odd mile section to Wisbech was retained as considerable seasonal freight traffic was generated in the area. This soon petered out and, when I moved to Wisbech in 1975, had been reduced to a few coal wagons and a Class 08. The goods yard at Wisbech, which had been built on a completely different site to Wisbech East, was quite extensive, with offices, a dock, about 6 good length sidings and a fairly short run round loop on a curve. In it's 9 miles back to March, it boasted 8 level crossings, a river bridge and 2 bends. Traffric on the Branch increased in the late '70's when Spillers, who had a dog food factory adjacent to the yard, decided to ship their products to their depot at Deanside in Paisley by rail, exchanging product with their Scottish plant in the process. This train was, at one time, the longest uninterrupted freight flow in the country and one of the few to operate loaded in both directions. Over the course of the next 20 years, it took every route to Scotland concieveable and boasted just about every class of motive power on the railway at some point. I saw my last petfood train in July 2000, at which point the Wisbech factory switched to catfood production in little metal trays - no need for a train. Concurrently with the petfood trains ran trains of tinplate from Trostre in Wales to Metal Box in Wisbech, their factory also being adjacent to the goods yard. This travelled to and from Wales in vans via the Whitemoor - Severn Tunnel Junction Speedlink services and at times produced quite a large flow of traffic. These trains ceased shortly after the collapse of Speedlink in 1991. So, in the early '80's, the schedule for the branch would have been something like this: About 0430: Deanside - Wisbech arrives, about 17 VGA's, engine light to Depot. About 0830: Whitemoor - Wisbech steel, shunting as required. About 1230: Wisbech - Whitemoor, empty steel vans. About 1700: Wisbech - Deanside petfood. As the branch was 'one engine in steam', these times varied hugely and often the evening petfood was much later as they hurried to finish loading at Wisbech. The locomotive on the petfood train varied over the years from Class 40's, through pairs of 37's to Class 56's and finally to Class 66. The Metal Box trip would produce whatever was spare on March Depot. This was usually a loco off one of the overnight Speedlink trains which they didn't dare to send far because no one in East Anglia signed it! Hence the reason that fror several years in the early '80's the loco was usually a Class 40. Strangely enough, Class 31's (and 31B Class 31's even more so!) were quite rare down the Branch. In later years, after March Depot had closed, the brakevan was dispensed with and the train ran direct from Wisebch to Deanside with no halts. Thus, in latter years, the Branch was worked by the train engine and we often got the same locos on alternate days for perhaps as long as a fortnight. During this period, Metal Box still used to get odd shipments of tinplate but they were tripped in and out on the back of 6S93 and thence back to Wales via the Enterprise system. Towards the end of it's working life, Class 56's dominated Branch traffic, until the last year or so when the inevitable Class 66's took over. During 2000, traffic on the branch became intermittent, sometimes only one or even no trains running in a week and the departure time from Wisbech got later and later until it was only possible to see 6S93 in daylight in the summer months. Locals claim that everything went down there but Class 25 and Class 45 and I personally doubt that they ever risked a Class 60 on such dodgy trackwork. Well, I have produced a shot of 25 201 in Wisbech Yard here and have a shot of 45 013 in the pouring rain there also in my slides. The last train ever to travel to Wisbech was 'The Fenman', a Pathfinder freight line tour. Even this got no nearer to Wisbech than Weasenham Lane crossing gates because Spiller's would not allow them access to their property!At that time, and up until 2005, it was the only train ever to have used the newly relaid east curve into Whitemoor. The Wisbech Branch is not closed but 'mothballed', whatever that may mean! Network Rail's new Whitemoor Yard occupies one end of it whilst Spillers lost no time in building all over the freight yard once the trains stopped. They had purchased the yard outright from BR some years previously. When two of the level crossings had their roadways relaid recently, the track was removed at the same time. The 'Bramley Line' preservation society hope to re-open the Branch and have made some progress in that direction but I must say that I am highly dubious myself. I lived and/or worked for 30 years about 500 yards from Wisbech Yard and used to bunk off up there whenever I could. Every night on my way home to March, I would duck into the Yard, see what the loco was and, if it was worth it, race home to March, grab my camera and get out again to some vantage point to await it. To be fair, on a branch with 8 level crossings and a speed limit of 25mph, you didn't need to be Michael Schumacher! Unfortunately, most of my pictures of the Branch are slides and will have to await my puchase of a 35mm slide copier but I have produced here what I have and hope they will be of some interest. I will apologise here and now if the dates in this are wrong. I have written this entirely from memory and notebooks (illegible! - have you seen my writing?) and produce it only as a rough guide. Thursday 1 January 1970: The Wisbech Branch was the remains of the GER line from March to Kings Lynn via Wisbech East, closed in 1966 I think. The nine-odd mile section to Wisbech was retained as considerable seasonal freight traffic was generated in the area. This soon petered out and, when I moved to Wisbech in 1975, had been reduced to a few coal wagons and a Class 08. The goods yard at Wisbech, which had been built on a completely different site to Wisbech East, was quite extensive, with offices, a dock, about 6 good length sidings and a fairly short run round loop on a curve. In it's 9 miles back to March, it boasted 8 level crossings, a river bridge and 2 bends. Traffric on the Branch increased in the late '70's when Spillers, who had a dog food factory adjacent to the yard, decided to ship their products to their depot at Deanside in Paisley by rail, exchanging product with their Scottish plant in the process. This train was, at one time, the longest uninterrupted freight flow in the country and one of the few to operate loaded in both directions. Over the course of the next 20 years, it took every route to Scotland concieveable and boasted just about every class of motive power on the railway at some point. I saw my last petfood train in July 2000, at which point the Wisbech factory switched to catfood production in little metal trays - no need for a train. Concurrently with the petfood trains ran trains of tinplate from Trostre in Wales to Metal Box in Wisbech, their factory also being adjacent to the goods yard. This travelled to and from Wales in vans via the Whitemoor - Severn Tunnel Junction Speedlink services and at times produced quite a large flow of traffic. These trains ceased shortly after the collapse of Speedlink in 1991. So, in the early '80's, the schedule for the branch would have been something like this: About 0430: Deanside - Wisbech arrives, about 17 VGA's, engine light to Depot. About 0830: Whitemoor - Wisbech steel, shunting as required. About 1230: Wisbech - Whitemoor, empty steel vans. About 1700: Wisbech - Deanside petfood. As the branch was 'one engine in steam', these times varied hugely and often the evening petfood was much later as they hurried to finish loading at Wisbech. The locomotive on the petfood train varied over the years from Class 40's, through pairs of 37's to Class 56's and finally to Class 66. The Metal Box trip would produce whatever was spare on March Depot. This was usually a loco off one of the overnight Speedlink trains which they didn't dare to send far because no one in East Anglia signed it! Hence the reason that fror several years in the early '80's the loco was usually a Class 40. Strangely enough, Class 31's (and 31B Class 31's even more so!) were quite rare down the Branch. In later years, after March Depot had closed, the brakevan was dispensed with and the train ran direct from Wisebch to Deanside with no halts. Thus, in latter years, the Branch was worked by the train engine and we often got the same locos on alternate days for perhaps as long as a fortnight. During this period, Metal Box still used to get odd shipments of tinplate but they were tripped in and out on the back of 6S93 and thence back to Wales via the Enterprise system. Towards the end of it's working life, Class 56's dominated Branch traffic, until the last year or so when the inevitable Class 66's took over. During 2000, traffic on the branch became intermittent, sometimes only one or even no trains running in a week and the departure time from Wisbech got later and later until it was only possible to see 6S93 in daylight in the summer months. Locals claim that everything went down there but Class 25 and Class 45 and I personally doubt that they ever risked a Class 60 on such dodgy trackwork. Well, I have produced a shot of 25 201 in Wisbech Yard here and have a shot of 45 013 in the pouring rain there also in my slides. The last train ever to travel to Wisbech was 'The Fenman', a Pathfinder freight line tour. Even this got no nearer to Wisbech than Weasenham Lane crossing gates because Spiller's would not allow them access to their property!At that time, and up until 2005, it was the only train ever to have used the newly relaid east curve into Whitemoor. The Wisbech Branch is not closed but 'mothballed', whatever that may mean! Network Rail's new Whitemoor Yard occupies one end of it whilst Spillers lost no time in building all over the freight yard once the trains stopped. They had purchased the yard outright from BR some years previously. When two of the level crossings had their roadways relaid recently, the track was removed at the same time. The 'Bramley Line' preservation society hope to re-open the Branch and have made some progress in that direction but I must say that I am highly dubious myself. I lived and/or worked for 30 years about 500 yards from Wisbech Yard and used to bunk off up there whenever I could. Every night on my way home to March, I would duck into the Yard, see what the loco was and, if it was worth it, race home to March, grab my camera and get out again to some vantage point to await it. To be fair, on a branch with 8 level crossings and a speed limit of 25mph, you didn't need to be Michael Schumacher! Unfortunately, most of my pictures of the Branch are slides and will have to await my puchase of a 35mm slide copier but I have produced here what I have and hope they will be of some interest. I will apologise here and now if the dates in this are wrong. I have written this entirely from memory and notebooks (illegible! - have you seen my writing?) and produce it only as a rough guide.

47 371 has a very light load for its return journey to March 31 176 is ready to depart for March from Wisbech - most of these dates a guesses but all are pre-1982. 37 088 is ready to leave for Whitemoor with a rake of steel empties. 40 197 soaks up the weak winter sun in Wisbech Yard. Despite March Dep[ot having a large allocation of Class 31, they were fairly rare at Wisbech. Here 31322 waits to depart engine-and-brake. 37198 basks in the spring sunshine in Wisbech Yard. Branch locos were very rarely locally allocated. There was still coal traffic to Wisbech in 1981 and 40 060, whci must have a new end fitted, waits to depart with a short rake of empties. 47 267 is engaged in shunting the yard at Wisbech. 47 075 is evidently ex-Works as it waits to depart for March. 40 167 is shunting wagons into the can factory at Metal Box. I only lived about 400 yards away at this time. 47 102 has a good rake of steel empties for its return journey to Whitemoor. 40 067 is just approaching Weasenham Lane LC with the steel train for Metal Box. This sometimes ran twice a day. 40 056 waits to depart from Wisbech with just a brake. For some reason I never understood, Class 409 was okay to Wisbech but not Class 45. 40 158 waits depart with the steel empties. Most Class 40's had not much time left in traffic by this time. 40 194 has run round on the loop in the fioreground and is now taking its steel wagons off to Metal Box. 31 205 has couple of petfood vans to return to March, probably cripples. This train left around lunch time. 37 078, in appalling condition, takes a break from shunting. 40 153 has a long rake of open steel ermpties ready to head for Whitemoor. The mighty steed leaning on the buffer was my sole mode of transport. 47 088 departs for March over Weasenham Lane LC. The first occurence of the event that never happened! 25 284 waits to depart from Wisbech Yard. 31 417 had a short rake of steel empties, awaiting departure - my favourite Wisbech shot of all time. 47 086, still bearing the name 'Cyclops', sits in Wisbech Yard on a rake of coal empties. 47 093, a Stratford 'Silver Roof' awaits departure from Wisbech Yard. 31 110, which was to become one of the very last survivors of Class 31, waits to leave Wisbech on veryh cold winter day. 47 270 approaches Weasenham Lane LC with a train of tinplate for Metal Box. Note the double track formation. Cripples from the petfood rakes were allowed to accumulate at Wisbech and then tripped back to Whitemoor for attention. 47 278 has such a rake here. 47 301 is caught in the midst of shunting steel wagons for Metal Box - it could be a fairly complex job. A long exposure shot from my mini-tripod of 31 146 waiting to depart from Wisbech - 31B Class 31's were always quite rare on the Branch. 25 175 waits to leave Wisbech Yard in the pouring rain - I had to lay in a puddle for this shot - how we suffer for our obsessions! According to the March Sages, this couldn't happen as Class 45 were too heavy for the Black Bridge! Well, it did! 45 013 waits for loading to end at Wisbech. 47 377 should not be unduly taxed by its trailing load as it heads back to March. 31 105 stands at the head of a special train of trailer bodies from Seadyke Trailers on Nene Quay. The sidings were not long enough to take the whole train and 31 105 is joining the halves. 31 213, taken from the ground on a long exposure, waits to depart from Wisbech. 47 354 is approachi9ng the Black Bridge from Wisbech with a good rake of steel empties. The tinplate came from the Trostre Works in South Wales. The 'Anglian Vibrator' Railtour ran to Wisbech on possibly the most horrible day ever. The run round loop is short and so railtours were limited to DMU's, as 'top 'n' tail' hadn't yet been invented! Composed of two 3-car Paddington Class 117's and a 'Bubble Car', I can;t imagine the trip down the Branch was luxurious! Here the train has stopped at Waldersey gates. Class 121 'Bubble Car' 55021 formed the centre coach. I'd have stood too - probably more comfortable than sitting down! The 'Anglia Vibrator' powers off along the Coldham Straight, the Branch 'racing ground' - 40mph! I took this shot so long ago that I have no idea of number or date. I guess it is in the early '80's as the steel is carried SPV's. This 47 is in Wisbech Yard, ready to depart with empties. 31 199 pulls away from Weasenham Lane Crossing with a rake of steel empties. 47 186 crosses the ungated crossing on the A47 bypass at Wisbech with the petfood. Getting this picture took weeks as this is a very busy road and traffic always mucked it up. 47 156 ambles towards Coldham with a train of steel for Metal Box. Apparently, this never happened! 25 201 sits at the head of the petfood in Wisbech Yard. Local legend has it that a 25 never ventured down the branch - well, one did! Poor picture I'm afraid - straight into the sun - of what could easily be a ghost train! 31 138 on a ballast train on the Branch! I didn't think there was any ballast down the Branch! I've no real idea when this is but the late '80's looks right. This old GRCW Class 100 dmu had been converted into Inspection Saloon 975637/975664 'Stourton Saloon'. Radio Cambridgeshire has hired it as a mobile studio and were touring the Fens doing outside broadcasts. The date is just a guess. 37 031 crosses the Black Bridge, engine-and-brake for Wisbech. 47 211 rolls across the Fens with a rake of steel empties and 47 231 following along behind. 47 231 brings up the rear as the steel empties head for March near Black Bridge. The run round loop at Wisbech was out of use, hence top 'n' tail working.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 THE FALL AND RISE OF WHITEMOOR YARD. http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c855009.html It came as a complete surprise to most people to see Whitemoor Yard rise from its own ashes. Once the largest marshalling yard in Europe, it's fate was sealed once the GN/GE Joint Line closed in 1982. After that, it quietly rotted and eroded until final closure came with the death of Speedlink. Everything was swept away except for the Wisbech Branch, which closed itself a few years later but remained in situ. The rest of the yard quickly reverted to nature and there were very few traces of the old yards left, half of the site going to build Whitemoor Prison and over the next 10 years we heard all sorts of wild and wonderful schemes mooted for it's use, all of which came to nothing. Consequently, when Railtrack said in 2003 that they were going to build a new yard and have it up and running in 6 months, I think most people, like me, said 'Yeah......alright.......believe it when I see it'. But lo, 6 months later and there it was, all sparkly and new. Phase 1 was completed early and we were all hopeful for Phase 2, which included a loco depot, a concrete sleeper works and wagons works, but it seems unlikely now that this will ever happen. Nevertheless, the yard, run by GBRf and Network Rail, is incredibly busy, having replaced Temple Mills as the principal engineer's yard in the South East and, on a Saturday afternoon, there is very often one departure every half hour or so from about 1500 right through the night. It's certainly the place to be on Saturday afternoon in the Summer! Anyway, once we knew it was definitely going ahead, I decided that I would go up to Norwood Road Bridge every weekend and take the same photograph so as to monitor progress. This I did although it wasn't really the ideal place for doing this as not too much is visible of what is happening right inside the yard. Nevertheless, it is the only publicly accessible viewing point and so it has to do. I have reproduced some of these pictures herein plus anything else of note or interest. I have a lot more pictures of the old Whitemoor but these will have to await the acquisition of a 35mm slide copier. I hope you will enjoy those that are here anyway. Thursday 1 January 1970: It came as a complete surprise to most people to see Whitemoor Yard rise from its own ashes. Once the largest marshalling yard in Europe, it's fate was sealed once the GN/GE Joint Line closed in 1982. After that, it quietly rotted and eroded until final closure came with the death of Speedlink. Everything was swept away except for the Wisbech Branch, which closed itself a few years later but remained in situ. The rest of the yard quickly reverted to nature and there were very few traces of the old yards left, half of the site going to build Whitemoor Prison and over the next 10 years we heard all sorts of wild and wonderful schemes mooted for it's use, all of which came to nothing. Consequently, when Railtrack said in 2003 that they were going to build a new yard and have it up and running in 6 months, I think most people, like me, said 'Yeah......alright.......believe it when I see it'. But lo, 6 months later and there it was, all sparkly and new. Phase 1 was completed early and we were all hopeful for Phase 2, which included a loco depot, a concrete sleeper works and wagons works, but it seems unlikely now that this will ever happen. Nevertheless, the yard, run by GBRf and Network Rail, is incredibly busy, having replaced Temple Mills as the principal engineer's yard in the South East and, on a Saturday afternoon, there is very often one departure every half hour or so from about 1500 right through the night. It's certainly the place to be on Saturday afternoon in the Summer! Anyway, once we knew it was definitely going ahead, I decided that I would go up to Norwood Road Bridge every weekend and take the same photograph so as to monitor progress. This I did although it wasn't really the ideal place for doing this as not too much is visible of what is happening right inside the yard. Nevertheless, it is the only publicly accessible viewing point and so it has to do. I have reproduced some of these pictures herein plus anything else of note or interest. I have a lot more pictures of the old Whitemoor but these will have to await the acquisition of a 35mm slide copier. I hope you will enjoy those that are here anyway.

08 166 is a Whitemoor pilot. Nothing whatever exists of the background scene anymore. I had taken some kids on school trip - good idea, eh? 'Jazz TRain' set 305 426 is bound for Mayer Newman at Snailwell, stopping over in Whitemoor. E51507 is on its way to the Great Marshalling Yard in the Sky as well. 03 399 sits in the yard en route from Ipswich to Doncastef Works. Previously Class 100 E56111, ADB977196 is on its way to Mayer Newman's at Snailwell. 08 580 is ex-Works and shunting in Whitemoor - the same job it returned to 20 years later! 56 010 stands in the Up Reception sidings, which by 1985 were more or less the whole yard. God knows how I got this picture, I don't! By the mid '80's, much of Whitemoor was just used for dumping old wagons. I walked my dog down there evry Sunday and used to get pictures of anything interesting - I became besotted with brakevans! DS55513 is an extremely old brakevan and the only one of this type I've ever seen. Terrible picture, I think was camera was duff. The brakevan kip, whence the vans were rolled under gravity onto the backs of the trains as required. It could hold about 8 I should think. The Up Hump. No sign of the prison yet. One of the three-aspect signals is still in place, as is the shunters hut. Note the top of the control tower over the hump. In the mid '80's, I became obsessed with brakevans, don't know why, so here is B954652, one of the last to be built, in Whitemoor. DB993913 is 'Shark' class plough brakevan, designed to drop its big ploudhs and spread the ballast being dropped by its train. The old long-bodied LMS-style brakevans were my favourites - I would have loved one as a shed. When they finished hump shunting in Whitemoor and closed the Down Yard, the Up Yard was used for all traffic and the double ended roads were all cut and used the other way round. This meant that they all sloped downhill and so an old scrap brakevan was placed at the end of each to act as a buffer stop. These 3 shots show the result of this experiment! Of course, although hump shunting finished, fly shunting didn't. It looks as though some of the Whitemoor shunters were not that good at it! Or were they? God alone knows where this turned up from! Class 501 DMBS 61145 in Whitemoor en route to Snailwell. Note QM brake at rear. 'Queen Mary' bogie brakevan DS56290 at Whitemoor. I believe some of these are still in traffic - they must be at least 60 years old! A view across the Up Yard from the Norwood Hump bank, cripple sidings on the right, brakevan kip at the rear. This was the mainline to Spalding and points north at one time - you can't even reach the Twenty Foot now. Norwood Yard, previously home of the 100 wagon coal trains, now deserted and soon to disappear in a birch forest - there were some lovely apple trees on this bank! A view along the old engine escape road from the Down Yard looking towards Norwood Yard. I'm not exactly sure where this is but I think these may be Grassmoor Box's Up signals. A view across the desolation of the Up Yard showing the derelict control tower and the hump on the left. I think 03 084 must be in transit to be sitting in Whitemoor Yard. This pattern of brakevan was to become the BR Standard but this one, DE310694, was built by the LNER at Darlington. Brakevan/buffers all sitting higgledy-piggledy with Grassmoor Box to the left. Old GER wagon body in use as a store. I wanna tell you a story! I didn't take these pictures - I found a roll of film just about here whilst walking my dog on Jan.22, 1986 and had them developed. The shunters hut at Norwood Yard. The sign says 'RIP Norwood Yard, 1909 - 1982, murdered by BR Management' - a picture I never thought to take although I passed it by hundreds of times. Standing on the old Joint line, Up Yard to the left, Norwood Yard to the right, looking south. The signal has been weighted with concrete blocks by some wag. Looking north at Grassmoor Box from thje signals in the previous shot. The photographer took 4 other shots identical to this one. Another shot of Grassmoor and its Distant with the derelict Up Hump Control Tower behind. As I saw no one on my walk, I assume they were there the day before me. A little closer to Grassmoor Box showing the Distant still in place. I only assumed that the film was shot on this date - near enough I suppose. Grassmoor Signalbox, which controlled the northern end of Whitemoor Yard. I believe it has been preserved somewhere. He was a fairly brave man who ventured into the box at this time as it was decidedly unsound structurally. A shot through the broken windows of Grassmoor Box of the severed ends of the roads in the Up Yard and 'Brakevan Destruction Derby'. Not an especially good shot but shows the wrecked brake/bufferstops to good effect. A view from the Up Hump Control Tower showing what was more or less the full extent of Whitemoor by that time. The only thing still there in this picture is the water tower. 08 526 is shunting a rake of very mixed stock in the Up Reception Sidings. 47 337 'Herbert Austin' on 1L17 Yarmouth - Leeds. Access from/to Whitemoor from the east was through the old Joint Platforms. A real rarity here. Short wheelbase LNER brake DE281829, condmened and on its way for scrap - or so we thought! Well that's one way of scrapping ti! Some heathen has poked DM460608 straight through the bloody end of it! I went inside and it was smashed to matchwood. That's two that escaped the pweservationists Here's a strange thing to find left lying around in Whitemoor Yard! ADB968021 is usually carefully guarded on depot but not this occasion. I know, those bloody signals again! As everything around them slowly disappeared, I became more and more fascinated by them. The Tiphook Road/Railer is stabled in Whitemoor Yard - in reality, it just consists of 3 bogies. 08 818, very ex-Works, has been left in Whitemoor Yard over the weekend before onward transmission. I assume that Colchester ceased to have a breakdown crane in July 1987 as these are the support vehicles, bound for scrap. Brakevan B955179 doesn't appear to have been having a very good time lately and is now probably destined for scrap. 'Rationalisation', aka vandalism, has commenced at Whitemoor Junction. The Box will soon follow.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 BRICKYARD CROSSING, WHITTLESEY. http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c838929.html This is an occupation situated east of Whittlesea Station, at the top of the bank down to Eastrea Road AHB. Access to it is from the Whittlesey - Benwick road, about 1 mile out of town. It is reached along a farm track with a very steep incline as, unusually for the Fens, the crossing is on an embankment! To the west, the shot is excellent, to the east a little near to the top of the bank but okay if restricted. Whenever I have been there, I have had company as a weasel lives under the crossing boards and loves bits of sandwich. Thursday 1 January 1970: This is an occupation situated east of Whittlesea Station, at the top of the bank down to Eastrea Road AHB. Access to it is from the Whittlesey - Benwick road, about 1 mile out of town. It is reached along a farm track with a very steep incline as, unusually for the Fens, the crossing is on an embankment! To the west, the shot is excellent, to the east a little near to the top of the bank but okay if restricted. Whenever I have been there, I have had company as a weasel lives under the crossing boards and loves bits of sandwich.

66 081 hauls the 6E84 Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton to the top of the bank. 66 130 approaches the crossing with 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 60 066 crests the bank from Eastrea Road on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. 66 707 on 6L79 Selby - Felixstowe Mdeite Shipping freightliner. 66 163 is running very late with 6Z26 Stud Farm - Bury slag. 60 093 is hauling 6M22 (WO) Barham/Kennett - Mountsorrel Redland, usually a very short rake. 66 503 on 4L85 Leeds - Felixstowe is there if you look closely. This is the view towards Whittlesea Station. 60 071 is about 10 hours late on the Peak Forest - Ely RMC stone hoppers! 66 094 is bound for Middleton Towers with the Goole sand empties. What Ho? A gipsy camped on railway land? No, it's me pretending to be intellectual - the woolly hat on a baking hot day is to keep the midges out of my hair - send me crazy! 66 218 approaches with 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 60 500 crests the stiff climb from Eastrea Road AHB with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest. 66 028 is bound for Tallington from Whitemoor with rail empties. 66 530 crests the rise with 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill. 66 020 heads west towards Whittlesea with a rake of LaFarge empties. 66 721 has charger of the Felixstowe - Doncaster GBRf liner today. 66 050 is westbound with 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel self discharge empties. 66 706 haeds for Whitemoor with a mixed rake of engineer's stock. 66 706 is just starting to drop down the grade towards Eastrea Road LC. 66 028 returns from Tallington with a train of concrete sleepers for the engineers.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 EASTREA ROAD AHB http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c838062.html This should be a good location, right at the foot of the bank from Whittlesey, but it is mucked up by the crossing keepers house on the south side and the barrier shed and a high bank on the north Thursday 1 January 1970: This should be a good location, right at the foot of the bank from Whittlesey, but it is mucked up by the crossing keepers house on the south side and the barrier shed and a high bank on the north

31165 was wearing green livery just 18 months after I took this shot of it on a sleeper train. Note how steep the climb up to Whittlesea Station is here. 56 114 is on the Monk Bretton sand train, once a regular turn for 56's. 56 007 makesw its way slowly west with a CWR train from the engineering works on the Norwich road. 66 098 coasts down the bank on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 66 237 is on 6E57 Felixstowe - Healey Mills newsprint vans. This was the only freight booked over the Lincolnshire Loop via Sleaford. It now runs via London in 2005. Although it's not obvious from this picture, 66 128 is top 'n' tailed with 66 703, a most unusual combination, on this empty Autoballaster en route from Norwich to Peterborough. 66 250 coasts down the hill with a Mountsorrel - Chesterton Junction Redland S/D train.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 A141 OVERBRIDGE http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c838053.html There are only two road overbridges between Peterborough and Ely and the one on the A141 west of March is the better. The shot to the west is excellent but that to the east was not good 20 years ago and is much worse now. OK if you're expecting plenty of eastbound traffic, as on a Saturday morning in the '80's but not much good now. Thursday 1 January 1970: There are only two road overbridges between Peterborough and Ely and the one on the A141 west of March is the better. The shot to the west is excellent but that to the east was not good 20 years ago and is much worse now. OK if you're expecting plenty of eastbound traffic, as on a Saturday morning in the '80's but not much good now.

47 529 is fairly tearing alomh on the down 'European', Parkeston Quay - Manchester. The little poplar trees on the right have now rendered this shot impractical. 31 108 is on 9B01 Whitemoor - Peterborough on a very gloomy January day. Class 105 'Cravens' unit 51299/54429 heads east on local stopper. What an ordeal long journeys on these units were! The window fell out of one I was on from Norwich. 31413 heads for Peterborough with a short rake of mail vans. 45 051 has good load on 6V85 Whitemoor - Severn Tunnel Junction, which was served by 6V14 from Whitemoor as well. 47 270 is working a very heavy 6S93 Wisbech - Deanside petfood un to speed. 31 154 has just left Whitemoor with these pressure tanks which were Ipswich - Stanlow, I think. A Handful of Brushes! 31108 leads 31281, 31283, 31296 'Amlwch Freighter' and 31205 towards Peterborough for weekend electrification trains. 31143 and 31463 approach March with 1P32 (SSO) Leeds - Yarmouth, loaded to 9 bogies. These traqins finished with the introduction of Sprinters on passenger duties. 31429 and 31452 are really flat out with 9 bogies behind and just restarted from March on 1E80 Ipswich - Birmingham. 1E57 (SO) Nuneaton - Norwich must have been gruelling to travel on! here a WR Class 117 leads a Tyseley Class 116. 2x116 was the booked stock for the train - that shouldn't have been legal! 37 118heads north on 6S96 Whitemoor - Mossend. 56 063 heads east on 6E23 Mountsorrel - March Redland stone. 37 100 heads for Whitemoor with an up engineer's train. Occasionally, the Petfood ran on a Saturday as 6Z93, here with 47 288 in charge. 47 479 heads for Yarmouth with 1P38 (SO). 47 543 is gettingf a move on woth 1M13 (SO) from Yarmouth. Ctavens 105 DMU 53359/54122 heads for Peterborough with a local service. 31 412 and 31 429 head for Norwich with a strengthned 1E66 from Birmingham. 31 142, destined to be one last surviving 31's in traffic, heads out of March with 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard. Ciba-Geigy were major users of Speedlink services/ 37 198 heads west with 6S96 Harwich - Mossend. This train was broken and remarshalled at Whitemoor, usually changing engines in the process. These BOC pressure tanks came from Ipswich as 6M88 and went, I think, to Wigan, 47 228 providing power. Now here's a raggle-taggle collection! Class 101 Norwich 78, Class 101 DPU 53218/53230 and a van on east bound parcels. I wonder how many passengers tried to get into the DPU? 31 155 is towing Class 101 power twin 51520/51521 westwards, I'm not at sure why though. 31 224 and 31 268 head a very long 8Z88 ballast train towards March. 37 042 returns to Whitemoor with 6L67 from Peterborough at the quite pretty end of a Fenland day. 37 211 and 37 354 are fairly shifting on Monk Bretton sand. These wagons have only just gone out of traffric in 2005. 47 549 is heading east with the Peterborough - Cambridge parcels empties, a right mixture of liveries and types. Almost anything could and did turn up on the Saturday Specails, even something as exotic as 47 974 in engineering grey. 56 014 heads a long rake of HEA's on the Toton - Colchester Hythe housecoal. 37108 is going onto March Depot from Peterborough, resplendent in it's new Large Logo livery. 60 095 heads for Mountsorrel on 6M25, the joined-up Redland empties. These shots are only possible in June if you want the sun with you. 47 361 on 4E50 Felixstowe - Wilton, rarely photographable at March, 58 044 heads for Peterborough light diesel having brought 56 067 et al. from Bury to March down Yard after a loco failure and a derailment. 66 023, off the Kennett/Barham Redland, has taken over 56 067 and it's very late train in March Down Yard. 60 028 is on 6M25, the complete train of Redland empties. 47 323 is on 4E50 Felixstowe - Wilton freightliner. 60 087 passes under the A141 bridge on a very long 6M25 Redland empties. 57 004 approaches March with 4L85 Leeds - Felixstowe freightliner. 66 529 speeds west on the Kennett - Dowlow empties. 66 064 heads west on the Tallington trip as 66 015 comes the other way on 6L39. 66 714 is on the GBRf Felixstowe - Doncaster liner. 66 419, on hire to Freightliner from DRS, is westbound on 4M81 Felixstowe - Garston, diverted from the WCML. 66 184 has just left Whitemoor bound for Tallington with this rake of railflats. 66 533 is headed for Felixstowe with a freightliner diverted from the WCML due to engineering work. 66 541 rolls over the fen with 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 188 has replaced the more usual Class 60 on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. 66 107 has just left Whitemoor with the empties for Tallington 66 568 crosses the flatlands with 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 705 and 66 707 head for Whitemoor with the loaded MLA's from Mountsorrel.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 MARCH DEPOT http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c838038.html Ahh, those heady days of the '80's! Who didn't go round March Depot? It must have been about the easiest depot in Britain. And one of the most interesting too. All sorts of rare migratory birdsw used to stop over for food and water and it was also a favourite halt on the path to the great scrapyard in the sky. Happy days. There is very little left of it now even though a new depot was supposed to rise phoenix-like from the ashes of the old under Stage 2 of the Whitemoor Yard Development Plan. However, it now looks as though Stage 2 may never happen. Thursday 1 January 1970: Ahh, those heady days of the '80's! Who didn't go round March Depot? It must have been about the easiest depot in Britain. And one of the most interesting too. All sorts of rare migratory birdsw used to stop over for food and water and it was also a favourite halt on the path to the great scrapyard in the sky. Happy days. There is very little left of it now even though a new depot was supposed to rise phoenix-like from the ashes of the old under Stage 2 of the Whitemoor Yard Development Plan. However, it now looks as though Stage 2 may never happen.

Trainee shunters on the running boards on a Class 03 on March Depot. Looking somewhat less than cheerful, my daughters pose in the cab of 37 171 on depot. In the early 80's, March still retained an allocation of Class 03, 03 017 parked behind the generator house bring one of them. The generator house is the only part of the old depot still standing. Me favrit 'Rat' again! 25 057 parked on Hundred Road sidings. 25 296 and a sister are inside the old 'A' Shed, where minor maintenance was carried out. ADB968009, a mobile power unit, was 24 142 in happier days. 46 051 had less than 4 months left in traffic when I saw it on March Depot. 40 160, carrying 360 as well, looks as though it might be having a few problems. 08 526, a long term March loco, is nose-to-nose with visitor 08 261. 31 450 sits behind the 'A; Shed looking about as ex-Works as you can get. 46 032, withdrawn 5 months previously, has been dumped in the depot yard. 31 115 arrives on depot towing 08 094 and 08 100, both en route to Doncaster for scrap. 08 094 was stopping over temporarily en route to Doncaster Works for scrapping. 40 079 is only 2 months away from withdrawal as it sits on depot. 08 250 sits in the mist en route to Doncaster Works for repair. A rake of LNER-built Class 306 EMU's awaits despatch to the flame tunnel at Snailwell in the old steam shed sidings. 37 065 has obviously had nose job at some point because it was never built with this one and the end is different. 45 137 has not only still got its nameplates but the crests as well - this was quite an achievement by the end of 1984. Engines spending Xmas on depot were positioned so as to be visible from the office, not to stop vandalism but so that the foremen didn't have to get cold! 47 359 is all tucked up for Xmas and well frosted in by the look of it. 31 271 looks as though it's seen some sction recently. 25 307 and 25 309 are on Hundred road sidings. Class 25's often worked in on the Speedlink from Birkenhead. When I took this picture, 08 095 had already been withdrawn for 15 months. 25 279 takes on fuel as the winter sun sets. The first months of 1985 were the coldest for years, temperatures staying around freeszing for weeks on end. In February, I took this shot of the icicles and hoar on the grass. 45 006, the old D89, rests on Hundred Road Sidings. 37 041 is preparing to head out on a mission with thye March Breakdown Crane. ADB968021, erstwhile 84 009, is en route from Crewe to Ilford for use as mobile load bank on the GE mainline. 08 324, a March pilot, was withdrawn in December and is now en route to Doncaster Works for scrap. Not quite sure what 25 285's light code stands for but I suspect that it didn't arrive under its own power. Three weeks later, and ADB968021 is all finished at Ilford and on its waqy back to Crewe. 47 401, the old D1500, first of over 500 locos. Class 100 DTS 56315, now FA99901, is part of Fison's Weedkiller Train and stabled at March over a weekend. Towards the end of their working lives, we seemed to get swamped by Class 25's around here. 25 109 and 25279 are on Depot 08 711 has just popped over for the weekend on its way home from Works. 31 166 is just ex-Works and must be one of the very early examples of the new Railfreight livery that I saw. 45 013 on March Depot - compare this shot with the later one in trhis collection! They also started sending them everywhere in pairs as their reliability deteriorated. Here are 25 205 and 25 089 by the car wash. When depot logos were first used, they were of good quality, like thei Thornaby salmon on 37 125. Later they were sprayed on using a stencil, cheaper I suppose - the March hares were all terrible! I don't remember whether 25 307 had failed but it has been pushed right into the boonies where the withdrawn 08's were usually kept. 25 268 rests on depot at March. The place was crawling Class 25's at this time. For some reason, 08496, sans side rods, has been dumped in the steam shed sidings. A view of the general desolation of the old depot site. The vans near the building are old steam heat generator vans. 47 473 must have had one hell of shunting accident! - note the buffer stuck in the nose! 31 249 still carries the recessed cab door for the Whittaker Automatic Tablet Appartaus, required when working the long-closed Highdyke Branch Att his time, Class 37/4 was almost unknown in our area. Here is ex-Works 37 419 on depot on Xmas Day. 08 889 had been lfet in the crane sidings for a wheelset change. Dumped in the steam shed sidings were a number of these steam heat generator vans, b uilt on old LNER wagon frames. ADE321072 has been done up into BR livery very nicely. 25 205 and 47 016 sit under the floodlights on depot. 37 263 was allocated to March when new to work passenger trains over the Joint line. It has now emigrated to Inverness.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 SILT ROAD LEVEL CROSSING. http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c838034.html Silt Road is a user-oprated crossing on the very sharp curve that leads off from Badgeney Road and is under the control of March South. It offers a nice shot to the west but a poor one to the east and soon falls victim to the sun. The outrside of the curve in the afternoon can offer some interesting shots but is very overgrown these days Thursday 1 January 1970: Silt Road is a user-oprated crossing on the very sharp curve that leads off from Badgeney Road and is under the control of March South. It offers a nice shot to the west but a poor one to the east and soon falls victim to the sun. The outrside of the curve in the afternoon can offer some interesting shots but is very overgrown these days

Flying solo, 08 865 is en route from Kings Lynn to March Depot - I wonder how long that took! 45 074is making light work of 2 soup vans on the Whitemoor - Lynn. 47 326 heads east on 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe. 56 130, which must have been nearly new then, heads east with 6L23 March - Trowse Redland stone. 47 097, with 'Stratford Roof', is on 7M86 Parkeston - Warrington Arpley via Whitemoor. 45 150 must be covering for a failed Class 31 on 1M76 Norwich - Birmingham. 47 001 is on the Parkeston - Bathgate cartics as it passes Silt Road. Sundays tended to produce some odd locos on the passenger turns, as with 47 574 here on 1E76 Birmingham - Norwich. 31 425 passes on the SuO 1E76 Liverpool - Yarmouth - in February! 20 133 brings up the rear as 20 034 leads the way back to Whitemoor with 0H94 from Bury. 31 406 heads east on 1E86 Blackpool - Parkeston Quay. 31 423 has a very light load on 9H77 Peterborough - Chesterton Junction today. 37 079 hits the bend at Silt Road with 6N84, the Duxford - Tees Yard via Whitemoor. 47 565 hitsd the curve at Silt Road with the lunchtime Peterborough - Cambridge vans. 31 406 again, this time on 1E62 Birmingham - Norwich. 31 413 rolls slowly east with 9H77 Peterborough - Chesterton Junction. 31 413 trundles away across the Fen, set against a sky heavy with snow - I bet the guard needs that fire! 37 087, now owned by HNRC, and 37 010 have a firm hold on 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe freightliner. 37 160 and 37 204 head for Felixstowe with a freightliner diverted due to the awful weather. 37 200 heads for Kings Lynn with the second of the tweo daily Speedlink feeder trains. 47 194 heads west with a rake of tanks. I've no idea what this train is bit much freight was diverted this way due to the weather elsewhere. 37 239 is up against it as it heads for Colchester as 0E20, the loaded working having been caped at Toton. The light was very odd as 31 154 heads for Lynn with the up sand empties. 31 242 heads away on 7N75 Chesterton Junction - Peterborough, a rake of empty rail flats. 31 252 heads east on 6E15 Croft -p Bury St. Edmunds ballast. 37 047 and 37 104 are struggling to get a very large 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe underway. 47 143 heads past a snowy Silt Road with the Lynn Speedlink feeder. 47 283 heads for Whitemoor with 6S96 Parkeston Quay - Mossend. 47 580 pulls away from March with 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe freightliner. 37 065 and 37 063 are making smoke as they get 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe underway from the Up Loop. 31 432 is getting up speed after its March stop on 1E99 Birmingham - Norwich. In 1988, you could hear all up trains as they left March Station from here. 31 174 rounds the sharp bend here on 6H98 Cambridge - Whitemoor. This shot is no longer possible at all. 31 425 is on an Up Mail composed of DIT DPU 54014/53017 and a van. Looks like 31 445 has some problems, piloted as it is by 47 157 on 1E71 Ipswich - Sheffield. 31 160 heads east with 7H83 for Kings Lynn. 37 213 is headed for Colchester Hythe on 6e20 from Toton Old Bank. 20 016/20 072 doesn't seem to be struggling of 6E20 Toton - Hythe! 31 154 heads for Kings Lynn with 7H83 from Whitemoor. The first two vans are Campbells Soup vans, returning empty from Scotland, a major traffic at the time. 37 222 approaches the vrossing with 6M09, the Colchester Hythe - Toton Old Bank coal empties. 37 358/37 028 roar away from March on 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe. Note Freightliner sticker on lead loco. 47 204 is clagging it for a 4 wagon train, this being the 6P89 Whitemoor - Norwich. 31 468 is heading for Leeds from Yarmouth as it passes Silt Road. 37 136 has Cl;ass 101 Nowich Set 72 in tow as it heads east. 47 143 comes stroming out of March with 1L93 to Yarmouth. Note NSE stock, tripped from London to Leeds for this train because everyone was HST and this was nearest - madness! 47 535 has charge of 1L82 to Yarmouth as it curls out of March. 47 652 leans into the curve with 1L95 to Yarmouth. Saturday Redlands were a regular runner back then. 56 060 heads 6L73 for Trowse, stabled at Peterborough overnight. Class 116 untis T411 and T317 head for Yarmouth - did they give the tickets away? You wouldn't buy one! 37 214 is heading for Whitmoor with 6M09 Colchester Hythe - Toton Old Bank. 31 250 is on the Speedlink feeder for Kings Lynn.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 HART'S DROVE, WHITTLESEY http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c811370.html Harts Drove is small user-operated, light controlled crossing about 200 yards west of Whitlesea Station. It is a little limited for viewpoints but a good spot when there is no sun as the approach from the west is round a very sharp. banked curve. Semaphore signals for both directions are visible and trackspeed is quite slow. There is very little road traffic as the crossing only serves a couple of farms and the adjacent sewage works. Thursday 1 January 1970: Harts Drove is small user-operated, light controlled crossing about 200 yards west of Whitlesea Station. It is a little limited for viewpoints but a good spot when there is no sun as the approach from the west is round a very sharp. banked curve. Semaphore signals for both directions are visible and trackspeed is quite slow. There is very little road traffic as the crossing only serves a couple of farms and the adjacent sewage works.

47 781 heads a long train of engineer's wagons, en route to Ely West Curve to turn them round - must have been a Friday! 66 081 passes over the bridge just past Whittlesea Station on 6E84 for Monk Bretton. The track here is very uneven and has a severe speed restriction. 47 781 returns, having not only turned the train but run round it as well. Getting this off to fine art! This one was taken at 1/15th second hand held! As you can easily tell, this is 170 635. 66 030 hits the bend on the MWFO Goole - Middleton Towers sand empties. 66 071 passes Whittlesea's Down Outer Home on the sand train. 66 701 approaches the crossing on the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel VQ empties. The view towards Whittlesea Station showing the alarming undulations in tghe track over the bridge. 60 022 hits the curve withe an up rake of MEA's, probably a late running Bury slag. 66 109 is on the down Tallington Trip, a lengthy rake for once. 66 117 is westbound on 6E84, tghe BIS sand train from Middleton Towers. 66 703 has a rake of autoballasters on the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel today. Whitemoor seems to specialise in multicoloured autoballaster rakes, as you can see on a disappearing 66 703. 66 604 is fairly belting along with the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 572 rounds the very sharp bend into Whittlesey on a very lightly loaded 4L85 Leeds - Felixstowe. a very grubby 66 717 passes Whittlesea on 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster Railport.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 WHITTLESEA STATION http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c790229.html I think there are other examples of spelling mistakes in station names - the town is called 'Whittlesey'. It is a typical small Fen station - bus shelters, that's your lot. However, one of only 30 remaining hand-operated crossings is here and it has staggered platforms, the down platform being about 50 yards west of the up. There is no footbridge so its quite an expedition to change platforms via the level crossing. Most of the signals are still semaphores and the signalbox, for some reason always painted green, is also very nice. A row of wooden posts spoils the shot from the down platform but, as the sun is always here, there is little alternative. Unitl quite recently, the station generated freight but is now only patronised by ONE's Peterborough - Liverpool St. service and a few peak-hours Central services. There is even talk of closing the station as it is about 2 miles out of town and not very heavily used. Thursday 1 January 1970: I think there are other examples of spelling mistakes in station names - the town is called 'Whittlesey'. It is a typical small Fen station - bus shelters, that's your lot. However, one of only 30 remaining hand-operated crossings is here and it has staggered platforms, the down platform being about 50 yards west of the up. There is no footbridge so its quite an expedition to change platforms via the level crossing. Most of the signals are still semaphores and the signalbox, for some reason always painted green, is also very nice. A row of wooden posts spoils the shot from the down platform but, as the sun is always here, there is little alternative. Unitl quite recently, the station generated freight but is now only patronised by ONE's Peterborough - Liverpool St. service and a few peak-hours Central services. There is even talk of closing the station as it is about 2 miles out of town and not very heavily used.

Sometimes the Summer Saturday trains were so full, they put a relief on! Here 31 271 heads a Yarmouth - Leeds Relief. Class 116's T331 and T312 form 1L97, 0955 Birmingham - Yarmouth. 47 453 is getting a fine old clag on as it passes with 1L95 Newcastle - Yarmouth. This shot is taken from the path leading to the board crossing between the staggered platforms, no longer there. Whittlesea's only stopping trains were local DMU's, such as 51444/54405, here leaving on 2L09 Peterborough - Ipswich. All smile for the camera, please. A huge crowd has turned out for 61264 - the gateman and his mate! The signalbox at Whittlesea is always nicel;y kept but I don't know why it's always painted green. 60 060 roars through the station on the sand train. A down road view from platform 2 as the gateman closes the gates. An eastbound view of the station, platform 1 on the left. The large shed at the rear is rail linked and used to be operated by UKF with regular flows from Ince. 60 047 speeds through with 6E84, the Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton sand. The curve just west of the station is very steeply banked and quite severe, as you can see as 60 047 hits it. 66 705 is on the daily Whitemoor - Mountsorrel stone empties. This returns with stock for the VQ at the Whitemoor. 66 188 heads a well loaded Whitemoor - Tallington sleeper empties train. 60 083 passes between platform 1 and the signalbox with 6M87, the empty RMC hoppers from Papwoth's at Ely to Peak Forest. 66 099 approaches the level crossing with the Mountsorrel - Trowse LaFarge stone train. 60 047 catches me unawares at Whittlesea Station Crossing on the down sand train. 66 705 comes out of the mist with the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel empty JNA's. It's still misty as 66 015 heads for Monk Bretton on 6E84. 66 146 is on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. Note dip in Down road, hence speed restriction. 60 061 approaches the signalbox on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest. 60 061 a bit nearer, showing that it still sports full Transrail livery 66 611 roars through the station on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 184 heads for Tallington with short rake of sleeper flats. 66 718 passes light engine, bound for Peterborough. 66 232 seems to coping with this enormous load on the Wakefield - Felixstowe Intermodal. 66 574 catches the sun nicely on 6E55, Felixstowe - Doncaster, lightly loaded as usual. The evening sun catches the front of 66 119 as it passes on the Goole sand. 66 574 rattles through the station with 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 710 approaches the signalbox with 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster Railport. 66 117 is bound for Monk Bretton on 6E84. 66 111 drops down through the station on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 60 090 has an NP rake on 6M87 today - note steel wagon in the centre to facilitate shunting at Ely. 66 619 is really rattling along on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 578 has charge of 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 720 is last train for today (it was freezing) as it heads for Doncaster on 4E33.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 STONEA http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c790216.html Stonea is not an easy place to take photographs - you either have to get well bcak or else you are literally on the lineside. There used to be a station, made of wood, which was closed just before it fell down on its own. There is no firm ground here, this being the heart of the Fens, so it has not been possible to replace the hand-operated gates by AHB's, as when they tried, it all ended up in the drain! The crossing is necessary because the bridge only has 7 foot headroom! - going under it is quite a scary experience. In fact, it's not really a bridge at all but an underpass. I have seen caravans stuck under it and once saw a forgetful driver go under with a bike on his roof rack and come out with a few bits of twisted metal in it's place. It can also be very interesting in a cold winter when it floods and then freezes, thus reducing the headroom by several inches! The signal/gate box is now a portakbin and it only controls 2 signals. However, Stonea is famous. It was the site of 'Fenedge Halt', a plywood station built for a PD James detective story made for TV and set in the Fens. A wooden shell was put up around the portakbin too. I have several old pictures of the filming there using an old BR Cravens 105 unit. Thursday 1 January 1970: Stonea is not an easy place to take photographs - you either have to get well bcak or else you are literally on the lineside. There used to be a station, made of wood, which was closed just before it fell down on its own. There is no firm ground here, this being the heart of the Fens, so it has not been possible to replace the hand-operated gates by AHB's, as when they tried, it all ended up in the drain! The crossing is necessary because the bridge only has 7 foot headroom! - going under it is quite a scary experience. In fact, it's not really a bridge at all but an underpass. I have seen caravans stuck under it and once saw a forgetful driver go under with a bike on his roof rack and come out with a few bits of twisted metal in it's place. It can also be very interesting in a cold winter when it floods and then freezes, thus reducing the headroom by several inches! The signal/gate box is now a portakbin and it only controls 2 signals. However, Stonea is famous. It was the site of 'Fenedge Halt', a plywood station built for a PD James detective story made for TV and set in the Fens. A wooden shell was put up around the portakbin too. I have several old pictures of the filming there using an old BR Cravens 105 unit.

31 125 has very varied consist on 9H70 Chesterton Junction - Peterborough. 31 444 is providing power for 1M67 Norwich - Birmingham. 37 105 has a good load on 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard via Whitemoor. 45 034 has a quite a good load considering it's the 6H94 Bury - Whitemoor. 47 016 is surprise power for 1E72 Birmingham - Norwich - hope they've got steam heat! 47 242 passes west with 6H39 Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton. 31 119 and 31 218 thunder past Stonea with the Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton sand. 31 184 and 31 410 head west with a rake of empty COVHOPS. 47 485 passes Stonea on the down 'European', made up of secondhand IC stock. 37 304 and 37 251 roar along on 4M00 Felixstowe - Garston. 47 501, now with DRS, is on the lunchtime Peterborough - Cambridge vans with Class 101 51282 behind the loco. 53218/54230, a Class 101 DPU, are kicking up a stink on a Peterborough-bound maiul train - perhaps it's that huge trailing load they have! 31 132 is returning to Whitemoor with a good load from Kings Lynn. Two Speedlink feeders per day ran to Lynn and were often heavily loaded. 31 285 appraoches the bridge at Stonea on an Up ballast working. Many of these trains ran to Bury, as they do now. 31 454 speeds towards Peterborough with the lunchtime empty TPO rake. 37 013 has charge of the 6H90 Norwich - Whitemoor 37 029, still in traffic today, heads for Whitemoor with 6S96 from Parkeston Quay. 37 221 heads an up ballast working at Stonea. Class 116 set T320, Tyseley Depot, is on a Birmingham train. What an ordeal! A hard seat and all the fittings singing! 53359/54122 have been painted green in the style of the early '60's and very nice they look too, if a little dirty! 37 903 is returning 'engine and brake' after leaving the scrap empties at Snailwell. 37/9's were regulars on these trains, working through from Cardiff. 47 569 heads west with a very short train of 2 GUV's. 47 430 heads for either Kennett or Barham with a short Redland train. At that time, the Redland split in March Up Yard, the larger half going on with the train engine to Trowse. You can see the actual Portakabin signalbox inside this rather handsome structure they have clad it in. The date is a complete guess. A Cravens unit was used and filmed during a Sunday possession. The only genuine article in this picture is the fence in the foreground. This 'station' was built of plywood and plastic for an ITV PD James detective show filmed in Chatteris in about 1990. Stonea level crossing and bridge as a 170 speeds east. The gatebox is just out of shot to the right. 66 614 approaches the site of the old station on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 60 002 heads towards March on 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill. Westbound shots are very difficult here. 66 029 approaches with 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse, taken across the Drain. What a busy picture! 66 029 is crossing the 7 foot headroom bridge whilst 7 foot plus traffic waits at the gates. The gatebox is just visible behind the loco. 66 703 on a rake of eastbound JNA's, unusual on weekday, but there was a big possession at Ipswich that week. 66 052 follows close behind 66 703 with a rake of PNA's. 66 134 heads for Mountsorrel on the Broxbourne S/D empties. 60 019 is about to cross the drain with the MWFO sand empties bound for Middleton Towers I'd love to see any of this lot try to get under the bridge! Sometimes there is so much traffic piled up at the gates that they block the bridge off completely. Another shot of Stonea bridge, this time with a car going under to show the lack of headroom. 66 025 is on 6E84, the Monk Bretton industrial sand. 60 036 hits the crossing on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties - lovely day! 66 003 is on 6L39, the Mountsorrel - Trowse LaFarge stone. Apparently, Freightliner has won all of these LaFarge contracts. 66 619 on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. If Freightliner have won all of the East Anglian LaFarge jobs, where will the locos come from? 66 132 appraoches the bridge with 6Z26 Stud Farm - Bury ballast.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 TUFTS NO.1 CROSSING http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c759312.html I have called this Whitemoor Drove but it isn't really. Pictures are virtually impossible from Whitemoor Drove AHB itself but these are taken from a farm crossing between Whitemoor Drove AHB and the A141 flyover, quite a popular spot. I've no idea whjat it's called but it's 87 miles and 20 chains from somewhere. The westward shot is poor but looking east towards the flyover can be quite interesting. 18/02/06 - I've just found out that it's called Tufts No.1 Crossing, crossing no.52, 87m 20ch from somewhere and grid reference 397978. Thursday 1 January 1970: I have called this Whitemoor Drove but it isn't really. Pictures are virtually impossible from Whitemoor Drove AHB itself but these are taken from a farm crossing between Whitemoor Drove AHB and the A141 flyover, quite a popular spot. I've no idea whjat it's called but it's 87 miles and 20 chains from somewhere. The westward shot is poor but looking east towards the flyover can be quite interesting. 18/02/06 - I've just found out that it's called Tufts No.1 Crossing, crossing no.52, 87m 20ch from somewhere and grid reference 397978.

Certainly, this is the only memory I have of a Class 26 at March under any circumstances. Even 37 043 is full 'Hoots Mon' livery as it wends it way back north of the border. I think 26 025 and 37 043 had been to a Stratford Open Day and were on their way home. 47 568 is rather extravagent motive power for a Norwich - Birmingham service. Cravens Class 105 DMU 53359/54122 is on a Peterborough - Cambridge train. 60 068 is running early with 6M25 March - Mountsorrel Redland empties. 66 709 is on its third pass today on a route learner from Whitemoor. 60 086 heads west on 6M25 March - Mountsorrel Redland empties. Taking full advantage of light nights, here is 47 224 on 4E50 Felixstowe - Wilton. 66 172 on the 6E84 Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton sand. 60 047 heads for Whitemoor Yard light diesel to pick up the Tallington trip - a most unusual duty for a Class 60. 60 047 returns with a rake of empty Salmon for the sleeper works at Tallington. 66 050 heads for Tallington from Whitemoor for a load of sleepers. 66 126 approaches the crossing on 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel Redland empties. 66 704 has a very long rake of JNA's on the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel VQ ballast working. 66 217 is on the down Tallington trip from Whitemoor. 66 601 speeds west on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 715 has a reasonable load on GBRf's new Felixstowe - Doncaster 'turn up and go' liner. With the advent of the mobile phone, crossing phones have disappeared and are now being replaced by these very useful signs - even give a grid reference! 66 071 heads for Lynn on the MWFO Goole sand empties. 66 015 is eastbound on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 66 529 hurtles under the A141 bridge on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 021 heads 6M14 Harlow - Croft westards. Thjis is now (04/06) a Freightliner working. 66 242 heads west on 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel, probably the last EWS loco I saw on it as it has gone to Freightliner as well. 66 615 heads west on the empty Freightliner boxes. 60 007, Loadhaul with EWS sticker, heads east with the empties for the Goole sand. 66 206 is on 6E84, the northbound Monk Bretton sand train. 66 703 is bound for Mountsorrel with this mixed rake of empty Autoballasters. 66 183 is eastbound on 6L39 for Trowse. 66 129 on the westbound Tallington trip passes 66 183 eastbound on 6L39. 66 547 is on the 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill stone empties 66 214 is on the empty 6M70 LaFarge self discharge train from Broxbourne. 66 708 is hammering west on the Felixstowe - Doncaster GBRf freightliner. 66 610 is returning to Penmaenmawr from Chesterton Junction with empty Freightliner boxes. 66 505 heads for Ipswich with 4L85 from Leeds. 66 129 passes under the A141 bridge with thye returning Tallington - Whitemoor sleepers. I was just going home as 60 063 appeared with the empty MBA's from Brandon. 66 102 heads off to Peterborough with the empties for the Tallington trip. 66 707 is bound for Whitemoor with this rake of loaded PNA's. 'Metronet' 66 720 is on the Felixstowe - Doncaster as it passes the crossing. 66 247 is very late on 6E84 from Middleton Towers. 66 701 has just left Whitemoor with the daily trip to Mountsorrel for ballast. 60 020 is headed for Peak Forest with 6M87, the RMC empties from Ely. 66 172 is on the down Whitemoor - Tallington sleeper trip. 66 614 is heading 6M14 Harlow Mill - Bardon Hill stone empties. 66 703 leads 66 705 as they head for Whitemoor with a train of loaded MLA's. 66 724 is westbound on 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster Railport. 66 188 is westbound with this rake of empty MBA's - from Brandon? 66 705 heads for Mountsorrel with one and a half rakes of empty autoballasters. 66 572 heads east with 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 ELY NORTH JUNCTION http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c759308.html Ely North Junction is a complex place. Lines from March, Kings Lynn and Norwich all meet at the same point, as does the West Curve which avoids Ely Station for Norwich trains, although as all passenger trains call at Ely and only westbound freight can use it due to incorrectly fitted points at the March end, it does not see a great deal of traffic. Adjacent to the junction, just to complicate matters, is Potter Group's large rail served terminal. Just north of the junction are 3 sets of AHB's in about 500 metres, known respectively as Queen Adelaide (Peterborough), Queen Adelaide (Kings Lynn) and Queen Adelaide (Norwich) - imaginative! None of them are very special for photography as all are sited on bends and the sun is difficult most of the time, and the junction is not really accessible either, although there is a footpath from QA(Lynn) into a field set in the 'V' between the March and Lynn lines. A bridge goes over the West Curve but there is a great deal of vegetation to contend with and deep shadows for most of the day. Thursday 1 January 1970: Ely North Junction is a complex place. Lines from March, Kings Lynn and Norwich all meet at the same point, as does the West Curve which avoids Ely Station for Norwich trains, although as all passenger trains call at Ely and only westbound freight can use it due to incorrectly fitted points at the March end, it does not see a great deal of traffic. Adjacent to the junction, just to complicate matters, is Potter Group's large rail served terminal. Just north of the junction are 3 sets of AHB's in about 500 metres, known respectively as Queen Adelaide (Peterborough), Queen Adelaide (Kings Lynn) and Queen Adelaide (Norwich) - imaginative! None of them are very special for photography as all are sited on bends and the sun is difficult most of the time, and the junction is not really accessible either, although there is a footpath from QA(Lynn) into a field set in the 'V' between the March and Lynn lines. A bridge goes over the West Curve but there is a great deal of vegetation to contend with and deep shadows for most of the day.

45 004 heads a train of Redland empties towards the West Curve. This location is no longer attainable - I've tried! Ex-BR Class 04 D2302 was works pilot at Papworth's for several years and is now preserved at Rutland Railway Museum. 37 216 brings 6H76 Lynn - Whitemoor off the Lynn line and heads for the West Curve. 47 236 is heading for the west curve with 6H90 Norwich - Whitemoor. This Sentinel 0-6-0DM is Papworth's depot shunter. There was an 08, apparently scrapped, and their 04 is preserved at Rutland Railway Museum. She after whom the village is named. QA(Lynn) is just behind whilst QA(Norwich) is just over the hill formed by the river bridge. QA(Peterborough) and West Curve Bridge are behind the camera. 66 135 approaches the junction with 6E84 Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton, about to take the West Curve. 66 135, having reversed direction via the curve, now heads north on 6E84 on Ely West Curve. 66 230 has been into Ely Station to run round the Goole sand empties as the West Curve is only accessible from Lynn/Norwich but not to. 365 537 comes off the Lynn line with a Kings Cross train. 66 237 rounds the very sharp (and very slow) bend at the south end of the West Curve with 6E84. If you're quick (and I'm not), you can get a train as it crosses QA(Lynn)AHB and here too. The cutting here is quite deep and overhung as 66 237 aproaches with 6E84, one of the few trains to use this line. 66 237 rejoins the Ely - Peterborough mainline at the northern end of the West Curve, almost lost in the morning mist. 66 233 rounds the bend from March with 6Z26 Stud Farm - Bury stone in MEA's. 60 046, still in grey livery, hits the bend at speed on 6M87 Ely - PeakForest. Potters Depot is just behind the loco. 66 526 is really going for it on 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill empties as it appraoches the QA(Peterborough)AHB. 66 719 has charge of 4E33 Felixstowe South - Doncaster Railport as it works away from the slack at the junction. 66 719 in Metronet liver on 4E33. We were originally told we would see none of these locos after August as they would all be on LUL work - Hmm? 66 072 rounds the bend to QA(Peterborough)AHB on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 66 072 has run round and noe crosses QA(Norwich)AHB with the Trowse stone - note how steep the climb is just here. 66 717 has just come off the Norwich road and now heads round the West Curve for Whitemoor with spoil wagons. I'm back at QA(Peterborough) as 66 717 leaves te West Curve via this gap in the bushes. 66 575 rounds the bend with 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. Shock! Horror! 67 016 leads 67 029 on the Goole sand empties from Peterborough to run round in Ely - good use of 125mph express locos eh? 20 311 leads 20 308 on the Stowmarket - Norwich RHTT, silhouetted against the morning sun. Having run round in Ely, 67 029 now leads 67 016 on the sand empties for Middleton Towers. 20 308 leads 20 314 as they round the curve onto the Norwich line past Potter's with the Norwich RHTT. 66 153 swings left to meet the main Ely - Peterborough line at the north end of the West Curve on 6E84.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 CHETTISHAM STATION AHB http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c759301.html Chettisham used to be the last station before Ely and up until quite recently was still extant with gates and signalbox and some nice LNER semaphores. All that is there now is the station house and AHB's. The view west is excellent, especially in the morning, as the crossing is at the foot of quite a steep little incline. The view east is poor at best. Thursday 1 January 1970: Chettisham used to be the last station before Ely and up until quite recently was still extant with gates and signalbox and some nice LNER semaphores. All that is there now is the station house and AHB's. The view west is excellent, especially in the morning, as the crossing is at the foot of quite a steep little incline. The view east is poor at best.

60 049 has only just started its reurn journey to Peak Forest with the RMC empties from Papworth's at Ely North Junction. 66 051 speeds downhill on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. Note one of our two overbridges in the background. You can hardly see 66 704 for the rain! It had just turned this cwr train on Ely West Curve and was heading back to Whitemoor. I also turned it in just after this! 66 562 makes light work of the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 60 002 is still getting 6M87 up to speed as it approaches Chettisham. So, which one is it? A flithy 66 712 heads 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster Railport.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 BAILEY'S OCCUPATION CROSSING http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c727682.html This is a farm crossing located midway between Beggar's Bridge and the Eastrea - Benwick road. Although it is plain track in the middle of a flat fen, and therefore pretty featureless, it has the distinct advantage of also being midway between Whittlesea's Down Distant and Three Horseshoes' Up Outer Home, thus allowing you to sit in your car and not worry about getting snuck up on! It is on a public bridleway and, although busy with farm traffic, there is no reason why you should not be there! Thursday 1 January 1970: This is a farm crossing located midway between Beggar's Bridge and the Eastrea - Benwick road. Although it is plain track in the middle of a flat fen, and therefore pretty featureless, it has the distinct advantage of also being midway between Whittlesea's Down Distant and Three Horseshoes' Up Outer Home, thus allowing you to sit in your car and not worry about getting snuck up on! It is on a public bridleway and, although busy with farm traffic, there is no reason why you should not be there!

56 006, newly outshopped into the 'Heritage Fleet' in blue, heads for March and Grant Rail with the trip. 60 083 heads light for Peterborough against a distinctly threatening sky. 66 002 looks very strange in the odd light conditions as it heads east light diesel. 56 063 is going west on 6Z27 Bury - Stud Farm empty slag MEA's, running very early. 31 468 heads west with an EWS Inspection Saloon - why don't EWS provide their own locos for these trains? 47 732 heads east with a very mixed engineer's train from Grant Rail in March 60 017 is laying a good smokescreen as it heads for Ely with a very late RMC from Peak Forest. 47 733 has a long rake of engineer's stock as it heads for Peterborough from Grant Rail in March. 66 178 has a goof rake of vans on 6E57 Felixstowe - Healey Mills newsprint. 66 613 heads for Chesterton Junction with a train of aggregates from Haverton Hill. 60 074 is heading west with empty sugarstone MBA's which go to Peak Forest, I think. 66 221 is on a very short 6L40 Mountsorrel - Kennett LaFarge train. 45231 has taken over from 33 202 at Ely on this special to Lincoln. 66 614 drops down the bank from Beggar's Bridge with the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 131 is on the empty Broxbourne - Mountsorrel LaFarge S/D train. 66 534 only has half a load on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 60 031 heads west with the Bury - Stud Farm empty MEA'a. 66 708 heads east on the Selby - Felixstowe liner as darkness approaches. 66 089 is on the returning empty MBA's that form the sugarstone train from Tunstead to Norwich/Brandon, which runs almost daily in the sugar beet season. 66 201 is on the 6E84, the Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton sand. 66 154 heads for Tallington with a rake of rail flats. Pioneer Class 150 'Sprinter' is now a track recording vehicle, 999600/999601, seen here heading west. 66 714 heads east with another load of stone for the new runway at Stansted Airport. 66 712 is well loaded on the GTBRf Felixstowe - Doncaster liner. A distant shot of 66 505 puonding up slope towards Beggar's Bridge with 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 156 is bound for Tallington Sleeper Works with this rake of GBRf flats. 66 143 heads for Hitchinh with the scrap empties from Cardiff Tidal Sidings. 66 044 heads east with what seems to be a rake of brand new 'EWS Construction' hoppers similar to the Freightliner coal wagons built in Poland. 66 703 has monoploised the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel for some weeks now. 66 208 heads for Whitemoor with a rake of autoballasters. 66 117 is in danger of becoming the regular loco on 6E84. Serco Test Train 1Z14, on its way back from East Anglia, is headed by 37 607, 37 608 bringing up the rear. The test train goes off into the distance, 37 608 hanging on the back. 66 188 has an NP rake on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest today. Note steel wagon in the middle to enable shunting at Ely. Metronet 66 719 tails 66 712 on this empty CWR trrain bound for Whitemoor. 66 541 has almost a whole train as heavily loaded as this wagon on 4L85 Leeds - Felixstowe. For some reason, it needs both 66 175 and 66 180 to power this up ballast train. 66 184 has a long rake of flats on the Tallington trip today. 66 608 has charge of the Kennett - Dowlow stome empties. 66 724 is taking ONE DVT 82118 from Doncaster works to Norwich as 5Z42. 82118 looks very nice as 66 724 heads off with it - liveries clash a bit though. 66 529 is tearing along on 6M14 Harlow Mill - Bardon Hill. 66 176 is running very late on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 66 722 heads for Peterborough with what seems to be a totally unnecessary working on the face of it. 60 029 heads west with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. 60 035 is just a few minutes behind 60 029 with the Tallington trip. 66 562 heads for Bardon Hill with 6M14 from Harlow Mill. 66 714 heads for Norwich Crown Point with refurbished ONE DVT 82136. the newly refurbished DVT 82136 disappears towards Norwich behind 66 714. 66 115 heads west with 6Z27, the Bury - Stud Farm empty MEA's.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 MARCH STATION http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c719038.html March Station does not offer much to the photographer at all. On a curve, with canopies that stretch to the platform edges, about the best shots available are from the footbridge looking east or the down platform looking west. Otherwise, it is very cramped and quite dark but it does boast a kiosk and a toilet (sometimes!) The level crossing offers a good shot to the east but is virtually impossible to the west and then is only usable from the town side most of time. I spent a lot of time there in the 80's because it was so busy. On August 22nd, 1986, I saw 16 loco-hauled trains between 0900 and 1400 and, by this time, some of the passenger trains were Sprinters. Very busy place. Thursday 1 January 1970: March Station does not offer much to the photographer at all. On a curve, with canopies that stretch to the platform edges, about the best shots available are from the footbridge looking east or the down platform looking west. Otherwise, it is very cramped and quite dark but it does boast a kiosk and a toilet (sometimes!) The level crossing offers a good shot to the east but is virtually impossible to the west and then is only usable from the town side most of time. I spent a lot of time there in the 80's because it was so busy. On August 22nd, 1986, I saw 16 loco-hauled trains between 0900 and 1400 and, by this time, some of the passenger trains were Sprinters. Very busy place.

08 526, Whitemoor travelling pilot, crosses Station Road LC em route to Whitemoor - date a complete guess. 31239 stops in Platform 6 on a Norwich - Birmingham train - I hardly recognise the place! 47 005 brings a Joint Line paasenger train into Plarform 1. I don't know which it as but it was taken early in the day 47 107 is leaving for Harwich with an early morning ferry freight through Platfrom 1. 31 177 has come of depot and passing through what was then Platform 1, which still open for Joint Lin e traffic - date a guess but obviously pre-84 45 013 is weekend Norwich - Birmingham standby loco. This was usually a Class 45 as they could travel in either direction with no problems of crew compatibility. 31 198 draws into the station on a Birmingham - Norwich train - I bet it's bloody cold in there today - no heat! 08 539, travelling pilot, brings in a rake of Seacows from the Down Yard. 20 190/20 153 leave the down loop with 8M06 Kings Lynn - Derby St. Marys. 31 108 heads east with an engineer's train - I bet it's lovely in the brake on a day like this! 37 065 works an eastbound freightliner into the station, stopping for crew relief. 47 580 pilots failed 31 442 on a Norwich - Birmingham train. 47 580 waits to take the failed 31 442 and its train onto Birmingham. 31 418 draws into the station on a Birmingham - Norwich train. 37 134 waits for the road on the up Bury, 6Y94. 31 188 rattles through the station with a down engineer's train. 45 069 brings the Breakdown Crane out from the Depot, headed for Cambridge. 37 098 is headed for Kings Lynn with the NTV's from Derby St. Marys. 37 250 heads west with a rake of LWR bolster wagons. 37 116 heads for Lynn with a very light load. 37 059 swings towards Whitemoor with 6S96 Parkeston Quay - Mossend (eventually). 31 464 heads for Peterborough through a station I only vaguely recognise! Note the wagons in the bay platform behind the loco - car park now! 45 036 has just taken the Whitemoor road with 6H90 Norwich - Whitemoor. 45 046 waits for the road with a short freight for Mayer Newman at Snailwell. 56 060 rolls into March with 6E23 Mountsorrel - March to go into the up loop and split. 47 593 prepares to stop on the down 'European' - an Eastfiled 47 was nothing unusual on this train! Beautifully restored Class 105 53359.54122 stops on a Cambridge - Peterborough local. 31 407 and 31 445 have a good load behind them as they stop in March Station. 37 199 brings the 5E45 parcels intpo the station as a 31 departs for Norwich. 45 051 swings 6H90 Norwich - Whitemoor onto the old Joint line. 31 427 comes off depot with the breakdown crane and support vehicles. 45 040 has just taken the road for Whitemoor with 6H90 from Norwich. 45 139, a rarity at that time, is at the head of 6P89 Whitemoor - Norwich. 31 108 has just left the down loop and is westbound with mineral empties. This tank wagon looks a bit the worse for wear as 31 223 takes in into Whitemoor. 47 033 and 31 272 rattle past on a down parcels train. 47 425 waits for the road with an engineer's train. 31 183 runs into the station with 5H53 Peterborough - Cambridge parcels plus a few DMU's by the look of it. 37 004 and 37 034 have just come off depot and are heading east. Economical use of motive power! 45 019 and 31152 take their single BIS PAA cripple into Whitemoor. 25 276 and 45 019 have just come off March Depot and are proceeding to the east. 31 412 and 31 110 are stopping on 1H08 Peterborough - Cambridge. 31 412, famous for its 'Stratford' roof, heads a very long freight into Whitemoor. 37 148 brings 6E16 Whitemoor - Parkeston Quay through the station as 37 144 goes on depot. 45 034 is heading east with 6P89 for Norwich. 31 229 heads a very long 9H77 Chesterton Junction - Whitemoor departmental train. 31 259 waits for the road on the 5H76 Peterborough - Cambridge parcels. 47 614 has stopped with the Blackppol - Cambridge, a train which ran for several years. It's hard to believe that they used to run these Class 120 units on the Norwich - Birmingham trains, one of which is stopping made up of 53703/59300.53665. I loved riding in the 120's - the seats were so soft and comfy! Here 53705/59127/53650 passes March East on an up train.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 MIDDLE ROAD LEVEL CROSSING, MARCH http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c635057.html This is a small user-operated crossing on Middle Road, a lane that runs off the March - Turves road just before the MBM potato factory. It is only a practical photo location when the sun is not out and then is only really good looking west. Advance warning of oncoming trains is provided by colour light indicators on the gates. Thursday 1 January 1970: This is a small user-operated crossing on Middle Road, a lane that runs off the March - Turves road just before the MBM potato factory. It is only a practical photo location when the sun is not out and then is only really good looking west. Advance warning of oncoming trains is provided by colour light indicators on the gates.

47 537 has good load on the SSO Yarmouth - Newcastle. Middle Road Crossing before they 'improved' it, with a Class 150 Sprinter heading for March. 66 074 is on the 6M22 (WO) Kennett/Barham - Mountsorrel Redland train. Note how the crossing has changed since then. 60 089 crosses a very green Fen with the Mountsorrel - Trowse Redland. 47 791 trundkes off to Peterborough with the Grant Rail trip. 66 170 powers a short rake of LaFarge S/D wagons westwards. 66 149 heads west with the empty flats for the trip to Tallingtp Sleeper Works. I sat on the crossing gate for this picture. 66 064 is on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. This is the distant shot at Middle Road and it's pretty awful. 66 703 is heading for Whitemmor with a rake of empty Autoballasters. 66 203 approaches on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. This is taken from the south side of the crossing. 60 002 approaches with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. 60 008, not long reliveried into EWS colours, heads east on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 66 108 streams across Middle Road on 6E84 Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton. 66 713 is heading for Mountsorrel for a load of ballast for the VQ at Whitemoor. 60 029 approaches the crossing forn the east on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. This must be the shortest 6L39 I've ever seen! 60 065 isn't really struggling with its 5 wagon load. 66 707 is working 6T81, the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel empty JNA's for the VQ. 66 206 is on 6E84, the northbound Monk Bretton sand train. 80 094 heads west on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties on a truly dismal day. 66 193 heads for Peterborough with the empty sleeper stock of the Tallington trip. 66 143 approaches on the LaFarge S/D empties. 66 717 heads west on a lightly loaded Felixstowe - Doncaster freightliner. 66 044 drops down the gentle grade with the Goole sand empties. 66 072 and 66 054 head east light engine, returning 5 hours later, light engine again. 66 721 heads for Mountsorrel with a rtake of empty JNA's from Whitemoor. 66 192 is bound for Monk Bretton with the loaded sand. 66 182 has charge of 6L39 today, bound for Trowse. 66 234 heads for Tallington with a short rake of empties. A cop! 66 559 heads west on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 539 heads for Felixstowe with 4L85 from Leeds. A while ago, this was one of only two Freightliner turns on this route. 66 234 has a good train of sleepers on the Tallington - Whitemoor. 66 718 is bound for Whitemoor with 6L45 from Rylstone Quarry.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 THREE HORSESHOES AHB No.2 http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c635054.html There are no less than 4 AHB's in the village of Turves, all within the space of about 1 mile, controlled by Three Horseshoes signalbox. Photography at none of them is easy but this one is the best, which doesn't say much for the rest. From this location, adavance warning of oncoming trains is excellent as both AHB Nos. 1 & 3 are easily visible, one to each side. Thursday 1 January 1970: There are no less than 4 AHB's in the village of Turves, all within the space of about 1 mile, controlled by Three Horseshoes signalbox. Photography at none of them is easy but this one is the best, which doesn't say much for the rest. From this location, adavance warning of oncoming trains is excellent as both AHB Nos. 1 & 3 are easily visible, one to each side.

60 044 appraoches the crossing on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest. This p;icture is no longer possible due to building. 66 155 crosses Three Horseshoes No.3 with the Foxton cement works coal train. 56 038 heads east with 6Z26 Stud Farm - Bury slag. 60 043 heads west with the usual random assortment of vehicles on 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest. No, not an MPV on a liner! 66 538 heads east on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich as MPV 98957/98907 goes west on a route learner. 47 635 must be on a route learner as I saw it twice in 90 minutes, light both times. 66 553 on the 6Z19 Kennett - Dowlow Heavy Haul stone empties 66 197 is giving it some 'clag' as it heads west with 6M14 Harlow - Croft Bardon empties. 66 071 tows a failed 67 006 through pouring rain on an Ipswich - Peterborough special, 67016 trailing, Three Horseshoes AHB No.2 67 016 trailing on the special headed by 66 071 due to failure of 67 006. 66 577 on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. These shots from north of the line are only possible when there is no sun. 66 035 returns to Whitemoor with the Tallington sleeper trip in pouring rain. 66 705 is on the new Felixstowe - Doncaster 'Turn Up and Go' freightliner. 66 720 looms out of the murk on the down VQ JNA's. 66 720, first of the Metronet 66/7's to come my way, heads west on the Whitemoor - Mountsorrel VQ JNA empties. 66 034 heads east through the murk on 6Z26 Stud Farm - Bury. 66 242 is on 6E84, the northbound sand for Monk Bretton. 66 603 symbolises the new order on 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill. 66 607 is on 6M53 Chesterton Junction - Mountsorrel, Fridays only. (Thanks for the info, Rob) 66 711 heads east on loaded JNA's, bound for Whitemoor, perhaps having replaced 66 720. 66 094 heads east with the empty stock of the Middleton Towers - Goole sand train. 66 703 heads for Mountsorrel with a rake of empty JNA's. 66 245 rattles eastwards on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse stone hoppers. 66 062 passes 'Wonkyworld' with the Whitemoor - Tallington trip. 66 519 is on 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill. The Kennett - Dowlow empty stone hoppers are in charge of 66 524. 66 039 has clearly had to split 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel to allow shunting. 66 535 is rather lightly loaded on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 710 and 66 718, in contrasting liveries, head for Whitemoor with loaded JNA's. 66 502 is on the Felixstowe - Doncaster 'pick up and go' freightliner. 66 014 is on the Middleton Towers - Goole Docks sand as thge sun gets low. 60 079 is on a rake of westbound empty MBA's, 6E47(MWO) Norwich - Tunstead sugarstone. (Thankyou Rob) 60 079 has acquired one of the large EWS stickers rather than the expense of a repaint.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 BEGGAR'S BRIDGE, TURVES http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c635052.html This is another of my favourite locations - very quiet and peaceful - where the line passes over the 20 Foot Drain, centre arch, with a road arch to each side. This location is on the Coates - Turves road about a mile off the A605. Drive through the right hand arch. Other regular visitors here are common terns, marsh harriers, herons and kingfishers. Thursday 1 January 1970: This is another of my favourite locations - very quiet and peaceful - where the line passes over the 20 Foot Drain, centre arch, with a road arch to each side. This location is on the Coates - Turves road about a mile off the A605. Drive through the right hand arch. Other regular visitors here are common terns, marsh harriers, herons and kingfishers.

45 007 has 1502 and 7M86 Whitemoor - Warrington Arpley well in hand as it crosses the bridge. 45 007 and 1502 again - pity I got on the wrong side for the sun. Riding along, minding my own business when I suddenly see this! 37029, 37032 and 37068 on the sand empties going like the clappers! 60 031 crosses the 20 Foot Drain with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. 66 702 crosses the drain on 6L79 Selby - Felixstowe, still shiny, just out of the box. 60 078 is returning to Mountsorrel with Redland empties as it crosses the drain. 47 309 crosses the bridge on 4L85 Leeds - Felixstowe - Class 47';s are becoming scarce on this train by now. 56 069 has passed over the bridges with a rake of rail flats from Grant Rail in March. 60 032 approaches the bridge with 6M12 Bishops Stortford - Croft stone empties. 56 006, in BR Blue, has the hammer down as it heads east with 6Z26 Stud Farm - Bury ballast. 66 041 is on 6E84 Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton. This train carries sand for glassmaking and runs each weekday. 66 703 is caught on the bridge on a rake of westbound 'arf'n'arf' liveried sidetippers from Whitemoor. 66 152 poses on the Bridge itself, bound for Whitemoor to collect the emtpy wagons for the Tallington trip. 66 028 approaches the bridge on a rake of Bardon empties bound for Croft. 66 702 climbs up to the bridge on a Mountsorrel - Whitemoor ballast working. 66 203 heads for Monk Bretton also. An additional sand train runs on MWFO, the empties passing at about 0930. 66 030 heads l,ight diesel to Whitemoor to collect the Tallington Trip. 60 078 heads for Bardon Hill with 6M14 from Harlow, looking a little in stickered Mainline blue. 60 078 hits the centre and main of the three spans at Beggars Bridge. Good to see as I suspect it's return to traffic may be all too brief. 66 135 hits the curve just before the bridges with the Broxbourne - Mountsorrel stone empties. 66 135 hits the first and only repainted span of the three in the bridge. 66 619 approaches the bridges with the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 013 round the curve from Three Horseshoes on 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel. 66 094 heads west on 6M14 harlow - Bardon Hill stone empties. I've waited a long time for this moment! 66 239, my last EWS 66, toddling along on the Tallington trip. 60 093 approaches rhe bridge with 6Z27 Bury - Stud Farm ballast ewmpties. 66 244 has a long rake of flats on the Tallington trip as it heads for Peterborough. 66 078 climbs towards the bridge with 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 66 621 has a rake of new bogie hoppers on the Kennett - Dowlow empties. 60 009 hits the bridge with 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel S/D empties. Rumour is that all of these trains are going to Freightliner soon. Knowing the driving skills (abysmal) of the skipper of the Great White Whale, what sort of a chance is he taking parking this close to water? 66 225 heads for Middleton Towers with the sand empties from Goole. 66 704 has a full rake of the new MLA's on 6T81 Whitemoor - Mountsorrel. 66 190 has a very short rake on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. 60 095 runs up to tbe bridges with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest RMC empties. 66 184 crosses Turf Drove on the Tallington trip. Note sugar beet on the bridge girder - good way of levelling the load! 66 558 is hammering west on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties. 66 246 is climbing hard on 6E84, the Monk Bretton sand. 66 570 approaches the 20 Foot Drain with 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 SOMETHING A BIT SPECIAL http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c632724.html We get quite a number of specials using our route, perhaps because it isn't wired and, of course, it gives access to the east coast resorts - it can't be the scenery!. I suppose that NENTA and Steamy Affairs being based locally helps as well. So I've decided to keep them all seperate in this collection. Thursday 1 January 1970: We get quite a number of specials using our route, perhaps because it isn't wired and, of course, it gives access to the east coast resorts - it can't be the scenery!. I suppose that NENTA and Steamy Affairs being based locally helps as well. So I've decided to keep them all seperate in this collection.

Shame about the fog! 'Flying Scotsman' takes a break at March between legs of a railtour. 40 122, ex D200, must be on some sort of 'Forty Farewell' Railtour as it heads east through the Fens towards the A141 bridge. 40 122 must have a long station stop at March as I have managed to get to March South on my old Honda from the other side of town. 40 122 is in beautiful condition as it power away on its railtour. 47 455 heads into the station on 1A50, a returning circular Kings Cross - Kings Cross VSOE Special. 45 104 is pumping out a bit of power now. I suppose 4 dead locos are quite a good load. 55 016 brings up the rear as 45 104 approaches March South's Outer Home. 33 103 brings up the reaqr of the 'Crompton Pedigree' railtour as it heads for Kings Lynn, 37 242 leading, having just been to Wisbech. Another NENTA tour, this time behind 47 792, bound for the Severn Valley Railway. 47 745 heads the 'Captain Cook Explorer' NENTA railtour from Norwich to Whitby. Out of area again but worth it! 31 110 leads 31 154 on the 'Farewell II Arms' railtour through Ely, the swansong of Class 31. 4472 'Flying Scotsman' on one of several Kings Cross - Norwich specials that it hauled at this time, passing Padnal, Ely Cathedral behind it. 47 757 is 4472's 'get out of jail free card', hanging on the back in case of emergency. 47 782 is 20 minutes late as it leaves March with the NENTA 'Xmas in Yorkshire' railtour. 66 250 leads the 'Fenman' off the newly relaid East Curve. It was the only train ever to use it prior to the re-opening of Whitemoor. It was on a tour of East Anglian freight lines. 666 076 tails on the 'Fenman' as it heads off for Middleton Towers. Nice back view of Mark Brammer, March East signalman and a very nice bloke. I had been to Peterborough and on a whim thought I would waste a few hours here and, lo and behold, here comes 61264 on an Ely-bound special. 61264 was really shifting as it went through the station. I only waited because the crossing man told me it was coming. I've always held the (biased) opinion that no other locos look quite as workmanlike as LNER engines. Plain, simple, black, unlike some other railways that need not be mentioned by name. And 61264 leaves me with a healthy case of second-hand lung cancer as it heads off to Ely 61264 is returning with it's special from Ely - I never did find out where it came from. I know I'm outside my boundaries again but it seems to be worth it. 35005 is taking water on the 'Cathedrals Express' to Norwich. Fully watered, 35005 pulls into Ely for it's station stop, about an hour down. 58 024, working the third leg of the 'Flower Arranger' railtour to Spalding, approaches the A141 overbridge at March. 40 145 approaches for it's March Station stop on the first leg of the 'Silver Jubilee' Railtour. 40 145 is back in East Anglia with the third leg of the 'Silver Jubilee' railtour. 47 851 speeds through Manea on a returning Yarmouth - Skipton excursion. 45305 picks up speed after the slack through March Station. This was a returning Ely - Tyseley working. 66 071 tows a failed 67 006 through pouring rain on an Ipswich - Peterborough special, 67016 trailing, Three Horseshoes AHB No.2 67 016 heads the special on the return trip to Ipswich - strangely, someone at Peterborough forgot to remove it's red tail light! 33 202 heads for Peterborough light diesel ahead of 1Z47, the steam special to Lincoln, which it had taken as far as Ely. 45231 has taken over from 33 202 at Ely on this special to Lincoln. A close up of 45231 as it approaches the crossing at speed on 1Z47 to Lincoln. 45231 disappears into the Fenland mists - horrible day! - not too much of a load for a Class 5. 47 813 and 47 714 head this eastbound NENTA Special past Silt Road LC. 33 202 is standing in for a non-available Class 47 on the 'Cathedrals Express' at Little Thetford. I know this is outside my self imposed boundaries but if I can't break my rule, who can? 60009 was held here by a signal failure for about 45 minutes. She has just moved off as I took this, motorbike and helmet flying in all directions! A real snapshot! 60009 gets the feather for Ely station at last. I was very lucky with these shots, arriving at Queen Adelaide (Peterborough) AHB about 30 seconds before she moved off. Nice distant shot of 60009 with Ely Cathedral behind at Padnal. I know! This is out of my area too - so what? 60009 heads for Norwich with the 'Cathedrals Express', by now about 1 hour late due to the signal failure at Queen Adelaide, Padnal, 33 202 follows 60009 light diesel towards Norwich at Padnal. 67 008 heads downgrade at Chettisham with the 'Northern Belle', tailed by 67 027. 67 027 on the rear of the 'Northern Belle' Pullman special as it heads for Ely. Dreadful day, dreadful pictures! - thios should have been a Black 5 but looks much more like 33 103 on this Kings Cross - Lincoln special at Beggars Bridge. I can only assume that 45231, the booked power for this train, had failed as the train was early as it passed Beggars Bridge. 45231, almost a regular here, has arrived tender first from 1Z45, Kings Cross - Ely, to cross over to the Up line at Welney Road AHB. Heading for Manea Station, first crossover west of El;y, 45231 has been turned by reversing onto Ely West Curve. 45231 in distant Manea Station takes the crossover onto the up line. 45231 has just passed the Manea Up Starter as it returns to Ely. 45231 sends a nice plume of white smoke out across the fen as it picks up speed.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 A PLAGUE OF (TURBO)RATS http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c630392.html My associates and I reckon that we probably see more variations of Turborat, both in formation and livery,on the Peterborough - Ely line than are viewable anywhere else in the country so I decided to show examples of each - and a few other units as well. Thursday 1 January 1970: My associates and I reckon that we probably see more variations of Turborat, both in formation and livery,on the Peterborough - Ely line than are viewable anywhere else in the country so I decided to show examples of each - and a few other units as well.

155 304 in all of its 2-car glory passes March East Signalbox on a Cambridge - Peterborough local. 150 117, in original Sprinter livery, is on a Peterborough - Cambridge train at Manea. 156 413 heads for Ipswich at Silt Road. I think Class 156 services may have only started in May '88, displacing the Class 150's to Birmingham suburban services. Ah, those heady days when a Class 156 Sprinter was still a novelty - short lived and long gone! 156 406 heads for Norwich. March East again and a period when Sprinters were still new enough to be interesting - 156 416 and a Class 150 form a train to Bormingham. Sprinter 156 429 passes Whjittlesea Signalbox with a train for Birmingham, non-stopping here. Never saw this before or since! Class 156 407 leads 156 411 and 156 427 on a down passenger aervice. What about this then - Saturday Special, Sprinter style! - 156 440, 156 438, 150 217 and 156 411 at Silt Road all head for the Midlands. 156 417 heads for Ely plastered with snow in unusually seasonal weather at Horsemoor. 158 787, still in original livery, kicks up a trail of snow as passes Horsemoor headed for March. Pioneer Class 150, 999600/999601, converted to a track recording vehicle, heads towards March. 158 793 slows to stop at March, passing 31 154 in the Up Sidings. Rat with a split personality! Half of 150 245 is teamed up with the other half of 150 227 on a Peterborough - Ipswich train. Brand new 170 208 slows down for a station stop at Whittlesea on a Peterborough - Ipswich train. 153 365 and 153 376 form the 1145 Norwich - Liverpool - people get medals for less than travelling that far on that! On hire to Anglia, 170 399 approaches Bailey's Crossing on an Ipswich train Delivered a few weeks before the Norwich - Cambridge service began, 170 271 and her sisters were run on the Peterborough - Ipswich trains. 153 322 in the 1310 Peterborough - Ipswich gives me my first sight of an Anglian liveried 153. 170 399, between liveries but on a Central Trains Stansted - New St. train at Three Horseshoes No.2. 153 314 in rather inappropriate livery is on a Peterborough - Ipswich train at Horsemoor. The driver of 158 791 has stopped to use the phone at Horsemoor as the half-barriers have failed - again! Four weeks later and 170 399 is the 'Pink 'Un', advertising the delights of Birmingham (?) at Horsemoor on an up Stansted. 158 955 slows for a station stop. These 3-car untis were formed each summer to strengthen units and then broken up again in the winter. 150 235 is not passing a steel wall but the GBRf Selby - Felixstowe liner, as it heads for Peterborough from Ipswich! 170 399, otherwise known as 'Multi Coloured Swap Rat', is between liveries again on a Stansted train. 170 505, in it's tasteful Birmingham Bull Ring livery, passes March West on a Stansted train. 170 270 is well of it's normal territory on an Ipswich - Peterborough train at Bailey's. I was a bit slow getting going on this one and this was the first 'cascaded' MML 170 that I saw, 170 114 on a New St. train in full MML livery. And here's the 3 car version 15 minutes later, 170 110 on a Liverpool - Norwich. 170 113, a 2 car MML/Central unit, disgorges passengers into the rain at March Station on a Stansted - New Street train. The yellow motorbike is mine. 170 272 passes Manea Up Home on the 1348 Peterborough - Liverpool Street. These 2 car Anglia's quite often appear on a Saturday. 170 398 on a Stansted train is sporting the bizarre Porterbrook-Central livery of white, purple and slime green! I think the sign on the right says it all! Now this is a rare bird indeed! 170 506 stops to collect a passenger at Manea on New Street - Stansted train, one half of the Up timetable! 2 car Central. 170 205, a 3 car Oner, passes Manea box on the 1749 Peterborough rail pilgrimage to Liverpool Street. 150 255 is en route to it's new home, I think, assisted in the rear by 170 510, on a Norwich - Liverpool train, Welney Road LC. Do rats sniff each other's bums? 170 397, in it's odd Porterbrook livery, is on a Norwich - Liverpool train at Middle Road Level Crossing. It looks as though this rat has caught a meal! 170 202, with pigeon accessories, approaches March West footbridge on a Liverpool St. train. 158 856 on a Liverpool - Norwich train crosses the 20 Foot at Beggar's Bridge. These units are not common around here anymore due to 'cascading'. 170 102 crosses Beggar's Bridge on a New St. - Stansted working, 3 car Midland/Central Rats mating! 170 110 is 'coupled' with 170 513 on a Norwich - Liverpool train, 170 110 being ecs, Beggar's Bridge. 170 204 approaches Badgeney Road LC with an afternoon Peterborough - Liverpool St. working. Taken on 1/15th of a second, 170 520 has never looked better as it crosses Badgeney Road LC on a New St. - Stansted train. 170 208 draws away from Whittlesea with the 1130 to Peterborough 156 410, in Central livery but with ONE decals, is trailing 170 511 on a Liverpool - Norwich train through Whittlesea. 158 792 leads 158 788 on a Liverpool - Norwich service at Whittlesea - usually the second unit is ecs. 170 202 slows to stop on 1357 train to Colchester. The platforms are so short that only the first two coaches are available to Whittlesea passengers. 156 410, standing in for a 170, stops at Whittlesea with a Peterborough - Ipswich train. 170 271 heads for Peterborough from Ipswich at Beggar's Bridge. 153 309 heads for Ipswich at Welney Road AHB with a train from Peterborough. Once very common on this service, this is the first I've seen for months. Trouble at t'Mill? 170 272 running towards Peterborough as a 3 car at Welney Road Crossing.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 BADGENEY ROAD LEVEL CROSSING http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c627946.html This crossing is actually in March in between South signalbox and Horsemoor. I have no intention of giving directions to it as it woujld be very tedious. Mail me if you want them. The main problem here is that it is not really possible to get pictures of a whole train as the crossing is set between reverse curves. Thursday 1 January 1970: This crossing is actually in March in between South signalbox and Horsemoor. I have no intention of giving directions to it as it woujld be very tedious. Mail me if you want them. The main problem here is that it is not really possible to get pictures of a whole train as the crossing is set between reverse curves.

Cravens Class 105 53368/54416 heads east on a local passenger and must have been one of the last left in passenger traffic. 31 171 and 31 229 round the bend with the loaded sand. This scene is completely different now. 45 104 leads 56 065/58 020/20 030/55 016 past March South's down signals en route to an Open Day, I think it may have been at Stratford. The whole convoy leans into the curve, Horsemoor's distant still on. Apparently, I took this shot from Badgeney Road LC! - I must have had a long range gun attached to my lens! 31418 passes the fine array of semaphores at March South on 8E15 Croft - Bury. 31 452 heads east with a ballast train. This loco ended up owned by Fragonset. 47 016 is headed for Kings Lynn with the second Speedlink feeder train. 47 104 has just left March Up Loiop with 4E97 for Felixstowe. Badgney Road level crossing. The old crssoing is about to be replaced by AHB's. Note the crossing keeper - must be something coming. 47 346 has a signal check on 6H77 Whitemoor - Brandon. 31 181 passes Badgney Road with a rake of HTV empties. 47 125 has just pulled out of the up loop with a train of tanks. 47 565 works east with the Peterborough - Cambridge vans. 31159 approaches the crossing with 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard, whci went into Whitemoor but only for an engine change. 31461 is returning to Whitemoor from Cambridge as it rounds the curve between Silt Road and Badgeney crossings. 56 033 heads for Bardon Hill with a rake of empty stone hoppers. 37 140 heads off 'engine and brake' to collect a train. The white Suzuki GS450 was mine, or rather, the wife's. 37 167 appraoches the croosing with 6M09 Colchester Hythe - Toton housecoal emoties. This train ran for many years and was often a 37 turn. 37031 leads 37107 as they pollute the atmosphere on 4L97 Leeds - Felixstowe. 60 010, brand new, is March Depot's crew trainer and is seen here on the test train, a rake of VBA vans. 47 293 heads west with an empty cartic special. 47 535 is on 5M40 Cambridge - Derby empty mail vans. 60 046 rumbles past with the Peak Forest - Ely RMC train. This train still runs but much earlier. 31 466 head up road light engine in 'Dutch' engineer's livery. 60 001 rounds the curve from March South on the up Redland train. 58 050, in 'Mainline' blue, heads east light engine. 60 006 give a bit of a surprise on 6P38 March Up Yard - Trowse Redland, as it was officially described then. 47 370 appraoches March with the Felixstowe - Leeds freightliner, running late. 60 033 heads away from March with the Trowse portion of the Redland stone train. 58 006 is on 6E84, the Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton sand. Note smiley face. 37 212 is rather unusual power for the Broxbourne - Mountsorrel and may account for it running 6 hours late! 66 713 rounds the curve from March South on a rake of JNA's 66 002 rounds the bend with 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel empty S/D train. 60 075 is looking very dusty as it heads east on the 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse stone hoppers 66 002 on the 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill empty stone wagons, taken just as it hits the curve. 66 716 in the evening sunlight on the Selby - Felixstowe freightliner. 20 315 leads 20 313 on a Stowmarket-bound water canon train. 20 313 tails the water canon train as it rounds the bend at Silt Road 66 718 round the bend on the Down road with an engineer's train bound for Whitemoor.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 AUSTRALIA FARM CROSSING http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c627939.html Not the best location in the world in my view. This is a farm crossing located about 200 yards east of Three Horseshoes AHB No.1, the most easterly of Three Horseshoes' 4 level crossings! You can't miss it - the house at the head of the track has an aircraft propeller on its end wall! (Who says we aren't all mad in the Fens? There isn't even a place called Three Horseshoes but it had a station!) Thursday 1 January 1970: Not the best location in the world in my view. This is a farm crossing located about 200 yards east of Three Horseshoes AHB No.1, the most easterly of Three Horseshoes' 4 level crossings! You can't miss it - the house at the head of the track has an aircraft propeller on its end wall! (Who says we aren't all mad in the Fens? There isn't even a place called Three Horseshoes but it had a station!)

Already getting dark as 66 542 appears from the west on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. MPV 98 905/98 955 is spraying on the down line - you can't tell from the look of it, can you? 47 726 rolls across the Fens with the March Grant Rail - Peterborough trip, a regular job for the Peterborough Thurnderbird. 66 215 heads the eastbound Mountsorrel - Broxbourne La Farge roadstone train. 66 096 heads west across the featrueless Fens on the evening MWFO Middleton Towers - Goole sand train. 66 008 demonstrates just how little is actually vertical in the Fens as it heads west on the morning sand train. 47 828 is returning a restaurant car to Derby Works from Crown Point for attention. Clagging for England! 47 828 makes dirty work of it's light load after a signal check. 66 104 trundles westwards with what is a long rake for the Tallington empties. 60 062 heads east, clagging as it goes, on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. Talk about wonky! I don't think there is a single vertical object at Australia Farm Crossing - makes you feel quite seasick! Note all of the different body profiles on the RMC empties as 6M87 approaches behind 60 065. 66 192 is on 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill empty stone hoppers. 66 201 is on the Broxbourne - Mountsorrel empty LaFarge S/D train. 60 040 on the Tunstead-bound sugarstone empty MBA's. The steel wagons on the back is there to provide a set of buffers if the train needs to be split whilst shunting. 66 104 returns with an equally long rake of loaded wagons plus a CWR set tacked on the back. 66 104 meets a down Sprinter as it heads for Whitemoor. 66 709 is in charge of the Selby - Felixstowe Medite liner for a change, the job it was reliveried for. In the dying light, 66 070 heads for Felixstowe with the Intermodal from Wakefield. 60 093 heads for Bardon Hill with the empty stone hoppers from Harlow. 66 133 in the featureless Fen landscape on 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse stone. Another one of those very useful signs - you can't say I've not told you where it is! Titanic Day, you might guess! Whilst shunting, the driver, a novice, was distracted and the Great White Whale was derailed. Fortunately, 2 railwaymen in a passing HiLux rerailed me! - many thanks! 66 603 is on the Kennett - Dowlow stone empties, another job taken from EWS. 66 181 is on the daily Whitemoor - Tallington concrete sleeper trip 47 501, looking very smart in DRS livery, heads east light engine. 47 501 heads away from me across the flatness of the Fens. The New Order! 66 578 heads west on a Redland S/D rake, either from Broxbourne or Cambridge I think. 66 578 has just crossed Three Horseshoes No.1 as it heads east on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 66 701 has a good load on the Felixstowe - Doncaster liner. The Great White Whale has calved! My new vehicle, HMS Foresight. now minus England flags, another one to look out for. 66 720 is a welcome sight on the GBRf Felixstowe - Doncaster freightliner. 66 569 stretches out across the Fen on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich. 47 714 is bound for Norwich, no doubnt having delivered coaching stock to Derby. The signal was red and the driver has just got the green! Nothing clags quite like a Class 47 does it? Even light engine, 47 714 blackens the clear blue Fenland skies. The smog thins slightly as 47 714 heads off into the distance. 66 236 has a good load on the Whitemoor - Tallington trip. 66 714 heads for Norwich with 5Z10 from Derby, a couple of refurbished ONE coaches. 66 189 heads 6M70 Broxbourne - Mountsorrel under threatening skies. 66 030 heads a very late running 6E84 westwards. 66 719 heads across the flatness of the Fens in the dying light on 4E33 Felixstowe - Doncaster Railport. 66 235 heads east with what might be 6L39 but nore the rear half of the train is made up of s/d stock. I think this may be a Kennett train.. 60 021 makes a welcome change of loco on 6E84, the Monk Bretton sand. 66 707 heads west with 6T81, the daily Whitemoor - Mountsorrel ballast trip. 66 707 has a very strangely coloured rake of JNA's behind it. Lemon yellow - tres naff, duckie! 60 039, the very last Class 60 I copped, haeds west with the usual lumpy 6M87 RMC rake. 66 566 on 6M14 Harlow - Bardon Hill passes an eastbound 170. 60 036 is on a mission as it heads east light diesel. I thought it might be the Tally loco but it wasn't. 66 707 brings the rear of this eastbound convoy, 66 704 leading and 66 703 in the middle. 60 082, with EWS stickers, heads for Peak Forest with 6M87 from Ely.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 HORSEMOOR http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c627928.html This is a very well photographed location with it's large willow tree on the right as you look west. Not so good looking east though - no background to speak of. The sun is behind you here from about 1130 onwards. What you can't see is the burnt-out Ford Escort just behind me! 19/02/06 - Hundreds of pictures of Horsemoor in the same few weeks! I know, but it was the only place close by that I could get to quickly to catch either a Class 58 on the Redland 'Split' in the evening or in the early afternoon to catch the Brandon. For a while in the early part of 1999, March had a trip loco outbased from Peterborough to handle 6G31/32, logs to/ from Brandon and,on occasion, grain hoppers from Eccles Road plus whatever else might crop up. Due to lack of siding space at Brandon, the working was as follows: 0G32 - light engine March - Brandon. 6G32 - loaded logs to March Yard. 6G31 - log empties to Brandon. 0g31 - light engine Brandon - March. The empties were left at March off 6L76 bin the morning and collected by 6E77 in the afternoon. I think they went on to Kronospan in Chirk but I'm not sure. Thursday 1 January 1970: This is a very well photographed location with it's large willow tree on the right as you look west. Not so good looking east though - no background to speak of. The sun is behind you here from about 1130 onwards. What you can't see is the burnt-out Ford Escort just behind me! 19/02/06 - Hundreds of pictures of Horsemoor in the same few weeks! I know, but it was the only place close by that I could get to quickly to catch either a Class 58 on the Redland 'Split' in the evening or in the early afternoon to catch the Brandon. For a while in the early part of 1999, March had a trip loco outbased from Peterborough to handle 6G31/32, logs to/ from Brandon and,on occasion, grain hoppers from Eccles Road plus whatever else might crop up. Due to lack of siding space at Brandon, the working was as follows: 0G32 - light engine March - Brandon. 6G32 - loaded logs to March Yard. 6G31 - log empties to Brandon. 0g31 - light engine Brandon - March. The empties were left at March off 6L76 bin the morning and collected by 6E77 in the afternoon. I think they went on to Kronospan in Chirk but I'm not sure.

31 463 heads east on the 07409 Birmingham - Norwich. 37 054 is getting some amps on as it passes on 6P89 Whitemoor - Norwich. 37 134 has a decent load as it heads for Kings Lynn. 47 232 is bound for Parkeston Quay with 6E86 from Whitemoor. 31 131 passes Horsemoor Down Home with 9H72 Cheterton Junction - Peterborough. 47 103 has a good load on the Newcastle - Yarmouth on the first Saturday of the Summer Timetable. 47 112 has just passed Horsemoor Down Home on this freightliner. 47 195 is heading north, eventually, on the Yarmouth - Newcastle. 47 307 gets 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe underway as it the 'box. 47 440 is on the Cambridge - Blackpool, a 31 on weekdays but strengthened on a summer Saturday. 47 014, later to achieve fame in green, heads west on freightliner. 31 109 trips along slowly on an up enginerr's train - surely a classic scene! (if not a classic photo!) 37 095 brings in 9H76 Lynn - Whitemoor, presumably running this slow due to the old ballast wagons in the train. 47 289 is on the 6L50 Middleton Towers - Knottingley sand, quite a rare turn for Class 47. 31421 and 31 408 have their hands full with this Birmingham - Yarmouth train. 47 467 dashes across the Fens with the 0930 Yarmouth - Leeds. 47 131 approaches Horsemoor's Up Home in a driving snow blizzard. 31 160 is taking ecs from Cambridge to Peterborough, presumably for repair as it has a brakevan in tow. 37 089 is in no hurry with 9H77 Peterborough - Chesterton Junction engineer's stock. 31 135 and 31 290 head an engineer's train up road at Horsemoor. 31 412, with 'Stratford Grey' roof, is on 1E66 Birmingham New St. - Norwich. 31 163 is slowly heading a Class 9 Cambridge - Whitemoor train westwards. 31 219 heads back to Whitemoor with 9H94 from Bury. 47 351 is getting underway with 6P89 Whitemoor - Norwich. Class 101 DMU 54465/51207 is kicking up a fuss on a Cambridge - Peterborough local. 31 290 and 31 135 head towards March with the Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton sand. 31 312 is westbound on the 6E07 Foxton - Thoresby empty MGR on a pretty grim looking day. 31 462 is on a Kings Cross - Leeds train, diverted due to weekend engineering work. 43 057 brings up the rear as it passes Horsemoor Box with a diverted down GN service. 47 572, all bulled up by Stratford Depot, hauls the Royal Train eastwards. 31 134 is on a very short eastbound engineer's train 31 411 has a real motley collection of wagons on this down engineer's train. 47 580 is really struggling with the load on this down ballast. 47 576 heads for Peterborough with 9H76 from Chesterton Junction. 31 191, day's work done, heads for Whitemoor with mixer train. 37 060 is on a Southend - Peterborough parcels train. 47 628, clad in GW Green, is most unusual power for 1E66 Birmingham - Norwich. 31 206 is bound for Whitemoor with this rake of BOC pressure tanks from Ipswich to Merseyside The guard leans nonchalantly on the back of the van whilst 31414 heads west with this Class 120 DPU. 37 223 is working the 6M20 Colchester Hythe - toton Old Bank housecoal empties. 47 012 seems to be coping reasonably well with the load on this departmental train. 47 213 heads for March with 6H44 from Kennett/Barham. Redland must have been trialing the bogie wagons. 47 576 shouldn't be too challenged by the load on 6H76 from Lynn today. 47 639 powers past Horsemoor Box on 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe. 31 458 passes Horsemoor with the Sheffield - Ipswich. 37 0406 and 37 019 have a good load on 4E97 Coatbridge - Felixstowe. 37 240 on 6E20, the Toton - Colchester housecoal, approaches 47 533 on a Norwich - Birmingham train. 31 272 heads east with 8E15 Croft - Bury ballast. 47 297 heads for Whitemoor against an intersting sky on 6D42 Parkeston Quay - Wrentorpe cartics. 20021 and 20 004 pass the Box with 6Y41 March - Kennett/Barham Redland.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 WELNEY ROAD LEVEL CROSSING http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c627892.html This set of AHB's is located between Manea Station and the Wash Bridges on the Manea - Welney road. The view towards Manea is excellent, with the semaphores providing a great backdrop. The view eastwards is not so good but is nevertheless tolerable, particularly if there is no sun. No facilities but Manea does have a good chip shop which opens at 1130 on a Saturday! Thursday 1 January 1970: This set of AHB's is located between Manea Station and the Wash Bridges on the Manea - Welney road. The view towards Manea is excellent, with the semaphores providing a great backdrop. The view eastwards is not so good but is nevertheless tolerable, particularly if there is no sun. No facilities but Manea does have a good chip shop which opens at 1130 on a Saturday!

31404 and 31407 come roaring down the bank from the Washes on 1M80 Ipswich - Birmingham. 47 426 is really going for it on 1P98 Newcastle - Yarmouth as it approaches the climb to the Wash Bridges. 47 568 attacks the climb out of Manea with 1L97 Newcastle - Yarmouth. 60 068 passes Manea Station with 6L39 Mountsorrel - Trowse. Not much changes at Manea! 56 100 heads an eastbound engineer's train out of Manea. 60 084 drifts down the bank towards Manea with 6M87. Thjis is often a Class 66 working in 2005. 66 541, then almost new, heads east on 4L85 Leeds - Felixstowe. 66 568 heads 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich past Manea Station. 66 096 'tails' 66 152 on this eastbound Autoballaster/Seacow train. This is the best eastbound shot with the Wash Bridges in the distance. 66 248 leads sisters 66 054 and 66 167 towards Whitemoor in pouring rain. Most light engines from the east come from Harwich. 66 248 heads a rake of JNA's eastwards against threatening skies. This view shows Manea's semaphores in the background quite nicely. Notice how nothing tall in the Fens is ever quite vertical! 66 713 heads east on a CWR train, smoke pouring form the leading bogie of the first wagon. This is my favourite photo angle at this location, with Manea's semaphores clearly visible in the background 66 711 'tails' eastbound 66 713 on this crippled CWR train. 66 553 on the 6Z19 Kennett - Dowlow Heavy Haul stone empties 66 514 coasts down from the Wash Bridges with the Ipswich - York (SO) Liner. Another 'no sun' shot. 66 706 trails 66 702 on this westbound empty Autoballaster train, due for refill at Whitemoor. 66 043 heads east with Whitemoor's 'half & half' Autoballaster set. 66 580 heads 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich eastbound, well loaded for once. 66 032 is eastbound on a rake of PNA's, Manea station behind. 66 082 'tailing' 66 149 on an eastbound rail recovery train. 66 088 on a long train of rail flats and PNA's. 66 574 hustles a well loaded Wilton - Ipswich eastwards. 66 709 heads a rake of eastbound side-tippers, a change form its usual duties. 60 020 heads east with a loaded ballast train. This shot can only be made when there is no sun. 60 036 heads east with a mixed rake of MHA's and side-tippers, complete with tail of dust. 66 711 on a long rake of empty JNA's, heading east 66 716 'tails' 66 711, the Wash Bridges only just visible in the haze. 60 020 speeds down grade from the Wash Bridges on 6M47 Norwich - Tunstead sugarstone empty MBA's. 66 010 heads for Kings Lynn with the MWFO sand empties. 66 223 leaves Manea Station on 6L39 to Trowse from Mountsorrel. 66 205 drifts downgrade with the Broxbourne - Mountsorrel LaFarge empties. 66 713 climbs out of Manea with a train for turning on Ely West Curve. 67 012 'tops' the Serco Test Train as it approaches the crossing, 67 003 in the rear. The Serco Test Train heads for Peterborough headed by 67 012 and trailed by 67 003. 66 540 has charge of a well loaded 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich Freioghtliner. 66 003 drifts downgrade on 6E84 bound for Monk Bretton. 66 003 on the down sand meets 170 502 on an up Stansted at Manea, all signals off. 66 113 has charge of the Peterborough - Middlton Towers MWFO sand empties, eventually bound for Goole. 66 711 is going no further that Ely West Curve so as to turn this rake of engineer's stock. No doubt bound for Peterborough, 66 715 brings up the rear of this convoy also comprising 66 705 and 66 714 leading. 66 573 heads east on a well loaded 4L85 Leeds - ipswich. 60 008, until recently Loadhaul, heads west with 6M87 Ely - Peak Forest, a fairly frequent runner on a Saturday morning. 66 568 drifts down grade with 4E34 (SO) Felixstowe - York. 66 567 starts the climb to the Wash Bridges on 4L85 Leeds - Ipswich freightliner. 66 579 attacks the banks to the Wash Bridges on the Wilton - Felixstowe freightliner. 66 718 heads a rake of old Freightliner JNA's westwards. These trains are taking stone for the expansion of Stansted Airport. 66 223 heaqds for Doncaster with 6E45 from Felixstowe, diverted from GE mainline. 66 575 heads for Felixstowe with a diverted Freightliner. 66 727 heads 6T65 Whitemoor - Bishops Stortford past Manea. I really don't like this livery on the new Class 66's.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 NORWOOD ROAD BRIDGE, MARCH http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c627806.html This must be the one Fenland location known to almost everyone. Standing astride the northern apex of the Whitemoor triangle, about 5 minutes walk from the station, this is virtually the only location available to the public that overlooks the new Whitemoor Yard. The yard boasts two pilots, currently HNRC 08 818 and 08 936. They are busy during the week but only rarely used at weekends. All traffic to and from Whitemoor goes beneath it and all traffic through the station may also be observed, if somewhat distantly. Those of my generation may find a visit a rather strange experience as so little remains of the colossus that stood there before. Thursday 1 January 1970: This must be the one Fenland location known to almost everyone. Standing astride the northern apex of the Whitemoor triangle, about 5 minutes walk from the station, this is virtually the only location available to the public that overlooks the new Whitemoor Yard. The yard boasts two pilots, currently HNRC 08 818 and 08 936. They are busy during the week but only rarely used at weekends. All traffic to and from Whitemoor goes beneath it and all traffic through the station may also be observed, if somewhat distantly. Those of my generation may find a visit a rather strange experience as so little remains of the colossus that stood there before.

31 181, minus all corporate branding, and 56 070 bring an extremely long Redland train into Whitemoor. 40 181 has just come off depot and is heading off into Whitemoor. 37 219 heads inhto Whitemoor from Parkeston Quay. The two vans behind the loco contain explosives from Mistley Quay. 31 110 leads 31 223 and a brakevan into Whitemoor. 31 126 heads out of Whitemoor with an up departmental train. You can see how extensive Whitemoor still was in 1985 from tihs shot. 45 009 brings the Lynn - Whitemoor around the East Curve. A most unusual sight in England - 20 054 goes solo on 9P89 Whitemoor - Norwich. 37 171 heads out of Whitemoor with 6E86 to Parkeston Quay. 45 009 runs round West Curve with a rake of cement wagons for Whitemoor. 37 041 runs undewr the bridge with 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard. 45 076 heads for Thoresby Colliery with 6E07, the coal empties from Foxton. 37 215 has a very light load on 6H94 Bury - Whitemoor. 45 019 draws slowly around the East Curve with 6H86 from Kings Lynn. 20 093 and 20 054 have their hands full with one of the two daily trips to Peterborough. The white and brown vans are UKF fertiliser wagons from Ince on Merseyside to Whittlesea. Whitemoor is busy today! 37 050 is just visible on the left whilst 47 381 is on trhe petfood, 31 282/31 423 bring in a flyash rake and 47 052 is going on depot. 37 238 brings the petfood off the branch, p;rior to backing into Whitemoor. This train is the VGA's. Trouble 't'mill! 31 184 comes off depot with the March breakdown crane. 45 069 is nearly home with 6H94 Kings Lynn - Whitemoor. 47 404 and 31 106 take the West Curve with 9H01 Whitemoor - Peterborough. 25 315 and 25 316y head an rake of engineer's empties around the East Curve out of Whitemoor. I'm forced to wonder just what the inspectors expected to find on the Branch - I bet they didn't open the level crossing gates themselves! 'The Stourton Saloon', Class 100 DMU 975664/975637, is on its way to inspect the Wisbech Branch. 45 006 arrives very late with one of the Severn Tunnel Junction Speedlink trains. Note the steel for Metal Box. 45 022 is going on depot, running as 0H94 from Bury. 25 059 runs out of the depot headshunt and off into Whitemoor. 25 192 heads east with one VGA, probably bound for Bury. 31 147 can only manage one OBA on 6H90 to Norwich today. 25 265 has one VGA behind as it takes 6H94 from Bury into Whitemoor. 45 049 passes Whitemoor Junction with 7M86 Whitemoor - Warrington Arpley. 37 191 passes Whitemoor Junction with 6P89 Whitemoor - Norwich. 37 066 passes Whitemoor Junction with 6N84 for Tees Yard. 37 097 has the road for Doncaster with its little convoy of cripples. 45 070 appraoches the bridge with 7M86 for Warrington Arpley from Whitemoor. 25 279 is coming off depot and heading off into Whitemoor for a train. 47 353 brings the Petfood off the Branch just as 37 012 departs with 6S96 for Mossend. 56 054 is leaving Whitemoor with 6M09, the Colchester Hythe - Toton Old Bank coal empties. 47 583 goes on depot from the headshunt - you wouldn't recognise any of this now! Even the trees have gone! 37 065 leaves Whitemoor with a good load on 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard. All of this dangerous chemical trsaffic has been lost to road transport. 45 029 has almost reached the end of its final journey, towing 45 040 and 45 066, bound for store at March Depot. 37 024, on 6S96, and 47 273 , on the Petfood, are neck and neck as they pass Whitemoor Junction. 20 195 and 20 077 have just left Whitemoor and wait for the road on a very short 6M09 Colchester Hythe - Toton Old Bank. 37 004 leaves Whitemoor with 6E20 Toton Old Bank - Colchester Hythe housecoal. The only object in this picture that survives today is......the fogman's hut, a listed building! 31 135 has picked up a hitch-hiker in the pweson of 08 828 on 9L71 Whitemoor - Ipswich. 31 158 leaves Whitemoor with the Palsmor empties for Biggleswade, running via Peterborough. 31 187 passes Whitemoor Junction with an up ballast train. 31 324 goes on depot light engine, passing between the arms of Whitemoor Junction's east curve home signal. 58 020 is unusual power for 6E20 Toton - Colchester housecoal. 31 288 pass a Class 47 coming off depot with a rake of condemned DMU's for Mayer Newmans scrapyard at Snailwell. Some things never change! 4 men looking, no one working! 31 259 brings the empty Plasmor wagons into the yard as a Class 47 prepares to reverse 6S93.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 MANEA STATION http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c627611.html Manea (pronounced May-knee) Station is fabulous. Platforms are just two coaches long. It's train service consists of two trains each way per day. It has a full outfit of semaphores, a signalbox that not only leans but is also twisted, a stranded brakevan in it's down siding, no facilities except a bus shelter on the down platform and a garden shed on the up and hardly any passengers. There are no less than 5 level crossings visible from the station, six if you count the very distant Stonea. Photography from the up platform is possible until about 1130 on a summer day and then from the down. The down platform offers some nice shots. Are people from Manea called Maneacs? Very probably! Thursday 1 January 1970: Manea (pronounced May-knee) Station is fabulous. Platforms are just two coaches long. It's train service consists of two trains each way per day. It has a full outfit of semaphores, a signalbox that not only leans but is also twisted, a stranded brakevan in it's down siding, no facilities except a bus shelter on the down platform and a garden shed on the up and hardly any passengers. There are no less than 5 level crossings visible from the station, six if you count the very distant Stonea. Photography from the up platform is possible until about 1130 on a summer day and then from the down. The down platform offers some nice shots. Are people from Manea called Maneacs? Very probably!

31 108 and 311 65 arrive at Manea with an engineer's train, stopping in the station. With the guard's assistance, they then back into the Up Siding at Manea, a pretty dodgy job I Should think. 31 414 and 31 417 roar though Manea with 1M80 Yarmouth - Birmingham. 37 169 hammers through Manea on 6E86 Whitemoor p Parkeston Quay. 31 1263 and 31 184 power through Manea on the sand, which still uses these wagons today. I was good friends with the foremen at March and they told what 25 190 was booked on. So here is 25 190 on 6Y97, the Bury trip, hrtling through Manea. 45 145 has been for a trip to Lynn today, seen here returning with 6H84 for Whitemoor. 31 308 and 31 238 power their way west on the down sand. 31 414 is heading for the electrification works on the Kings Lynn line with a works train. 31 423 heads a rake of westbound ballast empties. 31 451 is doing an impression of a Class 150 Sprinter on 1E88 Birmingham - Norwich. 47 012 has charge of the Kings Lynn Speedlink feeder. 47 096 heads for Norwich with 6P89 from Whitemoor. 47 318 heads a rake of empty COVHOPS. I think these used to go from Northwich to Duxford as required. 20 140/20021 head east with 6Y41 March - Kennett Redland stone, the train split in March Up Yard - is the Tangoman having a pee? 47 306 is on 6P89, one of the two Norwich - Whitemoor Speedlink feeders that ran each day. 31 454 heads east on a short ballast - is that a fire on the right-hand side of the loco bogie? 31 468 heads for Peterborough with a parcels train that includes a TPO in the consist. 37 144 leads 31 308 as tghe pair head east light engine. This view is hardly any different today. 37 350, originally D6700, and 37 154 head 4Z74, a special freightliner. Before the advent of Type 5 freight locos, Class 37 did just about everything, even if it took several of them! Norwcih Class 101 set No. 78 leads DPU 53230/53218 out of Manea Station. 47 566 hads a train of mailvans for Cambridge. Many of these trains ran empty from Peterborough. 37 013 passes with the 6N84 Duxford - Tees Yard. Note the loading gauge - no track but a loading gauge. Manea has changed very little in 20 years. 47 377 is getting some clag going as it accelerates 6H90 Norwich - Whitemoor. 47 373 is kicking up some fuss as it passes on the 0650 Manchester - Yarmouth. 47 447 has charge of the 0750 (SO) Birmingham - Yarmouth. These were not excursions but proper holiday trains, returning almost immediately on arrival. 47 468 is on 1L84 Leeds - Yarmouth. All of these trians were booked for Class 47 haulage but they didn't always get it! 47 497 has brought 1L97 from Newcastle. I tried never to miss a Saturday because you never quite knew what turn up on these diagrams. 47 497 passes 56 078 backed into the Up Refuge Siding. 56 078 crawls very slowly through the station with the Saturday morning 6E23 Redland. Full House at Manea! 56 078 in the siding, 150 111 on a Norwich train and Class 101 C852 heading for Peterborough. 56 078 very slowly propels its train into the Up Refuge Siding as 156 401 passes. I never found out why but it was the only time I ever saw that siding used. How about this for a treat then! BX378/379 as the 0955 Mancester - Yarmouth. It really doesn't bear thinking about! I did actually plan this shot and very nearly got it too! Class 116 T308 is framed by the loading gauge on a down passenger service. Even worse than a ride to Yarmouth in a 108 have been this ride form Birmingham in Class 116's T328 and T321 - they didn't even have a toilet! 20 195/20 099 head east with 6Y41, the March - Kennett Redland Split. 31 165 passes Manea Box with 6H77 Peterborough - Chesterton Junction - not much trade today! 31 464 is on the 5E45 Down Parcels headed for Peterborough. 37 048/37 075 speed by Manea Box with 4M00 Felixstowe - Garston. Nearly got it that time as 37 352 passes the loading gauge with 6E16 for Whitemoor. Note the first three eagons are 'Warflats', MOD tank carriers. 47 338 heads south with a rake of empty Cartics, probably the same lot I saw 8 days later going west with the same loco. Reliveried in GWR green but with full yellow ends, 47 522 heads the 5L53 Peterborough - Cambridge empty vans. 56 053 heads west with a rake of empty ECC sdtone hoppers for Mountsorrel from Bishops Stortford. 56 070 heads for Trowse with 6L23 from March, post Split. 31 166, another of the last few 31's to survive, heads for Whitemoor with a rake of cereal bulkers. 31 219 is heading for Bury with 8L15 from Croft. Air braked engineer's wagons were very slow to arrive on the scene. Still trying this shot! 31 421 heads for Peterborough with the 5E21 mail which includes a TPO. This shot is no longer possible at all. 37 096 is headed for Whitemoor with 6E16 from Parkeston Quay, consisting mainly of ferry traffic. 37 116.37 019 habe charge of 4M00 Felixstowe - Garston today. 47 338 is on a rake of up Cartics, probably a special working from Harwich.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 1970 MARCH WEST FOOTBRIDGE http://fenlandfotos.fotopic.net/c627585.html This footbridge, real name 'Lilypond Bridge', aka 'The Burma Bridge', joins Robingoodfellows Lane with Norwood Road and lies at the western end of the Whitemoor Yard access triangle. The station is only about 300 metres east and a footpath leads form the station to the bridge. Especially good because the sun is south of the line all day here and on the inside of the curve. Anything approaching Whitemoor from the east is visible but not easily photographed. Otherwise, everything passes and usually at quite low speed. 18/02/06 - You are probably thinking that I spent a lot of time up here in early 2000 - well, I did. Wisbech Branch trains were already running only intermittently so I turned out as often as I could to see the light engine, which went down the Branch at about 1530. Then, if it was interesting, I would come back at about 6.00 for the train. It was nearly always a 66 but perhaps I should have photographed just the same. Thursday 1 January 1970: This footbridge, real name 'Lilypond Bridge', aka 'The Burma Bridge', joins Robingoodfellows Lane with Norwood Road and lies at the western end of the Whitemoor Yard access triangle. The station is only about 300 metres east and a footpath leads form the station to the bridge. Especially good because the sun is south of the line all day here and on the inside of the curve. Anything approaching Whitemoor from the east is visible but not easily photographed. Otherwise, everything passes and usually at quite low speed. 18/02/06 - You are probably thinking that I spent a lot of time up here in early 2000 - well, I did. Wisbech Branch trains were already running only intermittently so I turned out as often as I could to see the light engine, which went down the Branch at about 1530. Then, if it was interesting, I would come back at about 6.00 for the train. It was nearly always a 66 but perhaps I should have photographed just the same.

40 013 is slwoing for West Junction with the pickup freight from Peterborough. 40 013 hits the curve at West Junction headed for Whitemoor. 47 147 rounds West Curve with a Speedlink train bound for Scotland. 47 585 is getting up speed on the northbound 'European', Parkeston Quay - Manchester. 31 107 is working westwards with a rake of empty rail flats. 37 102 arrives for Peterborough with a Class 9 freight for Whitemoor. 37 110, which I 'cabbed' when it was brand new, on trial, passes under the footbridge with a westbound ballast train. 25 206 passes West with a ballast train for the Up Yard. 47 010 appraoches March West with a lightly loade freightliner. 20 115 and 20 043 hit the adverse camber at West Junction on 7M86 Whitemoor - Warrington Arpley. 31 290 and 31 284 approach the bridge with 6G31, a LWR special/ 20 097/20 185 have 6M09 Colchester Hythe - Toton Old Bank on a misty spring morning. March West, a lovely little box, didn't have long left when I took this shot whilst March East's Outer Home lasted until recently, even though it didn't officially exist! Note Lilypond Bridge. 31212 passes March West with 9X37, a track special for the Lynn line. Hanging on the back of 9X37 is brake DS56239, an old Southern Railway brakevan, Guard Ray Brooks on duty. There were a number of these around the Fens in the 80's on Departmental duties. 31 439 slows 1E76 Birmingham - Norwich for its stop at March. 31 456 is just getting underway again with 1M76 Norwich - Birmingham. 37 893 comes out of the setting sun with 6R43 Kilnhurst - Ripple Lane bitumen tanks. They even converted some Class 105 Cravens to DPU's! Here 53361/53368, a 'power' twin hitches a ride behind a westbound Class 101. 31 186 slowly approaches on 8L15 Croft - Bury composed of side-tipping Mermaid wagons. 47 441 approaches West Junction with 1L93 for Yarmouth. 31 442 is powering away on 5E45 for Peterborough after the slack through March Station. 37 057 and 37 047 have 4M00, Felixstowe - Garston, well in hand as they leave March. 47 373 hards 1L82 to Yarmouth under West footbridge. 53368/53361 head east with a mail for Cambridge, passengers obviously an afterthought. 31 275 is about to turn into the West Curve and March Depot with 37 055. 31268 heads for Peterborough on this Saturday with an OHL wiring train, as the ECML wiring was then taking place. Converted Class 114 DPU 55930/54900 and single car 55992 head east from Cambridge. 37 167 picks up speed on 6M09 Colchester Hythe - Toton housecoal empties after being laid by in the down loops. 60 053 is hailing a hired-in rake of Yeoman stock on 6M12 Bishops Stortford - Croft. 56 045 is heading back to Mountsorrel with this empty self-discharge train. 56 049 in Rede Stripe livery is in charge of the Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton 6E84 sand train. 60 071 has collected both halves of the Redland train and passes 56 057, on the Petfood train and waiting for the road. 58 049 heads west, having dropped half of the Redland train in the Down Yard, makes what was then a very unusual sight - ex Works EWS livery. Here's a nice change on the Leeds - Felixstowe freightliner! Green livereid 47 114 has a full loaded rake for once. 37 899 has a virtually empty train on 4L79 Doncaster - Parkeston Qauy. 37 203 brings up the rear of this leaf buster headed east behind 37 114. 60 087 heads for Ely with a very late running RMC stone from Peak Forest - I've rarely seen this train in daylight. 58 043 is really going for it as it accelerates away from March Station on the northbound sand train. 37 040 makes a nice picture in the winter sunlight on 6L76 Doncaster - Ely. 58 009 must have a problem at this end as it has come from Peterborough to turn itself on the triangle. 58 016 has charge of rake of westbound ECC stone empties, probably a late running Bishops Stortford - Croft. 58 013 is on the Kennett/Barham - Peterborough Redland empties. Class 58, now in decline, were regulars on this lowly working. 60 070, one of the grey locos with Load Haul logos, heads east with a Redland train for Trowse. 58 031 heads up quite a long Kennett/Barham portion of the Redland train. 37 668, one side faded and fresh from store, is on 6L76 Doncaster - Ely, already rare motive power for this train. Nice lump of clag issuing forth from 60 036 as it 'gets the peg' on the eastbound Redland. 58 016 comes sweeping round the bend on the Middleton Towers - Monk Bretton sand. Peterborough Depot was home to any number of Class 58's at this time. Unusually, 60 010 is haulage for the Kennett/Barham portion of the Redland train. 37 703 has a good load on 6L76 Doncaster - Ely.

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