Chris Turnbull Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Until electrification of the ECML, the Hitchin - Cambridge - Ely - Peterborough route was occasionally used for Sunday diversions. (This was when trains were diverted, not replacement bus services used). Sunday 27th September 1981 was just such a day so I wandered down to West River signalbox at Little Thetford. Although I thought I was fairly early, I was beaten to it by Dr Ian C. Allen. He had left his house at Thorpeness at the crack of dawn, hadn't wanted to disturb me too early on a Sunday and had already made himself comfortable in the 'box. This is he photographing 55021 "Argyll & Sutherland Highlander" on a Down express. For those not familiar with Dr Allen's work, he was one of the previous generation of photographers of the railways of East Anglia. He was a wonderful man, a true gentleman who epitomised a bygone age. Please feel free to Google his name but as a taster try: www.transporttreasury.co.uk/ianallencollection.html 37089 on another Down passenger, complete with Dr Allen's elbow Taken from the signalbox, as was the first shot, this is an unidentified HST on a Down train. Time for an Up HST. Taken from the signalbox steps, 47187 passes light engine in the Up direction. Thanks to Jonny777 as usual (these are apparently OK as scanned) Chris Turnbull 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted January 31, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2015 CHris, Lovely photos again. If anyone hasn't already seen them, Dr Ian C Allen's books are well worth looking for - I bought them when they first came out and they are amongst my most treasured books. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted January 31, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2015 It was his book 'diesel's in East Anglia' which I bought when I was about 14 that inspired me to model sixties East Anglia even when I lived in the north east Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 It was his book 'diesel's in East Anglia' which I bought when I was about 14 that inspired me to model sixties East Anglia even when I lived in the north east I have all his books and am currently revisiting 'diesels in East Anglia' just because I love to sit and look at them. I come back to the books on a very regular basis having been bought Branchlines in East Anglia around 36 years ago! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 It is hard to appreciate today just how little there was available on the railways of East Anglia in the 1960s. Apart from Cecil J. Allen's "The Great Eastern Railway" that was first published in 1955 and R.C. Riley's "Great Eastern Album" that appeared in 1968 there was nothing. Then, in 1976, the first of Dr Allen's books was published, "East Anglian Album", followed a year later by "East Anglian Branch Line Album". These were a breath of fresh air. The publication of these books was due in no small part to Bill Last of the Cambridge Railway Circle. A good friend of Dr Allen, it was he who took the time to catalogue Dr Allen's many photographs. He had boxes of prints but little organisation - not even dates - as anyone who visited his house at Thorpeness can testify. That's why few of his photographs are dated with any precision. Not that that detracts from what is probably one of the finest collections of photographs of the railways of East Anglia from the 1920s to the 1980s. Chris Turnbull 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Until electrification of the ECML, the Hitchin - Cambridge - Ely - Peterborough route was occasionally used for Sunday diversions. (This was when trains were diverted, not replacement bus services used). Sunday 27th September 1981 was just such a day so I wandered down to West River signalbox at Little Thetford. 810927 Little Thetford 55021 Argyll & Sutherland Highlander K24.6.jpg Although I thought I was fairly early, I was beaten to it by Dr Ian C. Allen. He had left his house at Thorpeness at the crack of dawn, hadn't wanted to disturb me too early on a Sunday and had already made himself comfortable in the 'box. This is he photographing 55021 "Argyll & Sutherland Highlander" on a Down express. For those not familiar with Dr Allen's work, he was one of the previous generation of photographers of the railways of East Anglia. He was a wonderful man, a true gentleman who epitomised a bygone age. Please feel free to Google his name but as a taster try: www.transporttreasury.co.uk/ianallencollection.html 810927 Little Thetford 37089 K24.1.jpg 37089 on another Down passenger, complete with Dr Allen's elbow 810927 Little Thetford HST K24.4.jpg Taken from the signalbox, as was the first shot, this is an unidentified HST on a Down train. 810927 Little Thetford HST K24.5.jpg Time for an Up HST. 810927 Little Thetford 47187 K24.7.jpg Taken from the signalbox steps, 47187 passes light engine in the Up direction. Thanks to Jonny777 as usual (these are apparently OK as scanned) Chris Turnbull Super pictures again! Did you get any pictures inside the box? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Super pictures again! Did you get any pictures inside the box? I haven't got any photographs of the interior of the 'box that I know of - but that doesn't mean I haven't. I did take these photographs of the exterior of the 'box in May 1982 and subsequently built a model of it so I may have some sketches or notes of the internal layout somewhere in the plans drawers in my workshop (yes, I do build models as well). Chris Turnbull 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 (edited) I haven't got any photographs of the interior of the 'box that I know of - but that doesn't mean I haven't. I did take these photographs of the exterior of the 'box in May 1982 and subsequently built a model of it so I may have some sketches or notes of the internal layout somewhere in the plans drawers in my workshop (yes, I do build models as well). 8205 West River box 1.jpg 8205 West River box 2.jpg 8205 West River box 3.jpg 8205 West River box 4A.jpg 8205 West River box 5.jpg Chris Turnbull I was 9 years old when i lost the boxes i used to visit regularly, Tempsford and Everton. My first box i saw on the GE was West River. The crossing keeper described the lever frame unusual. It was a Dutton, same as Everton and Tempsford, so i had to declare it looked fairly normal. That must have been the summer of 76 i guess and our first holiday on the boat Dad had built at Kelpie's, Tempsford. The internals.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholasy/10759110754/in/photolist-hoKn2h-9eTLMS-gKNk8n-hoKfMy-9zeeBz-9Uhy6Z-9Uhy6M Edited January 31, 2015 by LNERGE 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 (edited) I was 9 years old when i lost the boxes i used to visit regularly, Tempsford and Everton. My first box i saw on the GE was West River. The crossing keeper described the lever frame unusual. It was a Dutton, same as Everton and Tempsford, so i had to declare it looked fairly normal. That must have been the summer of 76 i guess and our first holiday on the boat Dad had built at Kelpie's, Tempsford. The internals.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholasy/10759110754/in/photolist-hoKn2h-9eTLMS-gKNk8n-hoKfMy-9zeeBz-9Uhy6Z-9Uhy6M Ah yes, the Belfast sink in the corner. It all comes back to me now. The road only went to the river and was used solely by the local farmers with the occasional fishermen at weekends so it wasn't particularly busy and the signalmen enjoyed a chat. One of them was an old chap, near retirement I guess, who started work in the '30s on the "Pork and Lard". Anyone like to guess what local railway that was the nickname for? Chris Turnbull Edited January 31, 2015 by Chris Turnbull Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted February 1, 2015 Author Share Posted February 1, 2015 (edited) Having posted some photographs of Ely in days gone by I thought some a little more up-to-date might be in order. Although these seem "modern", they are nearly ten years old - 3rd September 2005. 170273 on a Norwich to Cambridge service 158862 in Platform 3 with a Norwich to Liverpool service. Ely is where this service has its first reversal, the second being at Sheffield. 365522 on a Kings Lynn to Kings Cross service 170202 on a Peterborough to Liverpool Street service. By making this service a through train to London it added a third permitted route from Ely to the capital. If I was not in a hurry I sometimes took this train just for a bit of variety. 66714 drifts through Platform 1. No lovely semaphores any more! Chris Turnbull Edited May 18, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted February 1, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2015 Although you can't see me thats me on 66714,was a Saturday and the loco was going back to Peterborough from Felixstowe 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I took that Liverpool Street - Peterborough train coming back from London one afternoon. The first time I'd been to (through) Thurston. It was a fascinating journey, if by a slightly peculiar route. I don't think it runs any more, am I right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) I took that Liverpool Street - Peterborough train coming back from London one afternoon. The first time I'd been to (through) Thurston. It was a fascinating journey, if by a slightly peculiar route. I don't think it runs any more, am I right? You are correct. The Peterborough trains terminated at Ipswich during Anglia's reign and were extended to Liverpool Street, along with the Lowestoft trains, when National Express had the franchise. When Abellio took over the franchise it was cut back to Ipswich again. All through trains are "permitted routes" but a change of train may not be. See: http://data.atoc.org/routeing-guide for more details. Chris Turnbull Edited February 2, 2015 by Chris Turnbull Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 No guesses as to which line was nicknamed the "Pork and Lard"? I'm not surprised as it is pretty obscure. He started work at Sutton on the line from Ely to St Ives where the line was called the "Pork and Lard" due to the great number of pigs that were transported before the Second World War. Chris Turnbull 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 No guesses as to which line was nicknamed the "Pork and Lard"? I'm not surprised as it is pretty obscure. He started work at Sutton on the line from Ely to St Ives where the line was called the "Pork and Lard" due to the great number of pigs that were transported before the Second World War. Chris Turnbull Sorry i was going to reply but that damn work thing got in the way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 You beat me to it, Chris. I found a reference to Ely and St Ives being the "Pork and Lard" in a book of slang - but can't see a reference to either nickname or porcine traffic in the Oakwood Press book (at least the 1982 edition). My only memory of the late Dr. Ian C. Allen was of him giving an illustrated talk at one of the Great Eastern Railway Society meetings (held at the Stuart Hall, Norwich). Unfortunately, he was working from prints with an episcope (if I remember the correct term), which meant the projected images were a little dark and of low contrast. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of his subject (particularly for anecdoes), which perhaps explains why he never bothered to make notes on the back of prints or against his negatives. He very kindly signed my copy of "East Anglian Album" after concluding his talk. A great photographer, who managed to combine railway photography with house visits. He espoused a style that has come to typify the East Anglian branch lines of that era - and thankfully turned his camera to diesels as well as steam. (And yes, I have a couple of ICA prints of unknown location). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) A few of Cambridge (again) this evening. A general view of the south end of Cambridge from Hills Road bridge on 4th January 1969 The same view on 2nd April 1980 with 37052 on an Up freight. D3610 shunts a rake of Mark 1 coaches on 4th January 1969. 31169 departs with an Up passenger on 2nd April 1980. Another Up passenger departure, this time behind 47019 on 6th January 1981. Its that steam crane again busy at work on 1st June 1981. Thanks to Jonny777 as usual. Chris Turnbull Edited May 18, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Looking again at the photos of the signal box it seems as though it is subsiding gently on one corner ,the clutter behind the box is worth modelling as well I take it that this box no longer exists? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Looking again at the photos of the signal box it seems as though it is subsiding gently on one corner ,the clutter behind the box is worth modelling as well I take it that this box no longer exists? Subsiding? In the Fens? The leaning tower of Padnal was the one to see. It is still all there allegedly, just slightly compacted into a hole dug for the purpose. Lever frame and all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted February 2, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 2, 2015 This place from the outside looks all over the place, but yet inside its as striaght as anything, and things don't roll along the block shelf... Andy G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 A few of Cambridge (again) this evening. 810106 Cambridge 47019 K21.28.jpg Another Up passenger departure, this time behind 47019 on 6th January 1981. Chris Turnbull I wonder what route the Fen Drayton - Kings Cross sand train took? I saw the crane in operation relaying around the scissors during the remodelling. Who says BR steam finished in 1968? Super pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted February 3, 2015 Author Share Posted February 3, 2015 I saw the crane in operation relaying around the scissors during the remodelling. Who says BR steam finished in 1968? That's exactly the thought that crossed my mind when I took the pictures! Chris Turnbull Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 That's exactly the thought that crossed my mind when I took the pictures! Chris Turnbull I remember steam cranes at Low Fell (Gateshead) in the mid-1980s; were the ER the last to hold on to these? I'm sure other Regions had replaced their steam cranes with diesels long before. Re the routeing of the Fen Drayton- King's Cross sand trains; would these have gone via Cambridge, then via the line via Royston to Hitchin, thence via the GN main line? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted February 3, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 3, 2015 I remember steam cranes at Low Fell (Gateshead) in the mid-1980s; were the ER the last to hold on to these? I'm sure other Regions had replaced their steam cranes with diesels long before. Re the routeing of the Fen Drayton- King's Cross sand trains; would these have gone via Cambridge, then via the line via Royston to Hitchin, thence via the GN main line? That's the way they did go. They stopped in Cambridge yard to detach the brake van used by the Guard to close the level crossing gates behind the train on the Fen Drayton branch. At one time it was booked south of Hitching via Hertford North and was involved in a specatular derailment round there which resulted in several 21 tonnes lying at the foot of the embankment for some time! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swindon 123 Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I remember steam cranes at Low Fell (Gateshead) in the mid-1980s; were the ER the last to hold on to these? I'm sure other Regions had replaced their steam cranes with diesels long before. Re the routeing of the Fen Drayton- King's Cross sand trains; would these have gone via Cambridge, then via the line via Royston to Hitchin, thence via the GN main line? Finsbury Park depot still had its 45T Steam Crane until February 1981, (and until closure I think) as I took some shots of it having a boiler wash out in the main shed. It usually hid away in its own dedicated one. Photos can be found in this Flickr album. https://flic.kr/s/aHsjMcumLv. Paul J. PS. A few shots of the sand trains on the southern end of the ECML on my Flickr pages as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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