LNERGE Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 When was the line between St Ives & Swavesey singled? We are pretty sure it was done in connection with the condition of bridge 2272 but was the line still a through route to March? We have this box diagram and i've seen enough evidence to believe the layout was altered to match this diagram though i still can't account for the right hand being the way it is. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pwayowen/10998090674/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 I'm pretty sure it was after the closure to March. We photographed the line from Histon through to March on the last day, I'll check the pics when I've finished these night shifts. Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Cocks Junction Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 Hello LNERGE Here is the gen from the relevant Weekly Operating Notice: (51E/1966) *SATURDAY 17th AND SUNDAY, 18th DECEMBER 1966: BETWEEN SWAVESEY AND ST. IVES SWAVESEY The trailing crossover points in the up main line will be reset to lie normally from the up main to down main line and permanently secured in this position pending removal. The crossover points in the down main will be reset to lie normally toward the up main line. The disc signals associated with this crossover will be abolished. The Down Main line will be cut and slued in to the Up Main line approximately 240 yards on the St. Ives side of Swavesey signal box and the Up Main line between this slue and Swavesey crossover will subsequently be removed. The down main first home signal will be renamed down main home signal. The down main second home signal will be renamed down main starting signal and a diamond sign will be fitted to the signal post. The existing down main starting signal will be abolished. ST. IVES The Down Main line will be cut and slued into new points in the Up Main line immediately on the St. Ives side of Bridge No. 2272, these points will be worked by St. Ives signal box and will normally lie from the Up Main line to the Down Main line. Subsequently the Down Main line will be removed between these points and Swavesey. The remaining single line between Swavesey and St. Ives will be worked under Electric Token Block Regulations. St. Ives trailing spring points in the Up Main line from the Up Goods Loop will be connected to and worked from the signal box. A new St. Ives straight post miniature arm signal will be brought into use on the right hand side of the single line (former Up Main line) opposite the Down First Home signal with the arm at 10 feet above rail level and will apply single line to Up Goods loop line. St. Ives Down Distant and Down First Home signals will in future apply to the single line. MO/S/50492 (1) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 Ah that's some super information there TCJ thank you. This is before closure as a through route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 In the WON quoted above mention is made of Bridge 2272. I've measured it using Google Earth and it looks to be about 100 feet long. Bridge 2272 was two separate bridges on shared piers. The condition of this bridge was the most likely reason for singling. I'm not entirely convinced it was meant to be a permanent arrangement. There was considerable difference between the two structures and even differences in the piers under the up road. I have come across structures strengthened on one side only to cope with loaded trains always heading in one direction. In this case most coal trains were loaded in the up direction and empties in the other. # Here's my best guess on the sides of the two long spans over the River Great Ouse.. The bottom drawing is the span that stayed in traffic. It easily had twice as many transoms as the down structure and additional bracing. A brief glimpse of the bridge here at 05:26 onwards. The train can clearly be seen regaining the double line formation immediately after crossing the bridge... http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-cambridge-st-ives-1968/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted December 31, 2016 Author Share Posted December 31, 2016 I'm pretty sure it was after the closure to March. We photographed the line from Histon through to March on the last day, I'll check the pics when I've finished these night shifts. Stewart Stewart, Do you have any pictures of Br 2272? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark54 Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 In the TVP DVD Rails Across The Fens, there is a 1970 DMU journey from Cambridge to St Ives. There is also film of the bridge I think you are referring to being dismantled, according to the narration in May 1967. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted December 31, 2016 Author Share Posted December 31, 2016 I found this lurking in my collection.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 With what i know about points this looks like a B8 109lb flat bottom turnout. What do others think? The sectional appendix states the linespeed over this point was 15 mph. Movie footage from the net suggests it was taken at higher speeds still. With thanks to RB on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Stewart, Do you have any pictures of Br 2272? Sorry about the delayed reply - I totally forgot! Is this the right bridge? Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 Super stuff thank you Stewart. I made my drawings from my photo's. One of yours highlights the short spans are narrower than the long. That was not apparent from my photo's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunalastair Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Super stuff thank you Stewart. I made my drawings from my photo's. One of yours highlights the short spans are narrower than the long. That was not apparent from my photo's. Surviving span was good enough for gravel lorry traffic as per photo, and latterly for unofficial pedestrian traffic - I remember a hash house harriers event crossing it in the early 2000s - before replacement for the guided busway of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 My first go with peco individulay stuff.. A lot of lessons learnt. I need to find what sort of point machine was used on the prototype. The timber arrangements are wrong for an SGE type HA. I need to see if Westinghouse did a separate point machine that operated a conventional facing point lock. St Ives was a Westinghouse job so there's a good chance it was one of their products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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