Chris Turnbull

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

Yes indeed. Here we are coming on to the Dereham branch at Wymondham so we would be either on the switch or just passed over it albeit in the trailing direction. Chris Turnbull

A few shots of Ely tonight in the early '80s. On 4th April 1981 47003 enters Ely on a Down passenger Exactly one month later 31184 stands at Platform 2 with an Up passenger. Also on 4th May 55002 "The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry" approaches Ely with the "Deltic Fenman". I loved all the semaphores that Ely had at that time. A year earlier on 29th March 1980 37109 runs into Platform 3 with the Harwich Boat Train. On the same day 47006 enters Platform 2 with an Up passenger. Thanks to Jonny777 as usual. Chris Turnbull

I'm not sure of the technicalities but progress on both the Dereham and Norwich Victoria legs was slow as I think we must have stopped at every facing point for it to be clipped. Chris Turnbull

Now I've got myself organised it's time to finish the Central Norfolk Freight Lines Railtour on 11th October 1980. The next stop after County School was Ryburgh. This is looking south towards Dereham... ...and this is looking north towards Fakenham. The organisers had hoped to make it all the way to Fakenham but BR did not think the track was in good enough condition for a passenger train, even one full of railway enthusiasts! We thus returned to Wymondham and moved on to Norwich Thorpe from where we went to the site of Norwich Victoria. This is us awaiting the "right away" from Thorpe. At that time Norwich Victoria was a coal concentration depot which we weren't allowed to enter. We stopped short of the depot which can just be seen in the distance beyond the bridge. This is the view looking south back towards the main line. Anybody recognise themselves? Here we are awaiting the "right away" onto the main line and home. Note that the trap points are being clipped. Thanks to Jonny777 again. Chris Turnbull Edited as Jonny777 alerted me to a red bias in the last three photographs. I have replaced them with some that I hope are more acceptable. Thanks to Jonny777 for his help.

We'll finish off the Central Norfolk Freight Lines Railtour another day. In the meantime here's some shots of Abbots Ripton and Cambridge Abbots Ripton on 9th April 1981 with 55007 "Pinza" Another "Deltic", this time 55012 "Crepello" Still on 9th April 1981, this is an unidentifed HST. Earlier the same month this is the "Thameside Docker" railtour entering Cambridge. One thing about the "heritage" DMUs, you always had a good forward view providing an unsociable driver didn't pull down the blind. Finally a brace of 37s at Cambridge on 14th April 1981; 37048 and 37109. Thanks to Jonny777 as usual. Chris Turnbull

On 11th October 1980 the Fakenham & Dereham Railway Society ran another railtour, this time the Central Norfolk Freight Lines Railtour. First stop was Dereham where, looking southwards through the station, we see E56413, E50383, E56186 and E50373 Looking south the line diverging to the left is that to Wymondham whilst that diverging to the right is the remains of the line to Middleton Towers and Kings Lynn. Dereham was a triangular junction, the line to Kings Lynn forming the northwest cord. Dereham again, looking north this time. From Dereham we moved on to North Elmham from where we went to.. ...County School. Thanks to Jonny777 again. Chris Turnbull

In the summer of 2007 National Express introduced a promotional ticket that they called an "Explorer". It ran from 19th May to 3rd June 2007 and again from 4th July to 9th September and was valid for travel on all "one" trains from the TfL Zone 6 boundary on both the Cambridge and Ipswich lines including all branches as far as Peterborough and the North Norfolk Coast. £18 for a day's unlimited travel over this huge area seemed too good a deal to miss! I eventually managed to have a free Saturday on 11th August and decided that I would like to explore as much as I could of the GE Main Line south of Ipswich as I am fairly familiar with the Cambridge line. Sods Law being what it is, this was when the bridge over the River Ouse at Ely was out of action due to the freight train derailment so I decided that I would drive to Stowmarket and catch a train there. The first stop was Chelmsford where I changed to a Shenfield train. Here's 90009 on a Down passenger. And here we are at Shenfield. As you can see it was a glorious day. From Shenfield I caught a train to Southend Victoria. Back to Wickford where I waited for a Southminster train. At Southminster I dashed up the street to buy a sandwich, returning to the station in time to catch 321307 forming the next train. I then returned to Shenfield from where I went to Clacton. I was keen to take in the other leg of that Essex line to Walton-on-the-Naze so returned to Thorpe-le-Soken. This is Walton-on-the-Naze with 321352 in the platform. Finally I returned to Colchester where I caught a Stowmarket train and home. I did think about getting off at Manningtree and doing the Harwich branch but by that time I'd had enough. I was knackered! Chris Turnbull

Here's another view of it from the other end which may give you more of a clue. I don't know as I'm not an expert in such matters. Chris Turnbull

On 4th April 1981 the Fakenham and Dereham Railway Society organised another railtour, this time to London. Three views of Poplar of what is now part of the Docklands Light Railway And here we have Millwall Moving on from Poplar, this is Tilbury Riverside Thanks to Jonny777 as usual. Chris Turnbull

It wasn't open to the public that day as I recall hence no crowds. This is a shot I meant to post before I became confused. Chris Turnbull

On 18th October 2008 the Railway Study Association organised a visit to the LT Museum at Acton. These photos give a flavour of the exhibits. There are no captions as I'm not too sure of the designations of LT stock so if someone wishes to provide some details the please do so. This is the LT District and Piccadilly lines just outside the museum. This was another surprise waiting for me when I arrived back at Kings Cross on my journey home; 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland". Chris Turnbull

With the introduction of the Norwich to to Cambridge service by Anglia Railways and the extension of the Anglia Day Ranger to Ely and Cambridge I have been a keen user of that ticket. Whilst the price has risen over the years I still regard it as good value for money and use it whenever I have a spare Saturday. On 17th February 2007 170272 forms the Cambridge to Norwich leg of an early morning service. One of my favorite stations is Ipswich; there always seems to be something going on. Still on 17th February, this is a general view of the station. A couple of years earlier on 19th November 2005 this is the loco yard at Ipswich. Travelling up the East Suffolk Line to Lowestoft we have 170204 and 170205 forming Norwich and Ipswich services respectively. I loved it when these units were used on the Norwich trains as those trains were designated standard class only and you could travel in first class with a ranger ticket. Looking down the track towards Norwich. Still on 19th November this is 170202 at Bury St Edmunds. I don't follow steam specials particularly so it is always a thrill to turn up at a station to find an unexpected steam locomotive in the platform. This is "West Country" 34067 "Tangmere" and 90013 at Norwich on 5th May 2007. Chris Turnbull

Thank you for your kind comment. Sadly, I have no photographs of Oxenholme or Windermere until the noughties. Chris Turnbull

I think it's time we had something a little more up-to-date although we will wallow in more nostalgia before too long. Stratford on 13th July 2010 with a variety of stock in view. Same day, same place, this is 90003 A few days later on 24th July this is Ely with 170117 entering Platform 1 I probably caught the 08.30 to Ipswich where we have a general view of the loco yard. Moving on to Norwich here we have typical summer crowds, probably waiting to board a Great Yarmouth service. Best to avoid these trains on summer Saturdays! I think these two Driving Brake Vans look almost model-like. Norwich, 24th July 2010. Chris Turnbull

Another visit to the Severn Valley Railway today. All photos were taken on 12th April 1980. 7812 Erlestoke Manor leaving Bewdley... ...and here she is entering Arley Meanwhile, looking in the other direction from the bridge here's 5000. Bridgnorth loco shed. And this is the loco servicing area at Bewdley with 5164 just leaving. I was a volunteer at that time and must have shovelled out tons of ash and clinker from that pit. Thanks to Jonny777 as usual. Chris Turnbull

Do you mean this breakdown crane? Chris Turnbull

I can't read my own writing! It was 47557. Caption changed, many thanks. Chris Turnbull

There was a hump at Cambridge but I'm not sure of the purpose. Thanks for the comment. Sadly I have no photos of Littleport. Regards Chris Turnbull

Back to Cambridge this evening and 1980. 31162 on the lunchtime Ciba-Geigy train, 23rd July. Looking from the east side of the goods yard towards the station (you can just see the valancing) this is 47557 on 13th August. 31183 on an Up goods on 20th August. 31149 passes the Great Northern goods shed on 1st September. And here's 08863 on 4th September. It looks like I wasn't the only photographer that day! Thanks to Jonny777 as usual. Chris Turnbull

It struck me that you could build that layout from out-of-the-box Peco points. Chris Turnbull

Staying in the West Country we visit Plymouth and Truro this evening. A general view Plymouth on 20th June 1980 with 08840, 47423 and 253032 in attendance. On the same day this is 253029 ready to depart. Six days later here's 47485 at Truro Again at Truro this is 47486 and 25207 And finally, this is the Falmouth service departing. Note the interesting weathering on the roof which would surely look odd on a model. Thanks to Jonny777 as usual and who also drew my attention to the roof weathering. Chris Turnbull

I look forward to it. How about a link? Chris Turnbull

No trip to the West Country at the time would have been complete without a visit to the Dobwalls Railway. This was my visit on 25th June 1980. Three shots of No. 488 "General Palmer" Three shots of the UP "Big-Boy". A great miniature railway, now sadly missed. Thanks to Jonny777 again. Chris Turnbull

Time for another visit to the West Country, this time in June 1980 253036 at Creech St Michael near Taunton on the 17th. 253007 at Totnes on 19th. On the same day this is 50006 "Neptune". There was another station at Totnes. This is Pannier 1638 at Riverside on 22nd. And here she is at the other end of the line at Buckfastleigh That wasn't the only tourist attraction in the area. This is Much Natter station at Peco Modelrama on 17th. Thanks to Jonny777 again. Chris Turnbull