Ely papworth and what’s there.

[Jturner98]

Hello everyone, I’m going to Cambridge in the next few days and was wondering how I get to look at the rolling stock at Ely papworth sidings. What’s the best place to see it and is there a particular train which is a good place to see it from?
Also what’s there currently? Last I heard there was a selection of class 43s and a few 317s. Is there some 365s around that area too?

Thanks

 

[trebor79]

To view from a train you want something coming off or onto the Breckland line to Norwich. You get a glimpse of the new sidings at the back if the site. There's all sorts there. Spotted 365, 317, 43, lots of HST trailer vehicles.

 

[Aictos]

To view from a train you want something coming off or onto the Breckland line to Norwich. You get a glimpse of the new sidings at the back if the site. There's all sorts there. Spotted 365, 317, 43, lots of HST trailer vehicles.

Or even just a train coming off or onto the Kings Lynn line as I managed to observe a fair amount of HST vehicles at Ely Papworth as I passed by on a Kings Lynn bound service a few weeks ago.

 

[317666]

You can see what's around the back from a public footpath. I can give you directions if that interests you?

 

[Jturner98]

You can see what's around the back from a public footpath. I can give you directions if that interests you?

If you could that would be great thanks

 

[Ianno87]

Hello everyone, I’m going to Cambridge in the next few days and was wondering how I get to look at the rolling stock at Ely papworth sidings. What’s the best place to see it and is there a particular train which is a good place to see it from?
Also what’s there currently? Last I heard there was a selection of class 43s and a few 317s. Is there some 365s around that area too?

Thanks

Best way to see on foot is to walk from Ely Station to Kiln Lane level crossing and thenwalk to this point here, where you can glimpse the sidings at the back of the site https://maps.app.goo.gl/UmM7YVFffpLxafuVA

The best route to walk from the station is via the footpath that follows the West Bank of the river.

The sidings at the front of the site are best viewed from a passing train.

 

[bspahh]

In the summer the vegetation can get a bit thick around the edge of the sidings for the footpath near the river. If you continue away from Ely, cross the footbridge over the river and walking away from Ely for a quarter of a mile, there is the access bridge for lorries into the site. I think that is private, but when its quiet, you can see a through the gates
https://goo.gl/maps/k3bXz1beJK9KBUYo7

That road isn't the nicest to walk along, with a rough grass verge, and fast traffic.

If you wanted to walk to Queen Adelaide on the East side of the river, walk 200m South of the footbridge. There is then a nice track, which is part of the Hereward Way. After half a mile, you can turn left onto a path that heads to Queen Adelaide. Head back towards Ely, cross over two level crossings. Then there is a footpath just the other side of the trackside fence. You can then see the sidings at the front. The path continues, with a foot crossing across the line to Peterborough, and another across the loop. You then end up at the Northern end of Roswell pits, by the sailing club.

 

[eastdyke]

In the summer the vegetation can get a bit thick around the edge of the sidings for the footpath near the river. If you continue away from Ely, cross the footbridge over the river and walking away from Ely for a quarter of a mile, there is the access bridge for lorries into the site. I think that is private, but when its quiet, you can see a through the gates
https://goo.gl/maps/k3bXz1beJK9KBUYo7

That road isn't the nicest to walk along, with a rough grass verge, and fast traffic.

If you wanted to walk to Queen Adelaide on the East side of the river, walk 200m South of the footbridge. There is then a nice track, which is part of the Hereward Way. After half a mile, you can turn left onto a path that heads to Queen Adelaide. Head back towards Ely, cross over two level crossings. Then there is a footpath just the other side of the trackside fence. You can then see the sidings at the front. The path continues, with a foot crossing across the line to Peterborough, and another across the loop. You then end up at the Northern end of Roswell pits, by the sailing club.

Noting that the street view is nearly 10 years out-of-date. That is before the fan of riverside sidings was built!
A good pair of binoculars would be helpful.
I agree that the road side verge is both rough and subject to the fast traffic. Where the terrain allows, walking along the top of the river bank is comparable and at least protected by the low traffic barrier. Good walking shoes/boots and leg protection are a must.

 

[bspahh]

Noting that the street view is nearly 10 years out-of-date. That is before the fan of riverside sidings was built!
A good pair of binoculars would be helpful.
I agree that the road side verge is both rough and subject to the fast traffic. Where the terrain allows, walking along the top of the river bank is comparable and at least protected by the low traffic barrier. Good walking shoes/boots and leg protection are a must.

There is an aerial photograph of the riverside sidings here https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/...rail-freight-terminal-growth-on-track-4882258

This post has some photos from the path next to the riverside sidings, and through the gate at the lorry bridge.

Class 442s - Now at the end of the road and to be withdrawn permanently

Evidently there was a delay at Lewes to eject an aggressive beggar.... Is that commom terminology for a GTR RPI?! :D

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[scottie]

Went down the riverside path on friday and could see 365512, 317345, 708, 723, 892, 43191 & 43311.
All 7 ex northern 153s are viewable as well.

 

[317666]

If you could that would be great thanks

Ianno87 has summed it up, but I would add that when you turn right at Roswell Pits (heading away from Kiln Lane AHB), don't be put off by the fact that it looks like a private industrial estate. The public footpath does continue, over the Cuckoo Bridge.

 

[bspahh]

This post on the Spotted in Ely Facebook group says that the footbridge has been closed across the river near the Potters yard. The wood has been getting a bit rotten. Hopefully it will be repaired soon. This is the bridge on Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/oN67hBKfXC1TnzVU8