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Shred`s UK trips.

shredder1

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Hereward Line, The Fens. Tuesday 16th December 2025.

Breakfast at Mc Donalds, followed by a visit to Trains4U at Peterborough, where I treated myself to my 6th 00 Gauge WD Austerity 8F 2-8-0, 90732 “Vulcan”, the only one in the class named in BR days and I was lucky with this one as it was a second-hand limited edition for £74, and one I didn’t manage to see in my trainspotting days, it was shedded at Colchester, March and finished her days at 36C Frodingham.

The morning was dark and overcast, I next drove along the River Nene, north of Flag Fen and to the village of Whittlesea and onto Turves and the Three Horseshoes Crossings. It was however quite cold, poor light and with light rain at times and despite sitting in the car waiting for the barriers to come up, I only stayed for a few hours, before driving back to my son`s house.

Freight passing through was 66702 light engine, 66735, 66041, 66110, 66721 and 66780.

 
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shredder1

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Hereward Line. The Fens. Wednesday 17th December 2025.

My third day out and I was again driving towards Turves and its level crossings, the weather was a bit hit and miss with a sunny spell in the middle of the day, but largely dark and overcast, still extremely cold, so I was again sat in the car, leaping out each time the barriers went up.

A few nice surprises on the loco front though with a class 68 light engine and a class 70 on freight. Freight passing was 66708, 68018, 66654, 66310, 66168, 66756, 66707, 66097, 70010 and 66747, so still plenty of action to keep me busy.

 

shredder1

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Hereward Line. The Fens. Thursday 18th December 2025.

Another drive over to Turves from my son`s, taking breakfast in the George Hotel in Whittlesea and then continuing to the Horseshoe Crossings at Turves. The weather however was the worst yet, dull and overcast, but with some heavy rain for the first time since I had been down on the Fens. I stuck it out for a few hours and later returned to the George Hotel for lunch. After which I called it a day and drove back to my son`s house.

I still managed to catch up with a few freights, these included 66743, 66708, 66735, 66041, 66780 and 66707, some of those locomotives were filthy, possibly because of working on rail head cleaning trains. I did manage a few atmospheric images though.

 

shredder1

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Hereward Line. The Fens. Friday 19th December 2025.

A nice change in the weather was forecast, so after a Mc Donalds breakfast I drove alone the River Nene beyond Flag Fen and through Whittlesea to Turves. We had very blue skies, it was still cold, a little shadowy, but still good for the camera and a nice change from the four days previously, it was pretty good for December and I was back on the Three Horseshoes Crossings again.

Traffic was again constant, with bonuses of a class 60 and also a class 69 (light engine), and one double-headed class 66s on containers. Freight passed was 66743, 66034, 66780, 66735, 59002, 66708, 66177, 66707, 60026, 66532, 66181, 66756, 66097, 66703, 66747 and 66705. A great day for photting and I stayed while around 15.30 when the light started to go.

 

shredder1

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Greater Anglian Day Rover. Saturday 20th December 2025.

I can never resist a Greater Anglian Day Rover ticket when I’m down at my son`s. Saturday always allows for an early start, so despite waking up the dog and the family, I set the alarm on the phone for 04.30, (I could live with a telling off on my return). I was soon driving over to Whittlesea to catch the 05.58, the first train out from Whittlesea on a Saturday morning. This is a Cross-Country class 170 DMU, which takes you to Peterborough, where you change for an East Midland class 158 DMU, which goes direct to Norwich. What I do is purchase a return ticket from Whittlesea to Ely, (where the Greater Anglian ticket starts). The ticket inspector on the train could not however work out how to sell me the Great Anglian ticket, so instead gave me a written note to get me through the barriers at Norwich where I purchased the rover ticket.

I took breakfast in the city and later returned to a misty Norwich station. Apart from two class 08 diesel shunters visible on Crown Point depot, no other locos often visit Norwich these days, diesels and electric units have now taken. I caught a London Liverpool Street bound Stadler Flirt class 745/0 EMU down to Ipswich, (such a shame the class 90s no longer work the route). At Ipswich it was nice to see class 86`s parked up at the end of the platforms, four in all, 90013, 90048, the red liveried 90045 and the last one was hidden behind the other three, if anyone has the number.

After spending some time on the platforms at Ipswich, I caught a train up to Lowestoft, on the East Suffolk line, a route I enjoy to travel. An active group, who have a charity shop on the station, selling various items, including both new and second-hand railway books, is well worth a visit. One of its aims is to restore the roof of Lowestoft railway station. This would be a great boost to the station, which still retains much of its originality. It still had a roof in the 1980s, which I photographed it, around 1986, I’m not sure how long after that it was removed, but it would certainly be nice to see it replaced again.

I returned to Ipswich on the East Suffolk line, before catching a direct Greater Anglian Stadler Flirt bi-mode class 755 BMU direct to Whittlesea and then the short drive back to by son`s house. It had been a great day with sun for much of it.

 

shredder1

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Hereward Line. The Fens. Monday 22nd December 2025.

Another few hours out on the Hereward line, again I drove over to Turves, I have a choice of two good crossings there and you can just about park the car off the road, but near the crossing barriers. The weather was still sunny, but bitterly cold across those flat open Fenlands.

Freight passing included, 66741, 66059, 66616, 66782, 66568, 66162 and 66767. So worth the effort of going out for them.

 

shredder1

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Hereward Line. The Fens. Tuesday 23rd December 2025.

The last Tuesday before Christmas and I couldn’t resist sneaking out of the house again for a few hours, although the weather had changed to being dull and overcast again. This time I drove to Whittlesea, for Ramsey Crossing, another favourite location of mine.

Freight passing through was 66742, 66137, 66528, 66616, 66305, 66162 and 66610, so again plenty of action, I took tea in the railway Hotel, Whittlesea, before heading back to my son`s house.

 

shredder1

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Tracing the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. Friday 26th December 2025.

The first day after Christmas and the weather looked glorious, still cold but with plenty of sunshine, too much at times and in the wrong place. I had been wanting to trace the former alignment of the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway, a unique and unusual line that travelled a distance of just over 5 miles, 72 chains from start to finish.

The Wisbech and Upwell, Creek Trust had organised the placing of 6 mementos to the route of the former tram route. Sadly, the route is not easy to follow so study your maps carefully if you wish to follow the alignment. It took me a while to find all the mementos, the one at Elm Bridge is incorporated within another information board, but all others are identifiable once you are in the locations. I did have an enjoyable day in what is a lovely part of the country.



 

ChrisT

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I remember the Wisbech and Upwell. As a lad I was intrigued by the way the road continually criss-crossed the railway (or was it the other way round). On one memorable occasion I actually saw a train on the line - a Drewery 0-6-0 by that time, sadly.
 

ChrisT

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Ely
Hereward Line. The Fens. Wednesday 17th December 2025.

My third day out and I was again driving towards Turves and its level crossings, the weather was a bit hit and miss with a sunny spell in the middle of the day, but largely dark and overcast, still extremely cold, so I was again sat in the car, leaping out each time the barriers went up.

A few nice surprises on the loco front though with a class 68 light engine and a class 70 on freight. Freight passing was 66708, 68018, 66654, 66310, 66168, 66756, 66707, 66097, 70010 and 66747, so still plenty of action to keep me busy.

You must have missed this. Ely on the 17th going to York via Peterborough.
251217 Ely (3) 44871 1Z20 7.43 Cambridge North to York, The White Rose Gimp small P.jpg
 

shredder1

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I remember the Wisbech and Upwell. As a lad I was intrigued by the way the road continually criss-crossed the railway (or was it the other way round). On one memorable occasion I actually saw a train on the line - a Drewery 0-6-0 by that time, sadly.
Wow, you have some great memories there Chris, I never did see it back then.
 

shredder1

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The Colne Valley Railway. Sunday 28th December 2025.

I had been intending to visit the Colne Valley Railway for some years, but its one of those awkward lines which you can only access by driving. Since I was staying at my son`s house in Peterborough, I noted that it was only one hour and thirty minutes away by car, so having checked the railways website I noticed that they were advertising an HST running day on the 28th December, so I intended to pay them a visit.

It didn’t take me too long to drive down there and I usually attend preserved railways before they open, this is to give me chance to have a look around first, before all the crowds turn up and to obtain a few early photographs. I arrived on site at 09.30, but the whole site is kept under lock and key and because it wasn’t due to open until 10.30, I decided to drive to the next visit to find something to eat, and luckily, I found an open café, who served a first-class breakfast.

I returned to the railway for 10.30 and the railway then opened. The station is Sible and Castle Hedingham, most of the original station appears intact and authentically restored, along with some fine storage yards. The railway operates approximately one mile of track, (half a mile each side of the station), sadly with a road built at one end and a house across the other end of the line, and much of the track bed being sold off and built upon, any further extensions are prohibited. Such a shame they couldn’t join up with Chappel & Wakes Railway some 8 mile away.

I had an enjoyable ride on the railway and managed to photograph much of the stock, while they also have a small depot at one end of the line. A large model railway is also available for visitors along with a small museum and some historic railway carriages. It’s quite a nice railway and well worth a visit and I did have an enjoyable day.


 

shredder1

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The Hereward Line. The Fens. Tuesday 30th December 2025.

I was back on the Hereward line at Ramsey Crossing. The weather was very sunny at times but with very cloudy periods moving in, but still quite cold, so photography was hit and miss at times. I had taken breakfast at the George Hotel and moved onto the crossing around 11.00.

Still a fair bit of action though despite a shorter session, freight passing was 66781, 66718, 66519, 66723, 69009, 66150 and 66430, a nice trip out.

 

shredder1

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Hereward Line. The Fens. Thursday 1st January 2026.

Happy New Year, the first day out, everything was closed really so I decided to drive back over to Ramsey Crossing at Whittlesea, the sun kept showing itself and I sat in the car and waited for the freight to start passing. Being on the ball with Realtime Trains, I decided to check it, especially after 6 different passenger DMUs had passed, and yes, you’ve guessed it, not freight running, or at least until late afternoon, but at least Id got out there for a few hours, so in that respect, not a bad start to the year.

 

shredder1

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Wells Next the Sea and Hunstanton. Wednesday 31st December 2025.

My son`s took me out to Wells and Hunstanton for a day out. I had visited Wells in the part to ride on the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway, an amazing line that runs on the former BR track bed which came up from Dereham and Fakenham and operates with two Garratt locomotives. The railway was closed on this visit though. The station building is also preserved and open as a book and pottery shop, well worth a visit if you are in the area. We also had my son`s miniature Dachshund with us “Layla”, so I was limited where I could run off to. On my previous visit though I didn’t visit the sea front, so it was nice to have a look around and a bit of a surprised to see how busy it was. Sadly, the railway along the harbour closed in 2023, but the track remains.

We then followed the routes of the Wells to Hunstanton Railway. Parking up at Hunstanton we had a walk along the front followed by fish and chips in a sea front café that allowed the dog in. I didn’t find the original station site and only realised how close I was after I left the town. So, a special thanks to fellow Facebook uses Chris Hubbard for allowing me to use 5 of his images.

Wells and Walsingham Railway

Wells Harbour Railway

Hunstanton Railway Station

 

shredder1

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Rings End Viaduct, March to Wisbech line. Friday 2nd January 2026.

We drove passed this viaduct a day before on out way to Wells Next to Sea, and I did think it was on the old line between March and Wisbech, but later realised it was part of the line from March to Spalding. The line closed in 1982 and was originally built by the Great Northern and Great Eastern Railway, the GN&GER. This iconic structure is unique it that it is the only such railway viaduct in the Fens, and we are indeed lucky to still have it, as a proposal to demolish it was put forward by the local farmer some 10 years ago, but the demolition plan was later withdrawn. Guyhirne railway station sat at the northern end of the viaduct.

Urban Explorer

BBC News

Guyhirne Railway Station

 

shredder1

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Bramley Line, Waldersea, Wisbech. Friday 2nd January 2026.

I drove over to Waldersea Depot, Wisbech, on the closed line from March to Wisbech. The embryo preservation railway, the Bramley Line have its headquarters. It is a little bit off the beaten track and down a dirt road sat on a former railway crossing, one diesel shunter was in the yard, plus a few waggons. I think much of the line is still in situ, albeit grown over in places. I’m not sure how big an operating workforce they have and they certainly have a long way to go to build an attraction, if that’s what they are aiming for. It’s nice to see anything, anywhere preserved and nice to see people making an effort like this, I just wish them the very best of luck in the future.

Wisbech and March line

Bramley Line Trust


 

ChrisT

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Ely
Bramley Line, Waldersea, Wisbech. Friday 2nd January 2026.

I drove over to Waldersea Depot, Wisbech, on the closed line from March to Wisbech. The embryo preservation railway, the Bramley Line have its headquarters. It is a little bit off the beaten track and down a dirt road sat on a former railway crossing, one diesel shunter was in the yard, plus a few waggons. I think much of the line is still in situ, albeit grown over in places. I’m not sure how big an operating workforce they have and they certainly have a long way to go to build an attraction, if that’s what they are aiming for. It’s nice to see anything, anywhere preserved and nice to see people making an effort like this, I just wish them the very best of luck in the future.

Yes, the line is extant from the outskirts of Wisbech into March where it is still connected to the national railway system. Attached is a photo of the line at March taken on 19th October 2022 showing where it disappears through a spear fencing gate to Wisbech. Currently OOU according to TrackMaps. And as a comparison I attach a photo of the same view on 8th March 1969 with the Wisbech line going straight on into the distance.

221019 March (7) looking north from Norwood Road bridge towards Whitemoor Local Distribution C...JPG690308 March D5529 K6.12.jpg
 

ChrisT

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Ely
Rings End Viaduct, March to Wisbech line. Friday 2nd January 2026.

We drove passed this viaduct a day before on out way to Wells Next to Sea, and I did think it was on the old line between March and Wisbech, but later realised it was part of the line from March to Spalding. The line closed in 1982 and was originally built by the Great Northern and Great Eastern Railway, the GN&GER. This iconic structure is unique it that it is the only such railway viaduct in the Fens, and we are indeed lucky to still have it, as a proposal to demolish it was put forward by the local farmer some 10 years ago, but the demolition plan was later withdrawn. Guyhirne railway station sat at the northern end of the viaduct.

Yes, the last train ran on 27th November 1982; here it is at March with a view of the line curving away to the north from what was then platform 5.

821127 March K25.5.jpg821127 GN & GE Farewell headboard K25.24.jpg821127 March K25.4.jpg
 

shredder1

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Yes, the line is extant from the outskirts of Wisbech into March where it is still connected to the national railway system. Attached is a photo of the line at March taken on 19th October 2022 showing where it disappears through a spear fencing gate to Wisbech. Currently OOU according to TrackMaps. And as a comparison I attach a photo of the same view on 8th March 1969 with the Wisbech line going straight on into the distance.

View attachment 195783View attachment 195787
Thanks for sharing those amazing pictures Chris, I only hit March in the early 70s, so missed steam, the yards however were so expansive back then, such a shame whats gone, in fact when I photographed the stored Peaks in the 80s, the pits and some walls of the old Whitemoor steam shed was still standing.
 

shredder1

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Chasing West Coast Diversions. Manchester, Blackburn, Ribblehead, Bradford. Saturday 10th January 2026.

I had been following news of the West Coast Settle and Carlisle line diversions on the RailUK forums, and thanks to information from some of the lads on site, I decided to get out there and see if I could get a few decent photographs. Operating was the new class 805 Evero a type of bi-mode multiple units of the IET design classification. One of the lads had reminded me about the Rochdale to Ribblehead Northern workings, two trains a day on the section of track between Clitheroe and Hellifield, so I decided to go for that option.

I set the alarm for 05.00, a short drive to Crumpsall Metrolink station for the first tram out at 06.07 and I was at Manchester Victoria for an early class 195 to Rochdale. I then boarded a Sprinter direct to Blackburn, as I wanted to spend some time on the station before the Ribblehead train arrived. I was in time to phot an early diversion heading for Carlisle, and this was, actually, the first class 805s I had seen. I was joined at Blackburn by a few more cranks, who had the same idea as me, and the Northern Sprinter to Settle arrived on time, I alighted at Hellifield.

Hellifield is a bit of a miniature railway museum with plenty of relics, totem station signs on the walls, an excellent station café, and a railway book room and much more. Sadly, I didn’t visit it in the steam days when the locomotive depot was running, but I would have passed through it in the 1960s, as I did travel behind steam on the Thames Clyde Express`s, before the Peaks took over.

I only intended travelling to Hellifield, but on arriving bumped into a mate, David Russell, who had planned to get a train up to Ribblehead, so he let me tag along with him, and I’m glad I did now as the weather was glorious up there, blue skies and bright sunshine with snow capping the three peaks, Whernside, Penyghent and Ingleborough, it was also quite warm for the time of year. We managed some good images of the 805s, followed by a quick drink in the Station Inn, and then back for a few more viaduct phots, before catching the next Northern Sprinter south.

David lighted at Hellifield to pick up his car, while I continued down to Shipley. Nice to see the new Rail depot making progress, it will be hosting Neville Hill stock while improvements are made, so should be worth a visit out there. From Shipley I caught a Northern class 333 into Bradford Forster Square, arriving into the new platform 0, which was built for the London trains, but is apparently too small, so they have to use the other longer platforms.

I walked across the city, (which seems to have been semi pedestrianised since my last visit), and made my way to Bradford Interchange station for my Northern train back to Manchester Victoria. It had been a fantastic day out and in good company.

 

shredder1

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West Yorkshire Day Rover. Saturday 17th January 2026.

I thought I would revisit Yorkshire again for two reasons, the first reason was I wanted to check out the new traincrew depot, which was being constructed at Shipley, nice to see railway infrastructure being built on British Railways, since most of my life I was witnessing closures. The second reason I wanted to revisit the area was that I wanted to phot a London train in Bradford Forster Square Station, ideally a class 91 before they finish, and or Azuma workings. I managed to get both, since Bradford Forster Square now has a 2 hourly service to London.

The alarm was set for 05.00 again for the short drive to the Metrolink station at Crumpsall, the first tram out to Manchester Victoria at 06.11 and then the 06.30 Northern class 195 to Bradford Interchange along the Calder Valley line. The ticket offices are always closed at Manchester Victoria at this time in the morning and the ticket machines won’t sell me the tickets I need, so I always have to ask the guards if I can buy tickets on the train. My GM Pass took me to Littleborough, then a few pound for a return ticket to Walsden, the West Yorkshire border station, and then the West Yorkshire day rover ticket. A couple of Gregg`s sausage rolls and a coffee at Bradford Interchange, had to suffice for breakfast, followed by a walk across Bradford City Centre. I must admit I do like looking at the old buildings in Bradford and still have fond memories of Bradford in the steam days of the 1960s, it was quite a rail centre back in the days of Exchange station and the original Forester Square.

I took a train to Shipley and returned to Forster Square and waited for a London train to arrive, an LNER Azuma at 09.37. I later returned to Shipley in time to see the next London train arriving at 10.20, which was a class 91(105) in National Railway Museum livery. I followed it down to Forster Square for a few more phots. I then took the next train to Frizinghall to catch it passing through on the 11.37. The timing couldn’t have been worst as a later running Northern class 333 decided to leave the platforms just as the class 91 was passing though the station, I just about managed to get a few phots in before it crossed.

From Frizingham I boarded another train back up to Shipley and walked out to see the progress on the new Shipley traincrew depot, which is staged to open in 2027. On the way back, I took lunch at Doyles chip shop and I can certainly recommend it if you are in the area. Returning to Shipley railway station I caught the next Northern class 333 up to Ilkley. I do enjoy travelling on the suburban lines north of Leeds and have a fondness to the class 333s, although many of the newer class 331s now share the services on those lines. I returned from Ilkley to Bradford Forster Square and caught up with the 15.37 London Azuma, before taking the next Leeds service and then a Northern class 195 back to Manchester Victoria via Bradford Interchange and the Calder Valley line for the tram and short drive home. Although a dull day, rain was forecast, but didn’t appear, an enjoyable day out.

 

shredder1

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The Inspirational Train, East Lancs Railway. Thursday 22nd January 2026.

I booked a tour of the Inspirational Train on the East Lancs Railway, the train essentially gives you an insight into railways generally with a bit of basic history and then gives an indication of job available on the railways.

The Inspirational train
The Inspiration Train is a unique exhibition train that celebrates the past, present, and future of railways in the UK. It is part of the Railway 200 national celebration, which marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. The train will tour Britain, visiting 60 locations over 12 months, and offers interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities to engage visitors of all ages. The train is co-curated with the National Railway Museum and aims to inspire the next generation of engineers, drivers, conductors, and technicians. It will be the only exhibition train on the rail network, promoting the railway's achievements and inviting visitors to consider a career in the modern industry.

railway200.co.uk+5

 

shredder1

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Open House Weekend, East Lancs Railway. Saturday 24th January 2026.

Something a little different from the East Lancs Railway, an open house event. A great idea and equally giving an excellent insight into the railway, its stock, and its operations. I was booked on the 09.00 out of Bolton Street Station, Bury, we had the bubble car DMU Class 122 W55001 which took us down to the Carriage and Wagon Department at Buckley Wells. We alighted on to one of the internal platforms and were then escorted across the road to Baron Street Workshops.

A full visit to the Workshops with historic information about the building, we were taken up both the main lanes inside the depot and later taken out into the yard. The return trip to Bolton Street station was a guard’s van ride up rarer track, to the bottom of the yard and then the full length of all departments back into the station. The guards’ vans were top and tailed with Lancashire and Yorkshire Pug 0-4-0 11243 and the Purple liveried Andrew Barclay 0-4-0. The A class 27 Lancashire and Yorkshire 12322 was on the main roster with class 14 D9531tailing.

An additional attraction was ex Manchester Ship Canal Company -0-6-0 T 32 on footplate experience turns, so quite a lot going on. Nice to catch up with some old mates, but equally I saw a few new faces on shed, great to see. A really big well done to everyone who helped support the event, fantastic job guys.


 

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