20. The Suffolk Circular-20.04.17

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2017 > 20. The Suffolk Circular-20.04.17

Just two days after the surprise 2017 general election had been announced, Andy and I had our spring day out. Travelling in his Nissan Micra, we took in a circular tour of Suffolk. A nice early spring day with the sun out that helped us enjoy some nice stations and a couple of signal boxes.

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Images 1-24 of 24 displayed.

365524, GN 10.08 Ely-London Kings Cross (1T57, 5L), Waterbeach station
Despite the sun being out, the passengers waiting for the 10.08 Ely to London King's Cross service at Waterbeach station tell a different story with their winter coats still being worn. 365524 arrives into the station forming this Great Northern working. Waterbeach station is 63 miles from King's Cross but this is likely to change (slightly) as there are plans afoot to close this station and move it to a new location to better serve a huge new town on the site of the old Waterbeach Barracks a short distance to the north. This may also alleviate the huge parking problems at the present station.
Keywords: 365524 1T57 Waterbeach station

170201, GA 10.12 Cambridge-Norwich (1K66, 1L), Waterbeach station
170201 arrives at Waterbeach station working the 10.12 Cambridge to Norwich 1K66 service. As can be seen here, Waterbeach is has a split platform arrangement with the level crossing over the minor road dividing them. Judging by the number of parked cars in the wholly inadequate car park and the abandoned vehicles left on the surrounding roads, Waterbeach attracts a lot of commuters! Despite the sunny spring day, it was chilly with a keen wind blowing.
Keywords: 170201 1K66 Waterbeach station

Dullingham signal box & crossing gate (GE, 1883)
The impressive and smart looking Dullingham signal box is on a tiny remaining section of token and absolute block line remaining in this area. The signal box is a Great Eastern structure dating from 1883 where the signalman still leaves the box to operate the level crossing gates manually. Despite Dullingham having two tracks, as seen in the picture, one is only a rarely used passing loop. The track to the left is the main running line for both up and down trains.
Keywords: Dullingham signal box crossing gates

Dullingham signal box (GE, 1883)
The rear view of Dullingham signal box situated between Newmarket and Cambridge. It's nice to see that the windows in the 1883 Great Eastern box have not been replaced with ghastly and quite out of character UPVC windows. It is a typical brick structure in the GE style using buff bricks but the timber work is rather on the plain side. It's possible that this has been replaced over the years as one would expect some more ornate weatherboarding and the like. The station is served by Greater Anglia services that run between Ipswich and Cambridge.
Keywords: Dullingham signal box

170207, GE 10.44 Cambridge-Ipswich (2W13, 1E), Dullingham station
In the rather drab blue livery of Greater Anglia, 170207 passes through Dullingham station having just set out out working the 10.44 Cambridge to Ipswich service. It is not running wrong-line and I have not flipped the image but it's merely travelling on the bi-directional through road at Dullingham. The line to the right is a rarely used intermediate passing loop and was fairly rusty indicating that no trains had passed over it for sometime.
Keywords: 170207 2W13 Dullingham station

Signalman opening the gates, Dullingham station
A scene getting increasingly rare on the network, a signalmen opening the crossing gates after the passage of a train. Also, notice that the gates are of the vintage design that one would expect from some years ago, no modern day replacements here. The passage of trains is fairly infrequent at Dullingham so the signalman was not kept too busy going up and down the steps to the Great Eastern signal box just seen on the far right of the picture
Keywords: Signalman opening the gates, Dullingham station

170202, GE 10.20 Ipswich-Cambridge (2W10, RT), Newmarket station
Andy watches 170202 glide into Newmarket station forming the 2W10 10.20 Ipswich to Cambridge service. Given that Newmarket is an important equine centre and that it is visited by thousands of race-goers every year, we were somewhat surprised at the poor facilities and the size of Newmarket station. To encourage more people to visit by using the train, much more needs to be done to the station. If it was on the continent, I feel this would be a very different state of affairs.
Keywords: 170202 2W10 Newmarket station

Chippenham Junction signal box (GE Non-standard, c.1921)
Chippenham Junction signal box is well of the beaten track. Indeed, it was not until the 1980s that it got mains services connected! To get to it, after driving down a track you park your car in small copse. Then a walk is taken across the Newmarket Jumps avoiding any horses out training and climbing under several fences. Following the well worn flattened grass across the jumps gets you to the back of the box as shown here. The flat roofed extension to the rear of the box was added in the 1980s and houses the signalman's personal needs facilities! Notice the fork stuck in the soil in the foreground, there was evidence of some vegetable growing in between signalling duties!
Keywords: Chippenham Junction signal box

Chippenham Junction signal box (GE Non-standard, c.1921)
The signalman's view of the track work at Chippenham Junction could be a little compromised by rampant lineside vegetation? The Great Eastern non-standard designed box stands next to the junction with the Cambridge to Ipswich line and the Soham spur that leads to the Ely line. The The Ely line that passes through Soham is quite heavily used by freight services with couple of Ipswich to Peterborough passenger services every two hours.
Keywords: Chippenham Junction signal box

170205, LE 11.20 Ipswich-Cambridge (2W12, 2E), Kennett Station
170205 arrives at Kennett station working the 11.20 Ipswich to Cambridge. Kennett station has gone through a number of recent changes that have improved its facilities for example, a new footbridge, new platform services and shelters. In 2011, it lost its signal box and associated signalling, the box being located at the far end of the platform I am standing on here. This was one of the boxes that 'got away' even though it was relatively local to me and one that I passed several times on the adjacent A14 road.
Keywords: 170205 2W12 Kennett Station

170202, LE 11.44 Cambridge-Ipswich (2W15, RT), Kennett station
170202 passes through Kennett station working the 11.44 Cambridge to Ipswich service. In the background is a large grain silo that marks the sight of of the former rail served granary. A Speedlink service operated into the granary up until the 1980s. Whilst theis scene looks to be a tranquil rural scene, looks can be deceiving as the A14 trunk road thunders past the station behind where I am standing taking the picture!
Keywords: 170202 2W15 Kennett station

Andy, Kennett station
Andy poses for the camera at Kennett station. This was a cop for him but I missed the signal box as it closed in 2011! However, the box lives on having been removed and now preserved at the Colne Valley Railway in Essex.
Keywords: Kennett station

Frontage, Bury St. Edmunds station
The ornate frontage of Bury St. Edmunds station taken in the bright spring sunshine. It was designed by the renowned architect Sancton Wood being opened in 1847. It is notable for its brick with stone dressings, eye-catching gables, a strong-looking triple-arched entrance, and, its own twin towers. In 2016 an extensive refurbishment was completed and a smashing job has been done! It is grade II listed and so it future look promising as a part of the rich heritage of Bury St. Edmunds.
Keywords: Bury St. Edmunds station

Bury St. Edmunds Yard signal box (GE, 1888)
It is difficult to get a decent picture of Bury St. Edmunds Yard signal box as it is somewhat remotely located in, a yard! The best I could manage is using my 80-200 zoom lens as shown here. The box is a typical timber constructed Great eastern box dating from 1888. It is grade II listed and rare as it has its original windows and that they extend all the way around the box affording views into the yard behind. When Kennett box closed in 2011, it took over the control of the long section to Chippenham Junction some thirteen miles to the west.
Keywords: Bury St. Edmunds Yard signal box

66707, 11.22 Felixstowe South-Doncaster Railport (4E33), Thurston station
66707 'Sir Sam Fey-Great Central Railway' shatters the peace at Thurston station as it passes leading the 11.22 Felixstowe to Doncaster Freightliner. This station is high up on an embankment with timber platforms constructed and supported from the rear down the slopes of the embankment. The 66 is named after the career railwayman Sam Fey who became the director of a number of railways, not just the Great Central, and is credited with his visionary approach to his work, for example introducing season tickets.
Keywords: 66707 4E33 Thurston station

170205, LE 12.44 Cambridge-Ipswich (2W17, RT), Elmswell station
Having been see earlier in our trip at Kennett station, 170204 returns with the 12.44 Cambridge to newmarket service. It is seen entering the station at Elmswell with the same driver who took the train out at the controls.
Keywords: 170205 2W17 Elmswell station

170202, LE 13.20 Ipswich-Cambridge (2W16, RT), Elmswell station
170202 crosses the level crossing in the village of Elmswell as it slows for the station. This is the 13.20 Ipswich to Cambridge service that is about one third into its journey at Elmswell.
Keywords: 170202 2W16 Elmswell station

37425 & 57301, Norwich-Willesden LEs, Diss station
On arrival at Diss station Andy and I became aware of an interesting train approaching in the distance. Initially, all we could see was a large slab of yellow on the long straight north of the station, however, as it got closer we realised it was class 37. 37425 and 57301 'Scott Tracy' pass through Diss forming an unidentified Norwich Crown Point to Willesden light engine move, regrettably, we did not get a reporting number for this train, if anybody has any details at all we would be grateful!.
Keywords: 37425 57301 Diss station

57301 & 37425, Norwich-Willesden LEs, Diss-Station
Having secured a shot of the 37 leading this combo through Diss station, it promptly stopped at a red signal. This gave me just enough time, before it cleared, to dash up on to the footbridge to snatch a going-away shot. 47201 'Scott Tracy' appears to be not under power and getting a tow from 37425 as part of a Norwich Crown Point to Willesden working, any more details gratefully received!
Keywords: 57301 37425 Norwich-Willesden LE Diss-Station

170272, GA 13.50 Peterbrough-Ipswich (2L77,1E), Stowmarket station
Still wearing Greater Anglia teal green and white livery, 170272 arrives into Stowmarket station working the 13.50 Peterborough to Ipswich. Stowmarket crossing box can be seen in the distance on Station Road East where the barriers have already been raised and cars crossing.
Keywords: 170272 2L77 Stowmarket station

82136, GA 14.00 London LiverpoolStreet-Norwich (1P04, 1L), Stowmarket station
DVT 82136 leads the 14.00 Liverpool Street to Norwich into Stowmarket. GA operate a half hourly service on this linewith a journey time of about an hour and three quarters. There are plans to introduce new EMUs that will oust the loco hauled Mk. III trains that Anglia are promoting as "Norwich in 90". They are due for introduction in 2019.
Keywords: 82136 1P04 Stowmarket station

90015, GA 14.00 London Liverpool Street-Norwich (1P34, 1L), Stowmarket station
90015 'Colchester Castle' pushes the 14.00 Liverpool Street to Norwich 1P34 service away from Stowmarket station. The replacement concrete footbridge can be seen in this picture. This was installed when the line was electrified to give greater clearance for the wires. The old footbridge was carefully removed and lives on at the superb Weybourne station on the North Norfolk Railway.
Keywords: 90015 1P34 Stowmarket station

170202, GA 14.44 Cambridge-Ipswich (2W21,RT), Needham Market station
170202 leaves Needham market station forming the 14.44 GA working from Cambridge to Ipswich. As with most of the units working these services, we saw them more than once during the day, this one we observed at Elmswell, Kennett and Newmarket.
Keywords: 170202 2W21 Needham Market station

Frontage, Needham Market station
The renowned railway writer Gordon Biddle described Nedham station as "one of the best in East Anglia"; quite some accolade! It was designed in a grand Jacobean style with decorative brickwork by Frederick Barnes and opened in 1849. It was closed by BR in 1967 and fell into disrepair. After much local pressure, the station was reopened in 1971 as Needham Market but the main building was not part of that process. After many years of total neglect, it was lovingly restored during 2000 for which the contractor won an award. It is grade II listed so it's future is secure.
Keywords: Needham Market station

Images 1-24 of 24 displayed.