3. GN & GE 'Joint' line & to Ely-17.08.81

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1981 > 16. East of England tour-14-18.08.81 > 3. GN & GE 'Joint' line & to Ely-17.08.81

Graham and I partially retraced our steps from yesterday back along the doomed GN & GE Joint line from Spalding to March hoping, as it was a Mondy, to actually capture some trains traversing the route. Following this we headed southeast across the Fens to Ely before heading north a short distance towards King's Lynn to then wild camp overnight at Wallington-cum-Thorpland just north of Downham Market. All this was after capturing a little ECML action at Essendine first thing. We were blessed with some super summer weather on this day that made a pleasant and welcome change!

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Images 1-30 of 30 displayed.

55007, 08.07 York-London King's Cross (1A08), Essendine TF043129
Utilising my 135mm telephoto lens fitted to my Pentax ME Super 55007 ‘Pinza’ is seen tearing down Stoke bank approaching Essendine leading the 1A08 08.07 York to King’s Cross service. The train is composed of air-braked ETH stock with a BG marshalled, as usual, at the front. It is the wide open unbroken views of the ECML in locations such as this that I remember so fondly; it’s not the same today with the wires in place, palisade fencing and the smart-looking but, rather dull, Azumas passing this same spot but you cannot prevent progress I suppose!
Keywords: 55007 08.07 York-London King's Cross 1A08 Essendine TF043129 Pinza

47457, 08.30 London King's Cross-Cleethorpes (1D01), Essendine TF043129
Taken against the sunshine at Essendine 47457 (I believe) leads the 1D01 08.30 King’s Cross to Cleethorpes service. I had positioned myself for this train as it was often Deltic hauled but I was to be disappointed on this day but I am glad that I pressed the shutter on my Pentax ME Super capturing this scene that itself is now historical. On this day I did not manage to get the number of the Class 47 as it passed me but using The Bashing Years website revealed that 47457 worked the balancing 13.20 1A21 Cleethorpes to King’s Cross later so I deduced this was, in all likelihood, the locomotive in this photograph.
Keywords: 47457 08.30 London King's Cross-Cleethorpes 1D01 Essendine TF043129

Class 47, unidentified up working, Essendine TF043129
Of dubious technical quality this slide was rescued from the 1981 reject box and, after a fair degree of work in Photoshop, it is deemed presentable. It shows an unidentified Class 47 leading an up King's Cross working past Essendine in Lincolnshire located at the southern foot of Stoke Bank. I suspect that I was ready with my camera on this morning hoping that this train, whatever it was, would have been Deltic hauled suggesting that it may have been an ex-York working.
Keywords: Class 47 up working Essendine TF043129 ECML East Coast Mainline

37017, up coal train, Park Road level crossing Spalding
Split headcode box 37017 leads a short up coal train towards Spalding having just passed Mill Green signal box that can be seen in the background. It is short (probably loss-making) freights such as this that are now almost completely absent from today’s railway and sorely missed by the enthusiast and photographer alike. This particular working was probably a local trip working as, according to the Class 37.co.uk website the locomotive was on March depot both on this day and the previous day only leaving the area working a freight service to Temple Mills the following morning. I did not take a photograph of Mill Green signal box on this day as I took one on my last visit exactly a year previously, see…. https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29682544204/mill-green-signal-box Incidentally, this locomotive is still with us but not currently in use. After ending its career wearing an EWS livery as 37503 it languished at Barrow Hill for many years but has now been moved to the Wensleydale Railway.
Keywords: 37017 up coal train Park Road level crossing Spalding

Spalding No. 2 signal box (GN, 1920)
I took a very similar photograph to this one just a year previously, see….. https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29682543604/spalding-no-2-signal-bo so I am not too sure why I did so again. Some forty years later the only thing that I can think of is that my 1980 image was taken on a very dull and overcast day whereas this one is in some lovely summer sunshine. Spalding’s Number 2 box was opened by the Great Northern in 1920 closing in July 1984 with control moving to Number 1 box at the other end of the station. Notice the Sunblest Transit delivery van parked in the background on Park Road, twelve months previously, Graham's orange Mini was parked in the same spot!
Keywords: Spalding No. 2 signal box GN Great Northern

Welland Bridge signal box (GE, 1882)
Welland Bridge signal box was a Great Eastern 1882 structure that was the first box from the north after the former GN & GE Joint line left the Peterborough line in Spalding. It was at the point where the line crossed the River Welland with a level crossing on either bank on London and Cowbit Roads. The box closed when the line was shut in November 1982 but fortunately, it lives on in a new form named Woodstone Wharf located at the Peterborough NV station on the Nene Valley Railway. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the houses to the left in this photograph both of which have been demolished to make way for the inevitable housing estate.
Keywords: Welland Bridge signal box GE Great Eastern

31287 & 31308, up freight, Postland
On arrival at Postland whilst retracing yesterday's journey from Spalding to March following the former GE & GN Joint railway the gates were closed and an up train was pegged by the signalman in the superb 1882 Great Northern box. 31287 and 31308 are seen heading south east leading what appears to be a rake of 16T vacuum braked mineral wagons. Trains such as this were becoming increasingly rare on the railways by the early 1980s so it was good to record one here. Today, whilst the station building and the box still stand, even if the latter is in a precarious state, the building to the left has been demolished.
Keywords: 31287 31308 up freight Postland

Class 114 DMU, 11.20 Cambridge-Doncaster, Postaland
Graham and I retraced our steps from yesterday following the route of the former GN & GE Joint from Spalding back to March in the knowledge that it would be closing in the not-too-distant future. Indeed, it did close, after a month’s delay, on 29.11.82 but much of the infrastructure remained in place for quite some time. In happier times over a year before closure the 11.20 Cambridge to Doncaster DMU service passes the closed Postland station worked by a refurbished Class 108 set. This particular set is one of the first one hundred and sixty-three (out of two hundred and thirty-eight) that were refurbished as it was only these vehicles that received the blue and white stripe paint scheme. This direct through service would today be useful with this journey now meaning a change at Peterborough.
Keywords: Class 114 DMU 11.20 Cambridge-Doncaster Postaland First generation DMU

31318, up freight, Horsemoor
Having visited Horesmoor yesterday we returned today to find the gates down and a train pegged. My notes state that we were the wrong side of the line with no time hence the shadows and the rather rushed composition of this photograph! However, some forty years later I don’t care as it contains so much of interest as a reminder of what the railways used to be like. 31289 leads a ridiculously short unfitted freight with the requisite brake van on the rear past the 1899 Great Eastern signal box located just south of March.
Keywords: 31318, up freight, Horsemoor.

31179, 13.22 Norwich-Birmingham New Street (1M67), Stonea
31179 passes Stonea a short distance southeast of March leading the 1M67 13.22 Norwich to Birmingham New Street service. Back in 1981 this was a locomotive-hauled service composed of a long rake of Mk.I stock, today, whilst this exact service does not run parts of it do finding you travelling on either a Class 170 or a Class 158 both composed of just two carriages….progress, I’m not so sure? Taken from the safety of the level crossing this signal box can be seen at a jaunty angle caused by it falling into the Fenland soil, two years later it was demolished and replaced with a Portakabin in the same spot.
Keywords: 31179 13.22 Norwich-Birmingham New Street 1M67 Stonea

Stonea signal box (GE, 1883)
Stonea signal box looks as though it may be structurally compromised judging by this image taken showing the rear. Indeed, after giving up trying to support the structure BR capitulated and a couple of years after this photograph was taken the 1899 Great Eastern box was demolished and replaced with a Portakabin. Unfortunately for the signalmen, the gates had to be closed manually and were a good distance from the box so he had to make a dash to and from twice every time a train passed with one recounting on Facebook saying that this used to keep him fit!
Keywords: Stonea signal box GE Great Eastern

Manea signal box (GE, 1883)
Manea signal box is seen basking in the afternoon sunshine with the signalman having opened his huge original window with its distinctive and unusual glazing pattern. The box is an 1883 Great Eastern Type 3 design common to many in this area. Notice the steps that appear to have been made of some sort of industrial gauge Dexion? However, it still maintains it elegant bargboarding, decorative ridge tiles and one finial. In 1992, the box became the fringe box to Cambridge PSB and, at the time of writing in 2023, it is still in use but looks very different to this 1981 view.
Keywords: Manea signal box GE Great Eastern

37087, 12.40 Harwich Parkstone Quay-Peterborough (1B42), Manea
37087 crosses the flatlands of the Fens at Manea leading the 1B42 12.42 Harwich Parkston Quay to Peterborough service. In the mists of time, I am not quite so sure as to why I took this photograph from such a distant location as it hasn’t worked particularly well. Perhaps the train passed us before we had got to a point where we could take a better photograph? Either way, I am glad that I recorded the scene as all of it has now been confined to history apart from the semaphores and they are very much on borrowed time!
Keywords: 37087 12.40 Harwich Parkstone Quay-Peterborough 1B42 Manea

Black Bank signal box (GE, 1883)
Black Bank is a remote hamlet amongst many others in the Fens between Ely and March. Even more surprising was that it once boasted a station that was closed on 17.06.63 and a small good's facility with a shed that still stands. The Great Eastern signal box seen here dates from 1883 and stood on the Ely side of the level crossing that it also controlled. When it was closed in 1988 the top was removed by a local resident with the help of a small team and some primitive machinery and moved to his garden. I am not sure if it still exists.
Keywords: Black Bank signal box GE Great Eastern

Black Bank signal box (GE, 1883)
A second view of Black Bank signal box located between Ely and March. The Great Eastern box, dating from 1883, was closed by BR in 1988 and was then bought by a local resident who removed the top, removed it and set it down in his garden a short distance away. This information was gleaned from the Cambridgeshire Community Archive Network.
Keywords: Black Bank signal box GE Great Eastern

Class 114 DMU, 12.38 Doncaster-Ely, Black Bank
The 14.32 Norwich to Cambridge DMU service passes Black Bank on the approach to Ely North Junction. The train is composed of a lightweight two-car class 108 set that was initially allocated to Cambridge and later to Norwich. They operated widely throughout East Anglia and wider afield in some cases.
Keywords: Class 114 DMU 12.38 Doncaster-Ely Black Bank

Padnal signal box (GE, 1887)
Padnal signal box was an intermediate block post located between Ely North Junction and Shippea Hill. The remote Great Eastern box was built in 1887 and operated until December 1989 when it was destroyed by a fire. It was never rebuilt with the block post simply extended and the level crossing adjacent to the box becoming user-controlled. Notice the signalman's red drop handlebar 'racer' leaning against the steps of the box.
Keywords: Padnal signal box GE Great Eastern

Ely North Junction signal box (LNER, 1926)
Ely North Junction signal box was a tricky one to get to necessitating driving on a track near the old gravel pits, parking up and walking for some distance. On arrival at the box, we then had to scramble up a bank through the undergrowth and commit a small trespass to get this photograph. The box was built in 1926 by the LNER and it was an example of their Type 11a design. It was the busiest box in the Ely area that necessitated a box lad to be rostered on day shifts. The box closed in the spring of 1992 when the signalling around Ely was modernised. Incidentally, when reversing Graham’s Austin 1100 after getting this photograph, I managed to back it into a post bending the chrome bumper and boot lid bringing an end to my learner driver experience; I remember being very upset at the time.
Keywords: Ely North Junction signal box LNER London North Eastern Railway

Ely North signal box (GE, 1880)
Not to be confused with Ely North Junction, Ely North (often referred to as Ely Station North) controlled the signalling as well as the level crossing at the northern end of the station. Like North Junction, North also controlled some early colour lights using a type of Westinghouse power frame (more information appreciated). In this view, the manual crossing gates are seen that were operated by a gate lad during day shifts with the signalman having to undertake the extra job at night. The crossing was for vehicles over 9’ 7” that could not use the notorious and tight underpass that caught many a driver out becoming the network's second most common for bridge strikes. The superb box is a Great Eastern Type 2 dating from 1880. Not long after this photograph was taken the manual gates were replaced by barriers with the box eventually shutting in 1992. Notice the recently painted Great Eastern cast sign in the foreground contrasting with the BR corporate identity sign on the box.
Keywords: Ely North signal box GE Great Eastern Railway

Ely South signal box (LNER, c.1920)
Ely South signal box was often referred to as Station South box due to its location on the end of the platform ramp. It was an LNER box dating from sometime around 1920 but I would appreciate some more accurate information on that if possible. The tall cast signal post carrying a submissive and permissive arm looks superb. To get this photograph (and the rest in this sequence) I suspect that Graham and I were undertaking some sort of trespassing activity that simply would not be possible or tolerated today with the BTP on to one in no time!
Keywords: Ely South signal box LNER London and North Eastern Railway

37075, down freight, Ely station
Taken very much against the late afternoon sunshine 37075 brings a short mixed freight into Ely station from the south. I suspect that the freight was a Temple Mills to March Whitemoor service as the Class 37.co.uk website has 37075 plying between the two during this week. In this view, from the southern end of Ely’s platform, the superb plethora of mechanical signals at Ely are seen silhouetted against the skyscape along with the roof of Ely (station) South signal box. Incidentally, 37075 is still with us currently preserved and operational on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, see….. https://kwvr.co.uk/25059-br-type-2-class-25-bo-bo-diesel-electric-2/
Keywords: 37075 down freight Ely station

Signalling, Ely South
Quite how Graham and I got access to the vast south yard at Ely I am not sure, I believe that we just walked down the edge of the sidings in the early evening light and took our photographs! In this view, looking northeast, the station is seen in the distance with the 17.30 Ely to Cambridge DMU waiting to leave worked by what looks like a Class 105 Cravens unit. To its right, the flat end of 08083 is seen going about its business. The scene is dominated by a marvellous collection of semaphores that would be controlled by Ely Dock Junction which would be to my right shoulder in this view. Notice the Eastern Counties red bus heading out of town along Bridge Road towards Newmarket.
Keywords: Signalling Ely South

Class 105, 17.30 Ely-Cambridge & 37087, 16.42 Peterborough-Harwich Parkstone Quay (1C18), Ely South
As the 17.30 Ely to Cambridge Class 105 DMU service gets away from Ely station passing the South signalbox the 1C18 16.42 Peterborough to Harwich Parkston Quay also leaves worked by 37087. The latter will head off at Dock Junction on the single line via Soham onwards to Ipswich where the locomotive will either have been removed or worked through and returned as class37.co.uk has it working the 1K47 2145 Ipswich to Liverpool Street later in the evening. The DMU will simply make the short hop south on the main line to Cambridge. Notice that a down train is pegged for the submissive route to March, this train is seen in the next photograph of the sequence.
Keywords: Class 105 17.30 Ely-Cambridge 37087 16.42 Peterborough-Harwich Parkstone Quay 1C18 Ely South First generation dmu

37088, 14.25 Harwich Parkston Quay-Bathgate (6S93), Ely South Junction
In the early evening light at Ely Dock Junction split headcode 37088 accelerates off the Soham line with 6S93 14.25 Harwich Parkston Quay to Bathgate cartic train, a well-known working at this time. This train carried various European-built cars along with parts and components to Bathgate but for what purpose I am not at all sure; can somebody please enlighten me? Close examination of the cartics reveals some Volvos on board. As well as a number of the 340 types that were built in Holland there also appear to be some 240s on the lower decks. This train will, after reaching March, have taken the now closed GE & GN Joint line to Sleaford, a useful direct route for freight thus avoiding the busy and congested ECML north from Peterborough that has gone. Also gone is 37088, from being ‘stored unserviceable’ in June 1996 to eventual cutting up in October 2002.
Keywords: 37088 14.25 Harwich Parkston Quay-Bathgate 6S93 Ely South Junction

Ely Dock Junction signal box (LNER, 1928)
Ely Dock Junction signal box was located south of the station according to British Railways (Eastern) enamel by half a mile. It controlled the junction where the now singled track route to Snailwell Junction (now named Chippenham Junction) left the direct route to Cambridge (and ultimately London Liverpool Street). Notice the superb three-doll bracket signal just beyond the box with the down Soham arms installed including an Ely Station North signal box single line fixed distant (bottom left far left as seen). The box is an LNER Type 11a design dating from 1928 and it contained an eighty two lever Westinghouse Brake & Saxby A2 frame. It closed on 10.04.92 with it being demolished two weeks later. Interestingly, by the time it closed the large enamel sign had been replaced with a Network SouthEast version that had the station at a mile to the north. As neither the station or the signal box had moved in the intervening years I am not sure how the distance between the two had doubled!
Keywords: Ely Dock Junction signal box LNER London and North Eastern Railway

Frontage, Ely station
The first station at Ely was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1844 changing little by 1981, when this photograph was taken, and indeed today for that matter. It was slightly more ornate and included some towers that were removed by the LNER when they rebuilt the station in 1929-1930. The original structure was modelled by Francis Thompson (not Sancton Wood as may would have you believe) and is now Grade II listed. I suspect that the station will have outlived the various cars in the station car park on this warm summer evening including a rather nice yellow Mk.II Vauxhall Cavalier.
Keywords: Frontage Ely station

Chettisham signal box (GE, 1883)
As we approached Ely earlier from the west I am not too sure why we did not stop at Chettisham to photograph the signal box but we made up for this by calling in later on our way northwards towards Kings Lyn. Chettisham was the first box on the Ely to March line after Ely North Junction and was a relatively short block section from there. It controlled the level crossing and access to a former Government storage depot that had been converted to a grain store that allegedly sent its contents to various Scottish distilleries. The crossing is now automated and the road quiet but back in 1981 before the opening of the Ely/Littleport A10 bypass the signalman was kept busy in the box with the road being heavily used. Notice the slotted concrete signal post that was probably of LNER origin. The box is a standard Great Eastern design dating from 1883.
Keywords: Chettisham signal box GE Great Eastern

Class 105, 18.07 Ely-Stamford, Chetisham
A two-car Cravens Class 105 DMU catches some soft evening light as it approaches the level crossing at Chettisham. It is working the 18.05 Ely to Peterborough service, a relatively short service across the Fens via March. The large building to the right in this view is a rail-connected grain storage depot that saw pretty regular traffic. Before this use, it was a Government storage depot. There is a local story that when its use as a grain store came to an end and the whole site was demolished boxes of margarine dating from World War 2 were found in deep storage on site.
Keywords: Class 105 DMU 18.07 Ely-Stamford Chetisham First generation dmu

Littleport signal box (GE, 1880)
Littleport signal box is seen in the evening sunshine looking very smart rather like the signalman’s 'K' registration facelift Morris 1800 ‘Landcrab’ in what I believe to be laughably called Limeflower! The box is a Great Eastern Type 2 box dating from 1880 that was in use until 2021 when control moved to the Cambridge regional signalling centre that included the automation of the level crossing barriers. In this view, the manually operated gates can be seen behind the box and the station just beyond to the left. However, on my most recent visit to the area in 2023, the box was still in use but looking particularly precarious, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30041446459/littleport-signal-box-ge-great-eastern
Keywords: Littleport signal box GE Great Eastern

Hilgay signal box (LNER, c.1925)
An antiquated scene at Hilgay that could well be dating from a much earlier era only dated by the signalman’s Mk. IV Cortina in the background. Hilgay box was installed by the LNER around 1925 when the company was undertaking a cost-saving exercise by rationalising their signalling; sounds familiar doesn’t it! This box and frame were actually second-hand when erected here but, as eagle-eyed readers will have noted, it would have come from the Great Eastern as it is actually one of their 1881/2 designs. Its original location prior to being here at Hilgay remains unknown. The box was closed in 1982 just two years after this photograph was taken when the block post was extended to run between Downham Market and Littleport was created and the manual gates automated.
Keywords: Hilgay signal box LNER

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