INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR

RCD’s Overview

This heritage railway runs through the attractive Nene Valley, from which it derives its name, to a rural country spot at Yarwell. It is easily accessible, its Peterborough station being within walking distance of the city’s national rail station as well as the city centre itself. The railway runs along the former LNWR lines from Peterborough to Rugby and from Peterborough to Northampton (which split at Yarwell Junction), the former of which was for many years a secondary main line. In its early years of preservation the railway had a reputation for operating ex-Swedish and other continental European steam locomotives, but today most of its motive power comprises British steam and diesel locomotives.

Happening This Month: June 2023

• Sevices each weekend (except 24 and 25 June).

• Also Wednesdays.

Key Facts (where and when)

Extent of Railway (where to where):

Peterborough to Yarwell Junction, via Wansford

Principal Visitor Centre:

Wansford Station (PE8 6LR)

Period of Operation*

- All Year (Weekends)

- June to August (most days)

- Late November and December (Special Event Trains)

 [* This is a summary. Please go to the railway’s website for definitive operating days] 

Key Facts (what you’ll see)

Services usually steam or diesel?

Usually steam. Occasionally diesel

Type of Steam / Diesel Locomotives Used:

Range of steam and diesel locomotives

Length of Line:

7.5 miles

Time taken for a round trip:

1 hour 45 minutes

Number of trains per day:

Up to 4 in each direction

Number of Stations:

5 stations

Prices:

Adult Rover: £22. Senior: £20. Child Rover: £9. Family Rover: £55

Time to allow for Visit:

2 to 3 hours

Museum:

No

Shop/Cafe:

Yes/Yes

Picnic/Play areas:

Yes, at Yarwell Junction

Preservation Established:

1970

Car Park Facilities:

Free parking at Wansford Station

Key Facts (Galas/Events/Dining)

Dining Trains:

- Fish and Chips Specials                                                                               

Event Trains:

- Santa Express: Late November and December

- Yuletide Evening Express: December 

Principal Galas:

- Steam Event: March/ April

- Diesel Gala: April

- Branch Line Weekends: May

- Diesel Gala: October 

Experiences:

- Steam Driver Experience

Contacts

Email:                                                                     adminassistant@nvr.org.uk

Telephone:                                                           01780 784444

Website:                                                                www.nvr.org.uk

Social Media:                                                        www.facebook.com/NeneValleyRailway

                                                                                Also on Twitter/ Instagram/ YouTube/ Flickr/Pinterest

INFORMATION FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

Brief History of the Railway and its Preservation  

The heritage railway runs along one of the oldest railways is the country. When the London and Birmingham Railway successfully connected those cities, it immediately set about building a new line from it to reach Northampton and Peterborough via Wellingborough and Oundle, opened in 1847. The importance of the line decreased as other companies constructed more direct lines to those towns, however its fortunes changed considerably when the London & North Western Railway (as the London and Birmingham Railway had become), constructed a line from Yarwell Junction to Seaton, so completing a LNWR through route between Peterborough, Rugby and Birmingham. That route became a secondary main line taking traffic from Norwich and Cambridge to the West Midlands. The route was however a duplication of other routes, and was closed to passengers in 1966. Sections remained open to freight until 1972 at which time the line closed in its entirety. A number of locomotive societies existed in the Peterborough area at around that time aiming to preserve main line steam locomotives, from which the Peterborough Railway Society emerged with the idea of preserving part of the former LNWR line around Peterborough. The local authority in Peterborough was supportive of these aims, and in 1974 it bought the track bed between Longville and Yarwell Junction and leased it to the Peterborough Railway Society to operate as a heritage railway.

Principal Aspiration

Complete the overhaul of its steam locomotives. A replacement building for Peterborough Nene Valley Station.

Steam Operational Locomotives:

(1) SR Unrebuilt Battle of Britain Class (Bulleid) - No. 34081 '92 Squadron'

(2) Polish 0-8-0T Class Śląsk/TKp - No. 5485

(3) Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 - ‘Wissington’

Diesel Operational Locomotives/railcars

(1) BR Class 14 - No. 14 029 (D9529)

(2) BR Class 45 - No. 45 041 ‘Royal Tank Regiment’

(3) Sentinel Yard shunters (10202 'Barabel' and DL83)

(4) Swedish Railways SJ Class Y7 diesel railcar B-2 - 'Helga'

(5) Pacer DMU Class 143 - 143602

Steam Locomotives Under Overhaul:

(1) BR Standard Class 5 - No. 73050 'City of Peterborough'

(2) Danish 0-6-0T Class F - No. 656 'Tinkerbell'

(3) Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 - No. 1539 'Derek Crouch'

(4) Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 - No. 1800 'Thomas'

Diesel Locomotives Under Overhaul:

(1) Hibberd 0-4-0 shunter - No. 2896 'Frank'

(2) English Electric 0-4-0 shunter - No. 1123

Stored/ Under Restoration/ Out of Service:

- Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0 – No.75006

- German 2-6-2T Class 64 – No.64 305

- Swedish B Class 4-6-0 - No.101

- Hunslet 0-6-0 - No.1953 'Jacks Green'

- Swedish 2-6-2T Class S - No.1178

- Cockerill 0-4-0WT Tram Engine – No.1626 'Toby'

- Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 shunter – No.304469

INFORMATION ON THE SUPPORT GROUP

Name of Support Group:

Nene Valley Railway has its own membership which provide support. It also has 'Friends of the Nene Valley Railway' for small sized projects.

Annual membership fee:

Adult: £30 (2023 £33). Senior: £20 (2023 £22). Junior £5 (2023 £5.50). Family: £50 (2023 £55). Life: £395 (2023 £434.50).

Benefits of membership:                                  

-          Travel concessions (except Special Events and Santa Travel)

-          Free train travel for working members on production membership card/NVR badge when on duty

-          The opportunity to become a working member

-           Quarterly Magazine, ‘Nene Steam’

How to Join:                                      Go to www.nvr.org.uk/article.php/50/become-a-member

What They Say About Volunteering:

At the Nene Valley Railway we operate as a combined team and are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for our volunteers. We value and develop volunteers of all experiences and backgrounds. We firmly believe that collaboration amongst our volunteers, who have varied pasts and perspectives generates a more fulfilling experience for all concerned.

How to Volunteer:                                        Go www.nvr.org.uk/article.php/14/volunteering

How to Donate:                                            Go to www.nvr.org.uk/product.php/164

WHY JOIN: Help the railway raise the finance necessary to complete the overhaul of its steam locomotives.

INFORMATION ON OTHER SOCIETIES WITH RELATED INTEREST

Those interested in this railway may also be interested in the following railway societies also listed on this

website:

Traditional Railway Societies:

- London & North Western Railway Society

- Great Northern Railway Society

- RCTS (Peterborough)

Locomotive Societies (steam):

- Battle of Britain Locomotive Society

Model Railway Clubs:

- March & District Model Railway Club

- Spalding Model Railway Club