For Sale: LMS CCT 37066

Following a review of the rolling stock on the Nene Valley Railway, the board of trustees have taken the decision to dispose of LMS CCT No. 37066.

The vehicle was built in 1938 by Metro Cammell. The vehicle is complete and sold as seen. The end doors have been modified from when the vehicle was used in the film Octopussy.

Due to the NVR being a Registered Museum, preference will be given to other museums and or charitable organisations.

The vehicle is currently at the Peterborough end of the line and transport can be organised from here.

For expressions of interest and further information please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">

Matheran Light Railway 740

Railworld was pleased to be able to conclude the sale of Matheran Light Railway (MLR) 740 to the South Tynedale railway where it will be restored to full operational condition. For information on the South Tynedale railway follow this link to their website: http://www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk/

Technical Specifications

Due to the tight curves on the MLR, 740 is an articulated 0-6-0. The locos were built by Orenstein & Koppel of Berlin embodying the Klein-Lindner patents for articulation. This articulation is interesting in that it is closer to the Heywood design than Klien-Linder, only the centre axle having side play. The outer axles are ‘radial’ only. A further interesting detail is the method employed for transmitting side movement of the centre axle connon to the radial axles. In these locomotives with the trailing axle behind the firebox, a longitudinal shaft runs beneath the axles and ashpan, with three upstanding levers to provide interconnection. Outwardly, these locomotives give no clue to their system of articulation, appearing to be conventional, long-wheelbased 0-6-0 tank engines.

History

No. 740 was built in 1907 for the Matheran Light Railway by Orenstein & Koppel of Berlin. This railway provided access to the hill resort of Matheran, around half way between Bombay and Pune (Poona). The line was 12 ½ miles of 2 foot gauge line. The ruling gradient was 1:30, though much of the line is as steep as 1:20. Many of the curves are 60’ radius, the sharpest being 45’.

The locos were very successful in service and the fleet of four locomotives worked the line exclusively until the introduction of diesels in 1965. After this the locomotives continued in service alongside the diesels until they were withdrawn in 1982. MLR 740 was given a Periodic Overhaul six months before final withdrawal. The engine was acquired by the Amberley Chalk Pits Museum and arrived in the UK on 28th November 1986. It was donated to Railworld in 1991. MLR 740 was in service on the Leighton Buzzard Railway between 2003 and 2008.

All four members of the class are preserved, however No. 740 is the only locomotive of the class outside India as the other three are all in Indian Museums. This makes 740 the only locomtive outside India showcasing the Klien-Lindner/Heywood articulation method. Test

A video of 740 and her classmates in action on the MLR can be seen at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0120460/the-world-about-us-the-romance-of-indian-railways from 3.10 onwards.

Alco 804

History:

• Built: 1949, Schenectady
• Worked until 1985 at Margham Steel Works, S. Wales
• To Wansford 1985 (Including some engine work)
• To Railworld 1989 where cosmetic work was undertaken
• Engine Started 2009
• Engine last ran in October 2012

For further details contact Phil Marshall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pump Trolley Hire Experiences

If you are interested in a unique experience and an ideal birthday or Christmas present, or to cross it off on your bucket list, then consider one of our Pump Trolley Experiences.

Using the Great Eastern Railway Pump Trolley, restored by The International Railway Preservation Society in 2007, participants are able to experience the thrill of the wind in your hair as you work your way through the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside just as the men who built the line over 160 years ago would have.

Usually taking place on summer evenings when no trains are running, though other times can be arranged, the experiences allow for varying degrees of fitness. In the time allocated participants will receive instruction and then travel on the pump trolley, under the supervision of one of our trained volunteers.

There are several packages on offer:

Pump Trolley Experience

The most popular choice. The pump trolley experience involves a roughly two hour guided journey along our line, although the time can be shortened to suit the participants.

The Course costs £60 for two people, with each additional participant costing an additional £10. Minimum 2 people, Maximum 4.

Time Trial

A more exciting experience for those with more energy and a competitive. Suitable for large groups of 6+ different teams of 2-4 will be timed traveling along a set length of the railway and will try to get the best time. Prizes and certificates can be arranged. Ideal for corporate events or a original and different birthday party idea for ages 16+.

The course will cost £15 each   

Group Experience

Sutiable for groups of 5-12 people, this course allows for several shorter trips for each participant, working in teams. 

These experiences are priced at a set rate of £120. 

With at least two days notice, pump trolley experience can be moved to a different date, however full refunds will not be given except in exceptional circumstances. Cancellations on the day will not be refunded except in exceptional circumstances.

If you would like to order an experience as a gift, let us know and we can send out a voucher valid for a set date.

Before booking this experience potential applicants should be aware that: This experience is Physicaly demanding and is only suitable for persons who are used to vigourous exercise.  Participants should consider if they have any medical conditions which would make it unwise for them to undertake this activity. Paricipants must also wear appropriate clothing and substantial foot wear. Open toed footwear must not be worn. Prior consumption of alcohol is not permitted. Participants will be required to sign a declaration before commencing the experience day. All participants must be 16 or older.

Courses take place most Saturday and Sunday evenings from April to September and start around 5:30pm. If you are interested in a particular date, we ask that you email Adam Paice at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , at least two weeks prior to this date to confirm the date is still available. If you are unable to make a weekend date, please also email us to ask about other specific dates as we are often able to accommodate these. 

If you would like to talk to us about the British Great Eastern Pump trolley via email or over phone, please contact Adam Paice at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Phil Marshall at: 07973109226

The pump trolley is also available for filming work and corporate hire. We have constructed a 30m section of lightweight transportable track which can be taken to events if required. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for this.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.?subject=Pump%20Trolley%20Hire%20Request">

AGM booking form

Please click the Print icon in the top right hand corner (Just about the logo)

Please circle the relevant sections you wish to attend:

Saturday 13th October
Daytime only                       Price: £20

Daytime and evening meal    Price: £60 

Sunday 14th October          No cost

Name:_____________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Postcode:___________

Telephone:_______________________________________

Email:___________________________________________

Please enclose a cheque payable to Nene Valley Railway with IRPS written on the rear.

Alternatively you can pay by card by completing the following:

Please debit my: (Circle the relevant card)

Mastercard             Visa                American Express           Switch/Maestro

Card no.:_________________________________________________________

Expriy date:___________ Issue no.: (Maestro and Switch only)_____________

Security no.:__________

Please print this and return to:

IRPS
Nene Valley Railway
Wansford Station
Stibbington
Peterborough
PE8 6LR

IRPS Membership and Donations Form

Please click the Print icon in the top right hand corner (Just about the logo)

Membership lasts for one year and is charged at £12 for UK based members, £15 for European membership or £18 for the rest of the world. Not only will this help restore our coaches, but you will recieve our biannual Journal filled with information about our projects and CIWL. You will also be invited to our annual international conference.

If you would like to make a extra donation please specify the ammount over and above the  membership fee here: £_________

Name:_____________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Postcode:___________

Telephone:_______________________________________

Email:___________________________________________

Please enclose a cheque payable to Nene Valley Railway with IRPS written on the rear.

Gift Aid Declaration.

To enable the NVR to reclaim an extra 25p in the pound for every donation at no cost to yourselves, if you are a UK tax payer, please tick the ‘Gift Aid’ Box.. This will also include all future donations made to the NVR unless otherwise notified.

I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 that I gave up to 5 April 2008 and will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008.

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.

Please notify the NVR if you:
Want to cancel this declaration
Change your name or home address
No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains. 

Please gift aid this transaction: ⍻

Signed:_____________________________________________

Date: _______________________________

Please print this and return to:

IRPS
Nene Valley Railway
Wansford Station
Stibbington
Peterborough
PE8 6LR

Contact Details and Directions

If you spot any mistakes while browsing the site, or wish to contact us for any reason, please email either:

• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - For IRPS, Pump trolley, website & Volunteering information.
• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Contact for any French visitors and matters relating to the historical aspect of CIWL. (Can be contacted in either English or French)
• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - For matters relating to the Night Ferry.

Alternatively, you can write to us at:

IRPS
Nene Valley Railway
Wansford Station
Stibbington
Peterborough
PE8 6LR
UK

How to find us:

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Directions to Wansford Station:

Turn off the A1 at the new Stibbington fly over, which is 1 mile south of the A1 / A47 interchange and 4 miles north of the end of the A1(M). Look for the large brown "Nene Valley Railway" signs on both the A1 and A47.

Parking is free and available on site.

For Sat Navs key in: PE8 6LR

Links

 Affiliated Societies

• www.nvr.org.uk - The Nene Valley Railway - England. Home to Wagon-Lits coaches no. '2975 VR' and '3916 YTb'
• http://www.railworld.net/  - Railworld – Based next to Peterborough Nene Valley Station, home to Danish E type pacific no. 996
• www.ajecta.org - AJECTA, Longueville - France. Host to an extensive collection of Wagon-Lits coaches.
• www.zlsm.nl - Simpelveld - Netherlands. Home to Wagon-Lits coaches no. 4129 WSP and '4268 WR'.
• www.spoorwegmuseum.nl - Netherlands National Railway Museum.
• www.jernbanemuseum.dk - Danish National Railway Museum.
• www.destoomtrein.nl - Goas - Netherlands. Home to Wagon-Lits coach no.'2757 WR'.
• www.stoomtrein.org - Heritage Railway in the Netherlands. Home to Wagon-Lits coaches no.'2855 VR', '4267 VR' & '4269 VR'.
• www.facebook.com/RailBusTrust & www.facebook.com/NorthumbriaRail - Owners of Swedish Railbus 1212
• www.sncfsociety.org -  SNCF Society A group with an interest in French railways, railway models and other transport.
• www.thepullmansociety.org.uk - The Pullman Society

Other Wagons-Lits Related Websites

• www.nrm.org.uk - The National Railway Museum, York. Home to Night Ferry Car '3792 F'.
• www.nightferry.webs.com - The Last Night Ferry
• www.trains-worldexpresses.com - Website containing much detail on the principle train services of Wagon-Lits.
• www.brightonbelle.com - Bringing back the Brighton Belle.

Join or Donate to the Society

Please email the membership secretary below to join the society of donate. Membership is charged at £20 for UK residents and lasts for one year and in that time you will receive three copies of our joint IRPS and Wansford Mail journal. 

The IRPS side obviously focuses on international railway topics whilst the Wansford mail centres around the carriage of mail by rail, in the UK and overseas.

Membership costs are as follows:

£20 for UK residents.

£25 for European residents.

£30 for the rest of the world.

There is also an option to recieve digital copies of the journal via email. This membership option is only £10 and will be especially appreciated with overseas members who will have to pay for the ever-increasing postal costs.

Queries and membership requests should be sent to the membership secretary, Adam Paice, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Youth Group

The future of the Nene Valley Railway (NVR) depends on the younger generations, which means we must attract younger members and volunteers and develop NVR’s ongoing legacy. This is run through The International Railway Preservation Society (IRPS), a Friends Group looking to progress the museum aspect of the NVR.

In the past few years we have recruited an active and vibrant youth group who are managed by Nene Valley Railway volunteers.

The current group of young people, aged 14 and above, have proven that they can conduct themselves respectfully and maturely both around the public and other volunteers. Their enthusiasm and quality of work has also been impressive, and in a short space of time they have become established members of the railway.

What can I get out of it?

These days many employers are looking for something different from younger people they can potentially hire. Particularly in engineering backgrounds, we hear time and time again, that many younger people have had plenty of smaller scale experience in school, but no ‘real world experience’. Working as a volunteer will:

• Give you practical experience that is so often lacking in school and colleges.
• Look great on your CV and show that you can proactively get up and achieve the goals you want.
• Allow you to gain confidence and take the lead and proactively drive forward the projects you are interested in.
• See tangible results in the real world from your projects.

Projects and details

Any new member will receive a full induction, covering all aspects of safety while working at the NVR and safe working practices e.g. using tools correctly and staying safe on a fully operational railway.

Our teams work both days each weekend (And some youth group volunteers come down mid week on days off from college). We are always flexible and understand that people have other commitments, all was ask is a regular commitment from yourselves.

Saturdays

Saturdays are usually spent at Railworld, next to Peterborough Nene Valley Station. Here our main focus is the large Danish Steam Locomotive, no. 996 which we are cosmetically restoring. This involves stripping parts, needle gunning, refurbishing metalwork and repainting.

Sundays

Sundays are spent working on the Night Mail Project at Ferry Meadows. We are developing a new museum on the site with the youth group at the heart. Here the varied work includes everything from restoration of coaches, site work and preparation, working in our workshops, and building and operating a 5 inch gauge miniature railway.

However this is not all we do as a youth group. We also regularly deal with the operational side of the railway and fundraising at events. We work with the travelling post office group and youth group members will have the chance to work on mail bag exchanges, where bags of mail are exchanged from a moving train. For those who enjoy working with the public, or possible want to gain customer service skills we are regularly involved in fund raising. This varies from selling raffle tickets on the train, manning displays at enthusiasts’ weekend, to working in our mobile post office shop at family events.

The group also has a social aspect, offering the chance to make new friends and enjoy trips to other railways and societies as well as evenings out away from the railway scene.

How to Join

If you are 14 and above and would like to join us, please contact us by printing out this form and sending it in to the Nene Valley Railway.
If you prefer you can contact the railway's office on phone number (01780) 784444 .
Once we have been contacted, we will arrange for the young person, and a parent or guardian to meet me and discuss the volunteer opportunities further.
We welcome people of all ability, both male and female and will endeavour to do our best to cater for any who are disabled.

Annual Conference

Nene Valley Railway - Saturday 13th October - Sunday 14th October 2012

We have had two excellent meetings on the Continent, last year at Simpleveld and in 2010 at AJECTA in France. These meetings have taken considerable organising, but have been a joy with many useful contacts established and friendships made. From the feedback, those who have attended have found the meetings of mutual benefit and in a number of cases this has helped with restoration projects.

Many of our members reside in the UK, a number are elderly and the locations of past meetings have been too far to travel. With this in mind, this year the annual meeting will be here at the Nene Valley Railway and, while this might not have quite the same excitement for our regular attendees, I hope we can provide you with an interesting weekend.

The date of this year's event is the 13th and 14th October. The finalised details are listed below.

A booking form is available here (Please click and print out). 

Please note accomadation is not included. Details of local hotels can be found below.

Saturday 13th October:

• 10.00: Meet at Wansford Station for coffee followed by a general outline of society matters. This will include a question and answer session in an open forum style.
• 12.30 : Buffet lunch served in the Barnwell Tea Room at Wansford.
• 14.00: Tour of Wansford Station and yard and workshops featuring on the Wagons-Lits and work of the carriage shed.
• 16.00 - 18.30: Presentations in the conference room at Wansford.
• 19.00: Evening Meal at a local hotel with time after for an informal social evening over drinks.

There will be time during the day to review the IRPS archive material.

Cost will be: £20 for the day
£40 (plus drinks) for the evening meal

Sunday 14th October

• 11.00: Meet at Wansford for Coffee
• 11.30: Presentation on the restoration of the Swedish Y7 Railbus no. 1212
• 12.30: Launch of the Railbus by former owner Olive Gladden
• 13.00: Round trip of the line on the Railbus. Lunch will be included. Stops will be at:
  • Ferry Meadows: Site of the Night Mail Museum, which will house both Wagons-Lits vehicles.
  • Peterborough Nene Valley: Home of Project 996. A joint venture between IRPS and Railworld to cosmetically restore Danish E Class Pacific no. 996.
• 15.00: Return to Wansford
• 15.00 Onwards: Opportunity to look through IRPS archive material

There will be no charge for this day. However there will be an opportunity to donate to help cover cost of train travel and food and to go towards future restoration and the Night Mail Project if you so desire.

We will be particularly pleased to meet members who have not been to the Nene Valley Railway before. There is plenty of local accommodation available and travel to us by train or car is easy.

We can arrange transport from Peterborough main line station, which in itself is 50 minutes by train from Kings Cross.

We anticipate the meeting for 2013 to be in Denmark, to view the two Wagons-Lits Vehicles of the Danish Museum at Odense.

Accomadation

Accommodation and breakfast are not included. There are a number of hotels of varying price near Wansford Station. A list of accommodation is available on the Nene Valley Website by clicking here.

These include:

Sibson Inn Hotel. This can be booked at by calling 01780 782227 (The rooms have been reserved for the NVR so will not appear on their website).

Please mention Nene Valley Railway when booking. Prices are from £60 for a one person per night. Please note, as of 3/9/12 there are six rooms reserved for guests at the Conference. There is however a wedding reception on the Saturday night so we have been asked to warn guests that there may potentially be some music playing until 1am. We hope this will not be of too great a disturbance.

The Day Inn (A motorway services hotel) at www.booking.com/Days-Inn-Peterborough. Rooms here are from £40.

We will try and co-ordinate transport if you let us know in advance where you are staying.

Schools, Education and Support

As well as our roles within the Nene Valley Railway (NVR) and the youth group we are also heavily involved in other forms of voluntary support. During our youth group’s work on Sundays we have a number of members who have done the voluntary section of their Duke of Edinburgh Award through us.

If you are interested in our support please do not hesitate to get in contact.

School Groups

 We regularly have school groups coming down to do voluntary work which we are extremely happy to facilitate.

During these sessions pupils have not only enjoyed themselves but learnt a wide range of skills. As well as some of the more hands-on practical skills, students have been given opportunities to step back, assess a situation and devise solutions in real life scenarios that they would not otherwise be able to do in classroom environments.

We are able to provide work experience in two formats, either a regular half or full day each week for one academic year, or block work experience for a full week.  The students are usually in the age range 16 – 18, and the work available is wide ranging depending on the capabilities of the students.

Student work experience opportunities are now in the fifth year and currently involve the Oundle School and Prince William School.

Prince William School, Oundle have an annual voluntary week in which up to twenty students have volunteered a week of their time. In the past they have worked on The cosmetic restoration of steam loco no. 101, refurbishing metalwork of the Brickworks Gondola system, and The 5 Ton Castle Bytham Yard Crane amongst other projects.

Students with learning or physical difficulties

The IRPS have found that working with students with these difficulties is particularly rewarding. To facilitate this aspect of our work we have teamed up with Stamford College, who bring students each Wednesday morning accompanied by a member of the colleges support staff.  This work is now in its fourth year, with the students doing three terms with us.  This gives the students work experience and teaches them basic work skills, while achieving worthwhile work on IRPS projects.

Rehabilitation

In conjunction with the NHS we have been able to provide opportunities for adults wanting to settle back into a working environment without the pressure that paid work would entail.  We have found this to be a huge benefit for all concerned.

Back to Work Schemes

We are able to provide volunteer work for unemployed people of all ages and skills. This work has helped a number of individuals gain skills and confidence to find further employment. With regular voluntary work it means CVs do not have large gaps in time on them.

About the Society

The aims of the International Railway Preservation Society (IRPS) are wide-ranging but broadly fit into the following categories:

• The preservation of historic railway related artefacts that would otherwise be lost.
• The preservation of historic information (predominately Wagons-Lits based) that would also otherwise be lost.
• The preservation of skills that would otherwise be lost that we are able to pass onto future generations

On the physical restoration aspect we are based at the Nene Valley Railway (NVR), Peterborough, England. At the core of the Society will always be Wagons-Lits Restaurant Car no. 2975 and Sleeping Car no. 3916 which we are restoring. Both are owned by the NVR and the IRPS has been set up as a support and friends group as custodians of these vehicles. 3916 is our current focus of attention, whilst 2975 will only have preventative maintenance work until 3916 is complete and operational. However over the years we have also become custodians of a number of other railway artefacts and vehicles from both the Continent and the UK as well as a collection of local brickwork artefacts that are historically significant to the local Peterborough area. For details on all our projects please see the Restoration page.

To help preserve these vehicles we are working with the NVR and the railway’s Travelling Post Office Group to build a state of the art facility at Ferry Meadows Station. ‘The Night Mail Museum’ will have a museum building, running shed and restoration facilities on site for all our work. It will also house our extensive archives that will be available for inspection. Please see The Night Mail Page  for more information.

As important as the physical restoration of these vehicles is the historical side to the Society. Members receive our biannual journal ‘Les Grands Expresses Européens’. This is full of articles on IRPS restoration projects, updates on other cars and their various states from around Europe and historical articles. There is significant input from members who are leading historic experts on Wagons-Lits and Continental rail travel and we welcome input from all members.

The Society has recently published our first book on the Night Ferry Service which is available through ­our online shop.

We have an ever expanding archive which has the Late George Behrand’s collection at its heart. As well as thousands of photographs there are important and unique documents and artefacts from the very start of CIWL right through to the present day. These are available for inspection with prior arrangement (See the contact page for details on how to get in touch). The Night Mail Museum will house the archive once it is built and items will be more easily accessible for the general public.