Nene Valley wagon group returns to Railworld
HISTORY repeats itself as the Nene Valley Railway Wagon Group returns to the Railworld museum next to the east end of the heritage line. Following a short period of negotiations, the group has reached an agreement with Railworld to recommence wagon restoration in its sidings after a 20-year absence.
In the early days of the NVR, the original wagon group, under the leadership of Norman Pannell, had based itself at Peterborough Nene Valley station and carried out restoration work in the bay platform and the Railworld sidings.
The first wagon group achieved great things with limited resources, most notably the NVR van train of around BR box vans, which were hauled by famous locomotives such as No. 60103 Flying Scotsman, No. 70000 Britannia, and No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. Since the group ceased activities in the late 1990s, the sidings and the stock therein have deteriorated, with nature reclaiming much of the land.
Ten years on, Tim Hobman, Paul Foxwell and Phil Halstead resurrected the line’s wagon group. Since 2011 it has managed to restore several vehicles to running condition, while maintaining the running rake, and self-financing restoration work with freight driving courses, items for sale and photographic charters.
Over the last decade the group has been based at the line’s Wansford headquarters, sharing working space in the open running shed.
As the group has grown in numbers, so has its ambition. Under Tim’s leadership, it has reached a mutually-beneficial deal with the management of Railworld, which sees the group return to its spiritual home.
The agreement opens up fresh possibilities for wagon restoration and railway heritage, with education of rolling stock and working practices.
Railworld, or the Railworld Wildlife Haven as it is now known, is a much-loved visitor attraction and community asset in the city. Run by volunteers, the project aims to entertain and educate visitors.
Although it is a separate organisation and charity, there have always been close links between Railworld and the NVR. Railworld is divided into two sites on the north and south banks of the River Nene, with the north site (the former power station coal yard) dedicated to wildlife and conservation and the south site (the former LNWR engine shed) being the entrance and home to a garden railway. The sidings in which the wagon group will be working are within the south site, although they are rail-connected to the NVR.
Railworld chairman Brian Pearce MBE said: “I would like to give a warm welcome back to Peterborough to the NVR Wagon Group. I feel it is such an appropriate place for it, given the history of the original group and the history of wagon building close to the Railworld site.
“The Co-operative Wholesale Society Wagon Works was located a few hundred yards west of the NVR terminus station, and Peterborough has a rich history of wagon building, with companies such as Charles Godfrey, Thomas Moy, and Coote & Warren. Railworld looks forward to a fruitful relationship and is pleased to allow the wagon group use of a working area to call its own at long last.”
A working party of group members was on site during the New Year break, with much progress made in clearing vegetation.
Further sessions will see the restoration into original livery of BR 12-ton grounded van body No. B760049 as a mess hut and then the arrival of restoration projects.
Future plans involve a museum space dedicated to wagons, educational information regarding outside exhibits, and a restoration workshop with public viewing area.
This new chapter in the story of the group will see another attraction at the Peterborough end of the NVR for visitors.
➜ Visit https://nvrwagons.wordpress. com for information about the group.