Very comprehensive look. I visited Peterborough a couple of years ago and walked round to Peterborough East, there's quite a bit of it left to see. If you get time then Railworld is a great place to visit with some brilliant views of the March lines from viewing platforms and a lot of railway stuff on display.
I remember working as an on site service technician in Wisbech in the late 1990's, the railway line went to a tin can factory "Carnauld Metal Box" and the pet food manufacturer "Nestle Purina" in Wisbech. Nestle Purina had a large railhead with several sidings. The level crossing on Weasnam Lane in Wisbech was eventually closed, and they re surfaced the road after the line was lifted. I was only a young man at the time - I never realised I was witnessing the end of an era.
Great video! About 50metres past the signal box at Manea is a 1930s brake van on an abandoned siding. It has been rotting there for over 30 years poor thing, you can see it from the station and as you go past on the train. March town is very nice, there’s a good small museum which has loads of railway stuff from the marshalling yard to the north, well worth a visit. I am sure you are aware that Peterborough has a heritage railway Nene Valley, well worth a visit next time you go there trainspotting. There’s also a railway museum next door (railworld). I like this line, there is lots to see and do.
That ramp bridge was originally for the Royal Mail sorting office, which was on the site of the Waitrose shop, it closed and moved to a new building in Werrington Peterborough around 1999, can't remember the exact year. but remember the postmen loading mailbags into the BSO guard's coach
Amazing sidings once at Whittlesea/sey. I wonder if there's anything left in the woods where they were. Probably all stripped out by now. Ooh! A 28 year old Transit van that may not be long for this World.
Chicken Bake! (Do love a Chicken Bake from Greggs!) Great video Sarah and do like some of the station waiting shelters as well. Been ages since I've been to Peterborough
Chicken bakes are my absolute favourite from Greggs! Glad you enjoyed joyed the video! Last time I went to Peterborough was in 2018 so its been a fair while.
im loving all the stations on this line & def looks like a good line for trainspotting with the amount of freight & id be happy to spend 2 hours at each station trainspotting but maby when the weather gets warmer & Peterbrough looks like a brilliant station for trainspotting with the veriety of stuff you get at that station including those AZUMAS which im loving awesome vlog & im looking forward to the next adventure
A station in the early morning is a magical place 🤩 Loving the wooden waiting areas and well done for mentioning the importance of staying well behind the yellow lines. 🫡
I thought that the Birmingham New Street - Cambridge service went on to Stansted Airport ! Nice to see the Liverpool Lime Street - Norwich service still in, err, service. It used to go on to Great Yarmouth back in the '90s.
There was a bit of a dead spot on Traksy as you travel through there. For me it didn't recognise Manea and it took me a while to figure out which controlling station it came under as I followed the numerous trains I took that week.
Just discovered this video, I was on duty in whittlesea signalbox the day this was filmed. We get plenty of spotters. The semaphores are being replaced in mid October this year. Works already started to prep for it.
Brilliant video Sarah, I honestly never knew this like was called the Hereward line. I've been down this line twice so far, I love how theres still semaphore signals on it. Peterborough is a location I love spotting at because of all the variety that goes through although you do need an hour on the north end and an hour on the south end to get everything through there.
Judging by the size of Wisbech today, it could probably do with a connection to the network. Maybe as part of a new faster North Norfolk connection to the ECML
Its been talked about for decades, I think it is very unlikely to happen now, as the line was lifted across the A47 bypass Rd, and I read somewhere that new lines are not allowed to be put across main roads anymore which would necessitate a bridge or tunnel, no chance of that happening. There was talk of putting a station alongside the bypass, but it seemed (to me at least, like a bodge up solution). Can't see any of that happening either. Wisbech will just continue to gently fade into history.
Cool🙂. A lot of interesting history there, Whittlesea station does look a bit bleak though, hope you enjoyed your saunter down by the bower. I would have been on that line that day but weather was a bit grim so went on NYE instead on my way to Kings Lynn, also went on the 2nd towards Stansted but Storm Henk had other ideas. Had to get an Azuma home instead! I know Whittlesea is an old spelling of Whittlesey, I just find it interesting that there are only 2 Whittlesea's and the one in Australia used to have a train station and now doesn't. Thanks for the vid🙂
I love your commentaries, Sarah, well done. I have now also subscribed. I live not far from Peterborough which is why I was interested in watching your video on the Hereward Line. I'd like you to explore the single car run between Peterborough and Lincoln which would make an excellent video, especially as you also have the new Werrington Diveunder to negotiate. Thanks again. Eric.
When you go back to Peterborough you need to check out the Great Northern Hotel. It's getting a bit run down, by all accounts, so may not be there much longer, unless it's getting a complete makeover. It nearly closed a few years back. But it's part of the railway history of the area.
A couple of the Midland Mainline Stations have the zigzaggy roof style. How's the flooding round there? I saw fields that were like small oceans back in November.
That's the Bedford Levels, between the New Bedford River and the Great Ouse. They flood every winter. Designated flood plain as the dykes protect the Fens which are below sea level. The A1101 at Welney is frequently closed for weeks when the flooding takes place.
Long time no see and that was a bumper edition. What was Manea pit? An old quarry? Amazes me the amount of rail infrastructure we've lost in this country. Our current system is standing on the shoulders of giants.
Went to Manea in February one year for the east coast diverts......it's bloomun feezing lol. Oh goody the shed is still there !!!! Ahh yes the Bittern Line poster......guess who lol lol. There are 22 Wendy's in the UK now. That cup could have come from Huntingdon which I'm guessing is the nearest. Azuma's are not that bad I thought. Did Leeds to Kings X and wasn't too stiff lol.
Ely! Where trains never know when they're coming or going! 😀 (Thinking how some through trains turn round here. Bet the Liverpool to Norwich ones were late. It's what they do! I thought it was Man-ee-ah too. Worth researching stuff like that! - because often centralised recorded announcements aren't always accurate. Our local on board bus announcements are laughable.
I've just come upon your channel. I have subscribed. This is a great video! I watched it whilst my wife was watching "Strictly"! Always interested to hear correct pronunciations of place names and, like you at the beginning, I had always thought it was pronounced "MAN-eya" which is what my father always said and he paired it with nearby Stonea. Is this pronounced "STONE-EE" do you know?
Do they have assisted unloading for disabled or do you do ramp on your own? Shame you can’t push a button so drivers /control are informed further up the line for a request stop (like the old halts) it would make life so much easier
The first time the train I've driven has been UA-cam content!!! I thought that was you on the platform 😂
Glad to put your train on UA-cam! 😁
I am a regular visitor to Ely station - it is probably my favourite.
Excellent video as always, also love the fact that manea level crossing still has old halogen lights 😊👍
Excellent video Sarah
There used to be a UK Fertilisers depot next to Whittlesea station, which may be why there is a disused siding
Very comprehensive look. I visited Peterborough a couple of years ago and walked round to Peterborough East, there's quite a bit of it left to see. If you get time then Railworld is a great place to visit with some brilliant views of the March lines from viewing platforms and a lot of railway stuff on display.
I remember working as an on site service technician in Wisbech in the late 1990's, the railway line went to a tin can factory "Carnauld Metal Box" and the pet food manufacturer "Nestle Purina" in Wisbech. Nestle Purina had a large railhead with several sidings. The level crossing on Weasnam Lane in Wisbech was eventually closed, and they re surfaced the road after the line was lifted. I was only a young man at the time - I never realised I was witnessing the end of an era.
Great video! About 50metres past the signal box at Manea is a 1930s brake van on an abandoned siding. It has been rotting there for over 30 years poor thing, you can see it from the station and as you go past on the train. March town is very nice, there’s a good small museum which has loads of railway stuff from the marshalling yard to the north, well worth a visit. I am sure you are aware that Peterborough has a heritage railway Nene Valley, well worth a visit next time you go there trainspotting. There’s also a railway museum next door (railworld). I like this line, there is lots to see and do.
Thanks for the info Rob! I have got Nene Valley on my list of the many heritage lines I want to visit. Going to take a good while to visit them all.
That ramp bridge was originally for the Royal Mail sorting office, which was on the site of the Waitrose shop, it closed and moved to a new building in Werrington Peterborough around 1999, can't remember the exact year. but remember the postmen loading mailbags into the BSO guard's coach
Amazing sidings once at Whittlesea/sey. I wonder if there's anything left in the woods where they were. Probably all stripped out by now.
Ooh! A 28 year old Transit van that may not be long for this World.
Chicken Bake! (Do love a Chicken Bake from Greggs!) Great video Sarah and do like some of the station waiting shelters as well. Been ages since I've been to Peterborough
Chicken bakes are my absolute favourite from Greggs! Glad you enjoyed joyed the video! Last time I went to Peterborough was in 2018 so its been a fair while.
im loving all the stations on this line & def looks like a good line for trainspotting with the amount of freight & id be happy to spend 2 hours at each station trainspotting but maby when the weather gets warmer & Peterbrough looks like a brilliant station for trainspotting with the veriety of stuff you get at that station including those AZUMAS which im loving awesome vlog & im looking forward to the next adventure
A station in the early morning is a magical place 🤩 Loving the wooden waiting areas and well done for mentioning the importance of staying well behind the yellow lines. 🫡
Looked a fab day out..... albeit chilly.
I thought that the Birmingham New Street - Cambridge service went on to Stansted Airport !
Nice to see the Liverpool Lime Street - Norwich service still in, err, service. It used to go on to Great Yarmouth back in the '90s.
There was a bit of a dead spot on Traksy as you travel through there. For me it didn't recognise Manea and it took me a while to figure out which controlling station it came under as I followed the numerous trains I took that week.
10:02 You know why that bike fell over don't you? It was two tired HA!
That was a terrible joke 😂 I audibly groaned reading it.
Just discovered this video, I was on duty in whittlesea signalbox the day this was filmed. We get plenty of spotters. The semaphores are being replaced in mid October this year. Works already started to prep for it.
Brilliant video Sarah, I honestly never knew this like was called the Hereward line. I've been down this line twice so far, I love how theres still semaphore signals on it. Peterborough is a location I love spotting at because of all the variety that goes through although you do need an hour on the north end and an hour on the south end to get everything through there.
Lovely video starting from my hometown.
Love your pronunciation of Manea
😂
Pronunciation was so all over the place with that one 😂 Must learn the station names better next time.
very enjoyable video, looking forward to your next adventure. 😊
Judging by the size of Wisbech today, it could probably do with a connection to the network. Maybe as part of a new faster North Norfolk connection to the ECML
It's honestly always surprised me that there isn't a station in Wisbech anymore!
Its been talked about for decades, I think it is very unlikely to happen now, as the line was lifted across the A47 bypass Rd, and I read somewhere that new lines are not allowed to be put across main roads anymore which would necessitate a bridge or tunnel, no chance of that happening. There was talk of putting a station alongside the bypass, but it seemed (to me at least, like a bodge up solution). Can't see any of that happening either. Wisbech will just continue to gently fade into history.
Cool🙂.
A lot of interesting history there, Whittlesea station does look a bit bleak though, hope you enjoyed your saunter down by the bower. I would have been on that line that day but weather was a bit grim so went on NYE instead on my way to Kings Lynn, also went on the 2nd towards Stansted but Storm Henk had other ideas. Had to get an Azuma home instead!
I know Whittlesea is an old spelling of Whittlesey, I just find it interesting that there are only 2 Whittlesea's and the one in Australia used to have a train station and now doesn't.
Thanks for the vid🙂
Wow nearly a whole hour. Happy new year Sarah.
My neck of the woods. Don’t recall ever seeing you there before.
God remember going along that line several times a year when I was in the Midlands for uni
Another splendid video. Happy new year to you. As always a very good video. Looking forward to seeing more. Take care
I love your commentaries, Sarah, well done. I have now also subscribed. I live not far from Peterborough which is why I was interested in watching your video on the Hereward Line. I'd like you to explore the single car run between Peterborough and Lincoln which would make an excellent video, especially as you also have the new Werrington Diveunder to negotiate. Thanks again. Eric.
A very good Thursday evening young lady from Alan in Lowestoft and a awesome video 😊❤
When you go back to Peterborough you need to check out the Great Northern Hotel. It's getting a bit run down, by all accounts, so may not be there much longer, unless it's getting a complete makeover. It nearly closed a few years back. But it's part of the railway history of the area.
Wonderful level crossing gates so much better than the lifting type.
Whittlesey/Whittlesey is my town. I use that station regularly.
A couple of the Midland Mainline Stations have the zigzaggy roof style.
How's the flooding round there? I saw fields that were like small oceans back in November.
That's the Bedford Levels, between the New Bedford River and the Great Ouse. They flood every winter. Designated flood plain as the dykes protect the Fens which are below sea level. The A1101 at Welney is frequently closed for weeks when the flooding takes place.
Long time no see and that was a bumper edition. What was Manea pit? An old quarry? Amazes me the amount of rail infrastructure we've lost in this country. Our current system is standing on the shoulders of giants.
Hi Sarah at whittlesea I worked at the factory nearest to the level crossing i was a sewing machine mechanic
Went to Manea in February one year for the east coast diverts......it's bloomun feezing lol. Oh goody the shed is still there !!!! Ahh yes the Bittern Line poster......guess who lol lol. There are 22 Wendy's in the UK now. That cup could have come from Huntingdon which I'm guessing is the nearest. Azuma's are not that bad I thought. Did Leeds to Kings X and wasn't too stiff lol.
Ely! Where trains never know when they're coming or going! 😀 (Thinking how some through trains turn round here.
Bet the Liverpool to Norwich ones were late. It's what they do!
I thought it was Man-ee-ah too. Worth researching stuff like that! - because often centralised recorded announcements aren't always accurate. Our local on board bus announcements are laughable.
Quite a few of the Liverpool to Norwich ended up being cancelled that day so they didn't get the chance to be late 😅
@@sarahwiththetrains They do that too! Been there! 😢
Ely station is one of the coldest places in the UK.
Agreed!
@@sarahwiththetrains
So was Hainford Hall scrap yard.
Ely Cathedral I remember as being the coldest cathedral I've sung in.
Great video Sarah!
Ditto my comments elsewhere.
🙂👍
Nice hat
I’ve been on this.
You need to get a decent windsock for the microphone. Looked like a good day for spotting class 66s shipping fresh air around the country.
I will have to invest in one. Even with the current one the wind was too bad.
I've just come upon your channel. I have subscribed. This is a great video! I watched it whilst my wife was watching "Strictly"! Always interested to hear correct pronunciations of place names and, like you at the beginning, I had always thought it was pronounced "MAN-eya" which is what my father always said and he paired it with nearby Stonea. Is this pronounced "STONE-EE" do you know?
Do they have assisted unloading for disabled or do you do ramp on your own? Shame you can’t push a button so drivers /control are informed further up the line for a request stop (like the old halts) it would make life so much easier
Sorry you came to march during its so called improvement works. Dont blame you for not putting any footage of it in the video.
Original intention was to put some footage of March but yeah with all the fencing and such it wasn't looking great.
@sarahwiththetrains yeah is a bit of a mess which is unfortunate as the town with lots of history.
How do you know where the freight trains are going to and from?
Something called realtime trains I suspect
''STAND BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE ''- I agree but I can hardly feel the passing train to be honest
Manea - Pronounced "May-knee"
Manea is prounced mayne just to let you know
May nee.
Meet up for a coffee sometime?
OK. Scrub that idea then. I didn’t know that you were in a relationship. Apologies.