Of course there are occasions where those departments mentioned above do have a need to become involved with matters of historical interest. The Mechanical & Locomotive departments are directly involved with the maintenance and restoration of historic artefacts almost everyday and, for example, might need to pay attention to livery details or the history of the engine. The other departments do, for one reason or another, have a need to involve themselves with the Nene Valley Railway history at times.

Bearing this in mind it is obvious that purely "museum" issues have to be administered and dealt with by a group dedicated to this purpose. This group is called the Heritage & Archive Group and embraces all museum documentation and administration, the Railway's archives, the Railway Letter Service, the Education department, the TPO Group and the Wagon Group.

The Archive

There is an interesting range of plans, maps and track diagrams. Some are copies that the NVR was allowed to make images of, including neighbouring lines of various pre-grouping and pre-BR companies. Some of these items are original and most of this collection is lodged in the Railway's own archive. A number of very early original plans are housed in the Huntingdonshire Records Office.

There are photographs in the Railway's collection from 1878 to date.

History of the Nene Valley Railway from the time before the 1843 Act for its construction from Blisworth to Peterborough was passed, to the present day, has been faithfully recorded and is an on-going process.

There is a separate archive of Travelling Post Office related documentation, literature and ephemera.

The Museum

The whole museum is administered by a small group who are responsible for Accessions and Disposals. Each item whether donated or loaned is catalogued after being recorded in the Day Book register held in the General Office at the Railway's headquarters at Wansford..

In the past there had been a culture of accepting virtually anything that was of a railway interest. As part of the museum registration scheme this had to be firmly regulated with a collection area being firmly established. This embraces an area around the Railway's headquarters at Wansford, including the Great Eastern Railway, Great Northern Railway, Midland Railway, London & North Western Railway, Midland & Great Northern Joint and London & North Western & Great Northern Joint railways, their predecessors and successors.

This collecting strategy also includes Travelling Post Offices and ephemera, associated equipment, photographs and documentation, and Continental locomotives, rolling stock, ephemera, associated equipment, photographs and documentation.

Continental stock

The reason why the Nene Valley Railway became involved in operating locomotives from Europe and to the "Berne" loading gauge may be learned about by reading "Why All This Foreign Stuff!" by NVR member Peter Waszak
Price £1.95 plus 50p p&p. This booklet also includes a chapter on the history of "Thomas".

When the Railway was in its embryonic stage British steam locomotives proved elusive and a small group of dedicated individuals set about exploring the possibility of acquiring locomotives and rolling stock from Europe. Not always popular with the British enthusiasts, the 'foreigners' did create hitherto unknown possibilities and challenges.

The Railway had to be set to the Berne loading gauge to deal with the wider stock and this meant consultation with the Railway Inspector about the way in which this was going to be achieved. Drastic action had to be taken in some instances with the demolition of a very old bridge being an example, while subtle modification to the British coaching stock resulted in step extenders being added to the footboards without destroying their appearance.

The Railway's Continental stock has been attractive to film makers and has often found the quiet rural Cambridgeshire countryside turned into war-torn Europe or fictional action packed films like James Bond's "Octopussy" and "Goldeneye". There are of course numerous other filming uses that Continental trains have been used for including pop videos and advertising.

Much of the Continental stock has an equally interesting history to that of its British counterparts. One example of this being the discovery of holes in a Belgian coach roof, when the vehicle was undergoing restoration work and conversion to a disabled coach. The fitters noticed that the light from outside coming through all these holes came in at an angle. Although some attempt at patching had taken place it was soon realised that these were in fact bullet holes from the Second World War when the coach had been strafed by fighter aircraft. It does beg the question how much interesting history these locomotives and vehicles have

The TPO Group

This very proactive Group has its own website.

The Railway Letter Service

Details of the Railway Letter Service may be found on the TPO website.

Education

Sadly, until quite recently this had been an area of the Railway's activities that had been badly neglected. However, with the appointment of an Education Officer this has taken an upward turn. Details of the Educational facilities are listed here.

Wansford Old Station Building

The proposed acquisition of the original Wansford Station Building, while driven by members of the Heritage & Archive Group, is a 'stand alone' commitment and details may be found here.