Introduction:

The Nene Valley Railway (NVR) runs over a seven and a half mile section of the London and Birmingham Railway (later LNWR) branch from Blisworth, near Northampton, to Peterborough. The line opened in 1845. A further connection to the West Coast main line at Rugby arrived at Yarwell Junction in 1879. A Great Northern Railway branch from Stamford reached Wansford in 1867. The last section closed in 1972.

The present line is all single track and runs from Yarwell Junction via Wansford station, the headquarters of the NVR, through the Nene Country Park to Peterborough Nene Valley, just west of the former junction with the Midland and Great Eastern Railways.

Signalling:

All the signalling, except one set of electric motor points at Wansford, is mechanical, based on main line practice. The line is split into three sections, each with its own single line staff: -

• Yarwell Junction to Wansford
• Wansford to Orton Mere
• Orton Mere to Peterborough NV

The last two can be clipped together when Orton Mere signalbox is closed and the section becomes then Wansford to Peterborough NV.

When Orton Mere signalbox is open, staff and ticket working can be introduced to enable additional train workings.

A fourth single line section operates from Orton Mere to Fletton Junction on Network Rail. to enable through workings. This only operates on an “as required basis” and with strict co-operation with NR.

All signals are semaphore, most of the arms being to BR design. Several of the facing points use “economical” or 'S' locks to reduce the number of controlling levers. With economical points, the facing point lock and point operation are controlled by one movement. One set of points at Wansford also has a “fouling bar” which prevents the points being operated as a train is on the immediate approach.

Relays are mainly “shelf type”, except for a few associated with the e electric points, track circuits and Ferry Meadows level crossing, which use “930” plug-in series.

The signalling power supply is from 240/12v transformers with 12v battery back up.

Yarwell:

The new platform at Yarwell Junction, built over the winter of 2006/7, was opened during Easter 2007 to allow passengers the opportunity of walking to the local villages of Nassington and Yarwell, or just to watch the engine run round its train.. The new Station building, built during 2007/8 was offically opened on 4th April 2008.

The run-round loop has existed for many years but has been re-aligned and lengthened during 2006 for the new platform. The points at the western end release the locomotive and are hand worked. Those at the eastern end have a ground frame released by an Annetts key on the Wansford – Yarwell staff. An intermediate ground frame is to be commissioned there over the next few months to effectively provide two loops.

Wansford:

This is the biggest site on the railway and is controlled by one of the largest preserved signal boxes still in its original position and performing its original purpose. The lever frame is standard LNW “stirrup handle” with catch handle locking. Services normally start from Wansford and trains can cross here.

The Wansford down starters and two subsidiary signals have GNR somersault arms. One set of points here are operated by GEC HW 1000 electric motors.

Access to the loco yard is controlled by a ground frame electrically released from the signal box. The points for entry to the carriage and wagon siding are controlled by a ground frame released by an Annetts key on the Wansford – Yarwell staff. At the eastern end of the station the line crosses the Old Great North Road (formerly the A1) by a full gated level crossing operated by a 'ships wheel' in the signal box

Near the site of the former Castor station, between Wansford and Orton Mere, there is an interesting signal connected with the demonstration of the TPO line side equipment at Sutton Cross. The post supports a fixed distant arm and a stop arm, the latter being normally in the “off” or clear / raised position. This stop arm is controlled by an electrically released ground frame, operated by the TPO ground staff to indicate when they are ready for the demonstration train to run past.

Ferry Meadows:

At the western end of the station the line crosses the fairly busy access road into the Nene Country Park. This crossing is a standard AOCL. (Automatic Crossing, Locally Monitored) The points for the sidings here are controlled by a ground frame released by an Annetts key on the Wansford – Orton Mere staff

Orton Mere:

The signal box here came from Maxey crossing and the frame from Nene Junction at Peterborough, both on the Midland Railway. Trains can be crossed here.

This is also the junction for the NVR connection with the National Rail system via about a mile of plain track and Fletton Junction on the East Coast main line. The staff for this branch is held in Peterborough power box. The ground frame at Fletton is operated by Network Rail employees.

Peterborough:

The signal box here (not yet in commission) is from Welland Bridge, Spalding and the frame from Grassmore Junction, March, both former Great Eastern Railway.

The points at the eastern end release the locomotive and are hand worked. Those at the western end have a ground frame released by an Annetts key on the Orton Mere – Peterborough staff.

There are also sidings here for the use of both NVR and Railworld.