Nene Valley Railway
The Nene Valley Railway is a 7½-mile standard-gauge heritage line in Cambridgeshire, running through the Nene Valley between Yarwell Junction, Wansford (the headquarters), and Peterborough Nene Valley (close to the East Coast Main Line at Peterborough). The line is unusual in the British heritage scene for its strong Continental European character: it has an extensive collection of preserved European locomotives, was built to the larger UIC continental loading gauge for much of its length, and has been used very heavily as a film location for European-set productions including several James Bond films.
The railway occupies the former London & North Western Railway route from Northampton to Peterborough East, part of the LNWR's east-west network across the Midlands. Closure came in 1972 (passenger 1966, freight 1972). The Peterborough Railway Society was formed in 1974 and reopened the line progressively from 1977 onwards.
The line includes the Wansford Tunnel, the elegant Wansford station (an LNWR survival), and the new Peterborough Nene Valley terminus immediately adjacent to the Network Rail station.
History
The Peterborough Railway Society was formed in 1974 and acquired the closed line. The first reopened section from Wansford to Orton Mere came into use in 1977. The eastward extension to Peterborough Nene Valley opened in 1986, providing direct walking access from Peterborough Network Rail station, and the western extension to Yarwell Junction opened in 2007.
Original line history
The line was the LNWR route from Northampton to Peterborough East, opened progressively in the 1840s. It was always a secondary route but provided the LNWR with eastern access to Peterborough. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1966 and the line closed completely in 1972.
Stations and infrastructure
Wansford is the headquarters and locomotive depot, with the original LNWR station building still in use. Peterborough Nene Valley is a modern terminus immediately adjacent to the Network Rail station. Yarwell Junction is a simple intermediate terminus, and Ferry Meadows is the access point for the country park.
Route and stations
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Special events and operations
The line has hosted multiple James Bond film shoots (most famously GoldenEye and Octopussy) and continues to be a popular film location. Regular events include Continental Galas (using the European fleet), 1940s weekends, dining trains, and Santa Specials.
Visitor information
Peterborough Nene Valley is a 5-minute walk from Peterborough Network Rail station; Wansford is signposted from the A1.