Nene Valley Railway

No chance of replicating this with the goods I suppose.
78018 Lynch Bridge NVR by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

If the weather plays ball, the timings might workout for something like that - I'll put it to the rest of the group as a possibility...

 

News from the Nene Valley via the BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgp9wrr7vpo

 

It seems they've really struggled the last few years - in my perception more than most heritage railways, though maybe they're just more open about it. But they've had some big celeb locos on the line in recent years - these events are often what top up the coffers, has that not been the case here?

 

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The general air of financial gloom may have a lot to do with this.

Have a look at their annual accounts on the Companies House website.

 

A fantastic day had today on the final Mickey Mouse charter, with the forecast rain holding off until we were finishing our last shot at 6pm. Having something face Peterborough was a welcome change and enabled some new shot opportunities to be presented. As ever, a huge thanks to those planning and running these events.

 

I wonder if the photo here was taken by one of the participants?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz0pyz4274vo

 

Unlikely - appears to be on a driver experience day rather than the photo charter...although it could be a participant who was also there on other days of course.

 

Following on from other threads on here (when you can get past the AI/LLM bots to read them, that is), the Nene Valley Railway has launched a "Resilience Fund" appeal:

https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/164/resilience-fund

Donations to the railway can be made via that link: other areas of interest have their own donations links at https://nvr.org.uk/section.php/8/1/donations .

 

Ah. "The pump trolley overhaul was completed and it has returned to service - with good media coverage." One of the positives from the year! Quite a turnover of Trustees. Only approx. 36,000 passengers. No wonder there are so many appeals. They do well to keep going at all.

 

Why not come and support one of the more proactive groups on the railway - a whole weekend of opportunities to drive Peak 45051 'Royal tank Regiment' on our fitted freight rake alongside the service passenger trains.

Sat 8th & Sun 9th August 2026

Take the controls of a heritage diesel locomotive and experience the world of a traditional British Railways freight train at Nene Valley Railway.
Drive the locomotive, ride in the brake van behind your own freight train and discover how goods trains once operated across Britain’s railways.
Two opportunities to drive the locomotive
Visit the historic Wansford Signal Box
Ride in the Brake Van and experience the Guard’s role
Light refreshments included
Bring along one guest to ride in the Brake Van

https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/553/peak-of-summer-freight-driving-experience

 

From NVR FB:

"GWR No. 6024 King Edward I to Visit the NVR
We are delighted to announce that GWR No. 6024 King Edward I will be visiting the NVR over the weekend of 10–11 October.
This will be the first King Class locomotive to operate over the former LNWR route on the NVR. In addition to hauling passenger services on Saturday 10 October, the King will also haul our popular Jolly Fisherman Train, The Cornish Riviera Express, on Saturday evening. Passenger services will continue to operate on Sunday 11 October.
The locomotive's visit is made possible through the generous support of the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust, to whom we extend our grateful thanks.
Tickets will go on sale on Thursday 11 June.
https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/564/travel-with-a-king
https://nvr.org.uk/.../the-cornish-riviera-express-jolly...
We look forward to welcoming this magnificent locomotive to the NVR for what promises to be a memorable weekend."

https://www.facebook.com/NeneValley...gwQ3hwDPeDr5oZ2cmXPFnqFJUMkiS9RMpDyVy2ypPBFyl

 

**ANNOUNCEMENT**

'European Steam Preservation Society'

A new society to be based at the Nene Valley Railway has arrived! Built on the history of the NVR and its continental roots, the aim of this new society is to focus on the restoration and operation of locomotives from across Europe, preserving continental steam in the UK for the 21st century - The European Steam Preservation Society.

So with this, comes our first major announcement. We are pleased to share with you all that we have been offered a stable mate for Nene Valley Railways 656, its elder sibling no less - Danish State Railway F class number 654!

With the Nene Valley Railway operating its own Danish F class, no. 656, interest in its restoration and operation has been received far and wide, notably from Neumünster, Germany. At the Kulturlokschuppen museum, identical locomotive class member no.654 resides in static condition, having last ran in 2017. With the Neumünster museum due to recieve a new locomotive next year and space limited, it's current owners have expressed their desire to sell 654 onwards to a new home, with the wish that it returns to operation under new ownership.

Following an in depth conversation with the owner, and a visit to see 654 in Neumünster by two of the groups members, the decision was made to create the European Steam Preservation Society and look to purchase the locomotive, bring 654 to the Nene Valley Railway, and operate the loco once restored to running condition.

This is a unique opportunity, both for the Nene Valley Railway and for the fledgling 'ESPS', and we are extremely keen to share this opportunity with all of you!

So far, a deposit to secure the locomotive has been submitted and and agreement between the two parties is drafted. After this and once the society has completed all relevant documentation, fundraising will open to finalise purchase and transportation of the locomotive to bring 654 to rejoin its twin at Wansford.

The condition of 654 has been assessed and signs are promising that the locomotive can expect a return to steam swiftly and without too much difficulty.

We can't wait to show more of 654, the society, and how you can get involved! Watch this space for more exciting news updates coming over the coming days and weeks!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BoYfJiJxT/

 

Good luck to them but I hope they’ve got deep pockets. Buying a loco is the easy bit. Overhauling it is whole different and expensive matter.

 

Something a lot of people seem oblivious to - and I'd also suggest that once you've steamed it, that's when it becomes a different sort of expensive.

 

Best of luck to them. It's been sad to see so many of the continental locos and stock leaving the NVR in recent years, when they ought to be the line's USP. Let's hope this new group can help to turn things around.

 

But how many folk in the UK are actually interested in locomotives from overseas if they're not on their home turf?

 

Hi all,

As chairman of the newly formed European Steam Preservation Society, I thought I’d address the points made above to clarify our position

Firstly, the group is made up of volunteers who have been involved with heritage steam and railways for a good few years now, and we all understand how preservation goes, and the costs involved - which is why we have visited the loco and carried out a thorough inspection to start devising a scope of works for the overhaul. Yes we can’t inspect everything until it’s fully stripped - but it gives us a good basis of where to start.

In regards to overhauls, I have been involved as both a volunteer and member of staff across two preserved railways and a restoration business, while other members of the group have been involved in both cosmetic and full overhauls - one of which is turning into one of the most comprehensive overhauls of an industrial loco in preservation - so we know exactly what we are getting into.

Regards funding, we have on our team someone who is exceptional at fundraising and grant applications, and who has raised well into the tens of thousands for the NVR and associated projects there.

On the final point of how many people want to see continental steam in the UK - both 656 and 5485 at the NVR have proven themselves as crowd pullers, and we often get asked when they are running compared to other locos we have had - interestingly there is also more support publicly for overhauling the Continental locos than the British ones which are stored, as found out by a poll of supporters on the Wansford MPD page (yes I know this isn’t everyone), but it was an interesting result which shows there is definitely a desire to see Continental steam running in the UK.

If there’s anymore questions feel free to ask and I’ll happily provide the best answer I can

 

Thanks for your detailed reply, Nathan - how's the restoration of Derek Crouch going, by the way?

 

No problem!

its going well, the bottom end is almost there, work is currently on going aligning the slide bars and preparing to inspect and trial fit pistons, then finish fitting the sanding gear and vac pipework and the bottom end will be about done. The cab needs to come off so we can finish some riveting required on the rear bufferbeam, then that can be permanently refitted.

on the boiler the new outer wrapper is virtually complete - the welder is due mid August to weld the two sections together. The new inner box, foundation ring, firehole ring and girder stays are on order and should be delivered later in the year, by which point the bottom end work should be complete so we can then press on and get the boiler finished, with the aim to see the loco on traffic in the first half of next year for the NVRs 50th anniversary