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"Two or three of us are planning a trip to Peterborough on Thursday - only a tenner for over 50s (At last - some tangible benefits for increasing years...) - Central Trains special offer - do you fancy a day out? We could have a ride on the Nene Valley".  I'd paid a couple of brief visits to the Nene Valley Railway - both some time ago - but never travelled on the line. "Yes, why not - I could do with a day out without having to drive".

The special offer was available from Birmingham New Street - it would cost nearly as much to get from Shropshire to New Street, but it would still be good value. It was a pleasant run, too, out through Nuneaton (over the rejuvenated flyover and into the brand new platform) and Leicester, then via Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Stamford. We lost a little time due to engineering works, but still had plenty of time for lunch before heading for the Nene Valley station and the second round trip of the day, departing at 1.45pm. In time-honoured tradition, the lunch took a little longer than intended, and the gentle stroll became a moderate sprint, but we made it - just.

The Nene Valley is home to a fine fleet of locomotives from home and abroad - however it would appear that none of the continental locomotives are operable at present. The NVR website indicated the availability of four steam locos - B1 1306, 73050, the inevitable "Thomas" and a visitor, pannier 6412, normally resident on the West Somerset Railway, and it was the latter that greeted us at the station, at the head of four ex-BR MkIs. At least it wasn't Thomas... (73050 was sans boiler in the shed yard, and an LNER tender lurked deep within the shed)

We had a pleasant run to Wansford, where the train stops for the best part of 20 minutes before continuing the short distance to Yarwell Junction, which is purely a run-round point. I decided I'd had enough excitement for one day, and stayed at Wansford - I could then perhaps manage departure and arrival photos, as well as one or two records of the other stock, some of which is on display in the station area.

Before long, we were on our way back to Peterborough - time for one or two more photos, including a little main line activity perhaps (I have to confess that the narrowboat passed under the bridge about five minutes before the sprinter passed over it...), before joing our train for the run back to Birmingham, and our train back to Shropshire. A good day out - must watch out for some more of these offers. What a shame they aren't available to start a little nearer home.

Links:

• Nene Valley Railway
• Central Trains

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