Whitemoor Yard (1930s), March, Cambs (Large images)

[fen_tiger]

Hello everyone

Whilst visiting my local library earlier this week I happened across the book 'Branch Lines Around March' (published by Middleton Press) they have as library stock. I managed to run off a few photocopies of March station, March yards and Wisbech Station from that book I currently do not have in my own 'Branch Lines Around Wisbech'. For my own recreation project of the former March - King's Lynn through-route, I have been un-avoidable caught up with other matters, hence the lack of new pics of my work lately. *Whitemoor, built between 1929 and 1931, was one of the most significant and largest yards in the UK until complete closure came in stages in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, HMP Whitemoor Prison occupies the Northern section of the yard and part of the former March to Spalding main line. Part of the former marshalling yard was re-opened a few years ago by Network Rail as one of their engineering / ballast recycling facilities. The junction for the now-closed 1847-2001 Wisbech line has been retained for future passenger re-opening possibilities.

These images on this post are taken from my own camera of the paper photocopies obtained from Wisbech Library -





* Wisbech Station in 1887 with only one platform on the down line to King's Lynn; and seen below after its 1902 re-modelling with a new 'Up platform' for March and altered track in the Wisbech & Upwell Tram Depot -


Wisbech East was the junction connecting the double-track main line (1847) from March and the single track main line (1848) on to King's Lynn. The upper right track from the station was the main line on to King's Lynn, with the lower right track being the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Nice yard !

Wish I was a UK RR affection ado

 

[itareus]

Going ever so slightly off topic F_T, what do you think of the recent letters in the "Citizen" propounding the merits of a monorail for the re-opened Wisbech to March section ?

Clearly they were written by people who are experts in transportation theory .

Chris

 

[bl4882]

Those are excellent, info-packed drawings. Thank you for sharing. Were these made by the railroad or by rail fans?

Bernie

 

[fen_tiger]

In reply first to bl4882,

The original track diagrams (I've posted here) of Whitemoor Marshalling Yards was drawn by the then-operating railway company L.N.E.R. (London & North Eastern Railway) about the same time as when the large freight yards at March, Cambridgeshire, were opened in two stages in 1929/1931. If you look closely at the images, there were two sets of smaller reception sidings prior to hump retarders sending the assorted wagon loads into the correct roads in order to make up new goods trains.

The reception sidings just up from Whitemoor Junction (south side of the yards) sent wagons via a hump retarder system into the following roads making up new goods trains ready for dispatching towards Lincolnshire. yorkshire and the North of England.

The reception sidings near to Twenty Foot junction (at the northern approach to the yards) sent wagons south also via a hump retarder system) to the main sidings ready to be made up in trains destined for London and the south, and for East Anglia. The main line to Spalding from March ran along the middle of the yards. At the southern approach to the yards, lay March TMD shed (shed code 31B).

Regarding the 7.8 mile Wisbech branch to my home town, Network Rail have been given £250,000 by the UK Government to carry out a feasibility study of the track and the hopeful possiblity of re-instating passenger services to my town again, after passenger closure of the former through route between March & King's Lynn and the loss of Wisbech East (GER) Station in 1968.

The track (originally double until 1972) between the towns of March and Wisbech is still in place and its connection to the Main line running from Ely to Peterborough through March Station has been retained, even after the old junction point (worn out) was replaced by Network Rail with a modern version when they re-opened Whitemoor yards as their main ballast recycling and engineering works.

My local paper ''Fenland Citizen'' always gets daft comments from readers about the redundant railway line. Talk of a monorail is nonsense straight from someone with no interest with railways.

The track is still in place for its entire 7.8 mile length. All Network Rail would have to do to get it re-opened is lay new CWR track all along the route, build AHB crossings at all the roads and lanes it crosses and build a new Wisbech Station, as the old East Station was demolished in 1971.

If the Wisbech branch ever gets re-opened I for one would be catching the train from my home town. The last time I travelled the branch was in July 1984 when Wisbech saw the last ever passenger train to leave the town - a special charter service for York and Scarborough - put on by W.A.M.R.A.C and the R.D.S (Wisbech and March Railway Action Committee, and the Railway Development Society). I believe the website SIX BELLS JUNCTION should still have full timetable details of the Wisbech - York - Scarborough special. I was one of the lucky few to be a passenger on this train - BR Class 47 and I think maybe 10 or 11 BR MK1 coaches, including a buffet coach.

Two other WAMRAC special charters I was on -

http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/780923wm.htm

http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/790902rd.htm

 

[fen_tiger]

(1) The WAMRAC Wisbech - Cambridge special train service in the early evening at March Station on 23rd September 1978. The return journey back home after a day spent in Cambridge with me (as an 4-year old back then) and my family on this memorable special train service



(2) The 4-car DMU special at Wisbech East Goods Yard - goods platform

 

[gp792]

I don't know much about British railyards, but this is an interesting thread, and I also liked the scans of the Whitemoor Yard. It must have been very busy back in the 1930's.

 

[itareus]

...It must have been very busy back in the 1930's...

Whitemoor Yards were once the second largest in Europe, and the largest in Britain, so yes - very busy in the 1930's.