New England Shed 34E

[thirdline]

Does anyone remember New England steam shed in Peterborough? I was a schoolboy trainspotter in the early 1960's and spent most of my spare time at either Walton crossings or Sages Lane where there was TPO apparatus, these were some of the best places in Peterborough for trainspotting because as well as the East Coast Main Line the ex LMS Norwich to Leicester line ran alongside offering a wider range of loco's to spot.

On Sundays when there weren't so many trains running I used to go to New England shed, I remember there was a high concrete section wall that separated the shed from the railway cottages in front and I used to lean my bike against this wall and stand on the saddle so I could just see over the top of the wall and into the shed area. As I recall there would be loco's in steam sitting outside the north end of the shed, there was a huge coaling tower and also a large water tower, these structures dominated the skyline for miles around. At the south end of the shed was an access bridge into the sheds, the nearby pub was called the Triangle and I guess was so called because there was a triangle of track for turning locos just the other side of the bridge (34E had no turntable I believe). If all was quiet I would cross this bridge and sneak into the sheds hoping to 'cop' a few loco's, I think there was 3 sheds, a repair shed which had a huge traverser capable of holding a pacific, another shed where loco's were stored cold and a third shed where loco's were in steam, I never dared go into this 'live' shed for fear of being caught. Of course these are distant memories and the years may have clouded the facts somewhat.

I have searched the internet for photo's of 34E but all I seem to find are pictures of loco's with just a small amount of the infrastructure showing. I would love to see some period photo's of the sheds themselves and their layout, also some track plans of the area. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[kudu]

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I visited the shed a few times. Try Griffiths & Hooper "GNR Engine Sheds" Vol 1 Irwell Press 1989 ISBN 1 871608 07 4.

Kudu

[thirdline]

Thanks Kudu,

Book ordered from amazon and on its way.

[strang steel]

Not relevant to the thread really, but a photo taken at Peterborough East can be found here:-

http://www.peterboroughimages.co.uk/blog/?p=3075

An interesting combination of Cravens dmu and class 27.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

A nice picture, didn't realize class 27's worked around Peterborough..............interesting.

manna

[strang steel]

Yes. I have a train register for Whitemoor Junction box, March, in the late 1960s and there are a couple of 27s recorded there as well.

The locos are listed as to/from the Peterborough direction, presumably on freights from Leicester.

[john coffin]

Ages ago Ian Allan did a series of books about various BR engine sheds. Volume called, I think Eastern Region would include some details of Peterborough. Another useful volume is the NE one.

Paul

[giner]

Does anyone remember New England steam shed in Peterborough? I was a schoolboy trainspotter in the early 1960's and spent most of my spare time at either Walton crossings or Sages Lane where there was TPO apparatus, these were some of the best places in Peterborough for trainspotting because as well as the East Coast Main Line the ex LMS Norwich to Leicester line ran alongside offering a wider range of loco's to spot.

On Sundays when there weren't so many trains running I used to go to New England shed, I remember there was a high concrete section wall that separated the shed from the railway cottages in front and I used to lean my bike against this wall and stand on the saddle so I could just see over the top of the wall and into the shed area. As I recall there would be loco's in steam sitting outside the north end of the shed, there was a huge coaling tower and also a large water tower, these structures dominated the skyline for miles around. At the south end of the shed was an access bridge into the sheds, the nearby pub was called the Triangle and I guess was so called because there was a triangle of track for turning locos just the other side of the bridge (34E had no turntable I believe). If all was quiet I would cross this bridge and sneak into the sheds hoping to 'cop' a few loco's, I think there was 3 sheds, a repair shed which had a huge traverser capable of holding a pacific, another shed where loco's were stored cold and a third shed where loco's were in steam, I never dared go into this 'live' shed for fear of being caught. Of course these are distant memories and the years may have clouded the facts somewhat.

I have searched the internet for photo's of 34E but all I seem to find are pictures of loco's with just a small amount of the infrastructure showing. I would love to see some period photo's of the sheds themselves and their layout, also some track plans of the area. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Lovely memories, thirdline, thanks for sharing them. In the link that Strang Steel posted, scroll down the 'category' column on the left hand side of the page and click on the links 'Railways' and 'Station Road'. Not necessarily the shed area, but definitely some very interesting photos.

[JeffB]

The LMR had Class 27s D5379 to D5415 allocated to Cricklewood in the early 60s and a few were out stationed to Leicester, and from August 1963 they were regularly seen on workings to Whitemoor Yard. And they all finished up in Scotland by 1970.

[61070]

The LMR had Class 27s D5379 to D5415 allocated to Cricklewood in the early 60s and a few were out stationed to Leicester, and from August 1963 they were regularly seen on workings to Whitemoor Yard. And they all finished up in Scotland by 1970.

Apologies for maybe veering OT with this, but I hope this picture of D5381 (and much else) in the yard at Leicester MPD on 30th April 1966 is of interest. I think it shows what variety the railway still offered us in the mid-1960s. Note, in the background, the two BR 2MT 2-6-0s (78013/28) with cut-down cabs for working through Glenfield Tunnel on the Leicester West Bridge branch; also possibly one of the shed's 840xx 2-6-2Ts.

[strang steel]

The LMR had Class 27s D5379 to D5415 allocated to Cricklewood in the early 60s and a few were out stationed to Leicester, and from August 1963 they were regularly seen on workings to Whitemoor Yard. And they all finished up in Scotland by 1970.

I'm not sure that number series is quite correct,

Here is a photo of D5371 and D5378 at Burton On Trent.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59835095@N02/6263497786/

D5377 also at B o T

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59835095@N ... otostream/

D5372 at Leicester

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59835095@N ... otostream/

O/T I know but there are many other excellent photos there, including D5380 in two-tone green at Leicester.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

That's the first piccie I've ever seen of the cut-down 2MTs. Many thanks for sharing. They look almost like an Ivatt cab at a glance.

Hmmmm.

That gives me an idea.....

[61070]

Ay up m'duck! (as those of us who learned our native tongue in Leicester say)

I've posted a couple of pics I took in Feb 1966 of 78013 with its cut-down cab in a new topic at viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7802

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up, 61070!

Super, many thanks!