2. Railways

Cambridge-St Ives-March

This collection is dedicated to the memory of the late Steve Wilkinson of Histon who fought tirelessly in conjunction with the Railway Development Society (Rail Future) to re open the Cambridge- St Ives line.

Timeline:-
Chesterton Junction to St Ives- opened 17th August 1847.
St Ives to March South Junction- opened 1st February 1848.

The fifteen and a half mile line from St Ives to March South Junction closed on 6th March 1967 when freight traffic declined. The passenger service was also recommended for closure in the Beeching Report of 1963. Little trace of this section of the line exists today. Long sections have been converted to road and the various cuttings to landfill. Many thanks to Stewart Ingram for permission to include some of his pictures from the last day of working. The passenger service from St Ives to Cambridge closed on 5th October 1970, but fortunately the line stayed open for freight traffic to Chivers at Histon until 1983 and a long term sand contract from ARC at Fen Drayton ensured the line stayed open until May 1992. This section of the line has been totally destroyed by the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway which opened on 7th August 2011. Here are a few photos to show how it looked in it's final operational days plus a few relics. The line was once a very busy freight route to March, Whitemoor Yard and the Yorkshire coalfields with over 70 workings a day, the line being open all night.

Maps used in this gallery. Ordnance survey- 1" to a mile. Sheet 135 Cambridge and Ely (1954) and Sheet 134 Huntingdon and Peterborough (1954)

Cast Iron http://www.castiron.org.uk/

Film of the line in 1968
http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-cambridge-st-ives-1968/

Cambridge- St Ives- March/ Death of a railway 1964.
http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-death-of-a-railway-1964/
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Site of the A14 bridge over the St Ives branch. The crossing in the distance marks the approximate spot where the bridge will be. June 1976.
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Site of the A14 bridge over the St Ives branch. The crossing in the distance marks the approximate spot where the bridge will be. June 1976.

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  • Chesterton Junction to Histon
  • Chesterton Junction
  • Chesterton Junction Signal Box
  • Coming round the curve from Milton crossing, 37075 passes the permanent way depot on its way to join the main line at Chesterton Junction. This was an unusual Saturday afternoon working. 9th December 1978.
  • 31204 carries out some shunting duties at Chesterton Permanent Way depot. 2nd March 1980.
  • 31204 carries out some shunting work at Chesterton Permanent Way Depot. It is about to head onto the main line and then reverse back into the depot. Chesterton Junction box can be seen to the right of the loco. 2nd March 1980
  • Chesterton Junction in May 1961. Unfortunately a rather grainy shot, but it shows the houses that were once located at the apex of the junction. The St Ives line curves in from the left. The houses were demolished sometime in the sixties. I can just about remember them. Compare with next photo. Image G D King.
  • The signalman's view north from Chesterton Junction Signal Box. The line to Ely and Kings Lynn is to the right. The St Ives branch curves in from the left. In the distance 37110 has the clear signal to proceed onto the main line. The area between the two lines is Chesterton permanent way depot. Photo dated November 1980.
  • 37110 leaves the St Ives branch at Chesterton Junction, Cambridge. The second man (Pete Pearson) is preparing to give up "the one engine in steam" token to the signalman. The working is 8L43 Fen Drayton to Kings Cross Yard. November 1980
  • A Swavesey to Liverpool Street special leaves the St Ives branch at Chesterton Junction on a very dull wet 11th April 1981.
  • The scene at Chesterton Junction on 4th September 1979. 37075 is about to leave the St Ives branch onto the main line. The driver (John Houselander) is handing over the "one engine in steam" token back to the signalman. On the left is the token delivery apparatus for Down trains.
  • Early morning at Chesterton Junction. 37097 heads down the St Ives branch with empty coaching stock for a Railway Development Society special to Liverpool Street on 12th April 1980. The second man is picking up the "one engine in steam" token.
  • Taking the single line token at Chesterton Junction. 37089 heads down the branch on 21st June 1981.
  • Gate key and staff for Milton Road Crossing Cambridge. Photo thanks to Richard Pike.
  • Kings Hedges Crossing, Cambridge facing Chesterton Junction. A Railway Development Society Special is passing, heading for Swavesey on 31st March 1979. To the left of here, where the Science Park is now, was an extensive MoD depot. Map here:-- <a href="http://www.norfolksteamloco.co.uk/j94ourloco.asp">http://www.norfolksteamloco.co.uk/j94ourloco.asp</a> It was known as Histon Technical Stores Sub Depot and was originally a US army camp. Opened in 1943, It had extensive railway sidings and a marshalling yard which closed in September 1959. It also had its own signal box with fifteen levers.
  • 37120 makes a fine sight passing Kings Hedges Crossing, Cambridge with a loaded sand train from Fen Drayton. The A14 road bridge is in the background. 15th August 1979
  • 37090 passes Kings Hedges Crossing heading for Fen Drayton with a rake of empty sand wagons. 8th July 1974.
  • A typical example of a pedestrian wicket gate used on the line. This one at Kings Hedges Crossing. 11th August 1979.
  • Site of the A14 bridge over the St Ives branch. The crossing in the distance marks the approximate spot where the bridge will be. June 1976.
  • Construction work on the A14 Cambridge Northern Bypass bridge over the St Ives branch.<br /> 10th July 1977
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