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.
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Histon Station c1981
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Histon Station c1981

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  • The crossing keepers hut at Histon which was saved from demolition and rebuilt and restored by local volunteers.
  • Histon facing Oakington on 14th April 1974. This shows the wooden waiting shelter on the down platform which disappeared not long after the picture was taken. It is thought to now be in storage at the Mid Norfolk Railway.
  • A pleasant evening shot of Histon. c1981
  • Histon. Buildings on the up platform. 1981
  • Decaying gate at the entrance to the goods yard. This can be seen in the previous image in the closed position. 27th May 2011
  • Histon facing Oakington 14th April 1974. To the right of the red gate lamp is the front of the booking office giving some shelter when buying tickets.
  • Histon Station. Final days of the crossing gates although one has already disappeared after being hit by a truck.. 29th July 2007.
  • Histon Crossover. c1981
  • Histon Station c1981
  • Histon. 28th July 2007. Station entrance and close up of the canopy.
  • Histon looking south east during the heavy snow of the Winter of 1980/1981
  • Histon station house. 24th October 1978.
  • Histon facing Cambridge with another view of the station gardens. Photo taken from the steps of the signal box. To the extreme right there appears to be a nice supply of coal for the signal box stove. Wagons fill the siding in the Down goods yard. Image dated 1961. Thanks to Pete Driver.
  • Histon regularly won the "Best Kept Station Award" Here is an example of the excellent flower beds maintained by staff. Of interest are the buildings and the presence of two sidings south of the Down platform. In the background is Webster's Station stores on Cambridge Road and on the platform, the shadow of the Up starter signal. The metal building behind the totem is the lamp room. Image dated 1961. Thanks to Pete Driver.
  • An example of one of the station lamps at Histon, minus its glass dome. This one was located next to the pedestrian gates at the crossing. 17th September 1978
  • RCTS Special at Histon 7th May 1979. A reminder of just how things used to be.
  • RCTS Special at Histon. The unit is standing where the Cambridge bound guided bus stop is today. 7th May 1979
  • Histon Crossover circa 1981.
  • Railway Correspondence and Travel Society special arriving at Histon. 7th May 1979. This consisted of a Cravens E51265 and a Birmingham RCW 56189 two car set.
  • The first Railway Development Society special to promote the lines reopening arrives at Histon on a return trip from Cambridge to Swavesey. The four car refurbished Class 101 was formed with 51220/56371/51225/56386. Driver, Gerry Preston. 31st March 1979
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