RCTS-CAMBRIDGE-Branch-Gill-Sans-1000-E2W

Welcome to the Cambridge Branch of the RCTS. We meet once a month from September to May (inclusive), usually on the second Tuesday, at The Swifts in Fulbourn.

Our meetings generally take the form of slide shows, movies or talks with lively discussions on all aspects of railway history and operational practice.

We also have a wonderful selection of hundreds of railway books available at each meeting at bargain prices.

All are welcome to join us and to share their interest!

Cambridge Branch Travels

A selection of recent photographs and videos from Cambridge Branch members and friends:

Over the weekend of 5th/6th October 2024 Ely North Junction was closed to all traffic, requiring considerable modification to the timetable. One such modification to provide additional capacity between Cambridge and Ely as a result of losing the Cross Country and Greater Anglia Norwich services was the extension of the half-hourly Liverpool Street to Cambridge North trains to Ely, offering the unusual sight of five-car class 720 units on this line. On Saturday 5th October 2024, set 720572 passes through Waterbeach with 2H38, the 14.55 Liverpool Street to Ely. Photo: Michael Smyth.

Greater Anglia's original order of Class 720 units comprised 22 10-car units numbered in the 7201xx series and 89 five-car units numbered in the 7205xx series. The order was later changed to replace the 10 car units with double the number of five-car units, still numbered in the 7201xx series. Set No.720127 heads South through Waterbeach with 2H49, the 16.40 Ely to Liverpool Street on Saturday 5th October 2024 during a weekend closure of Ely North Junction which resulted in the Cambridge North terminating service from Liverpool Street being extend to Ely. Photo: Michael Smyth.

The semaphore signals have gone and the trackwork has been reduced to the bare minimum at Reedham - a formation that will endure for the coming decades. On Saturday 21st September 2024, Stadler Class 755 unit No. 755411 comes off the single line from Yarmouth and crosses over onto the Up main line with the 15.12 Yarmouth to Norwich. Photo: Alan Jones.

Seen between Lockgate Mill and Breydon Junction on Saturday 21st September 2024, Class 755 Stadler unit No. 755416 works the 11.32 Norwich to Yarmouth via Reedham. The harvested fields and aesthetically-pleasing symmetry of the 4-car unit make for a pleasant, contemporary East Anglian scene. At this point the line is on the zero-metre contour, and the essential work of the Broads Drainage Board can be appreciated. Photo: Alan Jones.

Peppercorn Class A2 No. 60532 'Blue Peter' made a welcome return to main line duties on Saturday 13th July 2024 when it worked 1Z32, the 16.06 Kings Cross to York. Travelling unusually on the main line between Peterborough and Doncaster, as opposed to the Joint Line, 60532 was approximately 10 minutes early and running in excellent form when seen in low light across the fields at Burton Coggles, near Stoke Summit. Photo: Michael Smyth.

After a sudden tropical downpour at Ely on July 24th 2024. the photographer switched to black and while to capture this highly evocative view of GB Railfreight's 66712 working 6L37, the 09.44 Hoo Junction to Whitemoor Engineer's train. Photo: Michael Smyth.

On Wednesday 24th July 2024, GB Railfreight Class 66 No. 66747 'Made in Sheffield', in Newell and Wright advertising livery, appropriately heads 4E21, the 11.27 Felixstowe North to Tinsley Yard over the single line section from Soham on the approach to Ely Dock Junction. This working takes the Joint Line to Doncaster then heads round the curve from Bridge Jc to St James' Junction and into Tinsley via Rotherham Central. Photo: Michael Smyth.

The slewing of the lines to the South of the new Cambridge South station can be seen through the over-bridge windows in this view of GB Railfreight Class 66 No. 66306 heading back to Willesden on 6M04, the HS2 spoil empties from Barrington on July 31st 2024. Photo: Michael Smyth.

The Eastern-side platforms are under construction at the new Cambridge South station in the view to the South on July 31st 2024. The four platforms at the station should provide sufficient capacity for additional traffic on the East-West route, should it be fortunate enough to retain its funding in the current climate. Photo: Michael Smyth.

The new Cambridge South station is taking shape in this 31st July 2024 view from the West. The architecture is attractive and should make a very positive and welcoming impression on passengers. In the background to the left is the world-renowned Addenbrookes Hospital and to the right is the slightly sinister-looking Astra Zeneca research laboratory. Photo: Michael Smyth.

On Tuesday 20th August 2024, the Midland Pullman HST set with 43046 at the rear ran empty stock from Crewe to Norwich as 5Z42, 10.15 from Crewe, to work an excursion the following day to Paignton via the Great Eastern Main Line, the North London to Acton, and the Great Western Main Line (incorporating Melksham). The empty stock is seen approaching Ely West Junction running 10 minutes early and slowing for the Avoiding Line to avoid reversal at the station. Photo: Michael Smyth.

Not to be mistaken for its Australian counterpart, Queen Adelaide is the location of the three level crossings after the three-way split in the lines to the North of Ely. The middle of these lines goes to Kings Lynn, on which Class 387 unit No. 387127 is seen on August 20th 2024 with the 13.42 Kings Lynn to Kings Cross. The mileage, however, is measured from Liverpool Street along the Great Eastern line into London. Photo: Michal Smyth.

What's On

Venue

Contacts

Chairman Branch Secretary

Robert Bartlett OBE Tony Field cambridge@rcts.org.uk

Fixtures Secretary Website

Michael Smyth cambridgeweb@rcts.org.uk

Sales Officer

Keith Crossley

Tel: 01223 515296, email: keith.crossley44@gmail.com

Hundreds of Books for Sale at Each Meeting and by Mail Order - Please Contact Keith for Details

RCTS Cambridge Branch Gallery

The RCTS Cambridge Branch Gallery aims to capture the diversity of railway operation over an area roughly corresponding to the coverage of the former 31A Cambridge Shed, which includes Cambridge, St Ives, Huntingdon, Ely, March, Wisbech, Kings Lynn, South Lynn, Hunstanton, Bury St Edmunds and Saffron Walden

To reflect the interests and travels of our members, we also show images from further afield.

Our aim is to share the fascination of railway operation with as many people as possible. Images are drawn from a wide range of sources and where known each is acknowledged.

Any comments on the gallery, including offers of images, should be sent to cambridgeweb at rcts.org.uk

Please note that all images in the gallery are the copyright of the identified author and permission for re-use must be obtained via the RCTS Cambridge Branch at the above address.

We hope you enjoy the gallery!

Cambridge Branch Travels

What's On

Venue

Contacts

RCTS Cambridge Branch Gallery

Cambridge Area

Further Afield

Meeting reports