Having stopped for over 20 minutes in March to take water, Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 No. 46100 'Royal Scot' powers towards Three Horse Shoes with Steam Dreams' 1Z46, 07.43 Colchester to Barrow Hill on May 8th 2024. The locomotive was working hard to accelerate from its March stop, but had shut off by the time it reached Three Horse Shoes, with only a leaky cylinder cock giving visible steam. Photo: Michael Smyth.

With evidence of the problems of maintaining the permanent way in the Fens visible to the rear of the train, Freightliner Class 66 No. 66621 heads the 03.25 empty sand hoppers from Crewe Basford Hall Sorting Sidings Middle to Middleton Towers past Three Horse Shoes on Saturday 6th April 2024. Photo: Michael Smyth.

Still carrying its 65J Fort William shed plate, LMS Black 5 No. 44871 works the Railway Touring Company's 1Z79, 06.02 Norwich to Worcester Shrub Hill excursion past Three Horse Shoes on Saturday 6th April 2024. Photo: Michael Smyth.

A kestrel hovers in mid-air as 800104 approaches Three Horse Shoes with the diverted 1S18 11.36 (Sunday) Kings Cross-Edinburgh on 9th January 2022. Photo: Alan Jones.

On January 9th 2022, LNER Azuma 800102 approaches the village of Turves and Three Horse Shoes signal box with the diverted 12.36 (Sunday) Kings Cross to Dundee. Some of the remaining chimneys at Whittlesey Brickworks can be seen to the right. Photo: Alan Jones.

Passing the signal box at Three Horse Shoes, diverted LNER Azuma 800201 leads 1Y16, the 07.54 (Sunday) Newcastle to Kings Cross on January 9th 2022. The former Benwick branch left the Down line beyond the box, ran behind it and then turned due South across the Fens, with halts at wonderfully named places such as Quaker's Drove, West Fen Drove, Jones' Drove and White Fen. The branch closed in 1966 and little trace of it remains today. Photo: Alan Jones.

The challenges of maintaining a level trackbed in the Fens are well illustrated in this view of Grand Central Class 180 No. 180105 as it works a diverted 11.18 Sunderland to Kings Cross past Three Horse Shoes on 22nd January 2022. Photo: Alan Jones

Running 90 minutes late on 22nd January 2022, DC Rail Class 60 No. 60029 'Ben Nevis' encounters little mountainous terrain around Three Horse Shoes as it heads towards Ravenhead Sidings in St Helens with 6M89, the 09.01 departure form Middleton Towers. Photo: Alan Jones

On December 2nd 2021, LMS Princess Coronation Class 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' heads a Norwich to Worcester excursion past Three Horse Shoes, between March and Peterborough. Photo: Michael Smyth.

The boggy nature of the terrain in the Fens poses challenges in maintaining the permanent way - a situation not helped by the relentless pounding of freight traffic, Freightliner Class 66 No. 66621 heads the 03.25 empty sand hoppers from Crewe Basford Hall Sorting Sidings Middle to Middleton Towers past Three Horse Shoes on Saturday 6th April 2024. Photo: Michael Smyth.