Heritage railway plans for part of disused Wisbech line remain on track
A group of rail enthusiasts have not lost their dream of opening a heritage line along part of the disused Wisbech to March track despite ongoing plans by local authorities to get the connection between the towns reopened.
Terry Hartga, secretary of the Bramley Line Heritage Railway Trust, issued a statement this week restating his organisation’s long-held ambition of opening the stretch of line between Waldersea (near Friday Bridge) and Coldham as a heritage railway.
The Trust is working alongside the Wisbech to March Bramley Line Limited group to try to achieve the dream.
Mr Hartga said the aim is for the Trust to work with the Coldham Residence Association to set up a railway heritage centre at Coldham on the site of the former signal box and station house.
The aim is to preserve and pass on the history of the line and its workings to the local area, visitors and schools. The line dates back to 1846
Mr Hartga said: “We hope that a village community room where people could meet and socialise can be included in this project.”
He said a Teams meeting between the Trust, Network Rail and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority last month proved positive, with the plans for the Waldersea to Coldham section being given a favourable response.
“These plans include vegetation clearance, repair of the existing track (where thought necessary) to a minimum standard enabling lightweight powered vehicles to run and to look at the positioning of the old Signal Box And Station House with regards to reinstatement,” said Mr Hartga.
The Trust was also told it would be allowed to reinstate part of the old downline track in the Waldersea Yard area to enable potential runaround facilities.
Mr Hartga added: “Project planning and costings can now start to be looked at and a time schedule worked out for it to happen.
“Next year is Rail 200, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of our railways and 2027 is the 180th anniversary of the opening of the line from March to Wisbech.”
The Trust currently has a licence from Network Rail enabling volunteers to access the line from just north of Whitemoor Junction, March to Wisbech for the purposes of scrub clearance (including the use of strimmers), site survey and engineering assessment of the track bed, embankments and structures and to have a portacabin office, rolling stock and a picnic area at Waldersea, all of which must be clear of the existing running line.
Mr Hartga continued: “The long-term aim, depending on the plans of the Combined Authority, Network Rail and Fenland District Council, is still to reopen the whole line, as a heritage railway from the A47 road at Wisbech to March Station, utilising the existing platform space of the old Spalding Line, currently being restored and maintained by the Friends of March Railway Station.”
Both the Bramley Line Heritage Railway Trust and Wisbech to March Bramley Line Limited have recently submitted the paperwork to become a Community Interest Organisation (CIO), and await confirmation from the Charity Commission. This will hopefully open new funding streams and volunteering opportunities for the project.
