Cambridge-St Ives-March Branch
26th November 2007

This collection is dedicated to the memory of a railway line which was rarely photographed. The line from St Ives to March closed in 1967 and we no longer saw the many freight trains travelling to or from Whitemoor yard at March or the long coal trains from the Midlands coal field. Little trace of this line now exists. Many thanks to Stewart Ingram for allowing me to use his pictures from the last day of operation. They give an amazing insight into a bygone age. The passenger service from St Ives to Cambridge closed in 1970, but fortunately the line stayed open for freight traffic to Chivers at Histon until 1983 and for sand from Fen Drayton until 1992. This part of the line is currently being totally destroyed to make way for a guided busway which very few people want. Sadly it was a missed opportunity to reinstate the passenger service and to use it for cross country freight to get some of the lorries off the A14. Here are a few photos to show how it used to be before it is lost for ever. Thanks to the following who have helped with photos or information. Peter Heath, D Holden, Stewart Ingram, Charles Ison, Steve Parker, Richard Pike, Steve Wilkinson.

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Start of the line. Chesterton Junction Cambridge. signal box and gates. 6th April 1974
Start of the line. Chesterton Junction Cambridge. signal box and gates. 6th April 1974
2007-11-26 00:01:00
 Chesterton Junction Cambridge. 7th May 1979
Chesterton Junction Cambridge. 7th May 1979
2007-11-26 00:02:00
 RCTS special takes the St Ives line at Chesterton Junction Cambridge. 7th May 1979
RCTS special takes the St Ives line at Chesterton Junction Cambridge. 7th May 1979
2007-11-26 00:03:00
 37075 at Chesterton Junction Cambridge. 4th September 1979
37075 at Chesterton Junction Cambridge. 4th September 1979
2007-11-26 00:04:00
37089 at Chesterton Junction. 21st June 1980
37089 at Chesterton Junction. 21st June 1980
2007-11-26 00:05:00
 37110 leaves the St Ives branch at Chesterton Junction, Cambridge. 1st November 1980
37110 leaves the St Ives branch at Chesterton Junction, Cambridge. 1st November 1980
2007-11-26 00:06:00
 Special Swavesey to London at Chesterton Junction Cambridge on a very dull day. 11th April 1981
Special Swavesey to London at Chesterton Junction Cambridge on a very dull day. 11th April 1981
2007-11-26 00:07:00
 Chesterton Junction box. 28th September 1979
Chesterton Junction box. 28th September 1979
2007-11-26 00:08:00
31204 at Chesterton Junction. 2nd March 1980
31204 at Chesterton Junction. 2nd March 1980
2007-11-26 00:09:00
 31204 at Chesterton Junction. #2 2nd March 1980
31204 at Chesterton Junction. #2 2nd March 1980
2007-11-26 00:10:00
 37075 passes the permanent way depot at Chesterton Junction. 9th December1978
37075 passes the permanent way depot at Chesterton Junction. 9th December1978
2007-11-26 00:15:00
 37090 passes Kings Hedges crossing Cambridge with empties for Fen Drayton. 8th July 1974
37090 passes Kings Hedges crossing Cambridge with empties for Fen Drayton. 8th July 1974
2007-11-26 01:00:00
Kings Hedges Crossing. 31st March 1979
Kings Hedges Crossing. 31st March 1979
2007-11-26 01:01:00
 37120 at Kings Hedges crossing Cambridge. 15th August 1979
37120 at Kings Hedges crossing Cambridge. 15th August 1979
2007-11-26 01:02:00
 A14 Bridge, 12th April 1980
A14 Bridge, 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 02:01:00
 37089 approaches A14 Bridge on special Histon to Lowestoft 21st June 1980
37089 approaches A14 Bridge on special Histon to Lowestoft 21st June 1980
2007-11-26 02:02:00
Swavesey to London Special passing Kings Hedges Cambridge on a very dull day. 11th April 1981
Swavesey to London Special passing Kings Hedges Cambridge on a very dull day. 11th April 1981
2007-11-26 02:03:00
 Unidentified Class 37 passing the A14 bridge
Unidentified Class 37 passing the A14 bridge
2007-11-26 02:04:00
 A14 Bridge. 12th April 1980
A14 Bridge. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 02:05:00
 37052 approaches the A14 bridge with sand from Fen Drayton. 18th February 1980
37052 approaches the A14 bridge with sand from Fen Drayton. 18th February 1980
2007-11-26 02:06:00
37131 stands under Histon bypass bridge. 25th March 1974
37131 stands under Histon bypass bridge. 25th March 1974
2007-11-26 03:00:00
 37121 at Histon. 4th July 1976
37121 at Histon. 4th July 1976
2007-11-26 03:00:00
 RDS special leaving Histon. 31st March 1979
RDS special leaving Histon. 31st March 1979
2007-11-26 03:01:00
 31313 passing Histon bypass bridge at dusk. 12th April 1980
31313 passing Histon bypass bridge at dusk. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 03:02:00
4 car DMU approaching Histon on special from London 11th April 1981
4 car DMU approaching Histon on special from London 11th April 1981
2007-11-26 03:03:00
 Histon showing shelter on down platform. 1st July 1973
Histon showing shelter on down platform. 1st July 1973
2007-11-26 04:00:00
 Histon Station looking towards Oakington. 14th April 1974
Histon Station looking towards Oakington. 14th April 1974
2007-11-26 04:01:00
 Histon Station. 14th April 1974
Histon Station. 14th April 1974
2007-11-26 04:02:00
Site of Histon level crossing gates 2nd March 2008
Site of Histon level crossing gates 2nd March 2008
2007-11-26 04:03:00
 Site of Histon level crossing gates 2nd March 2008
Site of Histon level crossing gates 2nd March 2008
2007-11-26 04:04:00
 Histon Signal Box lever frame April 1973
Histon Signal Box lever frame April 1973
2007-11-26 04:05:00
 Chivers Factory. Histon 23rd November 1979
Chivers Factory. Histon 23rd November 1979
2007-11-26 04:05:00
Mile Post 61 at Histon. 61 miles from London. 9th February 1980
Mile Post 61 at Histon. 61 miles from London. 9th February 1980
2007-11-26 04:06:00
 Histon signal box, goods shed and goods office. 24th November 1979
Histon signal box, goods shed and goods office. 24th November 1979
2007-11-26 04:06:00
 Histon Waiting Room. 12th April 1980
Histon Waiting Room. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 04:07:00
 Histon Signal Box. 17th August 1980
Histon Signal Box. 17th August 1980
2007-11-26 04:08:00
Histon Signal Box. 1st September 1980
Histon Signal Box. 1st September 1980
2007-11-26 04:09:00
 Histon station. 28th July 2007
Histon station. 28th July 2007
2007-11-26 04:11:00
 Histon crossing keepers hut. 28th July 2007
Histon crossing keepers hut. 28th July 2007
2007-11-26 04:12:00
 Histon Station Canopy 28th July 2007
Histon Station Canopy 28th July 2007
2007-11-26 04:13:00
Histon station house. 28th July 2007
Histon station house. 28th July 2007
2007-11-26 04:14:00
 Histon Level crossing. 28th July 2007
Histon Level crossing. 28th July 2007
2007-11-26 04:15:00
 Removing the down line at Histon c1983
Removing the down line at Histon c1983
2007-11-26 04:17:00
 Removing the Down line at Histon. 31177 heads the demolition train. circa 1983
Removing the Down line at Histon. 31177 heads the demolition train. circa 1983
2007-11-26 04:17:00
Histon Station. Winter 1981/82
Histon Station. Winter 1981/82
2007-11-26 04:18:00
 Track Work at Histon c1981
Track Work at Histon c1981
2007-11-26 04:19:00
 Histon goods shed and crossover 1981/82
Histon goods shed and crossover 1981/82
2007-11-26 04:19:00
 Histon looking South East. 2nd March 2008
Histon looking South East. 2nd March 2008
2007-11-26 04:20:00
Histon Looking South West. 2nd March 2008
Histon Looking South West. 2nd March 2008
2007-11-26 04:21:00
 Mutilated remains of Histon Station. 2nd March 2008
Mutilated remains of Histon Station. 2nd March 2008
2007-11-26 04:22:00
 View from Signal Box window in the Down direction. 14th September 1978
View from Signal Box window in the Down direction. 14th September 1978
2007-11-26 04:23:00
 View inside Histon Signal Box. 14th September 1978
View inside Histon Signal Box. 14th September 1978
2007-11-26 04:24:00
Histon, Station Lamp. 14th September 1978
Histon, Station Lamp. 14th September 1978
2007-11-26 04:25:00
 Histon Station House 23rd October 1978
Histon Station House 23rd October 1978
2007-11-26 04:26:00
 Histon, another view of the crossover. October 1981
Histon, another view of the crossover. October 1981
2007-11-26 04:27:00
 Histon looking South East. 24th December 2008. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
Histon looking South East. 24th December 2008. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
2007-11-26 04:28:00
Histon looking South East, 22nd June 2005. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath.
Histon looking South East, 22nd June 2005. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath.
2007-11-26 04:29:00
 Histon. 22nd June 2005. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
Histon. 22nd June 2005. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
2007-11-26 04:30:00
 Histon. January 1973
Histon. January 1973
2007-11-26 04:31:00
 Histon. January 1973.
Histon. January 1973.
2007-11-26 04:32:00
Railway Development Society special arriving at Histon. 31st March 1979
Railway Development Society special arriving at Histon. 31st March 1979
2007-11-26 05:00:00
 RDS Special stands at Histon. 31st March 1979
RDS Special stands at Histon. 31st March 1979
2007-11-26 05:01:00
 RCTS special arriving at Histon Station. 7th May 1979
RCTS special arriving at Histon Station. 7th May 1979
2007-11-26 06:00:00
 RCTS special at Histon. 7th May 1979
RCTS special at Histon. 7th May 1979
2007-11-26 06:01:00
RCTS special at Histon Station. Passengers disembark for a photoshoot 7th May 1979
RCTS special at Histon Station. Passengers disembark for a photoshoot 7th May 1979
2007-11-26 06:02:00
 RCTS special. photoshoot at Histon. 7th May 1979
RCTS special. photoshoot at Histon. 7th May 1979
2007-11-26 06:03:00
 RCTS special at Histon Station. 7th May 1979
RCTS special at Histon Station. 7th May 1979
2007-11-26 06:04:00
 RCTS special departs Histon for London. 7th May 1979
RCTS special departs Histon for London. 7th May 1979
2007-11-26 06:06:00
At The Crack Of Dawn. 12th April 1980
At The Crack Of Dawn. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 07:00:00
 Passengers at Histon Station. 12th April 1980
Passengers at Histon Station. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 07:01:00
 37097 arrives at Histon with RDS special to London. 12th April 1980
37097 arrives at Histon with RDS special to London. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 07:02:00
 37097 waits at Histon with a Railway Development Society special to London. 12th April 1980
37097 waits at Histon with a Railway Development Society special to London. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 07:03:00
31313 passes Histon gates on the return RDS special from London. 12th April 1980
31313 passes Histon gates on the return RDS special from London. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 07:05:00
 31313 stands at Histon with RDS Special from London. 12th April 1980
31313 stands at Histon with RDS Special from London. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 07:06:00
 37089 at Histon,special to Lowestoft. 21st June 1980
37089 at Histon,special to Lowestoft. 21st June 1980
2007-11-26 07:07:00
 Histon. 12th April 1980
Histon. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 07:08:00
37083 leaves for Cambridge in the days that trains had brakevans. 13th June 1974
37083 leaves for Cambridge in the days that trains had brakevans. 13th June 1974
2007-11-26 08:00:00
 37075 passes Histon Crossing Gates. 9th December 1978
37075 passes Histon Crossing Gates. 9th December 1978
2007-11-26 08:01:00
 37102 arrives at Histon Station with sand from Fen Drayton. 16th November 1979
37102 arrives at Histon Station with sand from Fen Drayton. 16th November 1979
2007-11-26 08:02:00
 37102 waiting for the Histon gates to be opened. 16th November 1979
37102 waiting for the Histon gates to be opened. 16th November 1979
2007-11-26 08:03:00
37011 passing Histon with sand empties. 23rd November 1979
37011 passing Histon with sand empties. 23rd November 1979
2007-11-26 08:04:00
 37011 arrives at Histon with sand empties. 23rd November 1979
37011 arrives at Histon with sand empties. 23rd November 1979
2007-11-26 08:04:00
 37099 passing Histon with sand from Fen Drayton. 24th November 1979
37099 passing Histon with sand from Fen Drayton. 24th November 1979
2007-11-26 08:05:00
 On a dull winters day 37051 heads the morning sand train through Histon. 29th January 1980
On a dull winters day 37051 heads the morning sand train through Histon. 29th January 1980
2007-11-26 08:06:00
unidentified class 37 leaving Histon c1981
unidentified class 37 leaving Histon c1981
2007-11-26 08:09:00
 Unidentified Class 37 on freight from Fen Drayton to Kings Cross Yard passes Histon. Viewed from the bypass bridge. c1982
Unidentified Class 37 on freight from Fen Drayton to Kings Cross Yard passes Histon. Viewed from the bypass bridge. c1982
2007-11-26 08:10:00
 37026 leaving Histon. 24th April 1978
37026 leaving Histon. 24th April 1978
2007-11-26 08:11:00
 Chivers sidings Histon. The ferry wagons are for transportation of Seville oranges from Spain and Sicily, used in the production of marmalade. 9th February 1980
Chivers sidings Histon. The ferry wagons are for transportation of Seville oranges from Spain and Sicily, used in the production of marmalade. 9th February 1980
2007-11-26 08:20:00
St Audreys Close. 14th March 1974
St Audreys Close. 14th March 1974
2007-11-26 09:00:00
 Scene near St Audreys Close Histon. 13th June 1974
Scene near St Audreys Close Histon. 13th June 1974
2007-11-26 09:00:00
 Sign at occupation crossing Histon St Audreys Close. 13th June 1974
Sign at occupation crossing Histon St Audreys Close. 13th June 1974
2007-11-26 09:01:00
 The line near St Audreys Close Histon. 13th June 1974
The line near St Audreys Close Histon. 13th June 1974
2007-11-26 09:02:00
37083 passes St Audreys Close Histon. 13th June 1974
37083 passes St Audreys Close Histon. 13th June 1974
2007-11-26 09:03:00
 37083 heads away from St Audreys Close in the Cambridge direction. 13th June 1974
37083 heads away from St Audreys Close in the Cambridge direction. 13th June 1974
2007-11-26 09:04:00
 37096 at Histon St Audreys Close. 19th July 1976
37096 at Histon St Audreys Close. 19th July 1976
2007-11-26 09:05:00
 RDS Special at St Audrey's Close Histon. 31st March 1979
RDS Special at St Audrey's Close Histon. 31st March 1979
2007-11-26 09:06:00
RDS Special at St Audrey's Close Histon. 31st March 1979
RDS Special at St Audrey's Close Histon. 31st March 1979
2007-11-26 09:07:00
 St Audreys Close Histon
St Audreys Close Histon
2007-11-26 09:08:00
 Girton Road Crossing. 4th May 1973
Girton Road Crossing. 4th May 1973
2007-11-26 10:00:00
 Site of Girton Road gates 2/3/2008
Site of Girton Road gates 2/3/2008
2007-11-26 10:01:00
View from Girton Road crossing Histon looking towards Oakington. 10th November 1976
View from Girton Road crossing Histon looking towards Oakington. 10th November 1976
2007-11-26 10:02:00
 Girton Road crossing looking towards Oakington . 2/3/2008
Girton Road crossing looking towards Oakington . 2/3/2008
2007-11-26 10:03:00
 View from Girton Road crossing Histon looking towards Histon station. 18th November 1976
View from Girton Road crossing Histon looking towards Histon station. 18th November 1976
2007-11-26 10:04:00
 Girton Road crossing looking towards Histon Station. 2/3/2008
Girton Road crossing looking towards Histon Station. 2/3/2008
2007-11-26 10:05:00
Railway Development Society special approaches Girton Road gates. 31st March 1979
Railway Development Society special approaches Girton Road gates. 31st March 1979
2007-11-26 10:06:00
 Railway Development Society special at Girton Road gates. 31st March 1979
Railway Development Society special at Girton Road gates. 31st March 1979
2007-11-26 10:07:00
 37026 approaching Girton Road Crossing. 24th April 1978
37026 approaching Girton Road Crossing. 24th April 1978
2007-11-26 10:08:00
 37026 approaching Girton Road Crossing. 24th April 1978
37026 approaching Girton Road Crossing. 24th April 1978
2007-11-26 10:09:00
Girton Road/ Park Lane Crossing looking West. 24th December 2008. photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
Girton Road/ Park Lane Crossing looking West. 24th December 2008. photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
2007-11-26 10:10:00
 Girton Road/ Park lane crossing looking East. 24th December 2008. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
Girton Road/ Park lane crossing looking East. 24th December 2008. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
2007-11-26 10:11:00
 Girton Road/ Park Lane Crossing. Removing the track, 21st November 2006. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
Girton Road/ Park Lane Crossing. Removing the track, 21st November 2006. Photo with kind permission of Peter Heath
2007-11-26 10:12:00
 The last days of Girton Road Crossing. 23rd November 2006. photo with kind permission of Peter Heath.
The last days of Girton Road Crossing. 23rd November 2006. photo with kind permission of Peter Heath.
2007-11-26 10:13:00
The line looking South East from Oakington Gates. 14th March 1974
The line looking South East from Oakington Gates. 14th March 1974
2007-11-26 11:00:00
 Oakington viewed from brakevan of sand train. 24th June 1975
Oakington viewed from brakevan of sand train. 24th June 1975
2007-11-26 11:01:00
 Oakington looking towards Longstanton. July 1973
Oakington looking towards Longstanton. July 1973
2007-11-26 11:01:00
 Oakington. 18th January 1976
Oakington. 18th January 1976
2007-11-26 11:02:00
37085 crossing Oakington level crossing. 26th July 1976
37085 crossing Oakington level crossing. 26th July 1976
2007-11-26 11:03:00
 Site of Oakington level crossing Gates. 2nd March 2008
Site of Oakington level crossing Gates. 2nd March 2008
2007-11-26 11:04:00
 37097 stands at Oakington Level Crossing. 12th April 1980
37097 stands at Oakington Level Crossing. 12th April 1980
2007-11-26 11:05:00
 Oakington looking South East. 31/3/1979
Oakington looking South East. 31/3/1979
2007-11-26 11:06:00
© 1998-2009 Alan Moore - All copyrights rest with the Author
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