24th July 1955

R.C.T.S. (London Branch)
The Fensman

Locos Used 70037 'Hereward the Wake' & 65562
Stock Used 6x ex-LNER Gresley corridor coaches incl. E?6472E

Route : reporting number 131 (throughout?)

Loco Route
70037 London Liverpool Street - Bethnal Green - Hackney Downs - Copper Mill Jn - Tottenham Hale - Cheshunt - Broxbourne - Bishops Stortford - Audley End - Saffron Walden - Bartlow - Pampisford - Shelford - Cambridge (goods line)
65562 Cambridge (goods line) - Barnwell Jn - Swaffhamprior - Fordham - Isleham - Mildenhall
65562 Mildenhall - Isleham - Fordham
65562 Fordham - Soham - Ely Dock Jn - Ely - Ely North Jn - Littleport - Denver
65562 Denver - Stoke Ferry
65562 Stoke Ferry - Denver
65562 Denver - Littleport - Ely North Jn - Ely - Ely Dock Jn - Sutton Branch Jn - Sutton - Needingworth Jn - St Ives
65562 St Ives - Needingworth Jn - Somersham - Ramsey East
65562 Ramsey East - Somersham - Needingworth Jn - St Ives - Swavesey - Histon - Chesterton Jn - Barnwell Jn - Cambridge
70037 Cambridge - Shelford - Great Chesterford - Audley End - (reverse of outward route) - London Liverpool Street

Notes :
(1) Route confirmation required - above is taken from booked timings.
(2) Train name advised as 'The Fensman' and this name was also given on the timing sheet, despite the ticket and original advertising flyer suggesting to the contrary ('The Cambridgeshire Rail Tour').

Sources : John Clifford, David Davis, Chris Harley, Peter Darke, Brian Halford, John Debens
& 'Vintage Railtours (RCTS - 1954-1969)' (by Gavin Morrison, published by Silver Link Publishing)

Photo Review


70037 at the start of the day (photo: The John Debens Collection)


65562 running round at an unknown location (photo: Bob Mitchell collection)


65562 at Mildenhall (photo: Bob Mitchell collection)


65562 running round at Fordham (photo: Bob Mitchell collection)


Passing Needingworth Jn 'box (photo: The John Debens Collection)


Coach destination board (photo: The John Debens Collection)


Tour participants at Ramsey East (photo: The John Debens Collection)


From Brian Halford's ticket collection.


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Brian Halford)

Miles Location Booked
0.00 Liverpool Street 10.08d
1.1 Bethnal Green ?
3.0 Hackney Downs 10/16
4.9 Copper Mill Jn ?
6.0 Tottenham Hale 10/21
17.1 Broxbourne 10/32
30.4 Bishops Stortford 10/49
41.7 Audley End 11.07 ~ 11.15
43.6 Saffron Walden 11/20
46.8 Ashdon Halt ?
49.0 Bartlow 11/33
51.0 Linton 11/37
53.8 Pampisford ?
57.9 Shelford 11/50
61.2 Cambridge (Goods Line) 11L57 ~ 12L10
62.7 Barnwell Jn 12/13
63.6 Fen Ditton Halt ?
65.8 Quy ?
66.9 Bottisham and Lode 12/25
69.3 Swaffhamprior ?
71.2 Burwell 12/33
71.8 Exning Road Halt ?
74.7 Fordham 12/42
78.0 Isleham 12/49
81.1 Worlingtton Golf Links Halt ?
82.0 Mildenhall 12.58 ~ 13.13
82.9 Worlingtton Golf Links Halt ?
86.0 Isleham 13/23
89.3 Fordham 13/30
92.3 Soham 13/51
94.6 Barway Sidings 13/55
97.0 Ely Dock Jn 13/59
97.4 Ely 14.00 ~ 14.10
98.8 Ely North Jn ?
103.0 Littleport 14/19
108.5 Hilgay ?
111.4 Denver 14.30 ~ 14.40
112.8 Ryston ?
115.3 Abbey & West Dereham ?
118.5 Stoke Ferry 15.02 ~ 15.09
121.7 Abbey & West Dereham ?
124.2 Ryston ?
125.6 Denver 15.30 ~ 15.40
128.5 Hilgay ?
134.0 Littleport 15/51
138.2 Ely North Jn ?
139.6 Ely 16.01 ~ 16.08
140.0 Ely Dock Jn 16.09 ~ 16.12
140.7 Sutton Branch Jn ?
142.5 Stretham 16/21
144.5 Wilburton ?
145.6 Haddenham ?
147.3 Sutton 16/33
151.7 Earith Bridge ?
153.7 Bluntisham 16/51
155.6 Needingworth Jn 16/56
157.5 St Ives 17.00 ~ 17.09
159.4 Needingworth Jn 17/13
163.0 Somersham 17/24
166.4 Warboys ?
170.0 Ramsey East 17.42 ~ 17.50
173.6 Warboys ?
177.0 Somersham 18/07
180.6 Needingworth Jn 18/13
182.5 St Ives 18.17 ~ 18.28
185.6 Swavesey ?
187.9 Long Stanton ?
190.4 Oakington ?
192.6 Histon ?
195.3 Chesterton Jn ?
195.7 Barnwell Jn ?
197.2 Cambridge 18.50 ~ 19.02
211.2 Audley End 19/17
222.5 Bishops Stortford 19/29
235.8 Broxbourne 19/42
246.9 Tottenham Hale 19/53
249.9 Hackney Downs 19/58
251.8 Bethnal Green ?
252.9 Liverpool Street 20.06a


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