At Standground in Peterborough, the Peterborough to March line crosses over the old coarse of the river Nene. This was by by way off a wooden bridge. This wooden bridge in photo above was a replacement bridge after in 1963, it had burnt down to the water line in one of Peterborough's biggest fires. The creosote covered timbers were covered in oil and coal dust from many years of trains passing over the bridge.

The fire burnt like a rocket and only the timbers below the water line remained. To get trains running again it was decided to put new timbers on to the old unburnt wood under the water line.

This was a short term fix. But it lasted for many years. A serve speed restriction was placed on the bridge. Surprisingly Class 55s class 40s and 47s all used the bridge when ECML trains used this line on Sundays but very slowly.

As the years went by the need for a new bridge was at last made and it was replaced with a new concrete bridge.

The class 47 above had been diverted off the ECML at Hitchin and had come by way of Cambridge Ely and March to get back to Peterborough. This adding about a hour to the journey. But unlike today, no Bus, no Standing in the rain waiting for a 2nd bus when the first is full, no carrying all your luggage off the train then on to a bus. Then take all your luggage off the bus and back on to a train.

 

This part of Standgound now has new houses with moorings for boats. But you can still take photos from the other side on Peterborough embankment. The part of Standgound were the man was fishing above now has new houses with moorings for boats.

 

After going under the ECML the line after gone by the site of the East station  it then goes under the Perkins Parkway road bridge which is only about 30 years old I think. It then goes over this Black Bridge river bridge.

The line then heads out to Kings Dyke which is just outside Peterborough. On the to way to Whittlesea we see the only brick works left around Peterborough, that are along this part of the line. There are now no rail sidings left as all the bricks now go by road.

Whittlesea  has the only station which is a small basic station. The line then goes on to Turves a small village in the fens with just a signal box and a few houses. It is then to on to March this part of the line is in wide open flat fens, as is the next part of the line from March to Ely.

Ukrailways1970tilltoday.me.uk it is on railways but it is not just on trains but all things railways, with photos, which I have taken from the 1970s till now. I take photos of all things railways, steam diesel and electric trains, signal boxes, wagons any thing that is on the National Rail network, which was BR when I started taken photos.