Local History

Brian Baylis knows his railways. He's been keen on them since he was five, been fascinated with them all his life and worked on them whenever he can.

That's why he's trying to preserve a lost track that runs between Wisbech and March - also known as the Bramley Line.

The Elm Road crossing still works

The route was never actually recommended for closure by the original Beeching Report of 1963, but fell by the wayside in the domino effect that followed.

In 1966 Coldham Station was closed and by the the end of 1968 the route had seen its last passenger service - apart from a special charter which ran in 2001.

Brian is chairman of the Bramley Line Heritage Railway, so called because of the amount of Bramley apples that were transported down the track, and is desperate to preserve the history of the railway.

"One of the gentlemen grew up with this line, he was also on the very last passenger train to come down here," Brian explains.

Brian has loved trains since he was five

Brian takes me to the old Coldham Station crossing, where only a brick toilet still stands - even if it worked you would struggle to get to it for all the weeds and thicket.

The group get on the tracks every Sunday to hack and cut their way through the fauna and flora that has emerged since trains stopped running.

Brian invites anyone to join them: "We'd like to have more help, so if anybody wants to come and volunteer and help clear some of the vegetation, we're here every Sunday."

Looking down the Bramley Line

The original idea of re-opening the route as a heritage line was belittled by some, but the possibility of it happening is becoming ever closer.

"It's not a question of if we're going to run, we are going to run. The group are determined to get a train running down here," Brian added.

And as soon as it does Brian has promised me that I can have a ride in the driver's cab - as long as I help clear a few weeds first.