| After a spell at Coldham Lane (as per first collection) I obtained a temporary signaller grade E post at Cambridge North where I remained until the box was closed under the resignalling scheme and opening of Cambridge PSB. Not having sufficient service I was deemed redundant and thus moved to a a Grade 2 RDR post based at Ely Dock, however I spent 6 months at Chesterton Junction filling in an exhausted vacancy. All on Grade D (my substantive grade) rate of pay.Money for old rope! My favourite signalbox was Cambridge North,the electic lever frame was a pleasure to work, traffic was relatively busy with the yard and carriage sidings to shunt along with the loco.The bonus was having a chance to chat to the drivers in person when they were making movements from the loco sidings.It does make the present day railway seem very impersonal.
Motive power was varied,a staple diet of 31, 37 and 47 along with anything that escaped from Toton and found itself at Whitemoor before being purloined for a trip south. Most memorable were the 3 X Class 40 on a Whitemoor - Temple Mills working and also 2 x Class 40 hauling 2 x 315 on a York - Ilford working.With a bit of fiddling (the 31 had a defective windscreen wiper) we managed to get 50042 hauled by 31245 on a Swindon - Doncaster working into Coldham Lane Depot, the driver working to the signallers request, Pity it was a grey wet day ! DMUS of all types visited Camridge; Neville Hill,Allerton and Tyseley based units appeared frequently, the first 2 worked in on the Doncaster / Sheffield trains and the latter on Birmingham New Street trains.Finally there was the very rare occurrence of a Stratford 3 car suburban DMU on a Cambridge - Liverpool Street working on an ASLEF strike day... No PNB for the passengers. I have included some pictures of the unique lower miniature lower quadrant shunt signals at Cambridge North along with a miscellany of other signals photographed whilst I was walking about on location visits during official duties. I hope you enjoy the selection. |
08083 as seen from Mill Road bridge. 04.06.82. |
08083 breaking new ground at the entrance to Cambridge Yard.Driver Len Teabone looks remarkably pleased with his achievement ! 04.06.82. |
08094 attempting to take an unsignalled route at Cambridge North. 22.03.82. |
08889 and clag. Barnwell tanks en route to Cambridge Yard at Coldham Lane. 11.12.81. |
08889 looking uncomfortable after a CAT A SPAD at the exit of Coldham lane carriage sidings. 12.04.82. |
20060 and 20211 at Chesterton Junction. 19.05.81. |
20125 leading on a Temple Mills - Whitemoor service at Cambridge North. 15.05.82. |
25269 running light past Coldham Lane signalbox. 20.05.81. |
25322 at Coldham Lane with the 1255 Temple Mills - Whitemoor. 02.11.81. |
25642 in Coldham Lane carriage sidings. 24.12.80. |
31133 hauls 315830 and 864 past Coldham Lane en route from York - Ilford. 05.02.81. |
31181 and 31173 at Cambridge North. 1700 Cambridge - Newcastle Footex. 12.09.81. |
31208 at Coldham Lane after a slight mishap whilst running round the Ciba Geigy trip at Great Chesterford, 11.04.81. |
31297 approaching Chesterton Junction. 24.03.82. |
37047 on the 1525 Kings Lynn-Liverepool Street seen from Coldham Lane signal box on a stormy 25.01.81. |
37087 in Cambridge loco sidings. 12.09.81. |
37172 and 37041 on a Bury St Edmunds - Cambidge Yard engineers train. 10.09.81. |
40006,40090 and 40198 on a Whitemoor - Temple Mills working at Coldham Lane. 17.07.81. 17.07 |
40086 on 3M08 Southampton - Nottingham parcels seen from Cambridge North. 04.05.82. |
40169 and 40150 haul 315845 and 846 from York - Ilford.Seen from Coldham Lane signal box. 27.02.81. |
40177 running light from Whitemoor - Temple Mills passing Cambridge North. 27.04.82. |
40196 passing Cambridge North with a Tyne Dock - Dagenham Dock car train. 17.06.82. |
45009 passing cambridge North on a Leicester - Cambridge Footex. 08.05.82. |
47016 in a slight spot of bother at Cambridge North. 10.02.81. |
