Five stations along the river
The railway lists its stations in order as Peterborough (Nene Valley), Orton Mere, Overton for Ferry Meadows, Wansford and Yarwell (NVR stations, read 23 October 2026). It runs for 7.5 miles (about us). Wansford is the headquarters, and Yarwell Junction, a mile west of it, has no road access: you arrive on foot or by train (how to find us).
From 1845 to a society of its own
The Northampton and Peterborough Railway opened to the public on 2 June 1845. Passenger trains to Northampton ended in 1964 and freight in 1965, Rugby services stopped in 1966, and by 1972 the line had closed completely. In 1974 the Peterborough Development Corporation bought the stretch from Longville Junction to Yarwell Junction and leased it to the society, and Wansford Steam Centre opened at Easter that year (our history).
Wansford to Orton Mere opened officially in June 1977. The first train reached the Peterborough station on 24 May 1986, and Prince Edward opened the extension at the end of June. The railway took full ownership of the line in 1998.
The engine that started it
BR Standard Class 5 73050 was bought straight from British Rail in 1968, and the railway says her purchase became the foundation of the Peterborough Railway Society, later the Nene Valley Railway. She was named City of Peterborough in 1973, when the Rev Richard Paten gave her to the city. Built in 1954, she has been under overhaul since 2017 (73050 page).
The railway calls itself the country’s leading international steam and diesel attraction, and its fleet list includes engines from Denmark, Poland and Sweden (rolling stock). Over 150 films, programmes, adverts and music videos have been made here since 1977, among them two James Bond films (filming at NVR).
Planning the day
The railway asks visitors to check its calendar for running days, and Wansford station is open every day from 09:00 to 16:00 to see the exhibits (opening hours). The address is Wansford Station, Stibbington, Peterborough, PE8 6LR. The engine in the picture at the top of this page, 1501, was on Santa special duty at Wansford; for Christmas trains on other lines, see our Santa trains guide. The car park at Wansford is free; Overton, Orton Mere and Peterborough charge. From Peterborough’s main line station you can walk to the Nene Valley station: the directions begin, turn right out of the mainline station (how to find us).
Photographing the line
Wansford gives you two pictures in one place. The original station building on Platform 3 dates from 1844 to 1845, and the signal box, built by the LNWR in 1907, has 60 levers. Beyond the box the trains cross the River Nene, a view the railway counts among its most iconic photographic views, and the picnic area, open all year, looks over the box and the river crossing (Wansford station).
A train on that river crossing suits a long, low print, and a signal box close up works well small. Our framed prints take either.
Sources: Nene Valley Railway history; Wansford station page (both read 23 October 2026).
