[Source: Darren Kitson]


Barnwell Junction Gallery 2: 1962 - 1975


This view is undated but is probably just prior to closure. The view is from the down platform and looking at the country end of the up platform. By this time, trees are well on their way to maturity and a BR blue running-in board has now appeared. There was an identical board on the down platform. Beneath the canopy, which is supported by ornate cast iron columns, is a selection of posters typical of the time. The up platform is lit by Suggs 'Rochester' gas lamps, one of which is just visible beneath the far end of the canopy.
photo from John Mann collection

On Saturday 16 June 1962, the last day of service, a Cravens DMU for Cambridge calls at Barnwell Junction. The train is the SO 11.36am ex-Fordham. It had departed Cambridge for Fordham at 10.6am and connected at Fordham with the Ely - Mildenhall and return service. Passengers to / from Mildenhall therefore needed to change at Fordham. Why this train, on the last day of service, was a 4-car set is not known. For the rest of the day a 2-car Wickham DMU sufficed; the final working of a railbus to Mildenhall was on the penultimate day, Friday 15 June.
Photo by David Pearson


Barnwell Junction station looking north-east along the up platform on 16 June 1962, the last day of public service,

Barnwell Junction in June 1963. With the exception of the recently lifted down Mildenhall line, one would not think the station was closed. On the right, a wooden lower-quadrant up starter signal survives together with what appears to be a fixed distant signal. The signal box is still in use as is the goods yard. The 'Back Road' former brickworks siding is in situ at this time but hidden by the undergrowth in the left background. In the distance either an English Electric type 3 or type 4 is approaching on the up main line. At this time the Mildenhall branch goods train runs only in the up direction between Fordham and Cambridge. In the down direction it runs to Mildenhall via Newmarket and Fordham North Junction. Thus the single track through the station, above, sees trains in both directions only to and from
the oil terminal.
Photo by Ben Brooksbank


The station building on the up platform was sold shortly after closure and for many years the platform was used as a storage area for domestic junk.
Photo by John Mann


The surviving up line in July 1969 is seen from beyond the London end of the up platform. In the distance the Pullman car ‘Montana’, which arrived at Barnwell in 1967, can be seen.
Photo by John Mann


This one is something of a puzzle. What appears to be a complete running-in board is leaning against the fence in the dog-run (July 1969).
Photo by John Mann


Barnwell Junction is viewed from a passing train, thought to be a Class 100 DMU operating the 13:10 Cambridge - St Ives service in January 1970. The down platform road has been lifted, and by this time the branch ends at the oil terminal half a mile or so towards Fen Ditton.
Photo by Alan Brown

The above image is dated 1970; compare with the 1963 picture from a similar viewpoint. The trap points on the right were added when the branch track through the station was singled. A Metro-Cammell Class 101 DMU whizzes past the site of the former signal box on a Cambridge - Ely shuttle; a few of these shuttles ran each day, mainly to provide a connection at Ely with trains off the Bury line (via Soham). On the left, the former Barnwell Junction goods yard is now used only by coal merchants and is very obviously no longer rail-served. It had closed to rail traffic in 1966. In the distance the long-lived footbridge over the railway connecting to Ditton Meadows can be seen, to its right, and to Stourbridge Common, to its left. In the far distance the bridge over the River Cam is seen.
Photo by Tom Burnham from his Flickr photostream


Looking north-east along the heavily overgrown down platform at Barnwell junction in 1975. The waiting room still appears to be in good condition and is still standing to this day. (2015)
Photo by David Burrows from his Flickr photostream


Click here for Barnwell Junction Gallery 3:
1975 - March 2011

 

 

 

[Source: Darren Kitson]




Last updated: Sunday, 04-Jun-2017 09:10:42 CEST
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