Pump Trolley Experience Evening

If you want a unique experience, an ideal birthday or Christmas present or to cross this off your bucket list, then consider our Pump Trolley Experience.

As a participant you’ll be able to experience the thrill of the wind in your hair as you work your way through the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside, just as the men who built the line over 160 years ago would have done. The experience will be on our world-record-holding Great Eastern Railway Pump Trolley, restored by the Night Mail Project & Travelling Post Office volunteers in 2024.

The pump trolley experience involves an up to two-hour guided journey along our line starting at Wansford Station. The length of the route taken can be tailored to participants' ability. From Wansford we will head East towards Overton passing a number of landmarks including a Castor crossing, river bridges and our Travelling Post Office exchange site. We can stop near Overton Station and take break after a short walk to station building, this can include a tour of the Overton yard & site before heading West back towards Wansford Station.

Each evening is £100 and is limited to one group of up to 4 people.

The pump trolley experience will start at 17:30 on a Saturday & 18:00 on a Friday. Please arrive at the start time, a short safety briefing will be given before the experience starts. Parking is available at Wansford station for participants and bottled water will be provided as part of the cost.

Before booking this experience, potential participants should be aware that this experience is physically demanding and is only suitable for those who are capable of vigorous exercise. Participants should consider if they have any medical conditions which would make it unwise for them to undertake this activity. Participants must also wear appropriate clothing and substantial footwear (no loose clothing or open-toed footwear). Prior consumption of alcohol is not permitted. Participants will be required to sign a declaration before commencing the experience. All participants must be 16 or older, and under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 

If you're interested in a date that is not available on the calendar, wish to discuss an alternative start time or wish to discuss corporate hire or contract work, please contact Adam Galtress at adam.galtress@nvr.org.uk

The money raised from pump trolley experiences is used to fund the Night Mail Project & Travelling Post Office.

About the Pump Trolley

Pump trolleys were originally used by permanent-way staff to get to remote locations on little-used lines. They were light enough so that four burly men could lift them on and off the track as required.

Our pump trolley was built in 1907 for the Great Eastern Railway. It was found by the Rev. Richard Paten, one of the Nene Valley Railway’s founding members, in an outhouse at a pub in the Fens. For many years, the locals had used it as an easy means of travelling from the village to the pub, taking it off the track at either end, and then using it to get back home! By the time it arrived at the NVR it had been hidden in the barn, in a poor condition, forgotten about for many years.

The trolley is the current Guinness World Record Holder for the furthest distance travelled on a pump trolley in 12 hours. Three teams of four travelled 125.5 miles with a sustained average speed of 10mph in 1997. In 2010 the pump trolley starred in ITV’s Coronation Street and a Barclays advert with the metalwork temporarily painted blue.