Trains at Ipswich, GEML | 04/04/19

This video is property of "Richard Chalklin"

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A sunny evening at Ipswich during the evening rush hour of Thursday 4th April 2019, much to my surprise there were loads of light engine movements in and out of Ipswich yard.

Ipswich info:

Ipswich railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line in the East of England, serving the town of Ipswich, Suffolk. It is 68 miles 59 chains (110.6 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and on the main line it is situated between Manningtree to the south and Needham Market to the north.

Ipswich is also the terminus of the East Suffolk Line to Lowestoft, a branch line to Felixstowe, and a branch line to Ely, Cambridgeshire. Its three-letter station code is IPS.

As of February 2012, the station is currently operated by Greater Anglia, who also operate all trains serving it, as part of the East Anglia franchise.

History:

The Eastern Union Railway (EUR) opened its first terminus in Ipswich, called Ipswich Stoke Hill, in 1846 on Station Road at the other end of the current tunnel close to the old quay for the steamboats and the aptly named Steamboat Tavern. The Ipswich Steam Navigation Company had been formed in 1824/25 during a period of "steamship mania" and briefly offered services from the quay between Ipswich and London calling at Walton-on-the-Naze.

The current station is just to the north of Stoke tunnel, which was constructed as part of the Ipswich to Ely Line which opened as far as St. Edmunds in late 1846.

The station was re-sited to its present location in 1860 and the main building was thought to be principally the work of Peter Bruff; who had certainly started the structure. The actual design was in the Italianate style and submitted by architect Sancton Wood (1816-1886) as part of a competition. When the new station was completed, a new road (Princes Street) linking the station to the town was also opened.

By the 1860s the railways in East Anglia were in financial trouble and most were leased to the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR). Although they wished to amalgamate formally, they could not obtain government agreement for this until 1862, when the Great Eastern Railway (GER) was formed by the amalgamation. The island platform at Ipswich was added by the GER in 1883.

Ipswich engine shed (shed code 32B) opened in 1846 and was at the south end of Stoke tunnel. It was the third-largest shed in the Great Eastern area during the steam era, after those at Stratford and Cambridge.

At the beginning of World War 1 soldiers of the Norfolk Yeomanry regiment were deployed to Ipswich to guard key railway bridges in the area. They were relieved by the 9th field company Royal Engineers.

In 1923 the GER amalgamated with other railways to form the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).

On 30 April 1932 the LNER arranged an exhibition of railway stock at Ipswich. The show was opened by Sir Arthur Churchman, of tobacco family fame, and over 16,000 visited the show. The proceeds were divided between the Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital and railway charities.

Description:

Platform 1 is a bay platform for trains to/from Lowestoft and Felixstowe.
Platform 2 is used for through-trains to London from Norwich as well as some Felixstowe services.
Platform 3 is used for through-trains to Norwich from London as well as some Cambridge services.
Platform 4 (4A, 4B and 4C) is used for services to Cambridge and Peterborough, and stopping services to London.

There is an avoiding line between the lines that serve the main through platforms 2 and 3.

Prior to electrification there were two short sidings at the London end of the "up" platform which were used for locomotive changes on up trains when required.

Platforms 3 and 4 can be accessed via the footbridge or lift.

Opposite platform 4 is a stabling point used by Freightliner diesel and electric locomotives. Classes 66, 70, 86 and 90 are the most common, although locomotives of other companies have been known to use the point in the past. For railway photographers, platforms 3 and 4 offer the best views of the stabling point.

The station has extensive facilities including self-service ticket machines, ticket counters, a convenience store, two cafes, a multi-storey car park, taxi stand, bus station and ATMs. The whole stations is now fully accessible, with lifts having been installed in 2011.

Water troughs:

Water troughs were installed at Halifax Junction in 1897 south of Ipswich tunnel. These were used by trains to pick up water using a scoop operated by the engine crew, although water cranes were located on the platforms at the station as well. Using the troughs was a quicker method of filling the tenders of steam locomotives and they were located between the rails in the centre of the tracks. These were heated in winter to prevent freezing. The Ipswich troughs fell out of use in the 1960s when steam locomotives were withdrawn from East Anglia.

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