OUR HISTORY
1846
The railway act was passed for the construction of lines between March and the following places:- Wisbech, St. Ives and Cambridge Junction.
1847
The 7.8 mile (12.6 km) twin line between March and Wisbech was opened May, and run by Eastern Counties Railway. The only intermediate station was then know as Pear Tree Hill, ( later Coldham). There was a small goods yard there as well as two platforms.
1862
The line was taken over by Great Eastern Railway.
1863
The original station at Wisbeach was replaced and re-sited to the south of the town and renamed to Wisbech East on the nationalisation of the railways to distinguish it from the Midland and Great Northern railway’s station Wisbech North.
1876
1876 The Pear Tree Hill station was renamed on the 1st September to Coldham station this was the only intermediate station on the line and was approx. 3.5 miles (5.5 km) from March.
1886
1886 Coldham signal box (and possibly the station house) was opened, alongside the down line.
1900
Waldersea Sidings was a small goods yard about a 1 mile (0.6 km) Wisbech side of Coldham, this was opened on Tuesday 20 November by the GER.
1901
Waldersea signal box erected and more sidings installed 2nd July.
1963
1963 Although the line was not in the Beeching report to be closed it was slowly closed over the next few years.
1964
Waldersea Yard sidings was closed on the 13th July 1964.
1965
Coldham’s small yard was closed for goods on 19th April.
1966
Coldham station was closed for passengers on 7th March.
1968
The line was totally closed to passengers.
1972
The line was changed to single line working, with the Down track being lifted.
1992
It is reported that by this year there were no buildings left.
1995
Purina purchased the Wisbech East goods yard from Railtrack.
2000
Freight continued to run until this year providing a service to Metal Box Ltd and Nestle Purina factories.
2001
The Wisbech East station was demolished for a housing development
2002
The line was officially classified as out of use by Network Rail due to poor condition.
2003
The last three sidings at the Wisbech end were lifted and is now part of the Purina carpark.
2005
The line was stopped on the South side of Weasenham Lane when it was resurfaced, the A47 has also been resurfaced since so cutting the line in two at this point as well.
2010
Bramley Line heritage Railway formed.
As of 2024..
The Southern end is still connected into the Whitemoor Yard and the main line at Whitemoor junction, the condition of the infrastructure along the line is a big issue as well, because of no maintenance being carried out by Network Rail over the years.
Since the closure there have been several reports requested and generated at the requests of Association of Train Operating Companies, District Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council and now the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, so far with no actual commitment to go ahead and open the line either as a heavy rail or light rail options.
In the meantime the Bramley Line volunteers continue to maintain the Waldersea yard area and have laid a siding in hope that one day the will be able to open and share the history of the line with visitors.