Key Highlights :
1. Down towards the site of the former Abbots Ripton railway station, in what was then Huntingdonshire, Group 28 Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups.
2. Down towards the site of the former Abbots Ripton railway station, in what was then Huntingdonshire, Group 28 lost many of its railway stations over the years. While work continues apace on the new Cambridge South railway station, the county will still not come close to having the number of railway stations it had in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
3. Some of these lost railway stations didn't last very long at all - and many sunk into obscurity with very little of note ever occurring there. This was not the case for Abbots Ripton, in what was then Huntingdonshire - which was the site of a forgotten railway disaster that left more than a dozen people dead.
4. The tragic events of that bleak winter day proceed the opening of the station by almost a decade. The Abbots Ripton rail disaster took place in 1876 - and the station did not open at the site until 1885.
5. Blizzard January 21, 1876 was a bleak day. A heavy blizzard was causing disruption on the rail network across what is now Cambridgeshire. And for the people travelling on three trains braving the winter conditions, it would prove to be a day they would never forget.
6. The 'Flying Scotsman' service (not the later famous locomotive) was making its way from Edinburgh to London on the Great Northern Line. The prestigious service, which only carried first and second class passengers, was ten carriages long and was carrying figures including the Russian Ambassador.
7. As esteemed as this express train was however, it was not above the elements and left Peterborough six minutes late, at around 6.24pm. Ahead of it, a coal train had left Peterborough late - leaving just a 12 minute gap between the two services.
8. Normally, the timetable called for the freight train to pull into a siding at Abbots Ripton to allow the faster express train to make its way past. Because it was running late, a signalman tried to put the train into a siding at Holm - however the train passed the signal until it was stopped at around 6.41pm at Abbots Ripton and began moving into a siding.
9. While a signal was set at danger, the Flying Scotsman ploughed on and straight into the coal train at its full speed of 40-45mph. A number of coal wagons were smashed. The express train derailed along with two of its carriages, which came to rest on the track heading in the opposite direction. This was to set the stage for the third train to become involved in the disaster.
On January 5th, 2013, a blizzard hit the United States. The snow was so deep and heavy that it was difficult for people to move around. This made it difficult for them to get to work or to their homes. The roads were also very slippery.
On January 6th, 2013, a little girl named Emily decided to go to school. She was very excited because she had never been in a blizzard before. However, when she got to school, she found out that the school was closed because of the snow.
On January 7th, 2013, the snow started to melt. However, the roads were still very slippery. This made it very difficult for people to go anywhere.
On January 8th, 2013, the roads started to get better. However, the snow was still very deep. This made it difficult for people to move around.
On January 9th, 2013, the snow started to melt again. However, the roads were still very slippery. This made it very difficult for people to go anywhere.
On January 10th, 2013, the roads were completely clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 11th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 12th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 13th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 14th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 15th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 16th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 17th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 18th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 19th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 20th, 2013, the roads were still clear. This made it very easy for people to go to work or to their homes.
On January 21st, 2013,
