An East Cambridgeshire rail station now has a plaque on each platform honouring a railwayman who died during a local rail disaster.
Thanks to a joint venture between Littleport Town Council and the Fen Line Users Association (FLUA), Littleport railway station now has a tribute to James Nightall who, aged just 22, lost his life in 1944.
James, born in Littleport, was fireman on a steam locomotive hauling 44 wagons loaded with bombs from Immingham Docks bound for Chapel Colne in Essex.
As the train approached Soham station, the driver noticed the first wagon of the train was on fire.
Quickly realising that this could cause the whole train to explode, James uncoupled the burning wagon from the rest of the train.
Rejoining his driver on the locomotive, they managed to draw the wagon, still on fire, down the line and away from the rest of the train before it exploded killing James instantly.
His brave actions, which saved Soham town from almost certain destruction, were recognised by his posthumous award of the George Cross, the highest civilian award for bravery.
Mark Collins, FLUA secretary, said: “The Fen Line Users Association was formed 40 years ago when British Rail was considering closing the line between King’s Lynn and Ely.
"Having successfully campaigned to keep the line open, including the station at Littleport, we have been organising events at Fen Line stations this year to celebrate our 40th birthday and the national Railway 200 celebrations marking the first ever passenger train which ran on the Stockton and Darlington railway in 1825.
"Last year, more than 200,000 passengers used Littleport station which isn’t bad for a station which back in 1985 was going to be written off!”
During the morning, FLUA committee members were at the station handing out souvenir postcards and complimentary refreshments to passengers, who were invited to enter a free draw to win complimentary rail tickets.
Then, at the Youth and Community Building in the town, residents and local schoolchildren gathered for a presentation by John Goodge, secretary of the Littleport Society.
They heard the story of Littleport station, opened in 1846, and a fascinating account of the circumstances surrounding the tragic event in which James lost his life.
The children, who were able to handle a replica George Cross medal, also got a souvenir postcard and took part in a free draw for a Railway 200 book and Railway 200 goody bags.
One of the attendees was Althea Brumby, 94, who lived in Soham at the time and was just 13 when the disaster struck.
Her house was a good way from the railway and only suffered minor damage, but she recalled that she walked past the school the next day and all the windows were broken.
Chris Brewis travelled all the way from Sutton Bridge and said: “I’ve been fascinated by the story of James Nightall ever since I read the classic book on railway accidents, 'Red for Danger', by L.T.C. Rolt, as a young boy.
"I was determined to attend and it’s fitting that there is finally a memorial to James at the station itself.”
Back at the station, Clive Webber, chairman of the town council, unveiled the plaque on platform one and said: “It was a great celebration of 200 years of passenger rail.
“We are proud to have been involved in this event and to be able to provide railway travellers with the opportunity to learn about and remember the heroic actions of James Nightall.”
Mark Collins added: “FLUA would like to thank everybody at Littleport Town Council for designing the plaque and for helping to organise the event, and John Goodge for his informative talk.
“We are also grateful to train operator Great Northern who sponsored the day and for their enthusiastic support for this and our other Railway 200 events in this historic year.”
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