The Opening of a Railway Line at Ely

British (English) School. Oil painting on canvas, The Opening of the Railway Line at Ely, 1845, British (English) School, 1846/7. Hundreds of people gathered on what appears to be the opening of a railway line in Ely. Ely Cathedral dominates the skyline, whilst in front of it in the middle distance appears to be the tall funnel of a railway engine with smoke pouring out of it. In the front on the left is a tent with two flags flying on tall masts, various other flags are flying between the tent and the cathedral; men are in black top-hats and the women are dressed in crinolines, bonnets and shawls; blue sky and clouds. Perhaps the opening of the railway. The line from Ely to Peterborough was open by the Eastern Counties Railway Company in 1846 and the line from Ely to Wisbech was open by the Wisbech, St Ives and Cambridge Junction Railway in March 1847. Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire (Accredited Museum)