Tramway
The fertility of the drained land in Upwell was exceptional and it produced large crops. In 1884 a roadside steam tramway was completed between Upwell and Wisbech the purpose of which was to transport people and the crops produced in the area quickly and efficiently to the main Great Eastern Railway line in Wisbech. The tramway competed with the Wisbech canal, which ran along the same path in those days. The canal had been struggling financially before this and the railway finished it off. The original engines used were steam trams. However, these were replaced in 1952 by two diesel shunters and this gave the tramway the distinction of being the first all-diesel line in Great Britain.
The coming of lorries and Dr Breeching spell trouble for the tramway and it was finally closed on May 23rd 1966. Today both the Wisbech canal and the tramway are no more but traces of each of them can still be seen if one looks carefully. The Upwell Health Centre is built on the land that once formed the marshalling yards for the tramway and the footpath that leads from the Health Centre to Small Lode is where the line ran out towards Lowside and Outwell. *