East Norfolk Railway
Encyclopedia
The East Norfolk Railway was a standard gauge
25 mile, mostly single track, railway running between Norwich Thorpe railway station
and Cromer
in the English
county of Norfolk
. It opened in 1874, reaching Cromer three years later, and remains mostly operational. The line also operated a branch between Wroxham and County School
, which closed to passengers in 1952.
from the start of services, and soon passed into ownership of the latter company.
. This station has been closed, and the platforms removed. The East Norfolk line leaves the Norfolk and Yarmouth; climbing a 1 in 80 bank for about a mile northwards from Whitlingham Junction.
Leaving the Yare
valley, trains arrive at Salhouse station
, 6 miles from Norwich, which retains two operational platforms, although the goods yard closed in 18 April 1966. The original ENR timber building on the down platform has been demolished, although the later GER building on the up platform survives.
The next station reached is at Wroxham
, 8½ miles from Norwich. This was formerly the junction for the ENR branch line to Aylsham
and County School
, and also marks the limit of the double track
section. The branch line formerly diverged from the Cromer line a short distance north of the station, but closed to all traffic in 1982 and was subsequently dismantled, replaced by the Bure Valley Railway
. The station had coal and grain handling facilities in the yard north east of the station and, although this yard is no longer in use, the isolated tracks remain.
Worstead railway station
, 13 miles from Norwich, is the next halt. Although originally equipped with two platforms, only one remains in use. The goods yard was closed on 13 July 1964, but the abolished signal box remains in situ as a shed and garage.
The next station, located 16 miles from Norwich, was formerly known as North Walsham Main railway station
to distinguish it from North Walsham Town railway station
on the rival Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
, but is now simply referred to as North Walsham. The station was also formerly used to serve trains working on the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway
route to Mundesley
. The station is equipped with a passing loop, although the original station buildings and signal box have been demolished.
Leaving North Walsham, trains soon pass over the former Midland and Great Northern line to Melton Constable
, now in use as part of the Weaver's Way long distance footpath. Part of the Norfolk and Suffolk line to Mundesley has been used, along with part of the Midland and Great Northern line to Yarmouth
, as the North Walsham bypass, which can be seen paralleling the route through the town.
The next station, 19 miles from Norwich, is at Gunton railway station
. There is no village of this name, and the station is actually situated in the parish of Thorpe Market
. Gunton Station was built primarily for the convenience of Lord Suffield (a major investor in the original East Norfolk Railway Company). Gunton’s original station buildings are preserved but are no longer in the ownership of the railway.
The line climbs steeply away from Gunton station, with the original route into Cromer being abandoned by the modern railway approximately half a mile from the original terminus - at the site of the former Cromer Junction with the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway.
The terminus of the line was Cromer High railway station, the first station opened in Cromer, situated to the south on the outskirts of the town on a steep escarpment. The station (along with the East Norfolk line) was incorporated into the Great Eastern Railway
, who had operated the services from the beginning. It served as the terminus of Great Eastern Railway services from London and Norwich
. Initially named "Cromer" on opening, it was renamed "Cromer High" in 1948.
The station opened on 26 March 1877. Because of steep gradients near the town, the station was built in open fields some distance from the town itself.
On 20 September 1954 passenger services ceased at Cromer High, with all traffic diverted to Cromer Beach (now renamed "Cromer"). The station remained open as a freight terminus until 7 March 1960, but was then closed completely and the station demolished.
and County School
diverged westwards from the Cromer line just north of Wroxham station on a 10 chain radius curve.
The first station was at Coltishall
, followed by Buxton railway station
and Aylsham. This section is still in use as the Bure Valley Railway
. Although the passenger service ended in 1952, freight traffic continued until 1981 and the line through Aylsham was formally closed on 6 January 1982. A weed-killing train ran in 1983 and track-lifting trains ran the following year.. In 1990, the station buildings at Aylsham, then one of the most complete remaining Great Eastern stations in Norfolk, were obliterated to make way for the Bure Valley Railway whose headquarters now occupy the site.
Beyond Aylsham the route survives as part of the Marriott's Way
long distance footpath and cycleway. The next station was at Cawston
, where the building survives as a private residence, although the formation and platforms have been buried.
The next station, Reepham
also remains, along with its large goods shed and former yard, although a road improvement scheme in the town has partially blocked a section of the line. Although the tracks have been removed, the Whitwell and Reepham railway intend to restore railway services to this station.
Just west of Reepham is the Themelthorpe Curve
, connecting the ENR to the Midland and Great Northern line to Norwich City railway station
- one of the last sections of railway line to have been built in Norfolk. This also marks the point where the Marriott's Way leaves the formation.
West of Themelthorpe the ENR originally passed under the Midland and Great Northern, and the abutments of the bridge can still be seen. The line then continues to Foulsham
. The section between Themelthorpe and Foulsham is the longest-closed section of the route, having been totally abolished in 1952.
At Broom Green the line joins the formation of former Wymondham
, Dereham
, Fakenham
and Wells-next-the-Sea
line closed to passengers in stages from 1964, now part of the proposed extension to the Mid-Norfolk Railway
. The final section of embankment has been ploughed in, and few traces remain of the southern cord of the ENR triangle connecting with the MNR. The cutting forming the northern cord of the triangle, which was never laid with track, survives.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
25 mile, mostly single track, railway running between Norwich Thorpe railway station
Norwich railway station
Norwich is a railway station serving the city of Norwich in the English county of Norfolk. The station is the northern terminus of the Great Eastern Main Line from London Liverpool Street. It is also the terminus of railway lines from Ely, Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.-History:At one...
and Cromer
Cromer railway station
The fishing port and holiday resort of Cromer in the English county of Norfolk has had a rail service since 1877. It was served by three railway stations for many years, and is now served by two...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. It opened in 1874, reaching Cromer three years later, and remains mostly operational. The line also operated a branch between Wroxham and County School
County School railway station
County School is a railway station approximately one mile north of the village of North Elmham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is part of a line being gradually restored by the Mid-Norfolk Railway from East Dereham to Fakenham.-History:...
, which closed to passengers in 1952.
History
Although nominally independent, the East Norfolk Railway was operated by the Great Eastern RailwayGreat Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
from the start of services, and soon passed into ownership of the latter company.
Norwich to Cromer
Leaving Norwich Thorpe station, the line followed the Norfolk and Yarmouth Railway until it reached a small halt at Whitlingham railway stationWhitlingham railway station
Whitlingham was a station in Whitlingham, Norfolk.. The simple station has been demolished leaving no trace of its existence. However the footbridge is still in use for pedestrian use....
. This station has been closed, and the platforms removed. The East Norfolk line leaves the Norfolk and Yarmouth; climbing a 1 in 80 bank for about a mile northwards from Whitlingham Junction.
Leaving the Yare
River Yare
The River Yare is a river in the English county of Norfolk. In its lower reaches the river connects with the navigable waterways of The Broads....
valley, trains arrive at Salhouse station
Salhouse railway station
Salhouse is a railway station serving the village of Salhouse in the English county of Norfolk. The station is served by local services operated by National Express East Anglia on the Bittern Line, north east of Norwich towards Cromer and Sheringham....
, 6 miles from Norwich, which retains two operational platforms, although the goods yard closed in 18 April 1966. The original ENR timber building on the down platform has been demolished, although the later GER building on the up platform survives.
The next station reached is at Wroxham
Hoveton and Wroxham railway station
Hoveton and Wroxham is a railway station serving the town of Wroxham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is technically situated in the adjacent village of Hoveton, but the two settlements are usually regarded as one....
, 8½ miles from Norwich. This was formerly the junction for the ENR branch line to Aylsham
Aylsham railway station
This article is about the former Great Eastern Railway station. For the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway station, see Aylsham North railway station.Aylsham South railway station served the town of Aylsham in Norfolk from 1880 to 1981...
and County School
County School railway station
County School is a railway station approximately one mile north of the village of North Elmham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is part of a line being gradually restored by the Mid-Norfolk Railway from East Dereham to Fakenham.-History:...
, and also marks the limit of the double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
section. The branch line formerly diverged from the Cromer line a short distance north of the station, but closed to all traffic in 1982 and was subsequently dismantled, replaced by the Bure Valley Railway
Bure Valley Railway
The Bure Valley Railway is a minimum gauge heritage railway in Norfolk, within The Broads National Park.The railway runs from Wroxham to Aylsham and is Norfolk's longest railway of less than standard gauge. It uses both steam and diesel locomotives. There are intermediate halts at Brampton,...
. The station had coal and grain handling facilities in the yard north east of the station and, although this yard is no longer in use, the isolated tracks remain.
Worstead railway station
Worstead is a railway station situated about 1 km distant from the villages of Worstead and Sloley in the English county of Norfolk. The station is served by local services operated by National Express East Anglia on the Bittern Line from Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham.-Train Services:The...
, 13 miles from Norwich, is the next halt. Although originally equipped with two platforms, only one remains in use. The goods yard was closed on 13 July 1964, but the abolished signal box remains in situ as a shed and garage.
The next station, located 16 miles from Norwich, was formerly known as North Walsham Main railway station
North Walsham railway station
North Walsham is a railway station in the town of North Walsham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is served by local services operated by National Express East Anglia on the Bittern Line from Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham...
to distinguish it from North Walsham Town railway station
North Walsham Town railway station
North Walsham Town railway station was a station in North Walsham, Norfolk. It served the now closed Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway lines to Melton Constable via Aylsham, Melton Constable via Mundesley and Sheringham, and Great Yarmouth via Potter Heigham...
on the rival Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, was a joint railway owned by the Midland Railway and the Great Northern Railway in eastern England, affectionately known as the 'Muddle and Get Nowhere' to generations of passengers, enthusiasts, and other users.The main line ran from Peterborough to...
, but is now simply referred to as North Walsham. The station was also formerly used to serve trains working on the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway
Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway
The Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway was a British joint railway company.The NSJR was owned by the Great Eastern Railway and the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway and consisted of two distinct sections: a line between North Walsham and Cromer via Mundesley, and a coastal section running...
route to Mundesley
Mundesley railway station
Mundesley railway station was a former station on the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway in Mundesley, Norfolk. It opened in 1898. In 1953 it became the terminus of the line from North Walsham when the route to Cromer closed. In 1964 the remainder of the route was closed.-References:**-External...
. The station is equipped with a passing loop, although the original station buildings and signal box have been demolished.
Leaving North Walsham, trains soon pass over the former Midland and Great Northern line to Melton Constable
Melton Constable railway station
Melton Constable was a railway station on the Midland and Great Northern Railway which served the North Norfolk village of Melton Constable from 1882 to 1964...
, now in use as part of the Weaver's Way long distance footpath. Part of the Norfolk and Suffolk line to Mundesley has been used, along with part of the Midland and Great Northern line to Yarmouth
Yarmouth Beach railway station
Yarmouth Beach railway station is a former railway station in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. It was opened in 1877 by the Great Yarmouth & Stalham Light Railway...
, as the North Walsham bypass, which can be seen paralleling the route through the town.
The next station, 19 miles from Norwich, is at Gunton railway station
Gunton railway station
Gunton is a railway station on the Bittern Line which connects the city of Norwich to the North Norfolk coastal towns of Cromer and Sheringham in East Anglia, England. There is no village of this name, the station being actually situated in the parish of Thorpe Market...
. There is no village of this name, and the station is actually situated in the parish of Thorpe Market
Thorpe Market
Thorpe Market is a village in the English county of Norfolk. The village is 4.4 miles south of Cromer, and 20.5 miles north of Norwich. The nearest railway station is at Gunton for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich. The nearest airport is Norwich International...
. Gunton Station was built primarily for the convenience of Lord Suffield (a major investor in the original East Norfolk Railway Company). Gunton’s original station buildings are preserved but are no longer in the ownership of the railway.
The line climbs steeply away from Gunton station, with the original route into Cromer being abandoned by the modern railway approximately half a mile from the original terminus - at the site of the former Cromer Junction with the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway.
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
, who had operated the services from the beginning. It served as the terminus of Great Eastern Railway services from London and Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. Initially named "Cromer" on opening, it was renamed "Cromer High" in 1948.
The station opened on 26 March 1877. Because of steep gradients near the town, the station was built in open fields some distance from the town itself.
On 20 September 1954 passenger services ceased at Cromer High, with all traffic diverted to Cromer Beach (now renamed "Cromer"). The station remained open as a freight terminus until 7 March 1960, but was then closed completely and the station demolished.
Wroxham to County School
The ENR branch line to AylshamAylsham
Aylsham is a historic market town and civil parish on the River Bure in north Norfolk, England, about north of Norwich. The river rises near Melton Constable, upstream from Aylsham and continues to Great Yarmouth and the North Sea, although it was only made navigable after 1779, allowing grain,...
and County School
County School railway station
County School is a railway station approximately one mile north of the village of North Elmham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is part of a line being gradually restored by the Mid-Norfolk Railway from East Dereham to Fakenham.-History:...
diverged westwards from the Cromer line just north of Wroxham station on a 10 chain radius curve.
The first station was at Coltishall
Coltishall railway station
Coltishall railway station serves the town of Coltishall in Norfolk and is served by the Bure Valley RailwayFormer Services...
, followed by Buxton railway station
Buxton railway station
Buxton railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Buxton in Derbyshire. It is managed and served by Northern Rail. The station is 25¾ miles south east of Manchester Piccadilly and is the terminus of the Buxton Line.-History:...
and Aylsham. This section is still in use as the Bure Valley Railway
Bure Valley Railway
The Bure Valley Railway is a minimum gauge heritage railway in Norfolk, within The Broads National Park.The railway runs from Wroxham to Aylsham and is Norfolk's longest railway of less than standard gauge. It uses both steam and diesel locomotives. There are intermediate halts at Brampton,...
. Although the passenger service ended in 1952, freight traffic continued until 1981 and the line through Aylsham was formally closed on 6 January 1982. A weed-killing train ran in 1983 and track-lifting trains ran the following year.. In 1990, the station buildings at Aylsham, then one of the most complete remaining Great Eastern stations in Norfolk, were obliterated to make way for the Bure Valley Railway whose headquarters now occupy the site.
Beyond Aylsham the route survives as part of the Marriott's Way
Marriott's Way
The Marriott's Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway which forms part of the National Cycle Network and is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders between Hellesdon and Aylsham, Norfolk, England...
long distance footpath and cycleway. The next station was at Cawston
Cawston railway station
Cawston was a railway station in Cawston, Norfolk. It was part of the Great Eastern Railway network for a large portion of its existence. It was on the line between County School and Aylsham. It closed in 1952, the station building is now a private residence It can be seen from the Marriott's Way...
, where the building survives as a private residence, although the formation and platforms have been buried.
Reepham railway station
Reepham was a railway station in Reepham, Norfolk. It was opened in 1882 and closed to passengers in 1952 and finally shut to goods services in 1981...
also remains, along with its large goods shed and former yard, although a road improvement scheme in the town has partially blocked a section of the line. Although the tracks have been removed, the Whitwell and Reepham railway intend to restore railway services to this station.
Just west of Reepham is the Themelthorpe Curve
Themelthorpe
Themelthorpe is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, north west of Reepham.It covers an area of and had a population of 65 in 27 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Broadland....
, connecting the ENR to the Midland and Great Northern line to Norwich City railway station
Norwich City railway station
Norwich City railway station was located in Norwich, England and is now closed.-History:The station was opened in 1882 by the Lynn and Fakenham Railway, and later became the southern terminus of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway line from Melton Constable...
- one of the last sections of railway line to have been built in Norfolk. This also marks the point where the Marriott's Way leaves the formation.
West of Themelthorpe the ENR originally passed under the Midland and Great Northern, and the abutments of the bridge can still be seen. The line then continues to Foulsham
Foulsham railway station
Foulsham was a railway station in North Norfolk. It served the village of Foulsham, and was closed in September 1952.Former Services-References:...
. The section between Themelthorpe and Foulsham is the longest-closed section of the route, having been totally abolished in 1952.
At Broom Green the line joins the formation of former Wymondham
Wymondham
Wymondham is a historic market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It lies 9.5 miles to the south west of the city of Norwich, on the A11 road to Thetford and London.- Before The Great Fire :...
, Dereham
Dereham
Dereham, also known as East Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A47 road, some 15 miles west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles east of King's Lynn. The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of...
, Fakenham
Fakenham
Fakenham is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, some north east of King's Lynn, south west of Cromer, and north west of Norwich....
and Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea, known locally simply as Wells, is a town, civil parish and seaport situated on the North Norfolk coast in England.The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 2,451 in 1,205 households...
line closed to passengers in stages from 1964, now part of the proposed extension to the Mid-Norfolk Railway
Mid-Norfolk Railway
The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway....
. The final section of embankment has been ploughed in, and few traces remain of the southern cord of the ENR triangle connecting with the MNR. The cutting forming the northern cord of the triangle, which was never laid with track, survives.