I spent the summer a few years back working on this project. Spending hours travelling to the old railway sites around Norfolk, walking them and biking them. I don't know loads about railways but I have had fun spending many hours looking over Google researching them, and learnt as I have gone on. [ have found a few nice things along the way. This is going to be a long report so pass by now if it's not your thing. I have tried not to cover it with just miles of old walking routes and bridges (there are a lot of bridges) I have tried to cover the main parts of several lines including some of the industry that surrounds it.
Most people know of the beaching cuts. Two reports were produced in 1963 and 1965 with the aim of cutting the railways down. This proved very unpopular especially in rural areas, but he wanted to streamline the rail network. As a result miles of track was lost, including thousands of stations, many laying derelict for years. Most lines have been lifted now and many stations renovated into residential dwellings or tea rooms. But if you look hard enough there still lots of remains laying about .Lots of old rail lines have been made into cycle ways, some short lengths of track have been brought back into service or run as heritage lines. norfolk was one of many counties to get the massive cut in train stations
NORWICH TO AYLSHAM LINEE
The Norwich to Aylsham line started its route at the city station in Norwich. Being built in 1882 by the Lynn and fakenham railway company and taken over in 1893 by the M&GN joint railway. The rail line ran through to the Thelmthorpe loop, This was put in later to provide a link to Wroxham and county station. It was the sharpest curve in the country, the line closed to passengers in 1959 and carried on for industry and agricultural use and industry. The route at Lenwade finally closed in 1985
City station was opened in 1882 and was well used with passengers heading to Cromer. The station was hit badly in the Second World War by the Germans as there was a large goods yard on the site. There is a local heritage group consisting of volunteers who have started digging the site, They unearthed a large section of platform. They were hoping to uncover the whole section. And other parts but the council decided to put a halt to it for some reason. Work has sice commenced since these pics.
Here is part of the unearthed platform.
This is the remains of the crane mount. The crane was on the coal stage and the crane was hand driven to load up the locos.
The remains of an engine shed the floor in typical M&GN blue engineering bricks.
Further down the line is an A frame bridge, this was one of three. Only two remain and they are the only ones in Norfolk.
This was a station at Hellesdon ,all that reminds are the platforms. But these are well hidden now amongst the trees. My step father remembers the station being here. Passengers stopped using the station in the fifties, but freight used it till the seventies. The station was used for different things after that. But was demolished after a break in and all the old rail stuff like fire places and handles and such were stolen. during demolition of the other parts and track lifting the demolition company ruthlessey destroyed everything like the furniture, etc. This was to ensure the lines could never be used again.
Small concrete bridge.
Second A frame bridge.
Level crossing barrier Attlebridge.
Sculpture made from the original track these are dotted all along the walk now known as marriots way.
Lenwade was a large industrial area and built next to the rail line and the lines run in to the yard. There was a massive cement works making a selection of products like pre fabs etc. The site still has a smaller cement works on there and other industrial units.
The main goods yard with the two large loading cranes now lay silent.#
There are some derelict bits on the site but much to see really, so just took a couple off shots inside them.
Looking down the former track beside the works.
Old phone housing I found in the side of the trees. I really liked this as the frame was made off wood.
An old farm track bridge. I loved this little bridge, even though it's just small, the intricate work that went into this was amazing. Even if it just covered an old farm track With the skewered brickwork and the pertruding four tier header bricks in blue engineering bricks. This sort off exemplifies how much work the Victorians put into things, maybe a little over the top at times.
Showing the detail off the intricate brick work.
Various bridges along the line. Some with metal tops and some with brick tops.
The former Lenwade station, this one and the one at Attlebridge have both been lovingly converted into residential use. Both were heavily used during the Second World War due to RAF Attlebridges close proximity.
TBC
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