Waveney Valley Line

The Waveney Valley Line was a branch line covering areas of North Suffolk and South Norfolk in England. The line ran from Tivetshall in Norfolk to Beccles in Suffolk.

Beccles station provided a junction with the East Suffolk line, allowing further services to Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Ipswich and many other smaller towns in Suffolk with additional services to London.

Construction

On July 3rd 1851 the line was authorised by the Waveney Valley Railway Act [The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland [1807-1868/69] By George Kettilby Rickards,Published by His Majesty's statute and law printers, 1861] . The line opened in stages, firstly from Tivetshall to Harleston on 1st December 1855, then to Bungay on 2 November 1860, and finally to Beccles. The line was completed and incorporated into the Great Eastern Railway.The line then became part of the LNER on 1st January 1923.

Services

The line ran regular passenger and freight services daily, except for Sundays. This was a condition placed on the railway by landowners in the Starston area of Norfolk who had to give their consent before the line could be built. During World War I however, troop trains were known to operate each day.During world war two there was a large increase in traffic, this was due to the airfields and military establishments built along the line. Bombs were stored on a bomb dump near Earsham Hall until, after the war, the unused bombs were taken away and disposed of - this continued until 1954.

Departing from Beccles there were stations at Geldeston, Ellingham, Ditchingham, Bungay, Earsham, Homersfield, Harleston, Pulham St. Mary, Pulham Market before the line terminated at Tivetshall.By October 1915, trains had reached their peak of 8 trains per day, but the demands of World War I reduced this to 6 trains per day in 1917.By 1953, when passenger services closed, services had remained unchanged for 36 years.

Closure

Two stations on the line Starston and Redenhall closed as far back as 1866.

During the post-war rail rationalisation, the line suffered the same fate as many other rural branch lines in England and the decision was taken to close the line.

The last day of passenger services was 3 January 1953.

A Light Railway Order was obtained in November 1954, after which there were some special services run by railway enthusiasts.

From 1960 the line was split into sections - Tivetshall to Harleston and Beccles to Bungay.

The lines were finally closed from 19 April 1966 and the track was eventually removed.

Current Day

In the early 1980s, many of the remaining old buildings, including stations and goods yards, were demolished to make way for a new road. The route of the Waveney Valley line lives on as much of the disused route now forms part of the main A143 road between Great Yarmouth and Haverhill which opened on 9th November 1983.

Remaining, unused, areas of the route are now no more than cart tracks and footpaths. The line from Beccles station was partly converted to an industrial estate, reaching the river next to the aptly-named Railway Score. The remains of the bridge over the River Waveney on the Norfolk side of the river are still visible. From the bridge, the trackbed is in overgrown condition and the ballast is still present in places. At Ditchingham, the maltings still survive (the railway used to serve it) but are derelict and due to be redeveloped.

Several stations do survive including:

Geldeston (station and goods shed) private house with a small extension, otherwise as it was.

Ellingham, a large extension has altered the image greatly some of the platform survives.

Earsham, very unaltered only the canopy missing and a few door changes.

Homersfield, station demolished but the goodshed is a garage and house, few extensions.Harleston, station and goods shed survive owned by a builder, extension on the station extends over the platform.

Pulham Market, private house, signal added.

Starston, very well maintained.

The water tower from Bungay was saved and taken to the North Norfolk Railway and placed at Weybourne where it is the largest object from the line still in railway use.

Footnotes

Photos: [http://good-times.webshots.com/album/561484139yzqgVn?vhost=good-times&action=refreshPhotos&albumID=561484139&security=yzqgVn] [http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/c975909.html]

Books:Tivetshall to Beccles The Waveney Valley line by [http://www.middletonpress.co.uk| Middleton Press] [http://www.bungay-suffolk.co.uk/history/reflections-9.htm| Bungay Town History]

[http://www.becclesmuseum.org.uk| Beccles museum]