Dates of operation 1874–operational Length 40,234 m Successor Bittern Line | Headquarters Norwich Locale England | |
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Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) | ||
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.
Contents
History
Although nominally independent, the East Norfolk Railway was operated by the Great Eastern Railway 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 station. 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 on 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 Weavers' 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.
Wroxham to County School
The ENR branch line to Aylsham 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.