The Bury and Thetford (Swaffham Branch), also known as the Crab and Winkle Line,[1] was a railway line in England. It was formed of the Watton and Swaffham Railway, founded in 1866 as an independent venture by the Thetford and Watton Railway Company. Freight services commenced in January 1869, with passenger services in October 1869. The line ran from Thetford, via Watton to a junction with the Lynn and Dereham Railway at Swaffham and was completed in 1875.[2] The extension to Swaffham cost £72,000,[3]
The line was closed to passengers on 15 June 1964, with a two-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) driven by driver David Grant of Dereham operating the final service. There were only 70 passengers on the final stage of the journey. Roudham Junction to Watton was closed completely at this time, and the remainder was closed to freight on 19 April 1965, after transporting the final sugar beet and coal traffic.[5]
On opening, the railway was approached by Robert Fairlie, who wanted a line to test his "Fairlie Steam Carriage",[6][citation needed] but the railway company were not interested in this proposal.[note 1] Instead locomotives were obtained from Manning Wardle & Co. These were 0-6-0 tank locomotives with 3-foot driving wheels and 11-inch cylinders. The railway also secured a rebuilt 3 ft 6 in saddle tank.[9] These locomotives were maintained at a shed at Watton.[10]
Two more Manning Wardle tanks, and two Sharp, Stewart and Company 0-4-2 tender locomotives were added by September 1876. The railway was taken over by the Great Eastern Railway in 1880, with the locomotives joining the GER stock list. The Sharp locomotives being scrapped in 1891 and the tank engines in the late 1880s.[11]
The line was lifted after closure. The route either side of Stow Bedon station has been removed, and the station site levelled. The section of line between Stow Bedon and Wretham was intended to be used for a new road, and Stow Bedon station was demolished as part of this plan. The road was not, however, constructed.
Watton station has also been demolished and the site redeveloped, although a level crossing gate survived on Church Road as late as 1983. The line from the junction with the Dereham line at Swaffham remains unobstructed, although with some bridges removed. Holme Hale station remains as a private residence, complete with signal box and signal post - although heavily extended.[12]
Loch Neatonedit
One of the ballast quarries created during the construction of the railway through Watton was converted into a leisure park and bathing lake known as Loch Neaton. The area was named "Loch Neaton" in honour of the Scottish navvies who built the line, with Neaton being the local hamlet. The park remains today, bordered on one side by the abandoned railway embankment.[13]
Notesedit
^The Fairlie Steam Carriage was instead successfully tested in July 1869 at the Hatcham Iron Works.[7][8]
Referencesedit
^Holland, J. (2013). Dr Beeching's Axe: 50 Years on: Illustrated Memories of Britain's Lost Railways. DAVID & CHARLES. p. 68. ISBN9781446302675. Retrieved 3 April 2015 – via Google Books.
^Historic England. "WATTON AND SWAFFHAM RAILWAY (357783)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 3 April 2015.
^"The railway in Watton". History of Watton, Norfolk. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
^"Watton and Swaffham Railway Company". The National Archives. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
^"Fairlie's Steam Carriage. Light railway steam locomotive for use on branch lines. 1869 - Image ID: D96P36". World History Archive / Alamy Stock Photo. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
^"The Fairlie Steam Carriage". Western Mail. Cardiff, Wales. 17 July 1869. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Important Improvement In Steam Carriages". The Nottinghamshire Guardian. Nottingham. 23 July 1869. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Route of Thetford, Watton and Swaffham Railway (later Great Eastern)". Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
^"History of the Loch". Loch Neaton Watton. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
Joby, R.S. (1976). Rails across Breckland. Norwich: Klofron.
January 01, 1970
bury, thetford, swaffham, branch, also, known, crab, winkle, line, railway, line, england, formed, watton, swaffham, railway, founded, 1866, independent, venture, thetford, watton, railway, company, freight, services, commenced, january, 1869, with, passenger,. The Bury and Thetford Swaffham Branch also known as the Crab and Winkle Line 1 was a railway line in England It was formed of the Watton and Swaffham Railway founded in 1866 as an independent venture by the Thetford and Watton Railway Company Freight services commenced in January 1869 with passenger services in October 1869 The line ran from Thetford via Watton to a junction with the Lynn and Dereham Railway at Swaffham and was completed in 1875 2 The extension to Swaffham cost 72 000 3 Thetford and Watton Railway CompanyCutting near SwaffhamOverviewLocaleEnglandDates of operation1869 1964 passengers SuccessorGreat Eastern RailwayTechnicalTrack gauge1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in Length18 75 miles 30 18 km On 21 July 1879 the line was leased to the Great Eastern Railway for 999 years commencing 1 March 1880 It was vested into the GER in 1897 becoming part of the London and North Eastern Railway on 1 January 1923 4 The line was closed to passengers on 15 June 1964 with a two car diesel multiple unit DMU driven by driver David Grant of Dereham operating the final service There were only 70 passengers on the final stage of the journey Roudham Junction to Watton was closed completely at this time and the remainder was closed to freight on 19 April 1965 after transporting the final sugar beet and coal traffic 5 Contents 1 Rolling stock 2 List of stations 3 The route today 3 1 Loch Neaton 4 Notes 5 ReferencesRolling stock editOn opening the railway was approached by Robert Fairlie who wanted a line to test his Fairlie Steam Carriage 6 citation needed but the railway company were not interested in this proposal note 1 Instead locomotives were obtained from Manning Wardle amp Co These were 0 6 0 tank locomotives with 3 foot driving wheels and 11 inch cylinders The railway also secured a rebuilt 3 ft 6 in saddle tank 9 These locomotives were maintained at a shed at Watton 10 Two more Manning Wardle tanks and two Sharp Stewart and Company 0 4 2 tender locomotives were added by September 1876 The railway was taken over by the Great Eastern Railway in 1880 with the locomotives joining the GER stock list The Sharp locomotives being scrapped in 1891 and the tank engines in the late 1880s 11 List of stations editvteCrab and Winkle line Legend Breckland line nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Roudham Junction nbsp A1075 nbsp Wretham and Hockham nbsp Stow Bedon nbsp A1075 nbsp Watton nbsp Norwich Road nbsp Church Lane nbsp Bridge 2399 A1075 nbsp Bridge 2400 Loch Lane nbsp Bridge 2401 Ovington Road nbsp Bridge 2402 Hills Road nbsp Bridge 2403 Dunnetts Close nbsp Bridge 2404 nbsp Bridge 2405 Hale Road nbsp Holme Hale nbsp Station Road nbsp nbsp Bridge 2408 River Wissey nbsp Bridge 2409 Hillside North Pickenham nbsp nbsp Bridge 2414 nbsp Bridge 2415 Norwich Road old A47 nbsp Bridge 2416 Long Lane nbsp Bridge 2417 Sporle Road nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Swaffham Lynn and Dereham Railway Swaffham line and station closed Holme Hale line and station closed Watton line and station closed Stow Bedon line and station closed Wretham and Hockham line and station closed Roudham Junction railway station line open station closed Thetford line and station open The route today editThe line was lifted after closure The route either side of Stow Bedon station has been removed and the station site levelled The section of line between Stow Bedon and Wretham was intended to be used for a new road and Stow Bedon station was demolished as part of this plan The road was not however constructed Watton station has also been demolished and the site redeveloped although a level crossing gate survived on Church Road as late as 1983 The line from the junction with the Dereham line at Swaffham remains unobstructed although with some bridges removed Holme Hale station remains as a private residence complete with signal box and signal post although heavily extended 12 Loch Neaton edit One of the ballast quarries created during the construction of the railway through Watton was converted into a leisure park and bathing lake known as Loch Neaton The area was named Loch Neaton in honour of the Scottish navvies who built the line with Neaton being the local hamlet The park remains today bordered on one side by the abandoned railway embankment 13 Notes edit The Fairlie Steam Carriage was instead successfully tested in July 1869 at the Hatcham Iron Works 7 8 References edit Holland J 2013 Dr Beeching s Axe 50 Years on Illustrated Memories of Britain s Lost Railways DAVID amp CHARLES p 68 ISBN 9781446302675 Retrieved 3 April 2015 via Google Books Historic England WATTON AND SWAFFHAM RAILWAY 357783 Research records formerly PastScape Retrieved 3 April 2015 The railway in Watton History of Watton Norfolk Retrieved 3 April 2015 Watton and Swaffham Railway Company The National Archives Retrieved 3 April 2015 Joby 1976 p 16 Fairlie s Steam Carriage Light railway steam locomotive for use on branch lines 1869 Image ID D96P36 World History Archive Alamy Stock Photo Retrieved 7 February 2021 The Fairlie Steam Carriage Western Mail Cardiff Wales 17 July 1869 p 2 via Newspapers com nbsp Important Improvement In Steam Carriages The Nottinghamshire Guardian Nottingham 23 July 1869 p 11 via Newspapers com nbsp Joby 1976 p 11 Joby 1976 p 6 Joby 1976 p 13 Route of Thetford Watton and Swaffham Railway later Great Eastern Norfolk Heritage Explorer Retrieved 7 February 2021 History of the Loch Loch Neaton Watton Retrieved 7 February 2021 Joby R S 1976 Rails across Breckland Norwich Klofron Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bury and Thetford Swaffham Branch amp oldid 1013832911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
