109. A Suffolk jaunt-10.12.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 109. A Suffolk jaunt-10.12.24

This day out with Andy was significant on two counts. Firstly, we vowed at the start of 2024 that we would have a railway-related activity at least once per month throughout the year and this one completed this task. Secondly, it was also Andy's birthday that is something else that we both try to celebrate with a railway activity in both of our cases. It was a shame that the weather was so poor but, nonetheless, we had a smashing day out with Andy copping two stations meaning all those in Suffolk have now been visited.

Click here to search The Archive Files

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.

66305, 05.53 Hams Hall-Felixstowe North (4L02, RT), Bury St. Edmunds station
66305 'Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway' approaches Bury St. Edmunds station leading the 05.35 Hams Hall to Felixstowe North GBRf freight service. It is pictured from the platform end passing the soon-to-be redundant signal box and the once extensive station yard to the left. In the last few weeks, the redundant and overgrown track in the sidings has been removed in readiness for the area to be fenced off and redeveloped. The Great Eastern signal box dating from 1888 is Grade II listed so will not be demolished but as to any further use, who knows given its rather isolated position.
Keywords: 66305 05.53 Hams Hall-Felixstowe North 4L02 Bury St. Edmunds station Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

Frontage, Stowmarket station
The Jacobean-inspired frontage of Stowmarket station is always going to be somewhat compromised by traffic in the front car park. However, its grandeur cannot be denied being designed by the esteemed railway architect Frederick Barnes (1814-1898). It opened in 1846 and was fully restored in 1987 and is to be further improved with the installation of a new footbridge with accessibility lifts. This new and 'revolutionary' designed AVA bridge replaces the concrete version installed when the electrification of the GEML was under construction. This bridge replaced an original cast iron bridge that is now installed at Weybourne station on the North Norfolk Railway.
Keywords: Frontage Stowmarket station

745003, GA 10.30 Norwich-London Liverpool Street (1P29, 8L), Stowmarket station
The new face of the Great Eastern Mainline is seen passing Stowmarket in the form of a Stadler FLIRT (Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train). 745003 is working the Greater Anglia 10.30 Norwich to Liverpool Street service. Whilst these are, essentially, units they do represent a step up from the aged and tired locomotive-hauled Mk. IIIs that they replaced much as I mourn the latter's passing!
Keywords: 745003 10.30 Norwich-London Liverpool Street 1P29 Stowmarket station Greater Anglia

Stowmarket signal box (GE, 1882)
Stowmarket signal box was reduced to the status of a crossing box back in May 1985 with the opening of the Colchester PSB. It has remained in use since to monitor and control the gates on the town's busy Station Road. Opened in 1882 the box is the only Great Eastern example to retain its original windows. When automation arrives the box would be a superb candidate for preservation on a heritage line.
Keywords: Stowmarket signal box GE, 1882

Saxmundham signal box (GE, 1881)
Saxmundum signal box is an interesting survivor. It was originally opened by the GER in 1881 but became the hub of the East Suffolk Line's RETB (Radio Electronic Token Block) signalling between Woodbridge and Oulton Broad, including the Sizewell branch. However, that system was discontinued in 2012 with a conventional signalling system using LED signals was introduced along with a much-needed passing loop at Beccles. The box monitors this system and takes calls from the many users of the frequent user-worked crossings the length of the line.
Keywords: Saxmundham signal box 1881

755405, GA 12.16 Ipswich-Lowestoft (2D78, 2E), Wickham Market station
Greater Anglia's FLIRT 755405 leaves Wickham Market station working the 12.16 Ipswich to Lowestoft service. As can be seen from this photograph, this line was once double track throughout but with today's services having to make do with single line working helped considerably by the building of a passing loop at Beccles in 2012.
Keywords: 755405 12.16 Ipswich-Lowestoft 2D78 Wickham Market station Greater Anglia FLIRT

755338, GA 12.06 Lowestoft-Ipswich (2D81, 1E), Melton station
Andy captures 755338 arriving at Melton station on the East Suffolk LIne working the 2D81 12.06 Lowestoft to Ipswich Greater Anglia service. This was the second of two stations that Andy required, along with Wickham Market, meaning that all in Suffolk had been visited and recorded by him.
Keywords: 755338 12.06 Lowestoft-Ipswich 2D81 Melton station Greater Anglia FLIRT

Chippenham Junction signal box (GE, c.1921)
Taken in the half-light near Newmarket Chippenham Junction signal box is seen. The remotely located Great Eastern box dating from 1921 is very much on borrowed time now. It retains a sixteen-lever McKenzie & Holland frame two of which are spare. The levers operate colour lights but there are some which operate points and facing point locks which are still mechanical. The twin lines curving off to the north are the up and down tracks to Ely via Soham which see much freight activity to and from the East Coast ports. Indeed, as Andy and I turned to walk back to the car along the remote tree-lined track over the Newmarket gallops an east-bound freight was heard passing in the near darkness.
Keywords: Chippenham Junction signal box 1921

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.