Waveney valley line
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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 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.
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[edit] Construction
On July 3rd 1851 the Waveney Valley Line was authorised by an Act of Parliament. Through subesquent Acts the line was gradually extended until, on March 2nd 1860 the line was completed and incorporated into the Great Eastern Railway.
[edit] 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.
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.
[edit] Closure
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.
[edit] 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.
