Leziate-Bawsey Sandpits

Narrow Guage Railway

Welcome to Norfolk's Disused Railways page for the old disused Bawsey & Leziate Narrow Gauge Railway system. There used to be a narrow gauge railway network near Middleton Towers station that transported silica sand from all over the sand works from as far as Bawsey to the sand refinery thats close to Middleton Towers station. During are visit, we discovered some remnants of the old railway system, including a part of the railway track, an old bank, and a bridge with both portals for the narrow gauge railway and the conveyor belt system. Closer to Bawsey, we also found some old concrete parts, Additionally, we found another portal to another conveyor tunnel.

On a trip a few years ago, I also found some old railway tracks at Bawsey Park.

Since our visit, Sibelco, who now owns this land after British Sand, has fenced the area off. At the time of writing, we were unsure why, there was talk of possible excavation or storage in this area again.

As soon as we have more information, we will update the page.

Please if anyone has any Photos of information on this area, please feel free to get in contact via the Contact page or via FaceBook or X (Twitter)

Full credit will be given

All photos taken by me on this webpage are free to reuse. Click on each image to access the Wikimedia page to download them.

Bawsey Leziate narrow gauge railway maps 

I have found some historic maps that display the layout of the abandoned railway.

Thanks to the National Library of Scotland

Seen on later maps the railway only ran a much shorter route.

The British sand works at Leziate had a siding from Middleton Towers Station, where the narrow gauge railway also operated. The following map illustrates this connection.

The Map position of the Bridge that is seen in the photos below

I would like to express my gratitude to the National Library of Scotland for providing all the maps that were used above.

Leziate Sand works Bridge

There is a bridge located in Leziate on Station Road close to Holt house lane, not far from Middleton Towers Station. The bridge was used to carry a narrow gauge railway and a conveyor belt underneath Station Road, leading to what was formerly known as British Sand and is now Sibelco.

According to some sources, this bridge was probably constructed around 1935, although it is not certified.

Photographed on are first visit in October 2023

The Portals on the Other side of the old railway bridge

During the second visit in early 2024, we decided to venture in and have a look inside the bridge.

The graffiti on the bridge support on the sandpit side of the old bridge.

"Old signs left behind from the sand works."

"Inside".

The Railway Bridge.

Inside, we found an old sleeper and part of a roller from the conveyor system.

"Inside".

The Conveyor Tunnel

The new fence

"Many thanks to the Middleton Towers Restoration Group for sharing this picture of a new fence. The photo was taken from the top of the bridge, but its purpose is currently unknown. Some speculate that the fence is to keep people out, while others suggest it may be for a new belting system going back on site. As the site progresses, we will keep you updated."

Please click here to Support the Middleton Towers restoration group.

The Track bed

The Narrow Gauge Railway Track

Situated near the bank, not far from the old bridge, we found a small piece of track from the Narrow Gauge railway.

The loading platform and tracks at Bawsey.

In August 2021, before our visit to the bridge at Leziate, I found these tracks by the old loading platform, which is situated in Bawsey Country Park.

From sources, this was once called Bawsey Warren

Random non-railway items from the sand works

Random non-railway items left behind from the old sand works at Leztiate

Thanks for looking

Please if anyone has any pictures from when the works were in use please feel free to get into contact with to have them added to this page and full credit will be given.

Many thanks