Watlington | Magdalen Road To Wisbech
The Bramley Line
Welcome to Norfolks disused railway's page of Magdalen Road-Watlington to Wisbech line.
The Bramley Line Between Watlington or Magdalen Road was opened in February 1848 and was closed in 1968 as far as Wisbech.
The line after Wisbech to march remained open until 2000 for freight
The Bramley Line called at
The line has had many attempts to reopen in-between March & Wisbech as the line bed lies clear and the railway is still down in places.
Sadly this part in-between Watlington & Wisbech is blocked off in many parts and Wisbech Station has been demolished and a housing estate built over the area.
Please also look at this page by Lewis Collard
Google My maps coverage from the Bramley line
Watlington | Magdalen Road station
Watlington or Magdalen Road station opened in 1846 as Watlington for services to then only as far as ely.
The rest of the line to Cambridge and London was completed in stages shortly after.
In 1848 Watlington Junction opened with a line to Wisbech that closed in 1968.
Also with the closure of the line on the 9th of September 1968 the station closed.
Locals petitioned and finally got the station reopened on May the 5th 1975 the station reopened still called Magdalen Road.
On the 3rd of October 1989 the line changed its name back to Watlington but still to this day the signal box carrys the
Network South East sign of Magdalen Road
Credit archant via Facebook
Watlington signal box in 2020 what still carries the network south style name Magdalen road what the station was called until 1989
Here we see the old platform at watlington station the was in use when the line ran to Wisbech and March.
Just by the station we see this old railway remain from the bygone days
The new platform at Watlington. Built when the station reopened.
The next two pictures are taken from the side of the station where roughly the old track bed would of been leaving Magdalen Road towards Wisbech
Here we see an Aerial shot taken just by the first railway bridge remain.In the distance you can see the tree line curve round to the left and watlington village to the rear of this photo
Just after the first here we see where the line would of crossed the river ouse and stow road and headed off to Middle Drove & Marshland Saint James.
Next after we leave Magdalen Road heading towards Wisbech we cross 4 bridges two are still there and two are just small remains of the former bridges.
Number one crosses the river ouse relief channel and still in use as public footpath.
Number two is just brick remains crossing the river ouse.
Number three are brick remains crossing stow road -vehicle road.
Number 4 is a still used bridge used by farm land access by public foot path and trust me its a long walk.
Please look at the google map coverage I done for rough track lay out and bridge positions.
Bridge number one crossing the river Ouse relief channel
Bridge number two crossing the river ouse
Bridge number three crossing Stow road
Not long after taking these pictures the former remains from this bridge are completely demolished in I guess mid to late 2021
Bridge number 4 crossing the middle level main drain
Middle Drove Station
Next along the line we see Middle Drove station.
Middle drove station like the rest closed in 1968 and is now used as a private residence.
Smeeth road Railway Station.
Smeeth road station in the village of Marshland Saint James closed in 1968.
This old station building is also now used as private residence.
Opposite this station there are now houses blocking off where this old line used to run.
Here we see Emneth station in 2020 from the Magdalen road/Watlington march Bramley Line
Level crossing cottage near wolsoken
