MID NORFOLK RAILWAY
Welcome to Norfolk's disused railway covering the Mid Norfolk Railway including County school.
This page has beed adaptaded from the Dereham to Norwich page
The Past
Passenger services began on February 15, 1847, following the opening of the Dereham to Wymondham freight line on December 7, 1846.
It wasn't until 11 September 1848 that the line from King's Lynn finally reached Dereham.
In 1857 the line between Dereham and Wells opened. The entire line then became part of the Great Eastern Railway in 1862
The distance between Dereham and Wymondham was 11-1/2 miles
In the early 1880s, the railway line between Dereham and Wymondham was expanded to a double-tracked line, which was completed shortly after 1882. Yakham, Thuxton, Hardingham, and Kimberley Park all had new platforms constructed on the new upline, while the downline platforms underwent alterations, including the addition of new canopies.
Trains travelling from Dereham would sometimes reverse and head west towards King's Lynn via Swaffham. In 1886, an avoiding double track line was constructed to the south of the Dereham station. This allowed the Wymondham to King's Lynn line to be used as a cross-country route. The avoiding line was utilised by freight, excursion, and diverted main-line trains.
The 1955 Modernisation Plan introduced diesel trains on the line. However, as car usage increased by the 1960s, the line faced closure under the Beeching cuts.
In June of 1965, the section between Wymondham and Dereham was reduced to a single track, with a passing loop located at Hardringham.
Although it was recommended to keep the line open for freight and express trains, it eventually closed in October 1969. The Wells branch had already closed in 1964, and the Lynn branch in 1968.
The line closed to Freight in 1989
Trains would call at
Yaxham
Thuxton
Hardingham
Kimberley Park
Wymondham
Norwich Thorpe
The Present
The 11’5 miles of track in between Dereham and Wymondham are now owned by the Mid Norfolk Heritage Railway, with also part of the old track bed from Dereham to County school that they plan to open in the future. The Mid Norfolk railway have ran few special services to Hoe Crossing from Dereham that was part of the Dereham to Wells via Fakenham line.
The Mid Norfolk Railway runs a line that consists of single-lined sections with passing points along the route. There is also a storage facility at Kimberly Park that was constructed to store new Class 745 and 755 Greater Anglia stock before these trains entered service. The sidings are still used today for storage, as well as for heritage and other rolling stock.
The Mid Norfolk Railway does not run all the way to Wymondham. It stops just outside the junction of the still-in-use Norwich to Cambridge Breckland line junction at a new station called Wymondham Abbey that was opened in 1999.
The Mid Norfolk plans to open a new station closer to Wymondham in time.
In terms of passenger service, the Dereham (Rashers Green)to Yaxham route reopened in 1995, followed by the reopening of Dereham railway station in 1997. Finally, the Dereham to Wymondham section reopened to passengers in 1999.
The Mid Norfolk still Runs Heritage services along the line with the popular Polar Express Christmas service.
Please see the Google Maps coverage below from the North Norfolk Railway. The yellow line covers from Dereham to Wymondham Abbey, and the blue line covers to County School.
DEREHAM STATION
Dereham station was built in stages over several decades. It has four platforms, with platforms 2 and 3 being set back to back. Platform 4 is a short bay platform that was initially dedicated to trains heading towards King's Lynn. Dereham used to have several signal cabins that controlled the freight yards in the area. The central signal box and the west signal box are still present as part of the Mid Norfolk railway. The main goods shed was located behind the up platforms. There were also many sidings in Dereham that were used for local mills and agriculture. The up-and-down platforms were connected by a steel footbridge, but it no longer exists. Dereham also had its own Turntable. The Dereham loco sheds closed in 1955 for steam use and were used to stable DMU trains until 1968; they were then demolished, and the land is now used as a leisure centre. In 2020, a smaller shed was built with funds from the EU on the part of the site of the old shed. The Beeching report intended to keep the Lynn Dereham Norwich route. Despite this, the King's Lynn part was closed in 1968 and the rest to Wymondham was closed in 1969. Services to Wells from Dereham had already closed as early as 1964. Freight services carried on in use to Fakenham East until 1980. The station closed down in the mid-80s and was left to the elements.
The station was reopened in 1997 by the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust.
Dereham station was built in stages over several decades. It has four platforms, with platforms 2 and 3 being set back to back. Platform 4 is a short bay platform that was initially dedicated to trains heading towards King's Lynn. Dereham used to have several signal cabins that controlled the freight yards in the area. The central signal box and the west signal box are still present as part of the Mid Norfolk railway. The main goods shed was located behind the up platforms. There were also many sidings in Dereham that were used for local mills and agriculture. The up-and-down platforms were connected by a steel footbridge, but it no longer exists. Dereham also had its own Turntable. The Dereham loco sheds closed in 1955 for steam use and were used to stable DMU trains until 1968; they were then demolished, and the land is now used as a leisure centre. In 2020, a smaller shed was built with funds from the EU on the part of the site of the old shed. The Beeching report intended to keep the Lynn Dereham Norwich route. Despite this, the King's Lynn part was closed in 1968 and the rest to Wymondham was closed in 1969. Services to Wells from Dereham had already closed as early as 1964. Freight services carried on in use to Fakenham East until 1980. The station closed down in the mid-80s and was left to the elements.
The station was reopened in 1997 by the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust.
Leaving Dereham for Norwich
Some Mid Norfolk Railway Services at Dereham
Leaving Dereham for Norwich trains would either reverse towards Norwich or would have travelled down the avoiding double track line from King’s Lynn and headed off towards Norwich.
While on a Mid-Norfolk Railway train, I took photos of the rolling stock and the yard departing from Dereham Station.
In 2020, I photographed the track bed outside Dereham Station near the Greens Road industrial estate. The A47 bypass overpass bridge can be seen in the distance.
The railway crossed over the River Tudd before it arrived at the next station, Yaxham.
Yaxham station
Yaxham was the first station after Dereham,It was about two miles away from Dereham. The station was opened in 1847 and initially had a single platform. However, with time, the line was doubled and another platform was added to the up line at Yaxham. Yaxham station had two platforms, as well as goods yards and a goods shed. The waiting room had a large glass front, and there was a two-story station master's house. Additionally, there was a signal box at Yaxham, which had a 26-lever frame and was attached to the waiting room. The level crossing was located just beside the signal box.
Yaxham closed in 1969 and reopened on 26 July 1997 as part of the Mid Norfolk Railway.
Yaxham station still exists today and is now part of the Mid Norfolk Railway Heritage Railway. The Yaxham Light Railway is also located there. The Yaxham signal box is the only original signal box left on the heritage railway. The waiting rooms on the up platform are still standing, while the waiting rooms on the down platform have been demolished.
The down platform remains the only operational platform, with the track laid on the Up-side having been removed, also there is no passing place located here at Yaxham.
The station master's house and railway hotel are both still standing and are now privately owned. The brick-built goods shed is located away from the railway and is being used as a shed for a renovation company that is working on steam engines.
I visited this station in June 2022 while on a pacer day.
Yaxham station in June 2022
The railway line departed from Yaxham and made its way towards its next stop, Thuxton. It went through cuttings and crossed an embankment, passing near the villages of Whinburgh and Garveston. Due to both Whinburgh and Garveston being located close to Yaxham or Thuxton, there were no stations serving them. However, Garveston does have a level crossing that is still being used on the Mid Norfolk Railway.
Thuxton station
Thuxton is the second station after Dereham.
The station was opened in 1847 and initially had a single platform. However, with time, the line was doubled, and another platform was added to the up line at Thuxton.
Thuxton, once the line was doubled like many other stations, had waiting rooms with glass-fronted designs also added.
Thuxton is a small station located between Dereham and Norwich. It has a level crossing south of the platforms, and the main station buildings are situated on the down side, which includes a two-story station master's house.
Thuxton had a goods siding but no shed, and the signal box became a ground frame by 1933.
Thuxton station reopened in 1997 as a request stop, and later became a full-time stopping station.
Thuxton is now a part of the Mid Norfolk Railway. In 2010, a passing loop was reinstated, which returned the station to double track. During my many visits to Thuxton, Mid Norfolk services terminate here due to bridge damage down the line, which stopped the services from running any further as the only passing place was here at Thuxton.
A new signal box has been built at Thuxton using parts from the old signal box at East Winch. The design is based on the signal box from the Breckland line at Shipea Hill, which runs from Norwich to Ely via Wyndomham.
The lever system here is a McKenzie and Holland lever frame that was saved from Seven Sisters signal box in North London.
The Mid Norfolk Railway Volunteers at Thuxton have done an amazing job of re-doubling the line and renovating the station to a high standard, which I have photographed.
"I would like to express my gratitude to all the volunteers present here. Thank you very much for your dedication and hard work."
Thuxton station
Thuxton Signal Box
Thuxton signal box that stands on the Mid Norfolk Railway is not the original one. The original signal box was located on the North side of the platform. This rebuilt signal box was created using parts from different sources. The frame was salvaged from Seven Sisters station and the signal box itself was based on the one from Shippea Hill. Additionally, some parts were taken from East Winch from the Lynn Dereham Railway.
To learn more about East Winch Station, click on the link provided below.
Former Signal Box at East Winch.
Ben Brooksbank / Derelict signalbox at former East Winch station, 1995 / CC BY-SA 2.0
The signal box at Thuxton was designed to resemble the Shipea Hill box on the Breckland line, which connects Norwich, Wymondham, and Ely. Below, I have shared a picture of the Shipea Hill box. It is worth noting that Shipea Hill was the least-used station in the UK during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 years, with only 22 and 12 passengers respectively.
Leaving Thuxton the line headed off towards Hardingham for half a mile the line ran through a cutting before running along an embankment and arriving at Hardingham.
Hardingham Station
Hardingham station like all other stations, it was opened in 1847 as a single platformed station. In the early 1880s, the line was doubled and a new platform was built for Hardingham. The station has a 21-lever signal box and an L-shaped two-story station master's house with waiting rooms on the up platforms. There was a goods yard on the downside with two sidings available.
Hardingham also had a Turn Table supplying 3 small spurs.
Hardingham was kept as a passing loop until the passenger services ended in October 1969, after which the branch was singled in June 1968.
In the present time, Hardingham station is on the Mid Norfolk railway even though it's not on the regular timetable and trains only stop on rare occasions. such as gala days.
Between 2018 and 2019, a project was initiated to relocate parts of the double track to provide storage for the new Greater Anglia trains. The track was moved southwards towards Kimberly Park, and the second platform was restored.
The signal box at Hardingham originates from the King's Lynn to Hunstanton Great Eastern railway station at Snettisham. The current owners have beautifully restored it.
Hardingham Station
At Hardingham Station by Mary and Angus Hogg, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Passing Hardingham station, Mid Norfolk Railway by roger geach
In the present time the Mid-Norfolk services now pass a newly built 5-road sidings that was constructed to store new Class 745 and Class 755 rolling stock for Abellio Greater Anglia until they entered service.
This involved removing part of the up line to extend the storage capacity of one of the sidings, changing the original plan to relay the double line from Hardingham to Kimberly Park.
Kimberley Park Station
Kimberley Park was initially known as "Kimberley" until 1923 when it was renamed to Kimberley Park due to confusion with another station in Nottinghamshire. The station was opened in 1847 as a single-platform station. In the early 1880s, the line was doubled and Kimberley Park gained another platform on the up side, along with a small waiting room. Most of Kimberley Park's main infrastructure, including the station master's house and the larger waiting room with typical glass front, were situated on the downside. Additionally, a canopy was added to the platform in the early 1800s. Kimberley Park had a single goods siding on the downside of the line. Cattle pens were also present, but there was no goods shed available.
At the southern end of the down platform once sat the station's signal box, which is now demolished, and Mid Norfolk is looking at replacing the box at Kimberley Park, with a signal box from possibly Soham.
In the present time, Kimberley Park is on the Mid Norfolk railway even though it's not on the regular timetable and trains only stop on rare occasions.
Between 2018 and 2019, a project was initiated to relocate parts of the double track to provide storage for the new Greater Anglia trains. The track was moved southwards towards Kimberly Park, and the second platform was restored.
The signal box at Hardingham originates from the King's Lynn to Hunstanton Great Eastern railway station at Snettisham. The current owners have beautifully restored it.
A Victorian image showing the doubling of the railway line through Kimberley station, Norfolk, around 1881.
Sourced via Wikipedia-Copyright Public domain.
Kimberley Park Station in 1998, before restoration.
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© Copyright Ben Brooksbank and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Kimberley Park after Restoration
© Copyright N Chadwick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
© Copyright Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
© Copyright Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
© Copyright Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
© Copyright N Chadwick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
In the present day, the Mid Norfolk Railway has a station at Wymondham Abbey, located just on the outskirts of Wymondham.
Wymondham Abbey Station
“The end of the Mid Norfolk Railway”
Wymondham Abbey is the southern most station on the Mid Norfolk Railway for passenger services. Although the line continues towards the Network Rail line, which goes to Wymondham Station and Norwich along the Breckland Line, the Mid Norfolk Railway only uses a small part of it for passenger train reversals and for stock movements. Some gala trains arrive via the junction from Wymondham, and the junction is also used for trains that use the storage facilities at Kimberley Park.
The platform at Wymondham Abbey is currently constructed using scaffolding and it was opened in 1999. Additionally, a signal box from Spooner Row Station has been renovated and can now be found at Wymondham Abbey.
Looking ahead, the Mid Norfolk Railway plans to construct a fresh station that is closer to the junction in the near future.
Wymondham Abbey Station
Wymondham Abbey Church Lane signal box
The Signal box at at its old home, Spooner Row.
© Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
"The signal box was undergoing renovation in 2022."
Wymondham South Junction
Wymondham South Junction, located just southwest of the station, provided services that connected the Main Breckland line to Dereham, Fakenham, and Wells when it was operational. Today, the junction still links the Mid Norfolk railway to the Main Line. Although the signal box at Wymondham South Junction has been out of use since 2012, it still remains standing.
The Line to the right took services off to Dereham and onto the Mid Norfolk Railway.
Thanks to John Lucas via Geograph
© Copyright John Lucas and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
"Wymondham South Junction Signal Box - credit goes to John Lucas via Geograph."
© Copyright John Lucas and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
DEREHAM TO COUNTY SCHOOL
The Mid Norfolk Railway owns approximately 6 miles of track bed, which extends up to County School Station. Out of this, 3.5 miles from Worthing are currently operational, while the remaining 2.5 miles between Worthing and County School pass through North Elmham station. There is also a one-mile section on the old track bed where no railway track has been relaid down as yet.
The Mid Norfolk Railway has plans to reopen the line between Dereham and County School and also to relay the track past Worthing. If completed, this would make the Mid Norfolk railway one of the longest heritage railways in the country. Currently, the part of the line between Dereham and Worthing is only operational on special occasions up to Hoe Crossing. However, at the time of writing, this part of the line was out of commission, but it is hoped that it will be up and running again soon.
Northal Green Bridge
Bridge 1698
© Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
© Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Hall Road Hoe Crossing.
© Copyright Michael Garlick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
The next bridge I came across was located on an unknown road after Hall Road Crossing (Hoe Crossing).
Please see the Google Maps position for the location of this bridge.
The following Bridge i came across was what seemed to be a farm crossing over the top of the old Wells to Wymondham (Mid-Norfolk Railway)
Please see the Google Maps position for the location of this bridge.
The next bridge I came across on the Mid-Norfolk Railway was an overpass that appears to have been used for farm traffic when the Wells to Wymondham line was in operation.
Please see the Google Maps position for the location of this bridge.
Shortly after this overpass bridge, I came across another Level crossing. This one was on Hoe Road.
The track bed heading towards North Elmham.
Shortly before the level crossing at Hoe Road, I found this railway bridge crossing a small river stream in the distance.
North Elmham Station
North Elmham station was first opened in 1849 and was later renamed North Elmham in 1872. The station building has since been converted into a residential property and now has one platform.
Heading off towards County School
County School track bed
The track bed leading to County School station.
COUNTY SCHOOL STATION
END OF THE MID NORFOLK RAILWAY
County School Station, located 17 miles and 40 chains away from Wymondham, was established in 1886. It served both passenger and freight trains until its closure in 1964. In addition to this, the station was also used for services that ran on the East Norfolk Railway from Aylsham to Wroxham, which ceased operation in 1952. The station had three platforms - an up and down platform for Wymondham to Wells services and a bay platform for services to Wroxham. The junction for Wroxham services was located towards Wells at Broom Green.
Remnants of County School station, 1986
Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0Attribution
(required by the license)Ben Brooksbank / Remnants of County School station, 1986 /
