Downham and Stoke Ferry Railway

The Downham and Stoke Ferry Railway was a branch line in western Norfolk, England.

Downham and Stoke Ferry Railway
Overview
LocaleKing's Lynn and West Norfolk
Dates of operation18821898
SuccessorGreat Eastern Railway
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length7 miles (11 km)
Downham & Stoke
Ferry Railway
Downham
Denver
Ryston
Abbey and West Dereham
Wissington Tramway
Stoke Ferry

History

The Downham and Stoke Ferry Railway (D&SF) was just over 7 miles (11 km) long.[1] It was authorised on 24 July 1879, and opened on 1 August 1882, being worked by the Great Eastern Railway (GER).[1] It ran from a junction with the GER at Denver (to the south of Downham), to a terminus at Stoke Ferry.[2] There were two intermediate stations: Ryston and Abbey (latterly known as Abbey and West Dereham).[3]

Ownership changes

On 6 August 1897 an Act of Parliament authorised the GER to absorb the D&SF, which they did on 1 January 1898.[1] Being part of the GER, the line passed to the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at the Grouping on 1 January 1923.[4]

When the railways were nationalised in 1948 operation of the line became the responsibility of British Railways Eastern Region.

Closure

The LNER withdrew the passenger service on 22 September 1930.[1]

Freight services were withdrawn from Denver (13 July 1964) Ryston (28 December 1964) Abbey (31 January 1966) and Stoke Ferry (19 July 1965).[5][6]

The section between Abbey and Stoke Ferry was abandoned in 1965 but traffic continued to the Wissington Railway until 1982.

Wissington Light Railway

At Abbey and West Dereham, a privately owned line, the Wissington Light Railway, branched off. It opened c.1905, mostly closed in 1957,[7] and finally closed in 1982.[8]

Notes

  1. Awdry 1990, p. 124.
  2. Allen 1956, p. 218.
  3. Conolly 1976, p. 17, sections F4–F5.
  4. Awdry 1990, pp. 133–4.
  5. Paye 1982, p. 47.
  6. 19 April 1965 BR (Eastern Region) records ref- MSL1/1439
  7. Awdry 1990, p. 243.
  8. Paye 1982, p. 3.

References

  • Allen, Cecil J. (1956) [1955]. The Great Eastern Railway (2nd ed.). Hampton Court: Ian Allan.
  • Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. London: Guild Publishing. CN 8983.
  • Conolly, W. Philip (January 1976). British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer (5th ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0320-3. EX/0176.
  • Paye, Peter (1982). The Stoke Ferry Branch. Headington: Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 0 86093 141 2.
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