Fransham railway station

Fransham railway station is a former station in Great Fransham, Norfolk. It was opened as part of the Lynn and Dereham Railway, becoming part of the East Anglian Railway from 1847, on the section of line between Dereham and Swaffham.[2]

Fransham
LocationFransham, Norfolk
England
Platforms1
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyLynn and Dereham Railway
East Anglian Railway[1]
Pre-groupingGreat Eastern Railway
Post-groupingLondon and North Eastern Railway
Eastern Region of British Railways
Key dates
11 Sep 1848Opened[1]
9 Sep 1968Closed to passengers

History

The Lynn & Dereham Railway was given the Royal Assent on 21 July 1845, opened in stages between 1846 and 1848, and later became part of the Great Eastern Railway. Hunt's Directory of East Norfolk 1850 shows Edgar Skeit as a 'railway clerk'. However White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory, of Norfolk 1854 lists Edgar Skeet as being station master at Great Fransham. He would spend over 30 years in this role.

He was christened on 20 August 1804 at Ubbeston, Suffolk. William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883 lists him as still being stationmaster despite being 80 years old.[3] He died in September 1888 aged 84 and is buried in the North East corner of Beeston churchyard.

In the early days, four passenger trains and one goods train would pass through the station each way daily giving ten movements. Great Fransham was a halt between the two major junctions of East Dereham and Swaffham. The station also had a level crossing.

The original intention of the company had been to extend their line to Great Yarmouth, via Norwich, but this plan was blocked by the rival Wymondham to Dereham scheme proposed by the Norfolk Railway.

The line was closed to passenger and freight services by the Eastern Region of British Railways after last train on Saturday, 7 September 1968.

It was closed as part of the Beeching Axe. Beeching's report intended to retain the King's Lynn - Dereham - Norwich line (which was in fact closed).

Some items of rolling stock are kept at the station, although not on public display. For a while the station was home to an unrestored 1916 Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST, works number 1208. This was the last surviving locomotive from the Nidd Valley Light Railway. It has since been purchased and removed for future use on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.[4]

Rolling stock

Passenger vehicles
Built for Number Type Designation Livery Notes
Great Eastern Railway 1235 Diagram 421 T Varnished teak Body only, Static[5]
London Midland and Scottish Railway 42551 Horse box HBY - Body only, Static[5]
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Dunham
Line and station closed		   Great Eastern
Lynn and Dereham Railway		   Wendling
Line and station closed

References
  1. Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
  2. Oppitz, 1989, page 14
  3. http://www.origins.org.uk/genuki/NFK/places/f/fransham_great/white1883.shtml
  4. Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway: Illingworth / Mitchell
  5. "BR 86226 (93226)". The Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey Project.

Bibliography
  • Oppitz, Leslie (Autumn 1989). "East Anglia Railways Remembered". Countryside Books. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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