Felixstowe Beach railway station
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| Felixstowe Beach | |
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| Class 47 at Felixstowe Beach in 1988. | |
| Location | |
| Place | Felixstowe |
| Area | Suffolk |
| Coordinates | 51°57′12″N 1°20′03″E / 51.9532°N 1.3341°ECoordinates: 51°57′12″N 1°20′03″E / 51.9532°N 1.3341°E |
| Grid reference | TM291335 |
| Operations | |
| Original company | Felixstowe Railway and Pier Company |
| Pre-grouping | Great Eastern Railway |
| Post-grouping | London and North Eastern Railway |
| Platforms | 1 |
| History | |
| 01 May 1877 | opened |
| 11 September 1967 | closed (passengers) |
| April 2004 | demolished (building) |
| Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom | |
| Closed railway stations in Britain A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–Z |
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Felixstowe Beach is a disused station on the Felixstowe Branch Line built in 1877 and closed from 11 September 1967. The station served the seafront of Felixstowe.
Contents |
[edit] The station described
Felixstowe Beach was opened as a single platformed station with goods facilities. The original engine shed of the Felixstowe Railway and Dock Comany were located slightly to the north and at a lower level to the running line. In 1888 the main platform was extended to 510 feet and the bay at the north end added. Two additional sidings were also provided at this time.
The 30 lever signal box was located at the north end of the station whilst a level crossing was located at the south end.[1]
Today the platform is the only significant item remaining on site.
[edit] History
The station opened in May 1877 when the Felixstowe Branch Line opened. It was not quite ready for the public on the opening day so the inaugural train ran through to Felixstowe Pier station. Its location was decided by the line's builder Colonel George Tomline who owned property near the station. It was also rumoured that the decision was driven by his hatred of local businessman J Cobbold and his desire that his hotel business should not benefit from the new railway.[2]
The original engine shed was sited at Felixstowe Beach station but was closed once the Great Eastern Railway had taken over the line in 1887. However a need to find extra capacity for carriage painting led to the facility re-opening in 1893. Several of the publications report the facility repainting up to 2,000 carriages per year. Unfortunately it burned down in the 1930s.[3][1]
The opening of the new Felixstowe Town station in 1898 saw the closure of the direct line from Ipswich with all trains reversing in the new station. As a result the line became a backwater and in the 1920s few passenger trains worked beyond Beach station. Goods trains to the docks were also fairly scarce.[4]
The London and North Eastern Railway took over operations of the line in 1923.
British Railways took over operations of the line in 1948.
The station was partly closed to passenger services in 1959, though summer services continued until September 1967. In the late 1960s the area was used as part of the sidings area for Felixstowe Docks and the docks then resident BR Class 10 shunter "Colonel Tomline" has been photographed at this location.[5]
In 1971 the original signal box was closed and replaced by a prefab structure located by the level crossing gates. In 1976 the layout was rationalised with the removal of the bay platform, passing loop and now redundant sidings.[6]
With the opening of a more direct line to the docks from Trimley in February 1986, Beach station sees fewer trains now than it did. Some freight services are still routed this way mostly being freightliner trains
For historical details of the service please see the timetable section of the Felixstowe Branch Line entry.
Locomotives that worked the line are detailed in the entry for Felixstowe.
The building was demolished by the Strategic Rail Authority in April 2004 against the wishes of the local residents and council.[7][8]
Suffolk Country Council considered proposals to reopen the station in 2006.[9]
[edit] Route
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felixstowe | Felixstowe Railway and Pier Company Felixstowe Branch Line |
Felixstowe Pier | ||
[edit] References
- ^ a b Adderson, Richard; Kenworthy, Graham (2007) [2003]. Branch Lines to Felixstowe and Aldeburgh. Midhurst: The Middleton Press. fig. 47. ISBN 978 1 904474 20 3.
- ^ Quayle, H.I.; Bradbury, G.T. (1977). The Felixstowe Railway. The Oakwood Press. p. 13.
- ^ Quayle & Bradbury 1977, p. 12
- ^ Quayle & Bradbury 1977, p. 18
- ^ Adderson & Kenworthy 2007, fig. 57
- ^ 125 Years on the line. Ipswich Transport Museum. 2003. p. 18. ISBN 1-904640-00-1.
- ^ "Felixstowe Beach Station Destroyed". http://www.suntrapman.org.uk/page30.html. Retrieved 21 May 2007.
- ^ "Norfolk Railway Society News Archive - No reprieve for Felixstowe station". June 2004. http://www.norfolkrailwaysociety.org.uk/news_jun04.html. Retrieved 05 May 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "BBC News - New railway stations are proposed". 1 February 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/4671468.stm. Retrieved 05 May 2009.
[edit] External links
- Felixstowe Branch signaling memorabilia
- Felixstowe Beach station on 1946 O. S. map
- Photo of Felixstowe Beach railway station in 1986
