Dereham railway station
Dereham | |
|---|---|
 Hauled service at Dereham station | |
| General information | |
| Location | Breckland, Norfolk |
| Owned by | London & North Eastern Railway Eastern Region of British Railways Great Eastern Railway (1989) Ltd. Mid-Norfolk Railway |
| Managed by | Norfolk Railway Great Eastern Railway |
| Platforms | 4 |
| Key dates | |
| 15 February 1847 | Opened |
| 6 October 1969 | Closed to passengers |
| 12 September 1984 | Closed as a coal depot |
Dereham railway station is a railway station in the town of Dereham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is served by heritage services on the Mid-Norfolk Railway from Dereham to Wymondham.
History
The Lynn and Dereham Railway and the Norfolk Railway both obtained Parliament's permission to build lines to Dereham in 1845,[1] at the height of the so-called "Railway Mania", when railways were being built across the whole country. The Norfolk Railway, building its line from Wymondham, reached Dereham first, and opened its railway to passengers on the 15 February 1847; the line from King's Lynn had to wait until 11 September 1848.[2]
The King's Lynn line was originally operated by the Lynn & Dereham Railway, but in 1848 the Eastern Counties Railway leased the Norfolk Railway the line was absorbed. In 1857 the line between Dereham and Wells opened. The entire line became part of the Great Eastern Railway in 1862.[3]
The station was built in stages, being expanded over several decades. It is provided with four platforms, with platforms 2 and 3 being set back to back. Platform 4 is a short bay platform and was originally dedicated for trains heading towards King's Lynn.
Beeching's report intended to retain the Kings Lynn - Dereham - Norwich line for express trains and freight: the local stations (that is all but Dereham and Swaffham) however,were recommended for closure in the report. Despite Beeching's intentions, the line from Kings Lynn was closed in 1967, leaving a Dereham - Norwich service. After withdrawal of this remaining service in 1969 the station building was gutted and used as a showroom.
The building was later gutted in a serious fire. The exterior of the building has since been restored and the interior replaced, with the building reopening to the public in December 2005.
Locomotive depot
By 1880 Dereham boasted a two road wooden locomotive shed and a 45 foot turntable believed to have dated from the late 1860s and known to have replaced an earlier structure. The depot operated as an outstation of Norwich. In 1888 three locomotives were based at the depot. In 1926 the engine shed was rebuilt in brick.
Dereham depot was closed as a steam shed on 19 September 1955 - when DMU stock was introduced to the line. The shed was used to stable DMU stock until 1 September 1968.[4] The shed was later demolished, and the site used for the construction of a rail-served fertilizer depot. This has since been demolished, and the site is now the Dereham Leisure Centre.
Present day
Most services from Dereham are operated by the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust. Although regular National Rail passenger services do not operate from the station this has been proposed for the future [citation needed], and the station presently serves periodically as a National Rail freight terminal and charter destination.
The goods shed is used for restoration and storage at the moment. The Great Eastern Railway stables are unique but derelict. It is hoped a grant can be obtained in the future for restoration of this building.
Signal boxes
Although the original four signal boxes at Dereham have been demolished, two of the boxes have been rebuilt since the preservation of the site. The original Dereham North box is preserved at the former Hindolveston railway station.
| Location | Original location | Built by | Notes | Photograph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dereham North | Laundry Lane, Lowestoft | Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway | Crossing box for Norwich Road, Dereham (Construction commenced May 2007) |  |
| Dereham Central | Stratford Southern, London | Great Eastern Railway | As Stratford Southern, this box was originally supported on legs, allowing a siding to pass underneath. It has been rebuilt in a more conventional manner. Will serve as the main station box when completed. |  |
Trains at Dereham
-
Army lorry unloading at Dereham before restoration -
Class 101 DMU north of Dereham station -
Class 73s in Dereham yard
References
- ^ Scrivenor, Harry (1849). The Railways of the United Kingdom Statistically Considered. Smith, Elder and Co. p. 334.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Oppitz, 1989, page 41
- ^ MNR history of the line
- ^ Hawkins, Chris (1986). Great Eastern Railway Engine Sheds. Wild Swan Publications Ltd. p. 213. ISBN 0 906867 40 1.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
External links
- Map sources for Dereham railway station
Services
| Preceding station |  Heritage railways
|
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Hoe) | Mid-Norfolk Railway | Yaxham | ||
| Disused railways | ||||
| North Elmham | British Rail Eastern Region Wells to Wymondham, via East Dereham |
Yaxham | ||
| Terminus | British Rail Eastern Region King's Lynn to East Dereham, via Swaffham |
Wendling | ||
| Preceding station |  National Rail
|
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dereham | Norfolk Orbital Railway Proposed |
Thuxton | ||