Southwold Steam Works

Just wondered, if/when the Southwold Railway Trust starts relaying the railway to Walberswick, will the Steam Works site then be adapated in to a new terminus for the railway, or would the station be another new building near to the Works?

Also, how feasible would it be to reinstate the harbour branch? Would it be easier than crossing the river to Walberswick, or is the trackbed to the harbour no longer there? Would flooding be a potential problem for a harbour branch?

 

Purely a personal opinion, but I'd say that reinstating the harbour branch would be a non starter, especially as a whole. Have a look at this street view:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.3...4!1s9G21_uFgzHl8S-1uwJitNg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
That is facing upriver, stood about 300 metres down from the site of the river bridge. Busy public footpath. I suppose some sort of shared occupancy might be possible. If they had local support. (Big if unfortunately). But turn round and move down river. It is essentially a road, a busy boat yard, moorings.

Flooding? Yep, regularly. http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/southwold-harbour-businesses-prepare-for-worst-of-flooding-1-4849131

 

I get really confused as to what's going on with Southwold. I thought the local authority had made it abundantly clear that they weren't going to grant them permission to build a railway?

 

I believe that is the case, in the sense of a railway running from somewhere to somewhere. They do have planning consent for a visitor centre, railway and nature reserve at Blyth Road, Southwold, on land which they own (I assume), just off the route of the original railway. They also own some land including original trackbed at Wenhaston for which they are applying for planning consent to lay track and "restore" Wenhanston station. (I put restore in quote marks because I don't think there is anything left to restore though I could be wrong; it sounds like new-build to me.)

Southwold Railway Trust continue to have an uphill battle with the planning authorities and I admire their tenacity.

Their website here https://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/ is worth a look, and the blog linked to is worth reading.

(The picture at the top of the home page shows a hotel in the background. That's still there, called The Blyth these days. Useful for getting your bearings when exploring the railway.)

 

I'm happy that after all their years of struggling they finally have a complete steam locomotive, rolling stock, and a site to eventually display them to the public, even if the full reinstatement of the line doesn't happen.

 

WOW! something getting uncommon on NP! An up beat post - little negativity.

 

Apologies to all for not being upbeat but I don't think they have a complete steam loco - as I understand it they have a steam loco under construction. They do have a complete diesel loco.

 

They now own Peckett "Scaldwell"

 

They have Scaldwell, a 3ft gauge Peckett gifted to them by the Amberley Museum. Should be on site in Southwold very soon. And yes, they also have a new build locomotive under construction, of the design that originally ran on the railway.

 

Ah yes you are right, I stand corrected, I had forgotten Scaldwell.

 

They don't seem to be hanging about with their Southwold site.....
https://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/steamworks-grows/

 

I guess after so many years of struggling to find a site they are eager to get it open to the public.

 

I'm very happy the trust is forging ahead with the visitor centre. On a sceptical note, I can't see the line being fully relaid. To get to the next station along the line at Walberswick they have to cross a river. The route to Blythburgh seems to be marshland which I guess would have a high flood risk. And then there is the problem of crossing the A12. Would love to be proved wrong of course.

Maybe a short length of running line could be laid along the old trackbed from the visitor centre site down to where the pedestrian river bridge is though? Just as an out and back train ride?

 

Things at the Southwold seem to be picking up at an encouraging rate. Is the baleful grip of the East Suffolk Flat Earth Society finally weakening?

Here's another new progress report....

https://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/sr-blog/

 

Have to admire the determination of these volunteers who have struggled against the local opposition for so many years. Things do seem to be happening very quickly now.

 

More news from Southwold... !!
https://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/...ful-pop-up-shop-the-first-railway-van-onsite/

 

Yet more progress (blog 19th June) from the stalwarts of the SRT:
https://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/sr-blog/

 

According the their facebook page, there will be an open day at the Steam Works site on 23rd July. I assume Scaldwell will be on site by then.

 

Departed this afternoon from Amberley. Should soon be in Adnamsland.

 

Superb news. I think a visit on an open day is a must.