Wells Harbour Railway

(Not to be confused with the Wells & Walsingham Railway).

Lease may not be renewed:
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/future-of-wells-harbour-railway-in-doubt-7924498
or
https://thecritic.co.uk/the-earl-of-leicester-vs-wells-harbour-railway/

A couple of comments. There is reference to Holkham Estate wanting to find "an easier and safer experience" yet as far as I know (open to correction) the railway has had no safety issues. It does suffer from not running near enough to the beach though, so "easier" may be valid.

There is also the suggestion that Holkham Estate plans "to pass the land over to a developer for a quick buck" but quite what it could be developed as is not clear. There is no scope for building. The land the railway occupies is mainly a narrow sliver of land between a road and a field used as an overflow car park. Possibly Holkham Estate's Pinewoods caravan site could take over the station site but it is not large and Pinewoods is not constrained in other directions.

Odd.

 

Wells Harbour Railway closed and lifted November 2021.

https://www.fakenhamtimes.co.uk/news/wells-harbour-railway-train-leaves-town-8489974

Does anyone know where the stock went? (The lorries are from Cornwall).

 

I’m surprised and wonder what the replacement will be. I’ve only been to Wells once, 4-5 years ago, and the railway was HEAVING. Lots of people avoiding the interminable walk from the harbour to the beach I guess.

Little of interest to rail enthusiasts - dead straight line with steam outline ICEs, but you’d have thought there’d be money to be made there.

Simon

 

Replacement will be an electric bus so I’ve read.

 

I think the railway always made money for the operator; it often ran late into the evening providing a service. I have a suspicion that Holkham refused to renew the lease because of a certain ambivalence towards the bucket and spade brigade, The replacement electric bus is more in line with Holkham's sustainability credentials. Not that I am knocking sustainability.

 

... and somewhat more accessible?

 

All bought by Lappa Valley, but one loco (Densil) now with us at Watford