Branch lines: part 6

Richard’s branch line inspiration wraps up with the Eastern Region.

Built for: Great Eastern Railway Terminus: Upwell Main line connection: Wisbech East (March-magdalen Road) Opened: August 20 1883 Length of line: 6 miles Intermediate stations: 4 Closed: January 2 1928 (passengers); May 20 1966 (freight) Key locomotives you’ll need? LNER ‘J70’ 0‑6‑0T, LNER ‘Y6’ 0‑4‑0T, BR Class 04 0‑6‑0DM Why’s Upwell special? It might have looked like a railway to nowhere, but the Fens generated considerable fruit and veg traffic and the railway remained busy until road competition forced closure. Lengthy trains of vans and open wagons made their way along the roads and across the fields. Upwell depot had an extensive fan of sidings, and the Reverend Teddy Boston would often retire there to compose his Sunday sermon. What’s left? Nothing Where can I find out more? Branch Line to Upwell by Vic Mitchell, Keith Smith and Andrew Ingram (Middleton Press).

DR I.C. ALLEN/ TRANSPORT TREASURY Given the handful of 16t mineral wagons in this view of Upwell goods yard you could be forgiven for thinking that this railway backwater deserved to be closed. Agricultural traffic was, of course, seasonal and, on occasions, trains of 48 wagons were...