North Walsham Train Station
The changing face of North Walsham's Railway Stations
North Walsham Main Station in the forties and fifties, which originally had it's ticket office at the bottom of the road and where passengers requiring trains to Cromer and Sheringham, could access the platform via a subway under the line. Note the lack of road transport with pedal-power cycles, which were the order of the day and the gas-lamps!
Until 1959, North Walsham had two rail stations, the Main Station remaining, but the Town Station (which was adjacent to the traffic light junction on Norwich Road), and whose line ran along the route of the North Walsham bypass, closed on the 2nd of March 1959. For several years the station was used as a base by local members of the Jehovah's Witness, consequently followed by demolition in readiness for the new bypass. The photo shows a steam train approaching North Walsham Town station in January 1959, in very wintry conditions en-route from Kings Lynn and Melton Constable - to Yarmouth Beach Station.
A special rail excursion to Stratford-on-Avon awaits departure from North Walsham in the late 1980's operated by Nenta Traintours (originally formed from the North East Norfolk Traveller's Association - a voluntary organisation representing the interests of rail-users on the Norwich to Sheringham Line, which had been under the threat of closure).
Ray and Sarah Davies donating a new rail passenger seat on North Walsham Station in 1988. Funds for these projects (which included floral displays on the station), were raised from lotteries held on special rail excursions which have operated from North Walsham since 1983.
In more modern times, new Sprinter diesel trains took over the service on rural lines in Norfolk, and here a local train from North Walsham to Norwich, obtains the right-of-way from the stations signalman.
North Walsham Station as it was for many years, prior to being demolished for the facilitation of more modern bus-type waiting shelters and the modernizing of the route's signaling system.
Both North Walsham and Hoveton & Wroxham stations continue to be provided with colourful tubs of flower displays throughout the year -sponsored by Nenta Traintours, who continue to operate special InterCity excursion trains from North Walsham and Norwich. Today the line thrives with a regular hourly service between Sheringham, Cromer, North Walsham & Norwich.
Thanks to Ray Davies from Nenta Traintours for all his help on this page.
The Day Before Work Was Started To Demolish The Platform Buildings At North Walsham Railway Station in 1998