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Bramleyman · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 480 Location: Norfolk

With May 2007 being the 160th anniversary of the railway coming to Wisbech, a start to the history of Wisbech Railways.

March to Watlington

On 3rd May 1847, the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR), opened their branch line from March to Wisbech. The double track line ran the 7.8 miles north from March to a temporary terminus station alongside Coalwharf Road, Wisbech. Later in that same year, the East Anglian Railway opened their branch line from Watlington (on the EAR Kings Lynn - Ely main line) to join the ECR at Wisbech. This single line track, running 9.5 miles across the Fenlands. This branch line opened on 1st February 1848.

As a result of disputes, as the ECR was refused access into the ECR station, the former built their own station near to Victoria Road, Wisbech. However, in 1852, the EAR was finally absorbed into the ECR, thus ending the many disputes between the two rival railway companies.

Three years later in 1855, the ECR transferred all passenger services to their new station on Victoria Road, with the original site retained for goods use.

On 7th August 1862, the ECR and three other Anglian companies amalgamated to form the Great Eastern Railway. They in turn rebuilt the 18855 station to their own design and with a re-modelled track layout.

Also in 1862, the first train ran from the GER station to the Port of Wisbech, although it was exactly ten years before that a Harbour Line was proposed by the ECR.

More to follow.

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Bramleyman · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 480 Location: Norfolk

Virtually nothing, or at least very little is left where there are signs of this railway line, but driving through back roads of the area, it is surprising what you can see and here is what is left of one of the bridges that carried this line and across the road at Magdalen and showing it from both directions.

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Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

Monuments of the past like those do make you wonder what it used to be like. To think of how many operational lines there were only 60-70 years ago shows a distinct regression in progress. Why, o why did they listen to Beeching! If only his axe had turned on him Laughing

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Bramleyman · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 480 Location: Norfolk

The picture below was taken at Watlington and shows the old trackbed where the line to Wisbech branched off. When I saw the rails laying to the side here, I did wonder if they are planning to Re-lay it? huh!

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Please help us to 'Raise a Wagon Load of Cash' and so we can get the lease, then start running. See the main website www.bramleyline.org.uk for further details.