The Halesworth and Southwold railway doesn't exist although a lot of steam enthusiasts (Usually older men!) are re- building bits of it at each end and at Blythburgh. There is one 'slight' problem about joining all the bits together - the land where it once ran is now marshland on the side of the Blyth!
There was a display at Blythburgh as part of the Heritage Open Days. So I went to have a look.
This is the restored engine shed
In the Village Hall model railway enthusiasts had brought along their small model railway layouts. I love looking at model railways - not for the trains but because I find the little buildings and landscapes and small details fascinating.
A few metres of track have been re-laid where they once were.
An old aerial view of Blythburgh with the beautiful church (one of my favourites from those I've visited in the last 4 years) in the foreground. The route of the old railway follows the line of hedges curving around the field above the church in the photo. The banks, which once had footpaths on them, that you can see at the top of the photo were mostly swept away several years ago.
The O.S. Map below shows how wide the Blyth estuary is at Blythburgh, where the river has overflowed the banks and leaves wide areas of mud at low tide and you can see where the old railway once ran as it gets close to Southwold. The old railway bridge across the Blyth is now a footbridge so people can walk from Walberswick to Southwold instead of taking the small rowing boat ferry that runs backwards and forwards for much of the year. The Blyth at Southwold is a very fast flowing and dangerous river mouth
A board shows the story of the restoration at Blythburgh and photos of how it once looked
This is where the line went inland from Blythburgh, it's now a footpath.
After coffee and home made cake in the village hall I trundled off home again.
An interesting and sunny morning out.
(I had completely forgotten to check the spam comments for weeks so apologies - found several. Need to stick a note on the laptop to remind me!)
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Sue
So historic. Our rail ways have all been pulled up to make bike paths and walking paths. Although there are some rails left for the fun passenger trains for the tourists.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Lots of old railways here are also changed to cycle and footpaths but many are now built over so will never be railways again
DeleteThis area of Suffolk is where I grew up and where my Dad (96) and brother and SIL still live. I've always loved Blythburg church, towering over the otherwise flat land. As a young woman the White Hart pub in Blythburg was a favourite. One year my best friend and I fancied the young man who was working the ferry and took needless trips across. What a task the rail enthusiasts have set themselves. I'll be sure to check it out when next in England.
ReplyDeleteLove that story about the ferry. It's hard work for them to row across the river as it flows so fast there.
DeleteThe Halesworth and Southwold Railway carries lots of history. Rail travel was once very important. Many rail lines seem to run their course and are more recently reinvented as trails. We have the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail that has become a walking and bike path that runs through 6 Massachusetts towns, including Concord, MA. The Blythburg footpath is quite beautiful. A relative is a model train enthusiast and he has filled his basement with trains, tracks and villages. The detail in his setup is impressive.
ReplyDeleteThere were several small railways running back into Victorian times many stopped going when cars and trucks became more common
DeleteAlthough I love trains, and happily travel far to ride special trains and routes, the rowing boat ferry is fascinating! Netherlands has odd little ferries here and there but I’ve never heard of a rowing service. So fun!
ReplyDeleteTo get across the very fast flowing river they have to row hard into the tide and then let the boat come back to the other side - hard work!
DeleteThat must require some deep knowledge of the river too.
DeleteIt was a short-lived line by the sound of things, but wonderful that enthusiasts are trying to keep it alive. Loved looking at the map too and wondered if Toby's Walks and Tinker's Walks were named after dogs?
ReplyDeleteTobys Walks was all around an old sand pit. It had toilets etc at one time but had to be closed off after vandalization and misuse!! I've never been to Tinkers walk
DeleteThat's absolutely fascinating, thank you so much. xx
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome :-)
DeleteI love the Britishness of this kind of enthusiasm. Old railways, old buses, old aeroplanes: all restored with love by amateurs.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a popular hobby for many people. We've got another old railway locally and at least two transport museums
DeleteModel Railways are fascinating but I admit I also prefer looking at all the little bits around the trains!
ReplyDeleteI've made some of the little kits for buildings when my sister had a railway in the 1960s but tried to do trees for Son's railway - they didn't look a bit like trees at all!
DeleteIt always seems a shame these have to be resurrected as narrow gauge rather than full size. Our local one here is the Clayton West branch line which many people still remember travelling on when it was full sized.
ReplyDeleteThis will never be resurrected for any distance - too many obstacles in the way now. I guess they like to rebuild to how they were at the time
DeleteWe have a stretch of 'ex'-railway between us and a large town, with a group of enthusiasts (mostly older men too ...) wanting to get it reinstated, there are a lot of obstacles in the way - the biggest being money however, if their energy and that money were to transform it into a path - suitable for walking/bike riding/horses/dog walkers etc it would be so much better for our local area. But?? at this rate - neither will happen!
ReplyDeleteThe wealthy of Southwold are not keen on having a railway reinstated - it might bring in the hoi-polloi!
DeleteYes you are quite right Sue - usually elderly men who are enthusiasts..
ReplyDeleteTheir wives were in the Village Hall kitchen making teas and serving their home-made cakes!
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