Framlingham Branch
Encyclopedia
The Framlingham Branch was a six mile long single track branch railway line that ran from Wickham Market railway station
on the East Suffolk Line
to via three intermediate stations, , , and .
which was not at this time finished.
The building of the branch was reasonably straightforward as the countryside of East Suffolk is relatively flat. Flooding at Parham meant that the river had to be diverted in order to protect the line of the railway.
The Ipswich Journal of 4th June 1859 reported on the opening of the line on the 1st. According to the journal "The bells rang merrily throughout the day, a cricket match was played, and tea was provided by Mr John Pipe of the Crown Inn,in his usal style, of which 40 of the gentry and inhabitants of the town partook; appropriate speeches were made, songs sung, and a merry and convivial evening spent." Unfortunately an evening concert at the Corn Exchange was cancelled as the band leader Edward Plantin was involved in a serious accident at the station and died of his injuries a few days later.
and London
. For instance in June 1865 a schools excursion was run from Framlingham to Aldeburgh
at a cost of 6/-. Right from the start Framlingham College
made use of the railway both for college outings and at the beginning and end of terms. These trains continued running until March 1954.
As can be expected the majority of traffic was agricultural in nature although photographs indicate some inward domestic coal was received.
in 1862, the London & North Eastern Railway in 1923 and British Railways from 1948. Well used until the 1930s when passenger numbers fell due to the increased popularity of road transport, the line closed to passenger services on 1 November 1952, and to freight on 19 April 1963. The Royal Train overnighted on the branch in May 1956 headed by B1 4-6-0s 61252 and 61399.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
Journey times were 6 minutes from Framlingham to Parham, 6 minutes from Parham to Marlesford and 6 minutes to Wickham Market giving a total of 18 minutes.
From Wickham Market the trains departed at 0756, 0935, 1314, 1752 and 1910. All services except the 0935 departure had a connection from London Liverpool Street
from 1862 until 1923 and it is locomotives from that company that predominantly operated the branch in London & North Eastern Railway and indeed up to closure under British Railways. Most locomotives would have been based at Ipswich engine shed
which supplied branch line motive power for most branch lines in this area.
Steam locomotives included (numbers of specific locos recorded under BR 1948 numbering scheme unless stated). Unless stated otherwise these locomotives were all photographed by Dr Ian C Allen. His collection is listed at http://www.transporttreasury.co.uk/ianallencollection.html :
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Class !! Wheel Arrangement !! Locos that worked branch !! Reference
|-
| B1 || 4-6-0 || 61252 61399 ||
|-
| B12 || 4-6-0 ||61537,61561,61564,61569,61570,61571,61577 ||
|-
| B17 || 4-6-0 ||2803 (LNER No) ||
|-
| D16 || 4-4-0 || 62526,62552,62590 ||
|-
| E4 || 2-4-0 || 62785 62789 ||
|-
| F3 || 2-4-2T || 80xx (early LNER number?)7140 7150 (LNER numbers) ||
|-
| F6 || 2-4-2T || 67220 67230 67239 || as above and
|-
| J15 || 0-6-0 || 65389,65433,65447,65454,65459,65467,65469,65478 || as above
|-
| J17 || 0-6-0 || 65578 || as above
|}
Diesel locomotives operated freight over the line but as the passenger service had been withdrawn in 1952 only one diesel hauled passenger train is believed to have worked the branch. This was a Ramblers special and was hauled by BR Class 31 no D5587.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Class !! Wheel Arrangement !! Locos that worked branch !! References
|-
| BR Class 15 || Bo-Bo || D8215,D8220,D8221,D8223,D8229 || As above
|-
| BR Class 24 || Bo-Bo || D5036,D5041,D5047,D5049 ||
|-
| BR Class 29 || Bo-Bo || D61xx || No specific examples known
|-
| BR Class 31 || A1A-A1A || D5520,D5587 ||
|}
Wickham Market railway station
Wickham Market is a railway station located in the village of Campsea Ashe in Suffolk, approximately two miles east of Wickham Market itself. The station is located on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line....
on the East Suffolk Line
East Suffolk Line
The East Suffolk Line is an un-electrified secondary railway line running between Ipswich and Lowestoft in Suffolk, England. The traffic along the route consists of passenger services operated by National Express East Anglia, while nuclear flask trains for the Sizewell nuclear power stations are...
to via three intermediate stations, , , and .
Opening
Authorised in 1854, along with a line from to , the line was opened on 1 June 1859 by the east Suffolk Railway.. A special train was however recorded as running in February 1859 from Woodbridge. The line south of Woodbridge was being built by the Eastern Union RailwayEastern Union Railway
The Eastern Union Railway was an early English railway, initially sanctioned by Act of Parliament on 19 July 1844, with authorised capital of £200,000 to build from Ipswich to Colchester. Further Acts of 21 July 1845 and 26 June 1846 authorised further increases in capital of £50,000 and £20,000...
which was not at this time finished.
The building of the branch was reasonably straightforward as the countryside of East Suffolk is relatively flat. Flooding at Parham meant that the river had to be diverted in order to protect the line of the railway.
The Ipswich Journal of 4th June 1859 reported on the opening of the line on the 1st. According to the journal "The bells rang merrily throughout the day, a cricket match was played, and tea was provided by Mr John Pipe of the Crown Inn,in his usal style, of which 40 of the gentry and inhabitants of the town partook; appropriate speeches were made, songs sung, and a merry and convivial evening spent." Unfortunately an evening concert at the Corn Exchange was cancelled as the band leader Edward Plantin was involved in a serious accident at the station and died of his injuries a few days later.
Early Traffic
As well as five regular trains a goods train was run to service the branch. So successful was the coming of the railway to Framlingham that within months this had doubled to two trains per day. Another source of income was access to the developing seaside resorts as well as easy access to IpswichIpswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. For instance in June 1865 a schools excursion was run from Framlingham to Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh is a coastal town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. Located on the River Alde, the town is notable for its Blue Flag shingle beach and fisherman huts where freshly caught fish are sold daily, and the Aldeburgh Yacht Club...
at a cost of 6/-. Right from the start Framlingham College
Framlingham College
Framlingham College is an independent, coeducational boarding and day school in the town of Framlingham, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. Together with its preparatory school, Brandeston Hall and Little Bears Nursery it serves pupils from 2 1/2 to eighteen years of age.-History of Framlingham...
made use of the railway both for college outings and at the beginning and end of terms. These trains continued running until March 1954.
As can be expected the majority of traffic was agricultural in nature although photographs indicate some inward domestic coal was received.
Later History
The branch became part of the Great Eastern RailwayGreat Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
in 1862, the London & North Eastern Railway in 1923 and British Railways from 1948. Well used until the 1930s when passenger numbers fell due to the increased popularity of road transport, the line closed to passenger services on 1 November 1952, and to freight on 19 April 1963. The Royal Train overnighted on the branch in May 1956 headed by B1 4-6-0s 61252 and 61399.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
Timetable
Bradshaws 1922 timetable showed 5 departures from Framlingham at 0720, 0830, 1240, 1625 and 1830. All services had connections to London Liverpool Street.Journey times were 6 minutes from Framlingham to Parham, 6 minutes from Parham to Marlesford and 6 minutes to Wickham Market giving a total of 18 minutes.
From Wickham Market the trains departed at 0756, 0935, 1314, 1752 and 1910. All services except the 0935 departure had a connection from London Liverpool Street
Locomotives
The line was operated by the Great Eastern RailwayGreat Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
from 1862 until 1923 and it is locomotives from that company that predominantly operated the branch in London & North Eastern Railway and indeed up to closure under British Railways. Most locomotives would have been based at Ipswich engine shed
Ipswich engine shed
Ipswich engine shed was an engine shed located in Ipswich in Suffolk in the UK on the Great Eastern Main Line located just south of Stoke tunnel and the current Ipswich railway station. Locomotives accessed the site from Halifax Junction which was also the junction for the Griffin Wharf branch of...
which supplied branch line motive power for most branch lines in this area.
Steam locomotives included (numbers of specific locos recorded under BR 1948 numbering scheme unless stated). Unless stated otherwise these locomotives were all photographed by Dr Ian C Allen. His collection is listed at http://www.transporttreasury.co.uk/ianallencollection.html :
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Class !! Wheel Arrangement !! Locos that worked branch !! Reference
|-
| B1 || 4-6-0 || 61252 61399 ||
|-
| B12 || 4-6-0 ||61537,61561,61564,61569,61570,61571,61577 ||
|-
| B17 || 4-6-0 ||2803 (LNER No) ||
|-
| D16 || 4-4-0 || 62526,62552,62590 ||
|-
| E4 || 2-4-0 || 62785 62789 ||
|-
| F3 || 2-4-2T || 80xx (early LNER number?)7140 7150 (LNER numbers) ||
|-
| F6 || 2-4-2T || 67220 67230 67239 || as above and
|-
| J15 || 0-6-0 || 65389,65433,65447,65454,65459,65467,65469,65478 || as above
|-
| J17 || 0-6-0 || 65578 || as above
|}
Diesel locomotives operated freight over the line but as the passenger service had been withdrawn in 1952 only one diesel hauled passenger train is believed to have worked the branch. This was a Ramblers special and was hauled by BR Class 31 no D5587.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Class !! Wheel Arrangement !! Locos that worked branch !! References
|-
| BR Class 15 || Bo-Bo || D8215,D8220,D8221,D8223,D8229 || As above
|-
| BR Class 24 || Bo-Bo || D5036,D5041,D5047,D5049 ||
|-
| BR Class 29 || Bo-Bo || D61xx || No specific examples known
|-
| BR Class 31 || A1A-A1A || D5520,D5587 ||
|}