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Weybourne Station.
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(Photo by Steve Allen)
Originally it had never been intended that there should be a
station at Weybourne. The village of Weybourne lies about a mile to the north of the line and when the line
opened Weybourne was an insignificant fishing village.
However, at the turn of the nineteenth century a local owner
of gravel pits, Mr Crundle, opened a high- class hotel, the
“Weybourne Springs”, overlooking the railway. Having refused
a station to build a station in 1897, the Committee changed its mind and in
1901 (although dated 1900) a new station with passing loop
was opened to accommodate the expected traffic.
Because it was a late addition, the station is not built in
the typical M&GN style. It was built in a grand Victorian
style by local craftsmen.
Although the hotel eventually failed, the station was very
busy during both world wars due to military activity in the
area. In both wars there were training camps on the Heath.
The cliffs bear a distinct resemblance to some in Normandy,
and D-day training took place here. The hotel was demolished
in 1940. Besides becoming unstable on its hill- side site,
it was in some disrepair and was claimed to be a distinctive
landmark for enemy pilots.
This stretch of the line survived the general closure of the
M&GN system in 1959. Passenger services finally succumbed to
the attentions of Dr. Beeching in 1964, and final closure
followed two years later.
Initially only the Weybourne to Sheringham section was
operative but the extension to Holt followed in 1986.
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_1.jpg) Having
taken possession in 1965 volunteers started work to
prepare for the time when trains could run again.
This photo, taken in April 1966 shows Weybourne
Station soon after the preservationists moved
in and started to re-lay the section of track
between the platforms. |
The footbridge was formerly situated at Stowmarket, on the
Norwich to London line and was erected at Weybourne in 1989.
The bridge enabled the opening of both
platforms, greatly extending flexibility of operations.
Recently the Station itself was refurbished.
Repairs to the
roof have been carried out, and the roof tiling was restored to
the original designs.
The cantilever canopy was reinstated,
although the ‘temporary’ columns of old loco boiler tubes
had been there for so long many older passengers wondered
why they had gone!
The station has been restored to recreate
the late 1900's being painted in M&GN tan and cream. The
former parcels office has been converted into a shop and
buffet.
The booking hall has a fine timbered ceiling and the booking
office has been restored. The former station master's office
now houses the
Society Book Shop.
The lamp room has been converted into a disabled toilet.
The original ladies waiting room, which leads off the
booking hall has been restored.
On platform 1 is an operational signal box, rescued from
Holt station in 1967 and commissioned in 1989. The original Weybourne signal box was
destroyed by BR in 1964 together with the original waiting
room.
(Photo-Ben Boggis)
The replica waiting room on platform 1 was built
in 1987. |
