Felixstowe Beach railway station
Encyclopedia
Felixstowe Beach is a disused station on the Felixstowe Branch Line
built in 1877 and closed from 11 September 1967. The station served the seafront of Felixstowe
.
The 30 lever signal box was located at the north end of the station whilst a level crossing was located at the south end.
Today the platform is the only significant item remaining on site.
opened. It was not quite ready for the public on the opening day so the inaugural train ran through to Felixstowe Pier station. Its location was decided by the line's builder Colonel George Tomline who owned property near the station. It was also rumoured that the decision was driven by his hatred of local businessman J Cobbold and his desire that his hotel business should not benefit from the new railway.
The original engine shed was sited at Felixstowe Beach station but was closed once the Great Eastern Railway
had taken over the line in 1887. However a need to find extra capacity for carriage painting led to the facility re-opening in 1893. Several of the publications report the facility repainting up to 2,000 carriages per year. Unfortunately it burned down in the 1930s.
The opening of the new Felixstowe Town station in 1898 saw the closure of the direct line from Ipswich with all trains reversing in the new station. As a result the line became a bit of a backwater and in the 1920s few passenger trains worked beyond Beach station. Goods trains to the docks were also fairly scarce.
The London and North Eastern Railway
took over operations of the line in 1923.
British Railways took over operations of the line in 1948.
The station was partly closed to passenger services in 1959, though summer services continued until September 1967. In the late 1960s the area was used as part of the sidings area for Felixstowe Docks and the docks then resident BR Class 10 shunter "Colonel Tomline" has been photographed at this location.
In 1971 the original signal box was closed and replaced by a prefab structure located by the level crossing gates. In 1976 the layout was rationalised with the removal of the bay platform, passing loop and now redundant sidings.
With the opening of a more direct line to the docks from Trimley in February 1986, Beach station sees fewer trains now than it did. Some freight services are still routed this way mostly being freightliner
trains
For historical details of the service please see the timetable section of the Felixstowe Branch Line
entry.
Locomotives that worked the line are detailed in the entry for Felixstowe
.
The building was demolished by the Strategic Rail Authority in April 2004 against the wishes of the local residents and council.
Suffolk Country Council considered proposals to reopen the station in 2006.
Felixstowe Branch Line
The Felixstowe Branch Line is a railway line from Ipswich to Felixstowe in Suffolk. The line follows the East Suffolk Line from Ipswich to Westerfield, and then diverges to the south. Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
built in 1877 and closed from 11 September 1967. The station served the seafront of Felixstowe
Felixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
.
The station described
Felixstowe Beach was opened as a single platformed station with goods facilities. The original engine shed of the Felixstowe Railway and Dock Comany were located slightly to the north and at a lower level to the running line. In 1888 the main platform was extended to 510 feet and the bay at the north end added. Two additional sidings were also provided at this time.The 30 lever signal box was located at the north end of the station whilst a level crossing was located at the south end.
Today the platform is the only significant item remaining on site.
History
The station opened in May 1877 when the Felixstowe Branch LineFelixstowe Branch Line
The Felixstowe Branch Line is a railway line from Ipswich to Felixstowe in Suffolk. The line follows the East Suffolk Line from Ipswich to Westerfield, and then diverges to the south. Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
opened. It was not quite ready for the public on the opening day so the inaugural train ran through to Felixstowe Pier station. Its location was decided by the line's builder Colonel George Tomline who owned property near the station. It was also rumoured that the decision was driven by his hatred of local businessman J Cobbold and his desire that his hotel business should not benefit from the new railway.
The original engine shed was sited at Felixstowe Beach station but was closed once the Great Eastern Railway
Great 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...
had taken over the line in 1887. However a need to find extra capacity for carriage painting led to the facility re-opening in 1893. Several of the publications report the facility repainting up to 2,000 carriages per year. Unfortunately it burned down in the 1930s.
The opening of the new Felixstowe Town station in 1898 saw the closure of the direct line from Ipswich with all trains reversing in the new station. As a result the line became a bit of a backwater and in the 1920s few passenger trains worked beyond Beach station. Goods trains to the docks were also fairly scarce.
The London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
took over operations of the line in 1923.
British Railways took over operations of the line in 1948.
The station was partly closed to passenger services in 1959, though summer services continued until September 1967. In the late 1960s the area was used as part of the sidings area for Felixstowe Docks and the docks then resident BR Class 10 shunter "Colonel Tomline" has been photographed at this location.
In 1971 the original signal box was closed and replaced by a prefab structure located by the level crossing gates. In 1976 the layout was rationalised with the removal of the bay platform, passing loop and now redundant sidings.
With the opening of a more direct line to the docks from Trimley in February 1986, Beach station sees fewer trains now than it did. Some freight services are still routed this way mostly being freightliner
Freightliner
Freightliner can refer to* Freightliner Trucks, a heavy vehicle manufacturer in the United States* Freightliner Group Limited, a European rail-freight operator* Freight liner , describing a cargo ship operating to a repeating schedule...
trains
For historical details of the service please see the timetable section of the Felixstowe Branch Line
Felixstowe Branch Line
The Felixstowe Branch Line is a railway line from Ipswich to Felixstowe in Suffolk. The line follows the East Suffolk Line from Ipswich to Westerfield, and then diverges to the south. Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
entry.
Locomotives that worked the line are detailed in the entry for Felixstowe
Felixstowe railway station
Felixstowe is a railway station serving the town of Felixstowe in Suffolk, England. The station is the terminus of the Felixstowe Branch Line east of .It was opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1898...
.
The building was demolished by the Strategic Rail Authority in April 2004 against the wishes of the local residents and council.
Suffolk Country Council considered proposals to reopen the station in 2006.
