Felixstowe Pier railway station
Encyclopedia
Felixstowe Pier was a railway station on the Felixstowe Branch Line
built in 1877 the site of which is now within the boundary of the Port of Felixstowe
. There were a number of sidings that served the docks that were situated to the north of the line as well as one that served the seaplane (and subsequent military) bases on the south side. The station consisted of a single platform and run round loop. The siding at the "river" end of the run round loop extended onto a jetty.
. It was built by Colonel Tomline and the station provided direct access to passengers arriving by ferry. Two years later, in 1879, a Bill authorising the construction of Felixstowe Dock (now the Port of Felixstowe
) passed through Parliament. The first with the intention of operating steam vessels between Felixstowe and certain ports on the Elbe in competition with the Great Eastern Railway
that operated services from which is now Harwich International Port
. To this day a foot ferry operates from a location a few hundred metres away to Harwich
.
The Great Eastern Railway
took over operation of the Felixstowe Branch Line
in 1879 (purchasing it outright in 1887) and in 1898 they opened a new station at Felixstowe Town, cutting off the direct route from Westerfield (although by this time most trains started from Ipswich
). This saw a decline in traffic to the station and by the mid 1920s the services that worked beyond Felixstowe Town station terminated at Felixstowe Beach railway station
. The London and North Eastern Railway took over operation of the line in 1923 but traffic was so light the station was unmanned and the train service (be it freight or passenger) operated on a one engine in steam principle.
Although traffic picked up in World War 2 (the estuary was a base for a considerable number of ships as well as coastal defence fortifications) the immediate period after the war saw the station once again become a backwater. British Railways took over operation in 1948 and closure to passengers followed in 1951.
Rather improbably (given it is not the most picturesque area of Felixstowe)some camping coaches were located at the pier station in the late 1950s.
In the 1960s the container revolution saw a dramatic upturn in the dock's fortunes and freight trains started running regularly to the dock area with the station area was still extant in the 1970s. The extension of the port in the 1980s has seen all remaining traces of the station obliterated.
For historical details of the service please see the timetable section of the Felixstowe Branch Line
entry.
Locomotives that worked the line can be found in the Felixstowe railway station
section.
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 the site of which is now within the boundary of the Port of Felixstowe
Port of Felixstowe
The Port of Felixstowe, in Felixstowe, Suffolk is the UK's busiest container port, dealing with 35% of the country's container cargo. It was developed following the abandonment of a project for a deep-water harbour at Maplin Sands. In 2005, it was ranked as the 28th busiest container port in the...
. There were a number of sidings that served the docks that were situated to the north of the line as well as one that served the seaplane (and subsequent military) bases on the south side. The station consisted of a single platform and run round loop. The siding at the "river" end of the run round loop extended onto a jetty.
History
The station opened in 1877 and was served by the original train service from Westerfield Junction that also called at Derby Road, Orwell Halt and Felixstowe Beach railway stationFelixstowe Beach railway station
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 station described:...
. It was built by Colonel Tomline and the station provided direct access to passengers arriving by ferry. Two years later, in 1879, a Bill authorising the construction of Felixstowe Dock (now the Port of Felixstowe
Port of Felixstowe
The Port of Felixstowe, in Felixstowe, Suffolk is the UK's busiest container port, dealing with 35% of the country's container cargo. It was developed following the abandonment of a project for a deep-water harbour at Maplin Sands. In 2005, it was ranked as the 28th busiest container port in the...
) passed through Parliament. The first with the intention of operating steam vessels between Felixstowe and certain ports on the Elbe in competition with 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...
that operated services from which is now Harwich International Port
Harwich International Port
Harwich International Port is a North Sea seaport in Essex, England. It lies on the south bank of the River Stour one mile upstream from the town of Harwich, opposite Port of Felixstowe...
. To this day a foot ferry operates from a location a few hundred metres away to Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
.
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...
took over operation 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...
in 1879 (purchasing it outright in 1887) and in 1898 they opened a new station at Felixstowe Town, cutting off the direct route from Westerfield (although by this time most trains started from Ipswich
Ipswich
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...
). This saw a decline in traffic to the station and by the mid 1920s the services that worked beyond Felixstowe Town station terminated at Felixstowe Beach railway station
Felixstowe Beach railway station
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 station described:...
. The London and North Eastern Railway took over operation of the line in 1923 but traffic was so light the station was unmanned and the train service (be it freight or passenger) operated on a one engine in steam principle.
Although traffic picked up in World War 2 (the estuary was a base for a considerable number of ships as well as coastal defence fortifications) the immediate period after the war saw the station once again become a backwater. British Railways took over operation in 1948 and closure to passengers followed in 1951.
Rather improbably (given it is not the most picturesque area of Felixstowe)some camping coaches were located at the pier station in the late 1950s.
In the 1960s the container revolution saw a dramatic upturn in the dock's fortunes and freight trains started running regularly to the dock area with the station area was still extant in the 1970s. The extension of the port in the 1980s has seen all remaining traces of the station obliterated.
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 can be found in the Felixstowe railway station
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...
section.