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16 February 2017

Eastern & Midlands Railway

Earlier    Lynn & Fakenham    Midlands & Eastern    Yarmouth & North Norfolk    Yarmouth Union    Chronology

Date Event Source
16 November 1881 Eastern & Midlands Railway gave notice to amalgamate after agreement on such periods and terms to be fixed or agreed and the rights of the Midland & Great Northern Companies and of the Midland Railway and of the Great Northern Railway:
  • Peterborough, Wisbeach and Sutton Railway
  • Midland & Eastern Railway
  • Lynn & Fakenham Railway
  • Yarmouth & North Norfolk (Light) Railway
  • Yarmouth Union Railway
into one Company to be called the Eastern & Midlands Railway.		 London Gazette, 22 November 1881, page 5849.
18 August 1882 Royal assent given to Eastern & Midlands Railway (Amalgamation) Act 1882 conferring further powers to:
  1. Amalgamate the Lynn & Fakenham, Yarmouth & North Norfolk and Yarmouth Union Railways as from 1 January 1883 as the Eastern & Midlands Railway,
  2. Amalgamate with the Midlands & Eastern Railway and the Peterborough, Wisbeach & Sutton Railway as from 1 July 1883 as the Eastern & Midlands Railway,
  3. Authorise the Great Northern and Midland Railway companies to run the services west of Lynn,
  4. Restructure share capital.
 Bulletin 671/15.
Eastern & Midlands (Further Powers) Act 1888.
RM 1936-9.
18 November 1882 Eastern & Midlands Railway gave notice of an application by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway to authorise the Eastern & Midlands Railway to make railways:
  1. Railway No.1 from about 4 chains north of Norwich North signal box to the corner of a public house "The Gardeners" in Norwich,
  2. Railway No.2 from a junction with the intended Railway No 1 to a point on the East side of King Street about 40 yards north of its junction with Rose Lane,
  3. Railway No.3 from a junction with the intended Railway No.1 to a junction with the Yarmouth & North Norfolk Railway at Martham,
  4. Railway No.4 from a junction with the intended Railway No.3 to a junction with the intended Railway No.2,
  5. Railway No.5 from a junction with the main line of the Lynn & Fakenham Railway to a point on the Fakenham Turnpike near the junction with the Aylsham Turnpike,
  6. Railway No.6 from a junction with the Bourne & Essendine line of the Great Northern Railway opposite the home signal, Essendine side of Bourn station to a junction with the main line of the Great Northern Railway at that company's Little Bytham station
  7. Railway No.7 from a junction with Railway No.2 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham (Extensions) Act, 1880, in the parish of Great Witchingham to East Dereham,
  8. Railway No.8 from intended Railway No.7 to a junction with the Great Eastern Railway north of that company's Dereham station,
  9. Railway No.9 from a junction with the intended Railway No.2 near the River Wensum to a junction with the Great Eastern Railway south east of Norwich Thorpe station.

    10. also:
  10. To enable the company to purchase by agreement or compulsion the disused railway from Little Bytham to Edenham,
  11. Running powers into Dereham station, through Bourn station, into Trowse and Victoria stations at Norwich,
  12. Gas works at Melton Constable.
 London Gazette, 24 November 1882, pages 5380-5382.
1 January 1883 Amalgamation of Lynn & Fakenham, Yarmouth & North Norfolk and Yarmouth Union Railways took effect. Eastern & Midlands Act 1882.
1 January 1883 Costessey for Drayton station renamed Drayton for Cossey. Quick.
5 April 1883 Melton Constable to North Walsham opened with intermediate stations at Corpusty & Saxthorpe, Bluestone, Aylsham Town and Felmingham. Quick.
RM 1936-9
1 July 1883 Amalgamation with Midlands & Eastern and Peterborough, Wisbeach & Sutton Railways took effect. Eastern & Midlands Act 1882.
20 August 1883 Royal assent given to Eastern & Midlands Act 1883 conferring further powers to:
  1. Close the footpath crossing leading northerly from Waterworks Lane by the side of the Loke to Cross Bank provided a footbridge has been erected as replacement,
  2. Raise additional capital
 Act of Parliament
12 November 1883 Eastern & Midlands Railway gave notice to:
  1. Extend the time for completion of the works authorised in the Lynn & Fakenham Railway (Extensions) Act, 1880, Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act, 1881, Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act 1882,
  2. Alter sections 30 and 31 of the Lynn & Fakenham Railway (Extensions) Act, 1880, to release money in connection with Railways Nos.7 & 8 of that Act as soon as those railways have opened for goods traffic,
  3. To constitute the Railway firstly described by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act 1882 as an undertaking separate and distinct from the rest of the company,
  4. To define the running powers over the former Midlands & Eastern and Peterborough, Wisbech & Sutton Railways
  5. To enter into agreements with the Great Northern Railway for the working, use, management and maintenance of the undertaking.
 London Gazette, 23 November 1883, pages 5759-5761.
3 July 1884 Royal assent given to Eastern & Midlands Act 1884 conferring further powers to:
  1. Extend the time for the construction of the railways (3, 4, 5 & 6) authorised by the Act of 1880.
  2. Form the railway (1) (Lynn Loop Line) authorised by the Act of 1882 into a separate company if the Directors pass a resolution to that effect.
View Act		 Act of Parliament
1 October 1884 Melton Constable to Holt opened. RM 1936-9.
TIA 1960.
14 November 1884 Eastern & Midlands Railway gave notice to:
  1. Constitute as a separate undertaking Railways 4, 5 and 6 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway (Extensions) Act, 1880, also Railways 3 and 4 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act, 1881, also Railways 2 and 3 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act, 1882, also purchase of the Blakeney Harbour Company.
  2. To abandon and relinquish Railway No.3 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway (Extensions) Act, 1880.
  3. To extend time limits for Railways Nos.2 and 3 set out in the Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act, 1882.
  4. To revive and extend time limits in respect of land at Holt set out in the Lynn & Fakenham Railway (Extensions) Act, 1880.
  5. To purchase by agreement or compulsion lands in Runton, Sheringham and Great Yarmouth.
  6. To authorise a level crossing of a road in Holt for Railway No.4 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway (Extensions) Act, 1880.
  7. To stop up an existing occupation crossing on the Midland & Eastern Railway eastward of the bridge over the River Ouse in South Lynn.
 London Gazette, 21 November 1884, pages 5074-5075.
28 April 1885 Royal assent given to Eastern & Midlands Railway Act 1885 authorising:
  1. Extension of time to purchase land for Railways Nos. 2 and 3 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Act, 1882,
  2. Abandonment of making Railway No.3 of the Lynn & Fakenham (Extensions) Act, 1880,
  3. Close the occupation road crossing in South Lynn situated 4 chains east of the River Ouse bridge and replace it with a new road connecting the occupation road with the public road,
  4. Substitute a level crossing for a bridge at Holt.

    5. also:
  5. formation of a separate undertaking, should the directors so decide, called the "Cromer undertaking" to take over Railways No.4, 5, 6 (Lynn & Fakenham (Extensions) Act 1880); Railways No.3, 4 (Lynn & Fakenham Act 1881); Railways No.2, 3 (Lynn & Fakenham Act 1882).
 Act of Parliament
2 November 1885 South Lynn opened for goods traffic.
19 November 1885 Eastern & Midlands Railway gave notice to:
  1. Make a jetty and lock at Norwich and lay rails on the jetty,
  2. Purchase lands in various places,
  3. Define and explain existing running powers.
 London Gazette, 24 November 1885, pages 5495-5497.
1 January 1886 South Lynn to Bawsey (Lynn Loop) opened.
Gaywood Junction to Bawsey closed (RM says "still lies derelict")		 RM 1936-9.
TIA 1960.
1 January 1886 South Lynn opened for passenger traffic. Quick (MGN)
25 October 1886 Undertaking to work various sections of line by Tyer's Tablet system.
View Document.		 TNA
MT6/419/11.
28 December 1886 Agreement between Eastern & Midlands Railway and Blakeney Harbour Company for purchase of latter by the former. Schedule 2 to Eastern & Midlands (Further Powers) Act 1888.
4 June 1887 Holt to Cromer inspected by Major-General Hutchison and approved for opening subject to an undertaking being given as to the method of working.
View Report.		 TNA
MT6/436/1.
8 June 1887 Undertaking given that the line would be worked by Tyer's Tablet system.
View Undertaking.		 TNA
MT6/436/1.
16 June 1887 Holt to Cromer opened. RM 1898-8.
RM 1936-9.
TIA 1960.
5th July 1887 Royal assent given to Great Northern Railway Act 1887 authorised taking of additional land at Holbeach.
View Act		 Act of Parliament.
1 November 1887 Eastern & Midlands Railway gave notice to abandon railways:
  1. Railways Nos.5 and 6 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway (Extensions) Act, 1880,
  2. Railways Nos.2 and 3 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act, 1882,
  3. Wharf, embankment and breakwater at Blakeney authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act, 1882,
  4. Repeal purchase of the Blakeney Harbour Company.

    5. also to authorise and confirm construction of:
  5. Railway No.4 (Holt to Cromer) authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway (Extensions) Act, 1880 (Holt to Cromer),
  6. Railways Nos.3 and 4 authorised by the Lynn & Fakenham Railway Act, 1881.

    7. also to:
  7. To alter and raise the level of the line between Holt and Cromer,
  8. Make a Tramway (1) from Sheringham to Blakeney,
  9. Make a Tramway (2) from within Blakeney.

    10. also to make railways:
  10. Railway No.1 from Repps (Martham) by junction with the company's line to Yarmouth to a junction by Norwich City,
  11. Railway No.2 at Repps from a junction with the Yarmouth line to a junction on Railway No.1,
  12. Widening at South Lynn on both sides of Saddlebow Road bridge,
  13. Railway No.3 from North Walsham to Mundesley.

    14. also to:
  14. Close a footpath crossing in Cromer (between Holt Road and Runton Road) and divert the footpath,
  15. Purchase lands in Great Yarmouth and at South Lynn
  16. Subscribe to the Sutton Bridge Dock Company.
 London Gazette, 24 November 1887, pages 6419-6422.
16 March 1888 Agreement between Eastern & Midlands and Midland Railways notes that:
  1. the Eastern section comprises the railway east of Lynn worked by the Eastern & Midlands company as an independent railway,
  2. the Midland & Eastern section comprises the railway from Bourn to Lynn working in perpetuity by the Great Northern and Midland companies jointly,
  3. the Peterborough section which comprises the Peterborough, Wisbech & Sutton Railway worked in perpetuity by the Midland Railway.
the share capitals of the Peterborough section and the Midland & Eastern section shall be severed from the Eastern & Midlands company and be amalgamated with the Midland company.

The agreement provides for the Cottesmore to Bourn line to be built by the Eastern & Midlands company to the satisfaction of the Midland company and that receipts etc shall be shared between the two companies.
Also that the Midland company shall to apply to Parliament in the session of 1889 for powers to amalgamate the Midland & Eastern and Peterborough section to form the Western section.		 Schedule to Eastern & Midlands (Extensions) Act 1888.
9 May 1888 Agreement between Eastern & Midlands Railway and Great Eastern Railway to:
  1. allow the Great Eastern to construct a connection from their East Norfolk Railway at North Walsham to the Mundesley branch,
  2. allow the Great Eastern running powers to Mundesley.
 Schedule 3 to Eastern & Midlands (Further Powers) Act 1888.
28 June 1888 Royal assent given to Eastern & Midlands (Extensions) Act 1888 authorising the making of Railways:
  1. Railway No.1 15miles 1 furlong 6.6 chains in length from a junction with the Bourn and Essendine (Great Northern) Railway to a junction with the Ashwell branch of the Midland Railway at the termination of that branch at Cottesmore in the County of Rutland,
  2. Railway No.2 2 furlongs and 3.7 chains in length commencing by a junction with Railway No.1 at a point west of the Great Northern Railway 2¾ chains or thereabouts from the Little Bytham signal box of that railway to a junction with the main line of the Great Northern Railway at a point 21½ chains or thereabouts northward of the said signal box.

    3. also:
  3. under bridges for public roads at Castle Bytham, Clipsham (2) and Greetham,
  4. over bridges for public roads at Toft and Lound, Witham or Wytham on the Hill, Cottesmore (3), Burley.
The Act also notes that proposed Railways No.3 and 4 were not authorised; and that the ordinary stock of the Midland & Eastern and former Peterborough, Wisbech & Sutton Railways would be consolodated into a single stock		 Act of Parliament
28 June 1888 Royal assent given to Eastern & Midlands (Further Powers) Act 1888 authorising the abandonment of Railways; abandoning purchase of Blakeney Harbour Company; extensions of time for the Holt to Cromer section; capital arrangements; making new railways; diverting a footpath at Cromer.
View Act		 Act of Parliament
7 August 1888 Two notices given pursuant to and order of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice that any person having any claims against the company in respect of the abandonments in relation to the Lynn & Fakenham Railway Bill, 1882, Lynn & Fakenham Act, 1882, Eastern & Midlands Amalgamation Act, 1882, Eastern & Midlands (Further Powers) Act, 1888, must be lodged on or before 25 October 1888. London Gazette, 14 August 1888, page 4377.
24th June 1889 Royal assent given to Midland Railway Act 1889 authorising the Saxby Curve and connection to Wymondham, the Cottesmore and Bourn Deviations, connection with the Great Northern at Little Bytham; transfer of the Midland & Eastern sections and the Cottesmore and Bourn line to the joint ownership of Midland Railway and Great Northern Railway.
View Act		 Act of Parliament.
1889 Western section handed over to the joint ownership of the Midland Railway and Great Northern Railway. RM 1898-8
25th July 1890 Royal assent given to Midland Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1890 authorising: Two railways (to be called the Spalding Junctions) and alteration of the levels of a portion of railway and a new road situate wholly within the parish of Spalding in parts of Holland in the county of Lincoln.
  1. Railway No.1 seven furlongs one chain and seventy links in length commencing by a junction with the Spalding and Bourn joint line of the Midland and Great Northern Railway Companies and terminating by a junction with the Spalding and Lynn Joint Line of the said Companies.
  2. Railway No.2 three furlongs and forty links in length commencing by a junction with the said Railway No.1 and terminating by a junction with the loop line of the Great Northern Railway.
  3. Alteration in levels of so much of the said Spalding and Lynn Joint Line as extends for a distance of twenty-six chains or thereabouts measured in a north-westerly direction from the wesstern end of the bridge carrying the said line over the River Welland. And the Company or Companies exercising the powers of this section may carry the said joint line as altered across the road numbered on the deposited plans 26 in the parish of Spalding on the level.
  4. A new road commencing by a junction with the public road known as Saint Thomas's Road at a point three chains or thereabouts measured along that road in a northerly direction from the level crossing thereof by the Spalding and Lynn Joint Line and terminating by a junction with the same road at a point thereon three chains or thereabouts measured in a southerly direction from the same level crossing
  5. A railway (to be called the Witham Deviation) two miles four furlongs one chain and fifty links in length situate wholly in the parts of Kesteven in the county of Lincoln commencing in the parish of Careby by a junction with the Cottesmore and Bourn Deviation No.1 authorised by the Midland Railway Act 1889 and terminating in the township of Toft and Lound in the parish of Witham (otherwise Wytham-on-the-Hill) by a junction with the Railway No.1 authorised by the Eastern and Midlands Railway (Extensions) Act 1888.
  6. The Company and the Great Northern Company shall abandon construction of as much of the Cottesmore and Bourn Deviation Railway No.1 authorised by the Midland Railway Act 1889 and of Railway No.1 authorised by the Eastern and Midlands Railway (Extensions) Act 1888 as will be rendered unnecessary by the construction of the Witham Deviation by this Act authorised.
View Act		 Act of Parliament
June - July 1891 Resignalling Bourne to Spalding. New signal boxes at Four Cross Roads, Twenty, Counter Drain, North Drove and Cuckoo Junction. Mike Back
4th June 1893 Saxby to Bourne opened for goods traffic. Mike Back
8th June 1893 Line doubled between Bourne and Twenty. New signal box at Twenty.
Austerby Crossing manned gate cabin replaced resident crossing keeper operation.		 Mike Back
29th June 1893 Royal assent given to Great Northern Railway Act 1893 authorising widening and improvement of the Bourn and Lynn Railway:
  1. between a point 120 yards west of Cuckoo Crossing and a point about 120 yards south west of the engine shed at Spalding,
  2. between a point about 9 chains east of the Bourn to Market Deeping road to a point about 3 chains east of the goods shed at Twenty.
 Act of Parliament

Subsequent Chronology