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Wymondham Abbey railway station

Coordinates: 52°34′12″N 1°06′14″E / 52.57°N 1.104°E / 52.57; 1.104
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Wymondham Abbey
Station on heritage railway
Wymondham Abbey station in 2019
General information
LocationWymondham, South Norfolk
England
Coordinates52°34′12″N 1°06′14″E / 52.57°N 1.104°E / 52.57; 1.104
Grid referenceTG104014
Owned byMid-Norfolk Railway
Platforms1
Key dates
2 May 1999opened

Wymondham Abbey is a railway station in the town of Wymondham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is served by heritage services operated by the Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR) between Wymondham and East Dereham.

History

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There was historically no station on the exact site now occupied by Wymondham Abbey, although it stands close to the site of the sidings for the Briton's Brush Works,[1] which operated from 1890 to 1985.[2] Access to the sidings was controlled by Church Lane signal box,[3] the remains of which still being visible at the site.

A short-lived station was located on the far side of the level crossing to the current platform, with footings for it being discovered during ground works for a new signal box.[4]

Present day

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The current Wymondham Abbey railway station, opened in 1999,[5] is the current southern terminus of passenger services on the MNR, although the line continues beyond Wymondham Abbey to a junction with the Breckland Line at Wymondham railway station. The line between Wymondham Abbey and the Breckland Line is used for stock movements,[6] freight and works trains, for the reversal of the majority of hauled passenger trains[7] and, during special events, timetabled passenger services as far as the operational boundary with Network Rail.[8]

There is minimal car parking at this station, therefore visitors are advised to use parking facilities in Wymondham town centre or make use of the car park at Dereham.

Signal box

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The original Church Lane signal box footings survive, but are not located in a suitable location for current needs. A replacement box, using the signal box cabin from Spooner Row railway station is being constructed beside the level crossing, on the northern end of the original station platform.

Route

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Preceding station Heritage Railways  Heritage railways Following station
Kimberley Park
Line and station open
  Mid-Norfolk Railway   Wymondham
Line and station open.
No scheduled passenger service.
  Future services  
Kimberley Park   Norfolk Orbital Railway
Mid-Norfolk Railway
  Wymondham
Kimberley Park
Line and station open
  Mid-Norfolk Railway   Wymondham Junction
Proposed station.

References

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  1. ^ Photo of the railway and Briton's Brush Works
  2. ^ Briton's Brush Works green plaque
  3. ^ Photo of Church Lane signal box and sidings
  4. ^ Station platform footings uncovered
  5. ^ "Mid-Norfolk Railway – History of the Line". Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  6. ^ New Greater Anglia trains to be stored at heritage line
  7. ^ Loop line near Wymondham Abbey Station
  8. ^ Sulzer power at Dereham Gala