KING’S LYNN TO MIDDLETON TOWERS

Located on the East Coast, this port and market town was called Bishops Lynn in the 15th century.

The origins of Bishops Lynn date back to the 10th century, but the first recorded mention of it was in the 11th century.

King's Lynn Station was in Norfolk, the original station opened in 1846 after the Lynn, Ely railway line opened.

Back in the day, this was just a basic wooden structure.

The Dereham line was created during the years 1846 & 1848.

Another branch, starting from Watlington (previously called Magdalen Road), began operating in 1848 and provided transportation services to Wisbech and March, also originating from King's Lynn. Furthermore, the Hunstanton line originating from King's Lynn was established in 1862, and the South Lynn M&GN station was built in 1865.

Then in 1871, several companies collaborated to create a more durable station, resulting in the present-day terminal we now witness.

The recently built station now has two island platforms, each with four dead-end lines.

It has replaced the old wooden structure that previously stood in its place.

Even though it is a Terminus, King's Lynn used to see many trains continuing to Hunstanton from the Lynn-Ely Line and the M&GN at South Lynn via a shuttle line, which is also covered on this website.

The summer months were particularly busy, with restaurant cars and royal services heading towards the Norfolk coast.

At the end of King's Lynn station, there was a vast goods yard that could only be accessed through the King's Lynn junction by the signal box. Furthermore, a junction existed where the railway connected to the Lynn Docks branch.

Between the goods lines and the bay platforms lay King's Lynn's engine sheds. This brick-built structure featured four roads and accommodated a variety of engines, including numerous royal engines. By the 1950s, the sheds were capable of accommodating many locomotives. However, in 1959, the sheds were closed to steam locomotives.

Access to the sheds was only possible through the junction located near the signal box.

During the early days of the station, there was a signal box located at the end of the platforms in King's Lynn, along with a significant semaphore signal system.

As the trains left King's Lynn, they passed by the engine sheds and goods yards before reaching King's Lynn Junction. At the junction, they continue straight ahead, crossing underneath the footbridge. On the left, you can see the Hunstanton Branch, while the Ely-Cambridge line heads off to the right. Now on its dedicated line, the Dereham line quickly heads towards its next station, Middleton Towers, through open countryside.

At the junction, there was the second signal box, King’s Lynn Junction Box. The King’s Lynn Junction box was said to have housed an 80-lever frame.

When writing this page, King’s Lynn still operates at a working mainline station with services towards Ely, Cambridge and London with hourly services to the capital.

Currently, there is only one signal box remaining. There have been discussions about establishing a central control centre at Cambridge, which would render all signal boxes obsolete. It is still being determined how long the remaining signal box will continue to be operational.

The Goods Yard and engine sheds have undergone significant changes, with most of it being torn down and replaced by a supermarket and retail establishments. However, a portion of it remains in use as a turnaround point for freight services headed to Middleton Towers.

The Hunstanton Line was closed in 1969, just one year after the Dereham Line shut down. Similarly, the Wisbech and Watlington branch was closed around the same time as the Dereham Line.

At present, the segment of the former Dereham railway line leading up to Middleton Towers is utilised as a freight line catering to the needs of the sand quarry.

In 2020, a portion of the old Dereham line near King's Lynn junction was renovated to accommodate stabling points for storing 8-car units.

1846 the Lynn Ely line opens with King’s Lynn wooden-built station.

1846-1848, The Lynn to Dereham railway line opened with King’s Lynn wooden built station.

1862, the Lynn Hunstanton Railway opened.

1865, the M&GN South Lynn Station opened.

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1871 The station that is still in use today opened.

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1911, the station changed its name from Lynn to King's Lynn.

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1959 The M&gnjr line closes.

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1968, the Dereham branch closes.

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1969 May, the Hunstanton branch closes.

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1992, the line to now London King's Cross is electrified between London King's Cross & Cambridge.