A Busy Year Ahead for Halesworth to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway

2025 is looking to be a very busy year for the railway charity.  At the moment, our main effort is to gain planning permission for improvements at the Blythburgh Station Heritage Centre (which was granted permission last year).  These are – first – the erection of a classic double-armed signal in its original place at the station:  it has been made by one of our volunteers.  Secondly, we wish to rebuild the “Odams’ Shed” an unusual building in the station goods yard, originally owned by the inventors of the first artificial fertiliser.  This will become a wildlife hide.  And lastly, we wish to extend the railway about an eighth of a mile to the west, along the original trackbed.  There is a permissive path along this stretch which we will preserve and improve, beside the railway.

Public support may still be possible when you see this article (although time will be short):  you can send support on the East Suffolk Council website https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/planning/planning-applications-and-enforcement/view-and-comment-on-a-planning-application/ , and the reference is DC/24/4503/FUL – if you are not already signed up with ESC, they do also accept e-mails.  We hope that Community News readers will support our plan to further restore this historic railway towards Halesworth.

Meanwhile, our volunteers continue to build our Heritage Train, maintain the land and ecology at our sites, and research and advocate for the restoration of the line.  We have a very interesting future ahead:  if you would like to be part of that, then you can join us for only £10.00 per year, on our website www.halesworthtosouthwoldrailway.co.uk or at any event.