NOTE: There is no longer a Railway in Aldeburgh
East Suffolk Railway Share Invitation Header
The four and a half mile East Suffolk Railway single branch line from Saxmundham to Leiston was opened on 1 June 1859. Plans for a four mile extension to Aldborough had been lodged with the Board of Trade by 30 November 1858. The extension and terminus station were opened on 12 April 1860.
The East Suffolk Railway was initially operated by Eastern Counties Railways which merged with other companies in 1862 to form the Great Eastern Railway. They intended to continue the line from Aldeburgh station to Slaughden and to link the line to the proposed Aldeburgh Pier but neither materialised.
In 1923, the London and North Eastern Railway took over operation of services.
Last Steam Train from Aldeburgh to Liverpool Street Station. Image courtesy of Pamela Smith.
Accidents
Friday 5 October 1883: As the 7.5 a.m. up train was leaving Aldeburgh Station, the engine left the metals at the points near the ticket platform. Read more
Saturday 6 October 1883: The 5.22 p.m. train from Saxmundham, due at Aldeburgh at 5.45 p.m., and composed of tank engine No. 25, one composite carriage, two third class carriages, and the guard’s break-
25 July 1887: A young fellow, Knights, was injured in an accident while shunting at the Railway Station. Read more
Also see the ‘Last Train from Aldeburgh’ film.
Railway Employees at Aldeburgh
Walter I Allen – station master at Aldeburgh
Walter Barnes – passenger guard, lived at 17 Fawcett Road,
Monty Baskett – relief signalman at Aldeburgh
Sidney R Beales – clerk
Michael Beamish – signalman at Aldeburgh
William H ‘Billy’ Botterill – porter
Walter H Branch – guard (retired)
George Fillerton – guard (retired)
Hubert Havers – signalman at Aldeburgh
James Knights – signalman at Aldeburgh station; started at Aldeburgh in 1912 with the Great Eastern Railway; break for active service; returned to Aldeburgh station in 1918; transferred to the London North Eastern Railway in 1923 and British Railways in 1947; retired 10 April 1957 … [information courtesy of his grandson Ian Knights]
William A Marjoram – guard
William Moutell – engine driver, lived at 97 Saxmundham Road
Frank Partridge – signalman at Aldeburgh
Tony Spatchett – relief signalman at Aldeburgh
Frederick Thirkettle – engine driver, lived at 3 Fairfield Terrace
Henry Vale – signalman at Aldeburgh
William H Wright – guard, lived at 30 Park Road
Please note that the information shown here has been obtained from various sources including newspaper articles and discussions with local residents, family members etc. Please therefore accept that there may be errors and omissions and if you can add to, or correct any details shown here, please
If you know of any other Aldeburgh men employed by the railway, or men from elsewhere who worked there, please contact us.