MELTON CONSTABLE
Much of the trackbed between Holt and Melton survives - including the particularly attractive bridge that carried the line over the River Stiffkey and the road between Thornage and Hunworth.
From Briningham (where the original line became double tracked for the final approach to Melton), however, the railway has been all but obliterated by the infilling of the earthworks.
Given this situation and the lack of the station at Melton it becomes apparent that land acquisition would be necessary to restore a railway here. There is also no need to re-create the old arrangement requiring trains from Holt to reverse at Melton to join the Fakenham line. A new loop would enable direct through running - rejoining the Fakenham line near Pigg's Grave Summit.
A station serving Melton Constable could be provided at a convenient point on such a loop.
Some sections between Melton and Thursford would present similar challenges to the reconstruction effort due to changes made during what is now nearly 50 years since closure.
From Briningham (where the original line became double tracked for the final approach to Melton), however, the railway has been all but obliterated by the infilling of the earthworks.
Given this situation and the lack of the station at Melton it becomes apparent that land acquisition would be necessary to restore a railway here. There is also no need to re-create the old arrangement requiring trains from Holt to reverse at Melton to join the Fakenham line. A new loop would enable direct through running - rejoining the Fakenham line near Pigg's Grave Summit.
A station serving Melton Constable could be provided at a convenient point on such a loop.
Some sections between Melton and Thursford would present similar challenges to the reconstruction effort due to changes made during what is now nearly 50 years since closure.
Melton Constable was the hub of the old Midland & Great Northern railway system. Here four lines converged on it's 800 ft island platform - from Norwich, from Great Yarmouth, from Cromer and from Lynn. Here too was the company's engineering works, much of which remains, now used for various enterprises. The actual station however is just a memory, although two of its cast iron spandrels have been built into the village bus shelter.
