Whitwell Station

Whitwell, or more fully, Whitwell and Reepham Station was a Midland and Great Northern station on a line linking Melton Constable to Norwich. Post war the line was loss making and British Rail closed most of it in 1959 leaving Whitwell as a freight station only until 1964. The line itself continued to have some use but the track was finally lifted in 1985.

After some sporadic alternative use the site was finally acquired by a rail enthusiast in 2007 by which time it was mostly derelict. However, a programme of restoration then began with the station building being restored and a short run of track re-laid with associated sidings allowing for the running of trains which includes a saddle tank steam engine in the summer and a small diesel shunter on weekends out of season. Plans are in place to restore the track through the original platform with bigger plans to relay track to Lenwade, the next station, and, possibly further afield as well.

We went for a look today. It is free to enter although there is a charge for the train ride but the restored station building is interesting and the on site Sidings bar and restaurant served a reasonable Sunday lunch. The old track bed beyond the station is a popular walking route so, overall, a worthwhile destination.

Here a re a few pictures from today.

Cromer

I have been coming to Cromer for many years. Because I was a kid brought by my parents for my early visits I now have half a century of visiting experience which is a bit scary. It was also the first place I stopped with my wife to be back in 1984 and we have returned several times since in the near 40 years we have been together. Cromer is not an exciting destination as such and most of the time we come out of season when it is queiter but I always feel relaxed here. However as I know the place well I've tended not to use my camera much when visiting because I know what is here and in the knowledge that I will undoubtedly be back. Anyway, today I tried to rectify that a little. As a kid we often undertook a walk from the town up to Cromer Light House, down the cliff path, along the seafront and back to town. It always seemed a bit of a trek when I was young but in truth it is not so far but it is still something I like to do when here and today was no exception, starting outside the church.

Then we headed to The Gangway, a steep slope down to the seafront where, at the top, hiiden behind scaffold, is a blue plaque to Edward Bach, a homeopath and spititual writer who lived at the property in the 1930s. Not that I am familiar with his work!

Avoiding the slope and cutting through some gardens we get a first glimpse of the well known pier, which opened in 1901.

We then head up the path to Happy Valley, the location of the still active Cromer Lighthouse.

The valley area was, at one time, part of the Royal Cromer Golf Club although it is hard to believe it today. Then it was down the cliff path which is always a bit of a worry as far as my wife is concerned!

A little careful progress brings us down to the beach.

On to the promenade and past some rickity looking beach huts waiting for spring and their owners to return.

A pile of Crab pots, something for which Cromer is quite famous although personally I am not a big fan of crab.

Something that fascinated me as a kid were the tractors on the beach used for the crab boats. They often looked derelict but were actually in use but subject to a battering from the salt air that gave them a very sad appearance. Tractors come and go although one or two of them looked older than me.

A young Winston Churchill visited Cromer around 1885 but was not that impressed. His adverse view is now set in the promenande for posterity.

The pier - which will soon be hosting the best entertainment: Bon Jovi (Experience), (The) Simon and Garfunkel (Story), Adele (her songbook) amongst others.

In the sun today it was quite pleasant but the high was given as just 6 centigrade. There were never the less some hardy types on the beach.

And we finish with the seafront area where our walk ended at a little restaurant for a pleasant lunch.

The Sunset Set

Found myself in the garden this week on a clear evening just as the sun was going down which was a good excuse to capture a few images as it dropped below the horizon.