Lowestoft Railways circa 1900

Using collected images, maps, and other documents - this video is a 'stitching' together of large scales maps showing the railways in Lowestoft around 1900 - following the various lines, photos have been inserted at appropriate places. The images are from a huge variety of dates, and some feature elements new than the map. Fascinating to see how the railways have changed.
Lowestoft North is completely gone, built over with housing, with a popular footpath running along much of the line from near to Coke Ovens Junction. The goods line from Oulton Broad South is now partly footpath near Notley Road, but has a static caravan park on land near the junction. The Kirlkley goods depot on the ham had not been built when this map was produced, while the other goods yard nearer to the docks is now a car park. The various extensions that head back west along the wharf to the shipyards is also not yet built.

[@ferg303]

Great video Paul

[@robertbaglin3973]

Used to take my son Mathew on the train from Oulton Broad to either Norwich or Ipswich most saturdays when he was growing up and even went onto Sheringham a few times as he loved trains but now he’s grown out of all that and is into music and motorsport instead.Great times and great memories of that happy little boy watching and riding the trains.

[@Faulty720]

The thumbnail makes the year 1900 look quite advanced in rail technology 😂

[@misstrever1952]

...beautiful video, thank you! is special to me as I can remember the extensive sidings and trackwork on my seaside trips here from Norwich especially in the 60's, can remember seeing the line diverging from Yarmouth Southtown albeit had already closed but the track remained. 👌

[@johnellerby5117]

Great stuff. Excellent idea to use the map to locate the images. Thanks for the time and effort you put in.

[@philipdavey9182]

This takes me back. Dad was signalman, on the LNER Relief Staff, at Coke Ovens, for quite some time, during which time he nearly lost his life in a low level German bomber raid, for which there was no siren alert. Several of the bombs dropped failed to go off, including one which neatly removed his steps to the box, rendering him unable to exit. Had it exploded, I doubt I would be here today.

[@practicallyfamous]

I hope one day the Lowestoft - Yarmouth line can be rebuilt, maybe not in the same places but still would save alot of time and serve Corton, Hopton and Gorlestone like it used to.

[@TheEasterling]

It can't, too many houses and buildings are built now........

[@pwalker8814]

We moved to Lowestoft in 72 i remember going to Dell primary and playing down behind the houses on Dell road on the old line, happy days

[@henryhunter5026]

When I left Lowestoft 55 years ago a lot of those lines were still operating. Sad to see that they’re no longer there but like the canals they just became old technology. Great video very nostalgic to an old Lowestoftian.

[@misstrever1952]

...thank you so much for taking me down memory lane! Even now I have a fondness for Lowestoft as a seaside destination remembering day trips from Norwich as a child in the 60's & 70's the amazing extensive trackwork and the Yarmouth Southtown route at coke ovens junction although even then had closed but the track remained. Top video 👌

[@malcolmwhite410]

A superb selection of photographs some of which I took or have been copied from books I have published.

[@pauljohnson4590]

They're excellent images Malcolm, thanks for making so many available. Paul

[@philipdavey9182]

Amazing how the smallest thing can bring back memories. Seeing the little Sentinel loco hauling a short train, reminded me of the short fish waste train which used to cross the main A12, as it was then, close to Tuttles department store. Usually this happened at about 2.15-2.30, just time for the bus I had taken from Oulton Broad, to be delayed by its crossing. What the trucks dribbled onto the road surface, I can’t begin to describe, and, worse still, tyres then took to residue up the main London Road North and elsewhere, rending central Lowestoft smelling so bad, you could cut the air into cubes! Hot weather was helpful in this regard also.

[@odeon1161]

Thank you - such a shame that so much has been lost to us. I remember the pedestrian bridge being removed Christmas Eve 2014..my house overlooks the site. That in itself was a big loss- as a kid I used to love being on the bridge when the trains passed underneath. Another not our children will not experience

[@annamarietrindal1967]

I can actually remember the line running down Victoria road and the rear of Kimberley road.

[@johnmasters504]

Amazing

[@markneilson6380]

On the Southside line there were the siding of the manufacturer Boulton and Paul.

[@CODHELPUS]

lovely to see how it was again, and being a spotter in the late 50s it brings back great memories and times. What and who is playing the music please.?

[@pauljohnson4590]

tonyck sorry for late no delay. The music was to be honest a collection of random stuff we recorded for various projects that we composed over the years and didn’t end up using. We’re good at writing stuff people won’t ever remember! Not actually sure it fits this video to be honest

[@tomcarr1358]

Good vid. but music from undertaker's parlour. See John Brodribb's book " East Suffolk Railway" for the operation of these lines. Also pictures of lines before they were singled or removed entirely.

[@pauljohnson4590]

Ah but the music does t annoy the copyright police!

[@tomcarr1358]

Quite right. But there's plenty of music out of copyright. Amazing to think that a fast goods went every day from Lowestoft docks to London and Billingsgate -- dripping all the way.@@pauljohnson4590

[@ttonypayne5077]

I could not agree with you.... more we do need these old lines restored. Community's that were to small at the time of beeching have grown much more than any Government expected. Now look to the future and start planning Now