The Colne Valley Railway Today

The story of the Colne Valley Railway as it is today began one evening in the summer of 1973 when two railway enthusiasts walked a one mile section of the former Colne Valley & Halstead Railway at Castle Hedingham.

That walk through the undergrowth of the former trackbed by the founder members of the Railway Company, Dick Hymas and Gordon Warren, inspired them to create a complete authentic working railway from scratch on what was effectively a green field site. The vision included not only laying track, but building stations, platforms, signal boxes, and even bridges; it was to be the construction of a microcosm of a typical Essex country branch line. Today, standing on Castle Hedingham station platform, it is hard to believe that the Colne Valley Railway which you see before you resembled, just a few years previously, the site of an overgrown cart track.

The section of line chosen, between mileposts 60 and 61 was idyllic for it meanders along the course of the river Colne, passes through cuttings and along embankments, in the beautiful and romantic English countryside.

However, the idea of building a railway in an area of outstanding natural beauty initially met with disapproval. After all it was beyond the comprehension of normal sane people as to why two eccentric preservationists should want to build a railway from nowhere to nowhere when ten years previously it actually did go somewhere and was closed and dismantled because nobody used it. But after four planning applications and a year of negotiations, approval was finally granted. Today, the Colne Valley Railway carries as many passengers per year on it's one mile length as the former railway did in it's heyday when it was twenty miles long.

With the first major battle fought and won the founder members turned their attention to the actual physical work of the project. The initial job was obviously to clear the original trackbed of ten years undergrowth, which was no easy task bearing in mind the speed with which nature heals the scars inflicted upon it by mankind. This completed, the first engineering project was undertaken, the construction of an ash pit on which to stable the first locomotive.

The arrival of ex-War Department 0-6-0 Austerity saddle tank locomotive number WD190 in August 1973 caused quite a sensation, for it thundered through the Colne Valley on the back of a low loader in full steam!! What a magnificent sight it made, it is believed to be the first railway locomotive in steam ever to pass under the thirty arch Chappel viaduct. In Hedingham, the enthusiasts sounded the whistle along the entire length of the main street to prove they meant business - steam had well and truly returned to the Colne Valley.

However, it was with a touch of sadness that the fire was dropped that evening, for they knew it would be almost two years before the locomotive was steamed again and there was the thought of the almost impossible task that lay ahead.

But as can be imagined, the sight of a steam locomotive in what, from the adjacent A604 road, appeared to be the middle of a field aroused much interest and a band of dedicated helpers soon materialised. In 1974 it was decided to formalise the operation by the founding of a Railway Company to build and operate the Railway which would also carry out the necessary legal and financial work. The volunteer helpers formed the Colne Valley Railway Preservation Society, the aims of which are to assist the Company with the building and operation of the Railway.

At an early stage, it was decided to construct and preserve as much of the original Colne Valley and Halstead Railway as possible. Emphasis was placed on architectural detail, for the CV&HR buildings had a design and character of their own, believed to be unique in railway architecture. With plans of track layouts and stations approved, building work started with the construction of two 200 foot long platforms which were to form the centre of operations. Then the search for track and station buildings began, but sadly only two original station buildings still existed on the old line.

Sible and Castle Hedingham station was empty and derelict at the time, but it was sound. An approach was made to it's owner, Rippers Ltd, on the question of preservation, and they kindly donated the building to the Railway on the condition that it was dismantled and cleared within six weeks as the site was due for redevelopment. Plans were drawn and photographs taken, then the building was dismantled brick by brick in the required time scale by the volunteers working in evenings and at weekends. It took two years to rebuild, but externally it appears exactly as it did when first built in 1861.

Meanwhile, the preservationists turned their attention to track and in 1974 half a mile of line and five points which were laying redundant at Sudbury station were purchased. This was quickly dismantled and transported to Hedingham where track laying began immediately.

Also in 1974 three more steam locomotives arrived together with the first items of rolling stock. Essex County Council donated the Crossing Keepers hut at White Colne which was re-erected as a permanent way hut. The Colne Valley Railway was rapidly developing.

Hard work ensued through the 1974/75 winter period and by Easter 1975 with about a quarter of a mile of track and three points laid, it was decided that the Railway should hold it's first "steam up". WD190 and Barrington together gave footplate rides to many hundreds of visitors attracted by the sight of steam. Both railway members and visitors alike were excited and encouraged that the Colne Valley Railway project was well and truly off the ground.

In 1976, the Society purchased the first of it's passenger carriages, an ex-British Rail mark 1 Tourist Second Open coach, number E4810. This was achieved by the first public appeal for funds where interested persons were, and in fact still are, invited to purchase shares in a rolling stock fund. Transporting the coach to the Railway by road was not easy. The actual carriage is lifted from its rail wheels and mounted on road wheels which are towed by a tractor unit, the rail wheels follow on another lorry - a surprising sight for the unsuspecting oncoming motorist.

During 1977 further emphasis was placed on buildings and a search was made for a suitable station for the second platform. However, there was no further ex-CV&HR buildings available so it was decided to build a near replica of Halstead station (the original headquarters of the line). This was achieved by obtaining materials from no less than five other stations which even included some of the foundations of the original Halstead station! But about one third of the original facing bricks were still required and these were made by hand to match the originals.

With the track work rapidly expanding a signalling system became necessary to control the operation of the trains. This, of course, meant that a signal box was required but a search revealed that none of the original CV&HR examples remained. A similar box, which dated from 1898, was found at Cressing on the Braintree to Witham line which was being electrified thus rendering the box redundant. Early one Sunday morning the Colne Valley team descended on the village and within two hours the signal box was craned onto a low loader and transported away, together with the original lever frame. A brick base constructed to the design of the original Hedingham signal box now supports the box and controls all train movements in the station area using a 1982 manufactured interlocking system.

Construction work proceeded apace during the late 1970s with regular steam open days being held as a reward for the volunteers relentless efforts. In June 1979 it was decided to hold a special 'Schools Week' as it was realised that the Railway had much to offer schools in search of outside educational events. Richard Hymas senior, the Railway Company secretary who had recently retired from a lifetime of school teaching established reputable educational facilities. The event was an outstanding success and has been an annual event ever since.

In 1982 the major engineering obstacle on the Railway was overcome, this was the replacement of a 42 foot long girder bridge over the River Colne. After the line closed all the original girder bridges were demolished except for one at Earls Colne which was used by the Anglian Water Authority as a footbridge. The bridge was in excellent condition so an agreement was reached with AWA whereby the bridge would be given to the Railway provided it was replaced with a footbridge at the Railway's cost. The army were asked to supervise this complex operation and they happily agreed. Under the guidance of Major I.L.R. Page of the 507 S.T.R.E.(V) Railway Engineers, the exercise was accomplished in their usual meticulous manner. Having seen locomotives and buildings pass through their village on low loaders, the Hedingham residents were treated to the spectacle of a complete bridge heading for the Railway. It now carries all trains bound for Nunnery Street.

The construction of a second bridge put the finishing touch to the station area. It was a footbridge which is used to connect the two platforms. Originally built by the Great Eastern Railway at Stowmarket in 1898, it was dismantled by British Rail in 1981. It was erected at Hedingham using the Grafton 10 ton steam crane.

A further footbridge allows visitors to cross the River Colne to gain access to the 3½ acre riverside wooded picnic area. This attractive development was created using land bounded by the Railway and river enabling visitors to relax in pleasant surroundings whilst watching the trains go by. It is very popular on warm sunny days.

Following the reconstruction of the river bridge, the volunteer workforce concentrated on the ultimate aim of the founder members, the laying of track to the extent of available land at Nunnery Street. Using track and ballast purchased from British Rail and other sources, this project was completed in 1986, allowing the Railway to now give rides on approximately one mile of track. During this period the Railway received considerable assistance from the Manpower Services Commission, through various job creation programmes.

The centrally positioned station complex with its passing loop enables operation of two trains at the same time, which is unusual for a railway of this length. The Railway is operated by the train staff and ticket system whereby the line is divided into two single line block sections with a unique train staff for each section. All train movements are controlled by authentic semaphore signalling which is installed and operated exactly as it was on country branch lines.

The points and signals controlling the run round loop at Nunnery Street are operated by a signal box which was originally built by the Great Eastern Railway at Wrabness on the Manningtree to Harwich line. When the line was electrified and resignalled in 1985, the box became disused and was purchased by the Harwich & District Railway Society who donated it to the Colne Valley Railway. Delivered to the Railway by road, the box was hauled on the Sturgeon wagon down the line and mounted on a new brick base. It was recommisioned in 1987.

This completes the development of the original phase, but the hard work did not end there, indeed some would say it is only just beginning. The Railway itself is constantly expanding, land has been acquired adjacent to the Railway to provide further visitor facilities which will include a station complex with a restaurant and bar, engine sheds, a museum and craft shops within a Victorian street scene.

The Railway is constantly acquiring new locomotives and rolling stock. The completion of the Colne Valley Pullman train in 1989 was a major achievement which is described in detail in the Colne Valley Railway Guide & Stock Book; it has an excellent reputation for fine food. Four main line locomotive groups are now based at the Railway. 45163 Ltd. was formed by a number of CVRPS members to purchase Black Five steam locomotive number 45163. Its restoration from scrapyard condition is a long term project. Colne Valley Diesels Ltd. was also formed by a group of Society members, class 31 locomotive number D5634 was purchased in 1995. This group is also the custodians of the two class 03 diesel shunters and A.C. Cars Railbus number 79978. The British Enginemans Steam Preservation Group's own Black Five locomotive number 45293 and Merchant Navy locomotive number 35010 Blue Star. Like number 45163, these two locomotives are also being restored from scrapyard condition. Pressed Steel Heritage Ltd. are owners of four ex British Railways diesel railcars which regularly operate off peak services on the Railway.

The Colne Valley Railway also attracts visiting locomotives which provide further interest for the public. The National Railway Museum’s replica of Stephenson’s Rocket has visited twice. Other locomotive visitors have included the ex-British Railways class J72 0-6-0T number 69023 Joem from the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group and ex-British Railways Standard 5 number 73096 from the Mid Hants Railway.

As will be seen during your visit, the Colne Valley Railway is continuing its policy of rebuilding and restoration to the highest possible standards, a necessary and never ending process which ensures that all assets, whether they be buildings or rolling stock are preserved in excellent condition.