The Southwold Railway

Route Name = The Southwold Railway



Route Author = Christian Hartley-Wolley & Jur Snijder

Route Location = Southwold-Halesworth,  Suffolk, England

Route Mileage = 9 miles

Route Era = 1879 to 1929

Route Source = from UKTS downloading at UKTrainSim.

Additional files required to be installed =

UKFineScale
Xtracks

Route Description =
An MSTS route available to download as noted above.

Activities and relevant stock may be available from the UKTS library.

"This is a representation of the Southwold Railway route, which ran between Southwold and Halesworth in Suffolk, England, from September 1879 until its closure in April 1929. The line ran for 9 miles, along the Blyth valley, with intermediate stations at Wenhaston, and later at Blythburgh and Walberswick. The line was operated by 3 Sharp Stewart 2-4-0 tanks; named 'Southwold' 'Halesworth' and 'Blyth', No.1 'Southwold' was later sent back to Sharp Stewart and rebuilt with a rear set of trailing wheels, a bigger cab and a larger bunker. In October 1914 a short spur branch line was built to serve Southwold Harbour, and for the traffic along the branch a fourth locomotive No.4 'Wenhaston' was ordered. Unlike her sisters, 'Wenhaston' was a Manning Wardle 0-6-2 tank locomotive, and far more powerful than the Sharp Stewarts. 1926 was the first year the railway recorded a loss, and this was the beginning of the end. Increasing road transport competition saw a fall in passenger numbers, and closure finally came about in 1929. Plans in 1930 and also 1941 saw attempted revivals however these came to nothing.”