Thuxton
Thuxton station, 2019
General information
Location	Thuxton,Breckland,Norfolk England
Coordinates	52°37′29″N1°00′04″E / 52.6247°N 1.001°E /52.6247; 1.001
Grid reference	TG031072
System	Station onheritage railway
Owned by	London & North Eastern Railway Eastern Region of British Railways Mid-Norfolk Railway
Managed by	Norfolk Railway Great Eastern Railway
Platforms	2
Key dates
15 February 1847	Opened
13 July 1964	Closed to freight
6 October 1969	Closed to passengers
26 July 1997	Reopened as part of MNR
Location

v t e Thuxton railway station
Legend
1906
toFakenham Footpath crossing Bridge 1686 MP 7 Thuxton signal box Thuxton station Thuxton level crossing Bridge 1685 toDereham
2015
toDereham footpath crossing Bridge 1686 MP 7 Thuxton station Thuxton level crossing Thuxton signal box Bridge 1685 trap point siding MP 6 toWymondham

Thuxton is a railway station in the village ofThuxton in theEnglish county ofNorfolk. The station is served by heritage services operated by theMid-Norfolk Railway on the line fromDereham toWymondham.

When re-opened by the Mid-Norfolk Railway in 1997 the station was initially used as arequest stop, but was returned to full stopping status on 16 June 2002.^[1]

During fundraising for the opening of the MNR, a station was proposed for the nearby village ofGarveston, and the local council purchased a small parcel of land for use as a car park at the proposed site.^[2] No platform was provided, and the station has never been developed.^{[citation needed]}

The Wymondham-Dereham branch line and stations were opened on 15 February 1847.

Thuxton is a two-platform station. The main building, which included theStationmaster's house was built by the Norfolk Railway. The Great Eastern Railway later added glass-fronted waiting rooms to the platforms.

The station was equipped with a single siding goods yard on the down side of the formation. The yard was to the north of the passenger station, with no goods shed or fixed loading facilities.^[3] A well-known seasonal traffic from the site wasPeele’sNorfolk Black Turkeys.^[4]

From June 1965, when the line was singled, until late 2010 only the down platform was used for passenger services. The up line platform, where the waiting room was demolished, has since been restored to its original length as part of the passing loop project and a new waiting room is being constructed on the original footprint and will mirror the waiting room on the down platform.^[5]

Most trains currently use the extended up platform. The waiting room on the down platform has been converted for use as holiday accommodation.^[6] There is no passenger car parking available near this station due to the narrow lanes through the village. The station serves as a passing place for trains, as a station for the local community and the Railway Lake fishing venue.^[7]

Work to relay the lifted up formation and restore the second platform at this station, in order to provide apassing loop for trains running between Dereham and Wymondham, was completed in time for the September 2010 diesel gala.

The loop is intended to be controlled by a signal box built using components from the box fromEast Winch railway station on the Dereham toKing's Lynn line, and includes provision for an eventual restoration of a section ofdouble track railway south of the station potentially toKimberley Park. TheMcKenzie and Holland lever frame recovered fromSeven Sisters signal box was installed in the signal box at Thuxton in August 2014 with plans to commission it during 2015.

The crossover to the south of the station was completed by volunteer staff during January 2009. The northern point and track panels either side of the level crossing were laid by contractors during May and ballasted during June. Work on the signal box also commenced in June.

The second track over the level crossing was restored over the weekend of 11–14 June 2010, withClass 31 diesel 31438 becoming the first locomotive, since the singling of the route, to pass over the level crossing on this side of the formation on 12 June 2010.^[8] Some local residents were unhappy about aspects of the restoration, citing concerns about disruption and the narrow access lane being blocked.^[9]

Location	Original location	Built by	Notes	Photograph
Thuxton	New build	Mid-Norfolk Railway	The original Thuxton signal box was located to the north of the station platforms, but was downgraded to ground frame status in 1933 and demolished before 1955.[3] The replacement box is located on a new site to the south of the level crossing in the design ofShippea Hill signal box inCambridgeshire, using some components from the cabin ofEast Winch signal box,Norfolk.[10] The signalbox is fitted with a 26 leverMcKenzie and Holland frame, dating from 1904, and recovered fromSeven Sisters railway station inLondon. This frame is fitted with a 'cam and tappet' mechanical locking system.[11]

• Map sources for Thuxton railway station
• Thuxton station, 1975

Preceding station	Heritage railways			Following station
Yaxham towardsDereham		Mid-Norfolk Railway		Kimberley Park towardsWymondham Abbey
Historical railways
Yaxham Line and station open		British Rail Eastern Region Wymondham to Wells via East Dereham		Hardingham Line and station open
Proposed service
Yaxham		Norfolk Orbital Railway Mid-Norfolk Railway		Hardingham

• Heritage railway stations in Norfolk
• Former Great Eastern Railway stations
• Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1847
• Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1969
• 1847 establishments in England

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