Whitwell & Reepham Railway Station - Reepham

The Lynn & Fakenham Railway was originally granted permission by an Act of Parliament on 12th August 1880 to build the Whitwell Station. The Lynn & Fakenham Railway then developed into the Eastern & Midlands Railway on 1st January 1883. The Eastern & Midlands Railway then became the Midland & Great Northern Railway on 1st July 1893. This station formed part of the Norwich City to Melton Constable leg of the M&GN which ran for a total of 21.5 miles.

Venue History

This Station first opened on 1st July 1882. It was part of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway’s (M&GN) branch from the main line at Melton Constable to Norwich City. Whilst the route was fairly well-used, it struggled under the competition from the larger Great Eastern Railway and its more direct lines. The name of this station was changed from Whitwell to Whitwell & Reepham in an attempt to compete. Only one year prior to opening, the Great Eastern had inaugurated its own station at Reepham which, unlike Whitwell, was conveniently sited to the settlement it purported to serve.

The M&GN suffered in the post-war period which saw much freight transfer to road and greater car ownership, leaving the line with its summer and schools traffic. In the face of spiralling losses, British Rail made the decision to close the majority of the line to passengers on 2nd March 1959, leaving Whitwell open for freight until 1st May 1964.

The track through the station remained down until 1985 for the purposes of concrete product movements to neighbouring Lenwade railway station. The station site itself was variously used post-closure as a tree surgery, offices, the parking of coaches and a workshop and garage.

Following the lifting of the track through the station, the trackbed was reused as part of the Marriott’s Way from 1993.

At one point there was even a proposal to dismantle the station building and re-erect it at Holt station on the North Norfolk Railway.

We re-opened the Whitwell & Reepham Station on the 28th February 2009 nearly 50 years after it was closed to passengers.

Our continuing aims are to restore the Station to its former glory circa 1930/40’s, relaying track and sidings, acquiring rolling stock and add more items to our museum relating to the Station and The Midland & Great Northern Railway.

Accessibility

Please be advised that due to the historic/rugged nature of our site, full accessibility is limited. The terrain includes steep inclines, uneven flooring, muddy pathways, and high thresholds. While some buildings are equipped with ramps, large portions of the venue - including areas with railroad tracks - may be difficult to navigate for those with limited mobility or those utilising wheelchairs.

How the Event Will Pan Out

Here's a quick rundown of what you can expect this evening:

• Arrival and Welcome (Now!): We're kicking things off right now with this welcome speech and a brief overview of the night.

• Team Assignments: You'll be divided into smaller groups, each led by one of our experienced paranormal investigators. This ensures everyone gets a chance to explore and engage.

• Investigation Sessions: Each group will rotate through different investigation areas. We'll be using a variety of equipment, from EMF meters to spirit boxes, to try and make contact. Our investigators will guide you through the process and explain how everything works.

• Breaks: There will be breaks throughout the night. Your Group Leader will let you know when this is. There will be hot and cold drinks, as well as a tuck shop.

• Lone Time: You may have the opportunity to have some alone time to explore your favourite parts of the location. This will depend on time and the location rules.

• Debrief and Discussion: After the investigation sessions, we'll all gather back together to share our experiences, compare notes, and discuss any unusual occurrences.

• Q&A: We'll then open the floor for any questions you might have for our team.