Witham–Maldon branch line

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Legend Maldon West Maldon East and Heybridge Langford and Ulting Wickham Bishops Trestle viaduct A12 River Blackwater Witham (GE main line) Braintree Branch Line

The Witham-Maldon branch line is a 5.75 miles (9.25 km) long closed railway line between Witham and Maldon in Essex, England which operated between 1848 and finally closed in 1966.

Infrastructure

Wooden viaduct over the River Blackwater

Most of the railway was built economically using timber instead of bricks,^[1] however the station at Maldon was built far grander than necessary as one of the railways political financiers was seeking local re-election to the Maldon parliamentary constituency and extended the employment of the railway workers to improve his chances.

There were six timber trestle viaducts on the line; the one near the former Wickham Bishops station (51°46′30″N 0°38′33″E / 51.775°N 0.6426°E / 51.775; 0.6426) is the only remaining and is a scheduled monument.^[2]

The section of line into the old east station in Maldon has been used as the route for a new road into the Fullbridge area. The section of trackbed linking the two former railway stations in Maldon has been used as the route of the Maldon bypass to the west of the town.

History

The railway was built between Braintree and Maldon by the Maldon, Witham & Braintree Railway Company. It joined with the Great Eastern Main Line at Witham and opened for freight on 18 April 1848 and for passengers on 2 October 1848.^[3]

Following closure, approximately half a mile of the branch from Witham station toward Maldon was used as a siding serving an industrial area for delivery of steel by railway, this section closed in the early 1980s after a rail strike and is now a cycle/walkway.

An original brick built goods shed was demolished in mid 2008 just weeks before being considered for listed status.

The Witham to Braintree section still operates as the Braintree Branch Line.

References

1. ^ Leslie Oppitz (1999). Lost Railways of East Anglia. Countryside Books. ISBN 1853065951. 
2. ^ "Wickham Bishops - timber trestle bridge". Essex County Council. http://unlockingessex.essexcc.gov.uk/custom_pages/monument_detail.asp?content_page_id=89&monument_id=27153&content_parents=48,175&monument_type_id=&monument_name=&search_related=&admin_area_id=&period_from=&period_to=&selPeriod=&selStatus=&evidence_type=&media_type_id=&media_what=&easting=&northing=&grid_square=&freetext_content=&smr_number=&name=&email=&address=&q1=&q2=&q3=&q4=&q5=&q6=&q7=&q8=&q9=&mailme=&comments=#. 
3. ^ R.S. Joby (1977). Forgotten Railways East Anglia. David & Charles. ISBN 0715373129.