Reedham
During the weekend of Yarmouth Air Show in 2018, it was all-hands-on-deck to keep passengers moving. Unusually, DRS Class 37s Nos. 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob' and 37405 are working the 11.36 Norwich to Yarmouth stopper via Reedham, where they are seen arriving on Saturday June 16th to collect a good complement of passengers. Photo: Alan Jones.
Passing non-stop through the recently re-modelled Reedham, Anglia Class 153 No. 153309 'Gerard Fiennes' works the 12.58 Norwich to Lowestoft on August 20th 2019. Photo: Alan Jones.
The slightly unusual design of Down splitting signal at Reedham, with the through route to the side on the bracket rather than on the main post, is for sighting purposes as the line comes round an obscured left-hand curve through the station, reducing visibility of the signal. On a sunny 9th June 1984, Brush Type 2 No. 31 217 accelerates from the 20 mph crossovers off the Yarmouth line with the 14.12 (SO) Yarmouth to Manchester Piccadilly. Photo: Stewart Jolly.
Classic East Anglian traction is seen in the form of Cravens and Metro-Cammell sets E54419, E51263, E51442 and E54073 as they enter Reedham on 9th June 1984 with the 14.40 (SO) Yarmouth to Norwich. Photo: Stewart Jolly.
The re-modelling of Reedham is finished, the semaphore signals have gone and the signal box is boarded up, waiting removal to the North Norfolk Railway. Interestingly, the re-laid Up line retains its original 'dog leg' dating back to the time when it was one side of a three-way point leading into the goods sidings. 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob' and 37423 depart with the 14.55 Norwich to Lowestoft on 23rd April 2019. Photo: Alan Jones.
On a scorching hot 9th June 1984, English Electric Class 37 No. 37075 snakes over the crossovers at Reedham Junction as it comes off the single line from Yarmouth with the empty stock of the 11.56 (SO) from Liverpool Street. This loco had worked in to Norwich on the Summer Saturday working from Newcastle and then later in the day took this working from Norwich to Yarmouth and back again. One wonders why such a capacity for telegraph lines was required at this remote country junction! Photo: Stewart Jolly.
Reedham Swing Bridge
The view from Holly Farm Road over the River Yare and across the Broads at Reedham has enduring appeal, all the more since the 1904-built Reedham Swing Bridge signal box has survived the recent re-signalling campaign. On August 20th 2019, Anglia Class 170 No. 170202 crosses the Swing Bridge at 20 mph with the 07.35 Lowestoft-Norwich. In a typical year, the bridge opens around 1300 times. Photo: Alan Jones.
The trackbed of the former East curve at Reedham can be seen going off to the right, as Stadler unit 755418 eases gently round from Reedham Junction to the Swing Bridge with the 14.05 Norwich to Lowestoft on 20th August 2019. Photo: Alan Jones.
A view along the Up line from Reedham Swing Bridge box on February 15th 2024, showing the inch or two difference in rail height between the bridge rails and the viaduct rails when the wedges are removed. Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.
Seen from the signal box on a Signalling Record Society visit on February 15th 2024, Reedham Swing Bridge is in action. Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.
Following re-signalling of the Wherry Lines under Colchester Power Box, both Reedham and Somerleyton Swing Bridge boxes were retained to operate the bridges but with much reduced signalling functionality. At Reedham Swing Bridge, seen on February 15th 2024, only five levers in the 12-lever frame remain in use. From left-to-right these are: No.1 Bridge Bolts, No. 2 Bridge Release, No. 3 Latch Lock, No.6 Down Lowestoft (slotted with Colchester's YL8353) and No. 10 Up Lowestoft (slotted with Colchester's YL8356). Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.
Reedham Swing Bridge's signal box diagram following re-signalling of the Wherry Lines and bringing under Colchester Power Box. The track layout at Reedham is much reduced and the Swing Bridge box controls only two signals: RB6 on the Down Lowestoft line which is slotted with Colchester's YL8353 and RB10 on the Up Lowestoft line which is slotted with Colchester's YL8356. Both of these signals protect the bridge and give the Swing Bridge signaller the ability to stop rail traffic over the bridge if required. 15th February 2024. Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.
Crossing Reedham Swing Bridge on February 15th 2024. GB Railfreight's 66707 'Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway' heads 6P52, the 12.13 Whitemoor to Lowestoft ballast empties over the River Yare. Sir Sam Fay was General Manager of the Great Central Railway from 1902 until Grouping in 1923 when it became part of the LNER. He was a dynamic and visionary leader who advanced the GCR significantly in these glory years. Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.
Reedham Swing Bridge is rotated by a steel hawser attached to the underneath of the bridge and driven by a winch mechanism below the signal box. The clutch that engages the drive mechanism is controlled manually by movement of the lever at the bottom of the photograph, and relies on the experience of the signaller to judge its engagement. 15th February 2024. Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.
Seen on 15th February 2024, these five indicators show the status of Reedham Swing Bridge and its fixings. From left to right, the 'bolts' are on land at each end and lock the bridge in position, and are either 'in' or 'out'. When closing the bridge, 'latches' catch and hold the bridge as it closes and are 'out' when operating and 'in' when not. The 'wedges', which support the ends of the two bridge halves at the centre of the bridge are either 'under' the bridge or 'out'. 'Bridge Home' indicates whether the bridge is in its home position, and can therefore carry rail traffic, or not, so is either 'Home' or at danger (red). The 'Ends' indicator shows whether the outer ends of the bridge are 'down' (i.e. at rail level and can carry rail traffic) or not, in which case they are at danger (red). Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.
The deck of Reedham Swing Bridge, like Somerleyton, is split into halves that pivot about transverse girders at the quarter and three-quarter points along the bridge. Heavy steel wedges slide under the two ends at the bridge centre and when out, the two bridge halves drop slightly at the centre, lifting up at the bridge ends by a few inches and freeing them to rotate. This wheel controls the sliding of the wedges in and out of the bridge halves at the centre of the bridge. Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.
A large electronic display of the bridge status is shown to river traffic at Reedham Swing Bridge and is controlled from the Swing Bridge Box by this laptop. On the left hand side are some standard messages which can be selected ('Bridge Open' is currently in use) whilst the centre panel allows free text to be entered. The displayed message is repeated on the right hand side for confirmation. 15th February 2024. Photo: Alan Jones/Signalling Record Society, courtesy Network Rail.