“Railways to the Coast” by Tony Kirby

The earliest railways to the coast were built for freight rather than passenger traffic but companies soon realised there was a potentially lucrative passenger market.  This talk examines both aspects from the 1840s to the present day.  Freight by rail has vanished from some once important ports eg Wisbech whilst others eg Felixstowe originate heavy flows.  Likewise the development of holiday and excursion traffic is illustrated with the GWR’s promotion of Cornwall and the NER’s of Scarborough through to a zenith in the 1950’s and then subsequent decline.