PHOTO GALLERY: MIDLAND & GREAT NORTHERN JOINT RAILWAY

Massingham

OPENED: 1895 CLOSED: 1962

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The Midland & Great Northern Railway was a joint operation owned by, not surprisingly the Midland Railway and the Great Northern Railway. It was a deliberate but costly attempt to infiltrate Great Eastern territory.

Whilst at first glance Massingham (seen here, rather derelict, long after closure) is a perfectly standard example of the Midland’s 1884 design (see Bolsover) there is one significant difference. The base of the cabin is built in stone, when the Midland generally used all-wood construction.

It is located on the former Eastern & Midlands Railway (taken over by the Midland & Great Northern Railway in 1893) between Lynn and Fakenham. The box was not actually original to the line, but erected in 1895. It was originally all-wood in the usual Midland style, but underwent reconstruction in 1920 with a new base.

Massingham lived a peaceful existence, controlling a crossing loop, level crossing and single goods yard connection from a 20-lever frame, through to closure of the line in 1962.

Although in poor condition when I photographed the box in 1979, the box was accurately restored by the owner of the property, the late Mr John P Blows, who had retired to the property in 1981. This picture shows the work he had carried out so to make the signal box loved again.

The property has since passed to a new owner.