The surviving section of the North Norfolk
Railway was originally built by the Eastern
& Midlands Railway, and began to run trains in 1887. For
many years the line saw prosperity, carrying considerable numbers
of passengers and a large amount of freight. Apart from being
absorbed by the Midland & Great Northern Railway in 1893, it
saw very little change for its first half century.
As with many of Britain's secondary routes, its freight traffic
began to decline from the late 1930s and passenger numbers also
dwindled in the years after the Second World War. Under British
Rail much of the line was earmarked for closure even before the
infamous Beeching Report - and services were cancelled on the
majority of the route in 1959. The last trains to operate along any
part of the line ceased in 1964. These closures had been very
unpopular with local residents, and so a preservation society was
formed even before the final trains were cancelled. Many people
believed that the line could be run as a local 'people's railway' -
and that the idyllic scenery of the Norfolk Broads would ensure
that many visitors would also use the line.
Restoring the North Norfolk Railway took a lot
of perseverance, but in 1976 it was finally able to re-open to
passengers as a heritage line. It proved to be very popular, and
was soon given the nickname 'the Poppy Line', thanks to the many
flowers the line passes on its scenic route. Having retained the
nickname to this day, the pretty line continues to go from strength
to strength.
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