DMU Operations: Eastern Region
Norwich-Lowestoft
The new timetable on 17 September 1956 saw this local service (and Norwich - Yarmouth) operated by DMUs (Derby Lightweights and Met-Camm Lightweights at this time). Timings were accelerated timings by as much as 10 minutes between Norwich and Yarmouth and Norwich and Lowestoft. The weekday service from Norwich Thorpe began 45 min earlier than previously to Lowestoft Central and 15 minutes earlier to Yarmouth Vauxhall with departures at 6.00am and 6.30am respectively. Between Norwich Thorpe and Reedham the service frequency was approximately 15 min during peaks and at mainly half-hourly periods at other times of the day. This provided thirty-five trains in each direction daily between Norwich Thorpe and Yarmouth Vauxhall and about twenty trains each way between Norwich Thorpe and Lowestoft Central.
The generous even-interval service had a general arrangement of a train from Norwich at 30 minutes past each hour to Yarmouth via Acle; one every two hours at the even hour to Yarmouth via Reedham, with a Lowestoft train on the odd hours, and the whole supplemented at two-hourly intervals by express trains to Lowestoft, calling first at Reedham. This totalled three trains every hour out of Norwich, and similarly in the reverse direction. It also provided good connections with the principal services to and from Liverpool Street, giving a greatly improved service between London and both Yarmouth and Lowestoft. [1]
As the Yellow Diamond "Lightweight" sets were phased out Class 100 and 101s would be used and in time Class 104 and 105s.
Sample Timetables
17th June to 15th September 1957
5" x 7 1/2" when folded
9th June to 14th September 1958
5" x 7 1/2" when folded
15th June to 13th September 1959
5" x 7 1/2" when folded
Images
circa 1970
A hybrid DMU (Met-Camm DMBS / GRC&W DTC) departs Oulton Broad North Station for Norwich around 1970. Although the signal box and semaphore signals remain, the footbridge has long-since gone, as have the crossing gates. Image by Roy Dixon. Kevin Lane Collection.
circa 1974
A six-car formation in Norwich circa 1974; at least two of the three two-car sets are hybrids. Closest is set 74, a Class 101 / 105, behind is a Class 100 / 105. Lowestoft is on the destination blind. John Law.
10th September 1975
On 10 September 1975, E56316, new from the Gloucester railway Carriage and Wagon Company in February 1958, is seen departing Norwich for Lowestoft, coupled to a Metro-Cammell class 101 motor coach probably 51207. The "MON 15" notice refers to the unit's next exam date. Jeremy Chapter.
Unknown date
A Cravens and Met-Camm DMU at Lowestoft on a rainy day at Lowestoft circa early 1970s. Graham Clark.
9th September 1977
GRC&W Class 100 DMBS E51124 is at the front of a DMU formation seen in Lowestoft station forming the 12:26 service to Norwich on 9 September 1977. Robert Thomas.
12th November 1979
Norwich set 68 is a Class 100 DMBS / 105 DTC when seen in Norwich station on the 12th November 1979. Lowestoft is on the destination blind. Steve Davies Collection.
27th April 1980
Having worked from Norwich, a Cravens Class 105 two-car set with Driving Motor Brake Second E51254 at the rear (set 54), was stood at Lowestoft on April 27th 1980. On the left is E51258 (set 59). Martyn Hilbert.
7th July 1981
The 12:29 to Norwich awaiting departure from Lowestoft station on 7 July 1981. It is formed of 56125 + 51271 (set 49) and 56188 + 51270. Stuart Mackay Collection.
29th August 1981
Class 105 DMU set 57 (56458 + 51263) approaches Oulton Broad North on a Norwich - Lowestoft service on 29 August 1981. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Unknown date
Class 101 DMU set 92 heads away from Lowestoft with Norwich on the destination blind, sometime in the 1980s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1983
Class 101 set 98 in Lowestoft station in 1983. Graeme Phillips Collection.
16th July 1983
2-car Met-Camm set 87 departing Norwich on the 16th July 1983, Lowestoft on the destination blind. Shayne Lewis.
18th August 1983
Bufferstop scene at a tidy looking Lowestoft station on 18th August 1983. 31229 has arrived with the daily freight from Norwich, while the Cravens dmu, E51279 + E56440 (set 54) is awaiting departure as the 13.06 to Norwich. Gerard Fletcher.
16th July 1984
Class 101 Metro Cammell 2-car DMU 53210 + 54072 at Norwich with the 12-20 to Lowestoft, 16-7-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
16th July 1984
Class 101 Metro Cammell 2-car DMU with 54072 foremost (and 53210 behind) after arrival at Lowestoft with the 12-20 ex-Norwich on 16-7-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
1st June 1985
Taken from the rear window of a class 101 DMU at Cantley on the Lowestoft to Norwich line, 1st June 1985. Jonathan Hazan.
21st August 1985
Norwich allocated class 101 Metro-Cammell dmu set 89, made up of cars E54089 & E51229 waits at Lowestoft with a Norwich service, still showing a sign literally of its day's as a Tyneside allocated unit. 21st August 1985. Andrew J Crowther.
21st August 1985
My dad and my uncle Norman pose for the camera as they are about to board this Norwich allocated Cravens class 105 dmu E54416 with a Lowestoft - Norwich service. 21st August 1985. Andrew J Crowther.
26th September 1985
Somerleyton on 26th September 1985, and the Class 101 DMU is on a Norwich to Lowestoft service. Jim Ellington.
22nd October 1985
A Class 101 on the 12:20 Lowestoft - Norwich awaits time at Lowestoft (at 12:18) on Tuesday 22nd October 1985. Colin Brooks.
References
- ⋏ "New G.E. Interval service" p527 November 1956 Trains Illustrated