DMU Operations: Eastern Region
Norwich-Yarmouth
There are two routes for this service, one via Reedham (the Norwich to Reedham section was also operated by Norwich - Lowestoft services), the other via Acle. The Yarmouth terminus was originally known as Yarmouth Vauxhall, the Vauxhall was later dropped and the station became Great Yarmouth although by this time destination blinds just had Yarmouth.
DMU used were any of the types allocated to Norwich depot.
The first DMUs used were Derby Lightweights beginning on 30th May (Whit-Monday) 1955[1], a time when Norwich had just two sets delivered.
The new timetable on 17 September 1956 saw all these local services (and Norwich - Lowestoft) 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 the weekday service from Norwich Thorpe began 15 minutes earlier to Yarmouth Vauxhall at 6.30am. With 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, 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. 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. [2]
Sample Timetables
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
July 1958
Acle looking west with a Yarmouth Vauxhall-Norwich Thorpe service made up of a Derby Lightweight DMU + other set(s) and a 2-car Met-Cam Lightweight DMU (first car E79282) on a Norwich Thorpe-Yarmouth Vauxhall train, July 1958. Russell Walker Collection.
circa late 1960
A Met-Camm "Lightweight" on a Norwich - Yarmouth service crossing a river a couple of miles out of Norwich Thorpe. This image appeared in the March 1961 Eastern Region edition of the British Railways staff magazine. GH Mapleston.
Unknown date
A Met-Camm Lightweight unit making a stop at Lingwood. Undated. With Yarmouth on the destination blind, this is probably a Norwich-Yamouth service. Steve Davies Collection.
14th November 1970
DMU leaving Yarmouth Vauxhall on November 14, 1970. The 14.47 to Norwich is passing the signalbox on a drizzly November day. The extensive carriage sidings can be seen in the distance. Closest is Class 101 DTCL E56364, furthest is Class 100 E51115. Tom Burnham.
circa 1971
A Cravens set at Norwich circa 1971. Its destination is displayed as "Yarmouth". John Law.
November 1971
A Class 105 / 100 hybrid DMU at Reedham in November 1971 with a service heading to Yarmouth. Graeme Phillips Collection.
circa 1972
Cravens set 35 enters Acle circa 1972. With "Yarmouth" on the destination blind this is presumably a Norwich-Yarmouth service. John Law.
Unknown date
The driver has grabbed the tablet on the departure from Reedham station on the the route to Great Yarmouth via Berney Arms, date unknown. Some East Anglia DMU types had rubber pads fitted behind the drivers door to soften the blow where the tablet swung back and hit the bodywork. A Met-Camm DMBS is at the front, but roof details tell us it is paired with a Cravens DTC and working with another Cravens driver trailer set. Steve Davies Collection.
1975
Class 100 set 69 at Norwich in 1975 with a Yarmouth service. The DMBS is presumably 51120, the DTC seems to have window bars (from time spent at South Gosforth). John Law.
March 1976
Cravens local passenger Class 105 2-car Norwich dmu Set 31, in Rail Blue livery with all-yellow front ends, at Brundall on a Norwich - Reedham - Yarmouth (Vauxhall) service, 03/76. Hugh Llewelyn.
April 1976
Ex-GER Yarmouth (Vauxhall) station, with a Cravens Class 105 2-car dmu on a Norwich (Thorpe) service, 04/76. Hugh Llewelyn.
April 1976
Ex-GER Yarmouth (Vauxhall) station, with a Cravens Class 105 2-car dmu on a Norwich (Thorpe) service in April 1976. Hugh Llewelyn.
9th September 1977
Class 104 DTSL E56188 leads a Cravens DMBS into Yarmouth Vauxhall station with the 14:10 service from Norwich on 9 September 1977. The station pilot on the left is 03 086. Robert Thomas.
10th March 1979
GRC&W/Cravens hybrid set 74 departs from Yarmouth Vauxhall with the 1.50pm to Norwich (via Acle) service on March 10, 1979. Michael Mensing.
10th March 1979
DMBS E51289 leads Cravens DMU set 44 (with DTCL E56468) past the fuelling point on its departure from Norwich with a Yarmouth service on 10 March 1979. Michael Mensing.
10th March 1979
Cravens Class 105 DMU set 44, formed E56468 + E51289, in Norwich station with a Yarmouth service on 10 March 1979. Michael Mensing.
10th March 1979
Cravens Class 105 DMU set 44 (E56468 + E51289) arrives at Acle with a Yarmouth - Norwich service on 10 March 1979. Michael Mensing.
10th March 1979
Cravens Class 105 DMU set 56 in Acle station with a Yarmouth train on 10 March 1979. Michael Mensing.
10th March 1979
Norwich-based Cravens DMU set 56 at Brundall station with a Yarmouth service on 10 March 1979. Michael Mensing.
10th March 1979
Norwich-allocated Cravens Class 105 DMU set 48 in Yarmouth Vauxhall station with the 14:24 to Norwich on 10 March 1979. The DMBS (closest) is unknown, the DTC is E56467. Michael Mensing.