Station Name: CAPEL[Source: Nick Catford]
Capel Station Gallery 2: 20 April 1962 - c1972 old5.jpg)
The Lockie railtour, actually an add-on to a Liverpool Street - Bentley ramblers' excursion, of 20 April 1962, arrives at a derelict-looking Capel station en route to Hadleigh. The train comprised a number of various types of brake van and open wagons and had commenced at Ipswich Motive Power Depot. The locomotive is Mirrlees-engined Brush Type 2 D5544; later classified as Class 30 she would be given an English Electric engine in July 1968 and reclassified as Class 31. New to service on 28 August 1959, she would survive until January 2000, by then numbered 31126. At the time of the photograph D5544 was an Ipswich locomotive and the relevant (32B) shedplate can be seen fixed to the lower cabside beneath the Brush worksplate. There would have been another shedplate on the No.2 end (No.1 end is facing the camera) and diagonally opposite. The headcode, 2 - 00, was the system in use on the Great Eastern section at the time; in other words the second character was not used. The number '2' denoted a secondary/branch/stopping passenger train, which this train was despite being formed of goods vehicles. The '00' was the route code for the Hadleigh branch. The Great Eastern section introduced the full four-character headcode system in April 1966, and thus it was never to be seen on the Hadleigh branch.
Photo by David Pearson old6.jpg) In this view the Lockie railtour of 20 April 1962 has stopped at Capel station to allow the participants a quick look around. Not many close up, unobstructed photographs of the level crossing gates at Capel exist, and therefore this one is of some interest. Referencing earlier photographs it will be seen that this gate is a replacement and of simpler construction. This crossing was notorious and some effort has gone into making this gate more visible to drivers of road vehicles using the A12. Previously both gates had very large 'Stop' signs fixed to them and at the time of this photograph traffic signals were being installed, apparently of the 'wig wag' type. Capel must have been the only location in Britain with a level crossing protected by both gates and traffic signals. Traffic levels in 1962 very different from today but nevertheless the A12 was a busy road by the standards of the time and carried a large number of lorries. One therefore has to wonder just how many incidents occurred at Capel level crossing to warrant the extra visibility measures. The red disc had a cast metal plate fixed to it, bearing a number which, on a larger version of this image, appears to be '483'. Capel level crossing was one of two on the Hadleigh branch, the other being Church Road, worked by train crew during goods-only days. The gates were chained and padlocked and it is thought the numbers referred to the relevant key and padlock but this is unconfirmed. A further item of interest is the AA (Automobile Association) plate fixed to the gate on the left. Now usually seen mounted only on classic and vintage vehicles, the AA badge first appeared in 1906 and was, then, of brass. Soon afterwards a fairly short-lived cast white-metal version, nickel-plated, appeared. Close examination of a larger version of this image reveals the badge on the gate is one of the white-metal versions. It is also of the style introduced in 1911, with wings, with which the intertwined letters 'AA' also represented the letter 'M', this signifying the merger of the AA with the now-all-but-forgotten Motor Union.
Photo by David Pearson old9.jpg)
As is often the case, once a railway had closed few people bothered to record the demolition or track lifting processes. This photograph purports to show the last train to cross the A12 at Capel but such comments tend to be rather whimsical and should be treated with caution when not backed up with further details. Nevertheless, what we are looking at here is indeed a demolition train. The final booked goods train on the Hadleigh branch ran on Thursday 15 April 1965, with official closure occurring on Monday 19 April 1965. Track lifting is invariably stated as occurring during the same year and judging by the bare trees in the background this photograph dates from either immediately after closure or towards the end of 1965. Given that the track is showing signs of becoming overgrown it is probably towards the end of 1965. The train is too far away to determine any significant details but from what can be seen it does not appear to be equipped for track lifting, so is probably a train sent down the line to recover equipment from Hadleigh prior to actual track lifting, so whether this was the last train to cross the A12 has to, unless further information materialises, remain a mystery. The locomotive, carrying a Class 9 headcode, is from the D5520 - D5562 batch which was a peculiar mix of disc or four-character headcode fitted examples within what became Class 30/31. Unfortunately the identification of the example seen here was another detail which went unrecorded, further hindering the discovery of the train's specific details. On the station, a fire bucket still hangs defiantly while the lady on the platform was perhaps accompanying the photographer. The arched end of the platform canopy will be noted. At first left is what appears to be a form of traffic signal but might actually be part of a gate across the entrance to the goods yard which had closed in 1964.
Photo from James Lake collection 1.jpg)
Capel station looking south-east c1968. The track has been lifted and all evidence of the level crossing has been removed, no doubt much to the delight of passing motorists who will no longer be held up as a goods train slowly negotiates the crossing.
Photo by JL Smith 2.jpg) Capel station looking south-east c1968. Within a few years this view would change out of all recognition as the photographer would be standing in the middle of a dual carriageway.
Photo by JL Smith 3.jpg)
Capel station forecourt and entrance c1972. The porch on the right is the entrance to the station master's house. The small building on the left is the goods shed which was sited at the end of the short goods dock. Note the typical concrete railway gate posts at the entrance from the A12.
Photo
from John Mann collection
4.jpg)
The distinctive station building at Capel with its canted awning providing protection from the weather for passengers waiting on the platform.
Photo from John Mann collection 5.jpg)
Capel station forecourt seen form the goods yard c1972. Note the fencing between the station building and the goods shed. The station master's garden was behind the fence.
Photo from John Mann collection 6.jpg) Capel station looking south-east towards Bentley c1972. The east end of the platform also doubled as a small goods dock running up to the goods shed.
Photo from John Mann collection 7.jpg)
The station building at Capel c1972. Station offices and waiting rooms were on the ground floor with the station master's accommodation above.
Photo
from John Mann collection
|
8.jpg)
Capel station c1972. The building on the right was the goods shed, the entrance between the goods shed and the main building was probably a lamp room.
Home Page