Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway
Blind Lane Bridge
This is bridge 875, the only overbridge on the Kelvedon, Tiptree & Tollesbury Light Railway as the line was often referred to as. Judging by the earthworks this photograph dates from not too long after the line opened, perhaps taken around 1910. The bridge, 4 miles 71 chains from Kelvedon and about 60 chains beyond Tolleshunt Knights station in the Down direction, carries Blind Line over the railway. This view faces towards Tiptree and the camera appears to have exaggerated the curve in the background. The span had been designed to accommodate double track but had this ever been needed quite an amount of work in the cutting would have been necessary and this area was prone to slippage. The bridge, today Engineers Line Reference KET 875, still existed in 2024 but has been infilled as has the cutting in which the photographer stood. In the distance the cutting and trackbed still exists for about a half mile until obliterated by Potters golf course.
Photo
from East Anglian Railway Museum
1922 1:2,500 OS map.
1958 1:10,560 (6") OS map correctly shows the abandoned course of the former railway. Top Road is towards upper left with Blind Lane and its bridge in the approximate centre. The delightfully named Honeypot Lane is public for a short distance from Blind Lane after which it becomes a private road. Depending upon time of year and therefore the amount of foliage it is possible to see Blind Lane bridge from Honeypot Lane. The locality falls under Tolleshunt Knights but the halt of that name is off the map at upper left.
1966 1:25,000 map shows the remaining track, top left, after the line onwards to Tollesbury had been dismantled. The map dates from 1966 but will have been surveyed earlier as by that year the entire line had been dismantled. Tudwick Road Siding can be seen with the remaining track to the site of Tolleshunt Knights station being used as a headshunt. Blind Lane bridge may be seen lower right. Top Road (passing Palmers Farm) crossed the railway via an ungated level crossing while D'Arcy Road, adjacent to Tolleshunt Knights station, had a gated level crossing worked by train crew.
 On 9 April 1910 the 11.18am train from Tollesbury or 11.12am from Tollesbury Pier to Kelvedon passes Blind Lane bridge. The locomotive is Class R24 No. 267. This particular train could run as mixed if required but on this occasion it appears to have been passenger only. It was also one of the workings which only ran to Tollesbury Pier if required, hence the alternative times aforestated. At this time the line had five trains per day of which one was booked to run to Tollesbury Pier regardless, another was booked to run only as far as Tollesbury while the remainder only continued to Pier if required. By 1916 two trains per day ran only as far as Tollesbury with the remainder only continuing to Pier if required; the GER had given up on the Pier extension.
Photo
by Ken Nunn
The east side of Blind Lane bridge seen from the surviving cutting on the east side in October 2019. The bridge has been infilled but the cutting on this side can still be entered. The cutting on the west side has been infilled. The trackbed around the bridge is owned by Russell Galpin and should not be entered without his permission.
Photo
by Derek Voler
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Close view of the infilled bridge seen from the east side in 2020.
Photo
by Keith Mills
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The infilled bridge on the east side in June 1920.
Photo
by Chris Cyan
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Looking across Blind Lane bridge looking south in October 2021.
Photo
by Rob Wisdom
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updated: Saturday, 04-Jan-2025 17:04:04 CET |
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Looking north across Blind Lane bridge in 2023.
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