Disused Stations: Saffron Walden Station

Saffron Walden Station Gallery 2 1956 - 1964

A push-and-pull service from Bartlow is seen at Saffron Walden station July 1956. The yard crane with a capacity of 1 ton 10 cwt is seen at the end of the goods dock. Another two-car push-and-pull set is seen in the goods siding.
Copyright photo by HC Casserley

A push-and-pull service for Audley End is awaiting departure from Saffron Walden station in July 1956. The loco is a G4 67279, an 0-4-4T built to a Wordsell design for the North Eastern Railway at Darlington works. It was originally numbered 1882, initially retaining that number under the LNER; it was later renumbered 7279. A ‘6’ prefix was added after Nationalisation. At this time it was allocated to 31A Cambridge shed from where it was withdrawn in November 1956 to be cut up at Stratford works. None of the G5s survived into preservation. However, the Class G5 Locomotive Company Limited has been formed to build a brand new G5 for use on preservation lines primarily in the north-east. The cattle dock and pens are seen on the left. Note the gas light on a cast iron standard. Another is seen on the cattle dock with a further one adjacent to the engine shed road. The foundry siding is
seen opposite the station.
Copyright photo by HC Casserley

Looking west from South Road bridge towards Saffron Walden station c1950s. Saffron Walden had a complex network of sidings. The centre line could either be used by freight trains bypassing the platform or as a run-round loop. The foundry siding is seen on the left with the main goods yard beyond the station on the right. The purpose of the open-fronted shelter near the end of the platform is unknown; it seems unnecessarily long for a bicycle shed.
Photo from Jim Lake collection

The east end of the goods dock was a popular view point for photographers. Here is another view looking north-east from the dock; a railbus waits in the platform. Diesel railbuses replaced steam on 7 July 1958. Five (E79960 - 64) were ordered from Wagon und Masshienenbau in Germany for branch lines where passenger numbers were extremely low. Most of the lines worked by the railbuses were closed as part of the Beeching cuts, as a result, all the vehicles were withdrawn in 1967. Four of the five have survived into preservation.
Photo by David Pearson

Cattle being loaded onto a freight train at Saffron Walden in April 1961. The cattle are being taken to Bodmin in Cornwall, along with the rest of the farmer's equipment and stock. British Railways, like its predecessors, offered a farm removal service. It transported livestock, equipment, farmers and their families when they moved. However, by the 1960s the number of animals being transported by rail was in decline due to competition from the roads, and services ceased in the 1980s.
Photo from National Railway Museum and SPPL

Tractors have been loaded onto flat bed railway wagons at the Saffron Walden goods dock ready for transporting to Bodmin in April 1961.
Photo from National Railway Museum and SPPL

A Wagon und Masshienenbau diesel railbus waits at Saffron Walden station c early 1960s.

Looking south-east along Saffron Walden station platform in the 1960s. An unusual train stands in the foundry siding. It appears to be made up of old steam loco tenders (possibly Stanier tenders). The coach is ex-LMS and maybe an early weed killing train, perhaps the product of Derby or
Crewe works. Any thoughts?

Copyright photo from Tony Harden collection

Looking south-west from South Road overbridge in 1963. Diesel railbus E79960 stands in the station. An 0-6-0 Class 03 diesel shunter D2003 is seen in the foundry siding. Classes 03 and 04 were among BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 locomotives, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works between 1957 and 1962. D2003 was withdrawn from Hither Green TMd in June 1969. Although the engine shed at Saffron Walden was closed in July 1958 it was used by the diesel shunter when resting between shunting duties.

The planned station building at Saffron Walden was already larger than would normally be provided for a station serving a town of that size. The contractor had intended to build a station house in Debden Road, overlooking the station. The company directors were adamant, however, that the stationmaster must have his accommodation at the station, so this rather grand two-storey building in white brick was erected. The building is 'H' shaped with two gable ends facing onto the concourse and two onto the platform. The stationmaster lived on the upper floor. This view dates from April 1963.
Copyright photo from Tony Harden collection

Crowds gather on the station for the arrival of the last train on 6 September 1964. Unusually railbus E79963 returned to Cambridge empty. Although now closed to passengers it was another 1½ months before the station closed to all traffic.