This cache celebrates the former railway station at Stoke Ferry. On 1 August 1882 a privately owned branch line called the Downham and Stoke Ferry Railway, with the support of the Great Eastern Railway, was opened with departures from Stoke Ferry to Downham Market for passenger and freight services. The line, just over 7 miles in length, was bought by GER in 1898. Below is an early 20th century postcard showing what Stoke Ferry station used to look like over 100 years ago:
As the use of motor vehicles increased in the early 20th Century, so the passenger service declined and on 22 September 1930 it was discontinued. However, freight traffic continued until 1965 when the railway finally closed for good.This is what the station buildings looked like in about 1975:
This aerial map and overhead view shows the old terminus station and the position of the goods shed and station buildings (cache position in relation to the old station marked as X):
Apparently, full planning permission for the old and disused railway buildings to be converted into residential dwellings was given in 2005 but nothing much has happened since this time. The following two images show the state of the station buildings and the goods shed in December 2018, still awaiting development:
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