Thuxton Station
Norfolk Railway

Station History:

Thuxton Station was built in 1845 by the Norfolk railway as part of the route from Norwich to Dereham, later being extended to Wells and subsequently Kings Lynn.

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Initially the line was double track with up and down platforms. The station house with booking hall was on the down side with a waiting room and toilets. There was also a brake goods store. This was a secure lock up to hold parcels and small consignments that arrived in the brake van on a passenger train to be stored until collected/delivered as there was no goods shed in the yard.

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All of these still exist but are in private hands having been converted to a private dwelling when the railway ceased using them sometime in the late sixties. There was a small goods yard with a single siding and a head shunt at the Dereham end. Indeed, the loading gauge can still be seen sitting isolated in the undergrowth.

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On the up side there was a waiting room with gents and ladies toilet identical to that on the down side. This was demolished sometime in the late sixties when the railway was rationalised and mostly singled. The platforms were shortened a little earlier probably around the time of dieselisation in 1962 as the platform will hold a long underframe 2-car Diesel Multiple Unit. Passenger services ceased in October 1969, but line continued to remain open for freight until 1989.

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The MNR took over the line in 1995 and since then have reconstructed the station to become a passing place. The upside platform was uncovered from a mass of brambles and undergrowth and lengthened, a little more than originally. A replacement building has been recreated with a few additions to make it more usable to the railway in its current form as we have no staff facilities or ticket office. Platform lighting has been installed but this is currently being modified.

The signal box was originally at the north end of the up platform, but this has now been reconstructed as the south end to cover the operation of the crossing and to serve as a block post for signalling purposes.

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The station is currently undergoing some alterations, but this is hoped to be largely completed soon. We just ask visitors and customers to be aware of this and apologise for the inconvenience whilst building work is underway. Work has been mainly done by our members/ volunteers, who are wanting to complete the work to a high standard that is sympathetic to a typical 1960s country station in East Anglia.

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Written by B Smith, August 2025