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Holt Station
When the original Holt Station was
opened on 1st October, 1884, it was a timber- built
structure which had been the original Yarmouth Beach
station, provided with a platform of sleepers. The 5
mile extension from Melton Constable had taken four
difficult and expensive years: even then the line
included gradients of 1 in 80 and 1 in 90. The platforms
were along the line of the present day bypass, level
with where Thaxter’s Timber Yard is today. The road from
Hempstead passed over the line at the eastern end of the
platforms, the line being protected by level crossing
gates.
Two years later this first station was
replaced by an Eastern & Midlands Railway pavilion type
structure in brick- this looked like an early version of
the Weybourne building. This station was in its turn
destroyed by fire in 1926, and replaced in concrete- by
then a successful William Marriott / M&GN speciality.
The signal box from the station was rescued after
closure and is now in use at
Weybourne.
In 1982 work began on the reinstatement of the line from
Weybourne towards Holt. The site of the Poppy Line Holt
Station was originally a cutting which had to be filled
in by the volunteers before work could commence on the
new station- a mammoth undertaking in itself. Seven
years later the first trains ran into a brand new
platform. This is now platform 2. The M&GN style waiting
shelter was added in 1992.
There have been several plans for a proper station on
the site, some including provision for through trains
should the opportunity arise.
In 2000 the Station building at Stalham became available
from the County Council and a team spent the following
winter dismantling it and transporting it to Holt. The
new station was opened in time for the 2005 season. The
attention to detail is clear right down to the Bakelite
telephones and light fittings. For cad drawing
Click here.
For raster file drawing (low quality)
Click here
 Behind the new platform (platform 1) is a replica of an
M&GN goods shed that originally stood at Thursford.
It was intended to re-erect the original building,
however, the hard cement mortar prevented this, the
building is from inside and out a faithful copy with
modern insulation subtlety concealed within the
structure and with an additional small boiler room added
to the front and a covered area to the side typical of
several such added structures to be found on the M&GN.
It now houses the
William Marriott Museum.
At the Sheringham end of the platform stands a Midland
Railway style signalbox, relocated from Portland Sidings
near Mansfield. Completion of the restoration is planned
for 2008 and the box will operate signals and points at
Holt.
 Further towards Sheringham can be seen a
new M&GN style water tower in the style of one that
stood at Norwich City station.
Very soon Holt station will present a vibrant demonstration of a
typical country station complete with its accompanying
goods yard facilities.
As part of the North Norfolk Railway's
Education role, Holt also hosts the "Railway Institute",
where children can experience living history. This
experience will be enhanced by the railway cottage
currently (July 2010) under construction. For PDF
file of the carriage and lean to as it will be
Click here.
The carriage is a Great Eastern Railway
five compartment all third number 524 built July 1899 as
part of batch 519-702 and withdrawn from railway service
in May 1928, before the number 6631 allocated by the
LNER had been applied. In 1911 numbers
703 to 712 were converted into seconds.
For the education department:
http://www.poppylineducation.com/ContactUs.htm
Holt station has its own support group
website
Click here
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