A Cravens DMU arrives at ORWELL, on the Felixstowe branch, with a service to Ipswich.

This was taken by the late Mick Warrell. It isn't quite sharp, but it's the only colour picture that I have ever seen taken at Orwell, which was the station between Trimley and Derby Road. It closed in June 1959, apparently to enable the newly introduced DMUs to complete a round trip on the branch inside one hour. That suggests that the photo was taken c June 1959.

 

I've captioned this as 'a service to Ipswich' but I am wondering if this is correct. The buildings are still standing, and the main station building is on the up platform. Can anyone clarify which way this is going?

 

Knowing the location of the station (I cycled past it today), I doubt it was ever a very busy passenger station anyway, but there is talk once again of re-instating a passing loop here so that Network Rail can get even more freight in and out of the Port of Felixstowe. If they make the loop long enough it might even connect up with the junction at Trimley.....

Done