Route of Woodham Ferrers and Maldon railway line (EHER 48655)

The Woodham Ferrers and Maldon Railway was opened in 1889, but was barely viable during its history. Maldon West closed in 1916-19 as an economy measure. In 1933 the whole line was reduced to a single line. All passenger stations closed in 1939, although goods traffic continued until 1953, only a freight link between Maldon East and Maldon West remaining until 1959, by which time the rest of the line had been demolished.

In the 1860s a branch railway line from Maldon to Woodham Ferrers was suggested, but it was not until 1st October 1889, the same date as the completion of the branch to Southend, that the line opened, joining up just east of Woodham Ferrers with the Southminster branch which had opened just four months earlier. The original Maldon terminus, built in 1847/8 possibly by Henry A. Hunt, architect to Eastern Counties Railway, was renamed Maldon East (suffixed Heybridge in 1907) while a new station Maldon West was built in the cutting immediately north of the Maldon to Woodham Mortimer (Chelmsford) road. The track necessitated engineering a long cutting and one tunnel (66 yards, 21metres long under the Chelmsford road) to the southwest of Maldon TL843064, and a long and deep cutting at the approach to and at Cold Norton TL849004. Major engineering works were necessary to bridge the river Chelmer (by a bowstring viaduct) and the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation (by iron bridges). From Maldon West to Maldon East the track was double. Continuity with the lines to Southend and to Witham without the need for reversing the engine was achieved by triangular loops south of Wickford and north of Maldon. The Woodham Ferrers to Maldon line now provided a passenger link, without changing trains, from Colchester, Witham, Maldon to Southend, but a direct passenger service existed only until 28th February 1895 due to lack of demand. The Wickford south curve and the Maldon north curve to the Witham branch were abolished in that year. In 1914 the number of passenger trains was reduced from seven to five a day. Troop movements were helped by the line but Maldon West was closed for three years during the Great War, reopening in 1919. The Baron’s Lane Halt was opened on 10th July 1922 in the hope of attracting passengers from Purleigh. The London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) took ownership from GER in 1923, and reduced the double track between the two Maldon stations to single. On 24th September 1928 the Stow St. Mary Halt was opened south of Stow Maries. “Specials” were run for children's outings to Southend, and, while some significant traffic came in and out of Maldon East from the Witham and Braintree line, the Woodham Ferrers branch was commercially less successful and the passenger service ceased in September 1939. During the Second World War, trains took troops to the encampment on Osea Island, and served the timber mill making motor torpedo boats and fishing boats at Maldon. With the nationalisation of the railways, the lines were taken over by British Railways (Eastern Region) in 1948. After the war, a goods train between Woodham and Maldon ran once a day until 1st April 1953 when the line closed completely. Maldon West station had been used for warehousing by Marconi’s, and the station link to Maldon East was ended finally in 1959 with the rails being lifted the following year. The station at Maldon East continued its link with Witham and Braintree. The central span of the viaduct bowstring bridge and Lovers Lane footbridge on the Woodham Ferrers line were demolished in May 1965. Maldon West station was demolished in 1969 and light industry developed on the site of the Goods Yard, with reuse of the Goods Shed. The Maldon West tunnel under the Woodham Mortimer road was blocked at both ends. The line of the Maldon Curve is still identifiable having been replaced by the Maldon West bypass (A414). The Chelmer viaduct demolished in July 1989 was replaced by a steel bridge 6 feet lower for the western road bypass which opened in October 1990. The building of the new town of South Woodham Ferrers from 1970s obliterated the track to Cold Norton and Maldon here. The line of the former track along parts of its length is marked by cuttings, embankments and bridges. Much is now in private hands. The track can be reached only where it crosses roads or has public access. The length of the line was c.8.7 miles. <1> Information from NRHE: The Woodham Ferrers and Maldon Railway was opened in 1889, but was barely viable during its history. Maldon West closed in 1916-19 as an economy measure. In 1933 the whole line was reduced to a single line. All passenger stations closed in 1939, although goods traffic continued until 1953, only a freight link between Maldon East and Maldon West remaining until 1959, by which time the rest of the line had been demolished. <2>