大象传媒

When I was still quite a baby I was aware of the trains coming and going through Beccles station and as I grew older I learned that the railway station then was a very busy station. It was a junction for the line from Beccles to London Liverpool Street, the lines to Yarmouth and Lowestoft and of course the dear little Waveney Valley line at it was then a single line through to Tivetshall taking in Ditchingham and Bungay station.
The war was still on when I started school. Although we didn't know it it was coming to an end with the D-Day landings. Beccles station was a very busy place with soldiers, sailors and airmen coming home on the train then having to go back after their leave as far as I can remember. My Uncle, Frank Barker, was an engine driver and a man from London whose nickname was "Blue" because he got the trains there in record time, sometimes too fast.
The men who worked at the railway station as well as the duties they had to do they took pride in their station with pretty flowers and regular coats of paint. Two of the porters I remember were Mr. Rice, Mr. Reginal Stannard. Uncle Charlie Dise was the Guardsman on the Great Yarmouth line.
During the war all the trains carriages were blacked out and there were no lights on the station, they all had lanterns. There was a lovely Booking Hall and Waiting Room and Goods Office. A chocolate machine but of course no chocolate during the war. A platform ticket machine which was a penny. They clipped it when you went on and collected it when you came off.
The main signal boss was Mr. Cyril Pettinigil who had a miniature allotment at the bottom of the signal box when he was off duty.
After the war the station was still a very busy place what with trains from London Liverpool St., Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and of course the little branch line the Waveney but we were beginning to hear rumours that the little line was being closed. I don't know when but a chap called Dr. Beeching was rearing his authority but it was true and when the line closed it made its last journey back from Tivetshall calling at all the stations, Geldeston included. If I have left out any stations I do apologise. Anyway when It did arrive at Beccles the little Puffing Billy was draped with a black scarf and sheet and there were pall bearers to meet her and crowds of people outside the station, myself included,and Mum and Dad. Babs and Peter (still young) were there and it was paraded all round the town calling at pubs on their way no doubt because of the heavy burden they carried. I can't remember where the engines went but I expect to some railway museum.
After that at future dates the Yarmouth from Beccles line was closed and there were fears for the station once so I believe but Beccles fought to keep their station which is only a halt now but I hear it is going to look up again as the line to Ipswich is going to be improved and local people have been invited to take an interest in their station with flowers and a coat of paint.
But I don't think it will ever be the same without the wonderful steam engines. We had all the Britannias through there and including "Britannia" herself and also the "Flying Scotsman". There was also a WH Smith shop on the station platform.
My brother Peter was and still is mad on steam engines and this story is dedicated to him.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Michael Huskisson of Suffolk Libraries on behalf of Maureen Ruth Hurren and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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