Maldon's Railways - Maldon East & Heybridge Station and Maldon West Station
Maldon was fortunate to have two railway stations, the first which later became known as Maldon East and subsequently as Maldon East and Heybridge railway station. This station was situated on the northeast side of Station Road, Maldon, and commenced operations on 20th October 1848, while Maldon West railway station was positioned on the southern side of Spital Road, Maldon, and opened on 1st October 1889. Maldon East and Heybridge served as a terminus station at the end of two branch lines originating from Witham and Woodham Ferrers via Maldon West. The station initially featured a goods shed and a two-road engine shed. Adjacent to the station building was a turntable, along with sidings that catered to the Blackwater Canal and the river wharf. In 1889, a second bay platform was introduced. The station building at Maldon exemplifies impressive Victorian railway architecture. This is attributed to the 1847 election, during which the prospective MP, David Waddington, who was the vice-chair of the Eastern Counties Railway, sought to gain favor with his constituents.
Many local residents found work during the railway's construction, and an investigation following the election revealed that some of these individuals were not adequately qualified for the jobs they were compensated for. The station building was designed in the Jacobean style, featuring a spacious booking hall, waiting rooms, and a ticket office on the ground floor. The upper level housed the station master’s apartments, accessible via a winding staircase from the booking hall. Initially, the single platform was partially covered by a glass roof; however, this was removed following an explosion of an engine boiler that caused considerable damage.
The Witham branch was part of a project aimed at connecting Braintree, known as "the granary of Essex," with its historical port at Maldon. This initiative commenced in 1845 as a direct route from Braintree, rather than the two branches that were ultimately constructed. It quickly encountered financial difficulties and was acquired by the Eastern Counties Railway, which was eager to eliminate any competition for its own operations. This occurred even before construction began. Work commenced in March 1847, with the first goods trains operating in August 1848, followed by the commencement of passenger services on 20th October of the same year. In 1862, the Eastern Counties Railway was absorbed by the Great Eastern Railway (GER).
Maldon's Railways - Maldon East & Heybridge Station and Maldon West Station continued
Initially, the station was named Maldon; however, following the inauguration of the Maldon West line on 1 October 1889, it was renamed Maldon East. During this period, a 50-foot diameter turntable, produced by Ransomes & Rapier of Ipswich, was installed, and a second platform was constructed to the west of the station building. In 1907, the station underwent another name change to Maldon East and Heybridge, as its location is equidistant between the two. In 1958, Diesel Railbuses began operating the line to Witham with an enhanced schedule, and in 1959, services were made more frequent. Unfortunately, this was too late, as the growth of road transport and more affordable competing bus services resulted in the Witham branch serving only 400 passengers daily. It is believed that by 1959, the engine shed had closed, as no steam locomotives were utilizing the branch. The line was marked for closure in the Beeching Report, and despite local campaigners' efforts, the final passenger train operated on Sunday 6th September 1964. Freight services continued, primarily for gravel and fruit traffic, until 18th April 1966.
The second, Maldon West railway station was established to serve the west of the town of Maldon but was connected to Maldon East and subsequently as Maldon East and Heybridge station via a branch. It commenced operations on 1 October 1889, initiated by the Great Eastern Railway on a branch line connecting Woodham Ferrers to Maldon. The station was temporarily closed in 1916 due to World War I but was reopened as a halt in 1919.
Passenger services at the station were permanently discontinued in September 1939 due to World War II. After the war, the line remained operational for freight transport; however, it was entirely shut down in 1953 due to nationalisation. The lines subsequently became part of the Eastern Region of British Railways. The goods yard at Maldon West remained functional, connecting with Maldon East, but ultimately ceased operations in 1959, with the tracks being removed a few years thereafter. The tunnel was filled, and the goods yard was transformed into an industrial estate. One shed still exists, and the brick wall on the bridge remains intact. Up until the late 1980s, both the north and south entrances of the tunnel were visible, and remnants of the platforms remained, but the entire area is now situated beneath the A414 the Maldon Bypass.
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