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Lowestoft Online > Community > Strictly Lowestoft > History Closet > Topic: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road
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Author Topic: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road  (Read 1721 times)
frankiesays
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Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Posted: 03 March 2011 at 09:35 PM »
I took my father out for a drive around the town just before he died last year and we came down Colville Road and turned into Dell Road. He told me that there used to be an underground railway that took clay which was dug from the back of dell Road to a pottery or something that was situated where the old Harper's pit is. I guess it was before they dug it out. I'd never heard about this before. I think it was when he was a child and he was born in 1927 - anybody know anything about it? Is the tunnel still there under the houses?
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frankiesays
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #1 Posted: 10 March 2011 at 09:30 PM »
It looks as if nobody knows anything about this subject. Interestingly paulears included this old map image in a different posting, it clearly shows that there was a kiln in the Dell rd/Colville rd area which would suggest that there may have been clay diggings nearby?
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #2 Posted: 10 March 2011 at 09:34 PM »
Perhaps we can open it up and have it as a commuting line to stop getting stuck at the bridge Smiley Interesting none the less Smiley
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funkychick
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #3 Posted: 10 March 2011 at 09:41 PM »
Sorry no ones got anything for you Frankie but still suggest you speak to the archive section of the library if anyone knows they will
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morty1753
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #4 Posted: 10 March 2011 at 09:55 PM »
Ivan Bunn in the records office will be the person to talk to. I have never yet had a question he could not answer regarding the history of Lowestoft.
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malcolm
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #5 Posted: 10 March 2011 at 10:08 PM »
I have some old maps of the town and will look them up. A couple dating from the turn of the 20th century and some a bit later.
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paulsmith
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #6 Posted: 01 April 2011 at 11:42 AM »
I would love to see some photos of the railway - lowestoft harbour  / kirkley branch.

If anyone has any please can they post them.
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Dave01
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #7 Posted: 01 April 2011 at 01:06 PM »
There is a very good book, full of maps and photographs you may have seen it already?
Branch Lines around Lowestoft - from Yarmouth and Beccles. Richard Adderson and Graham Kenworthy, Middleton Press (15.99) ISBN 978 1 906008 40 6
I had a copy from the library and afterwards bought a copy from Waterstones. I don't think it mentions the underground railway though, but does have some photos along the South Lowestoft (Dell) route.
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frankiesays
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #8 Posted: 02 April 2011 at 12:15 AM »
I can remember when i was a youngster I used to go to my grandparents on a saturday and at around midday used to run to the line gates to see the goods train come through from the co-op sidings. there was always interesting stuff on it from the goods yard. It was never the same when it was replaced by the diesel shunter. I used to be able to hear the steam train shunting during the morning and was interested to see trucks going across the Notley road crossing on their own. The Kirkley line gates were operated by Mrs Wing who lived in the line keepers cottage next to the crossing opposite the Nelson.

The underground railway I referred to in my initial question was apparently taking clay from diggings between Dell Road and Colville Road. I don't know if the trucks were pushed manually or if there was something that pulled them. Apparently there was a pottery there somewhere. There is a kiln marked on an old map in that area. The pottery was said to be near Harpers sandpit but before the sand was dug out.
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paulsmith
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Re: Underground Railway Behind Dell Road « Reply #9 Posted: 04 April 2011 at 08:41 AM »
thanks for the suggestion of the book - will try and find a copy.
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