Soham
Click images to enlarge
The
need for a railway in Soham was being discussed by Sohams businessmen
in the early 1840's, when they were complaining that it would be
cheaper to transport goods by rail, as transporting by water was more
expensive. John Dobede one of Sohams leading figures is recorded to
have chaired meetings from 1846 to the late 1850's to discuss proposals
for a railway connection to Ely. The railway finally came to Soham in
1879 when the Ely to Newmarket line was built, and was officially
opened on the 1st September 1879, A station was then built close to the
Soham Lode, beyond the junction of Clay Street and the present day
Station Road, The Anchor Public House near the Station was renamed in
1883 The Station Hotel, now a home for the elderly, The Station was
destroyed on the 2nd June 1944, when a train carrying explosives caught
fire and blew up, killing James Nightall the fireman and Frank Bridges
the signalman, it was estimated that 761 buildings were damaged, 13 of
them beyond repair, 153 seriously damaged and 595 less drastically
affected, a temporary station was put up in its place.
A more
detailed description of the railway disaster can be found in our
history section, entitled The War Incident at Soham, June 2nd 1944,
copied from an original publication.
On
the 3rd September 1964, it was reported in the newspapers that the
passenger train services on the 13 mile Ely to Newmarket line will be
withdrawn on January 4th next year, British railway announced that the
withdrawal will involve the closure of Soham and Fordham Stations.
A
further report dated 17th July 1965 says, The Minister of Transport has
consented to the withdrawal of the passenger train service between Ely
and Newmarket, and the closure of Soham and Fordham Stations, Buses
will be available instead, The railway line is
still in use
today, but no station exists, although some local residents are trying
to get it reopened for passenger use.
The
two photos either side show the Station in its hey day. The Railway
station contained two waiting rooms, the ladies and the gentlemens,
large open fireplaces, and a goods yard etc.
The
signal box after it was no longer needed ended up at Whipsnade Zoo,
then later at the Colne Valley Railway, the last known resting place
for the signal box, is thought to be in a farmyard in Prickwillow,
about 5 miles from Soham, we will be going to Prickwillow sometime in
the near future to see if it can be located. On the right shows another
view of the Station in its later years, also showing the waiting room,
with a passenger waiting for his train.
The
two photos on either side show the Station as it was a few years before
it closed, just the platforms, signal box and a small shelter are
viewable.
