What We’ve Achieved

  • The Society was founded in April 2018, and has  created a great deal of local and national interest
  • Many members (who are mainly based in Halesworth) attended our first formal meeting on 20 October 2018 at the Angel Hotel, Halesworth, and were all very positive about our achievements and aims:  membership is steadily increasing
  • Founder members include those with extensive experience of the heritage railway movement, with legal experience, a railway historian, a Health and Safety/Rule Book expert, and a steam loco engineer
  • We have a good relationship with the Halesworth Millennium Green, who own land on which many of the best railway artefacts are based. (Note that there are no current plans to rebuild a working railway on HMG land).  Society Volunteers, working through Summer and Autumn, have already re-laid the heavy longitudinal timbers each side of the 1914 locomotive shed inspection pit, and the first three-foot-gauge rails to be seen there since 1941 are now spiked down. We also have a good relationship with the owner of the former station site and the trackbed at Blythburgh and as a result have uncovered the remains of the station, restored the platform and some of the track.
  • We have good connections with many other local groups and organisations including the Halesworth Tourism Group, the East Suffolk Line Community Partnership, the East Suffolk Travellers’ Association, U3A and Halesworth Library
  • An ex-Channel Tunnel Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive – RFS Works No. RS 106 of 1989 – was purchased in September 2018 by two members of the Society from Alan Keef  Ltd of Ross-on-Wye and is currently being restored
  • In November 2018 a former Royal Naval wagon, destined to be re-gauged to 3 foot gauge, and a historic three-foot-gauge Hudson tipper wagon, both arrived at our workshop
  • Society members own the enamel Halesworth Station name-board, an original sleeper from the 1914-built Southwold Harbour Line (kindly donated by the Harbourmaster), genuine original narrow gauge railway paperwork such as timetables and the 1879 Southwold Railway Regulations
  • 16 June 2019 We have been in existence for 14 months and thought we would list our achievements in that time
  • HSNGR Achievements list June 2019 
  • 11 April 2020  We have now been in operation for 22 months and thought it was time to list our achievements so far
  • HSNGR Achievements – 2020 pdf

HSNGR achievements – Up to Spring 2026

  • The Board – now Ken Penrose Chair, Steve Daine Treasurer, Ian Reed, Neal Davis, Mike Kendall, James Hewett, Lesley Chrystal Minutes Secretary.
  • Blythburgh Parish Council applied for a Public Right of Way order along our trackbed. This was granted, but the volume of objections, thanks to all our supporters, will require planning permission, and will delay the matter for at least two years.
  • The extension along the trackbed – about 200 yards – was turned down because of the PROW. An alternative application is in hand.
  • In 2025, the signal was finally approved, and the heritage centre also approved, albeit in a different place from that originally planned. We have the building, although it will require external modifications to fit in visually – and substantial extra funding for building regulations etc.  The Odams’ Shed was not approved.
  • HSNGR at Blythburgh designated by ORR as a UK operational railway.
  • Events – we have run station events at Blythburgh regularly. These, if the weather is decent, have been successful or very successful.  At Easter 2026 we ran our first passenger trains (inevitably over a short distance), which contributed to the day being our best-ever event.   We have permission to run up to twelve such days, but will work up to that very gradually, a substantial increase in volunteer numbers being required.  The HSNGR also attends Halesworth events – Ale Day, Parish Day and Holton Airfield – LOWMEX, Forncett, and others.
  • Archivist Ken Penrose obtained a large selection of original SR photos and cards, including original SR artefacts.
  • Projects:
    • Workshop – new staff facility built and in use – also used as Boardroom, office, and for merchandise storage.
    • Blythburgh Station – heritage fencing provided along entire northern edge of site. Main line and siding 2 both extended to the limit of our permission.  New pathway constructed to bypass trackbed walk.  Odams’ Shed erected temporarily.
    • The Folly – maintained and improved.
    • Walberswick station – substantial clearance done. Permission received to erect running-in board, although it is specified to be smaller than the one we have.  Memorial plaque to go back on bench.
    • Greenbat loco – body provided.
    • Ruston 48DLG loco purchased by volunteer from Essex, to provide a back-up for the Greenbat. Work in hand to make it operational.
    • Air braking and new handbrake fitted to Coach 3.
    • Van 42 – complete except for painting.
    • Cleminson E – now an exhibit at the station. To be lettered.
  • Regular meetings with Chair of Southwold Railway Trust.

A community-led project