Which of these three would you choose?

[railfan99]

On a forthcoming September 2022 Eurailpass I should have time to do one, or at a pinch two, of the three branches below.

Which would you recommend and why, or are they all 'much of a muchness?'

Manningtree-Harwich International/Town

Colchester-Clacton-on-Sea
Colchester-Walton-on-the-Naze

probably with a deviation to Colchester Town.

I assume scenery is fairly similar (dull?) but Harwich branch looks to be seaside.

Earlier, I plan to have done Felistowe and before that all the branches from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft including the infrequently served line through little-used Berney Arms.

Many thanks.

 

[30907]

Harwich has most of railway interest as well as estuary views and IIRC a fine mill or similar at Mistley.
Clacton has an EMU depot, Walton is single track via Frinton with level crossings.
Harwich for the Continent, Frinton for the..... elderly

Sounds like you won't have time for Sheringham?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Harwich branch line is quite scenic, with the possible exception of the final section of the line, from Dovercourt to Harwich Town, which decidedly isn't.

 

[railfan99]

Sounds like you won't have time for Sheringham?

Thank you muchly, but I travelled on Norwich-Sheringham in September 2022, connecting to and from the excellent North Norfolk Railway.

I am awaiting advice from the Mid Norfolk Railway as to when it'll be operating in September 2023, and on what part of its line, given the problems it's apparently incurring.

It took me a minute or two to understand your joke. Very funny.

 

[306024]

Welcome to East Anglia. Lovely part of the world, but I’m biased. My picture is John Constable’s painting ‘The Haywain’, a couple of miles from Manningtree at Flatford Mill.

Manningtree to Harwich Town.
Probably the most scenic as it runs along the river Stour for part of the way, but then through the port of Harwich, (Parkeston Quay is the old railway name) and on to Harwich Town, with some view across Bathside Bay towards Felixstowe and Shotley. The last bit is not a pretty bit of line as said above, but Harwich Town has a lot of history worth discovering if interested.

Colchester to Clacton.
Runs along the river Colne for a short area around Wivenhoe, but otherwise mostly just countryside. Clacton station is 10-15 minute walk to the sea and pier.

Thorpe-le-Soken to Walton-on-Naze.
Again just countryside or bungalows, but Walton station is 5 minutes from the sea and also has a pier.

Colchester Town.
Just a slow crawl round a railway triangle. Nothing to see on the route but Colchester Town is the nearest station for Colchester Castle.

There is a ferry that operates between Felixstowe and Harwich. At Felixstowe it’s a good 30 minute walk from the town centre but there is an hourly bus to Landguard Fort where the ferry operates off the beach. At Harwich it is just 5 minutes from the station.

https://www.harwichharbourferry.com/

Happy to answer any other questions you may have.

 

[306024]

Harwich has most of railway interest as well as estuary views and IIRC a fine mill or similar at Mistley.

Harwich for the Continent, Frinton for the..... elderly

Mistley is dominated by the Maltings buildings (not a mill) some of which are now residential. Prince Charles (as he was then) has visited them twice, arriving by royal train to look round in 2004.

Frinton has a thatched toilet on The Greensward. Posh or what!

 

[mrcheek]

Are you intending to stay a while at the end of your journey?

If you like tacky seaside towns, and arcades, Clacton can be fun.
If you like buildings of historical interest, there is a lot to see in Harwich.

But to follow on from 306024, the best sight to see in that area is Flatford Mill. Well worth the 45 minute walk from Manningtree station, you can still see the exact spot that Constable painted the Haywain, and little has changed

 

[railfan99]

Are you intending to stay a while at the end of your journey?

If you like tacky seaside towns, and arcades, Clacton can be fun.
If you like buildings of historical interest, there is a lot to see in Harwich.

But to follow on from 306024, the best sight to see in that area is Flatford Mill. Well worth the 45 minute walk from Manningtree station, you can still see the exact spot that Constable painted the Haywain, and little has changed

Thank you all, including tourism tips. This forum is an incredible repository of accurate information.

306024, I was impressed with the area, and enjoyed the trip to Sheringham, then NNR to Holt with the ancient Great Eastern Rly loco plus by changing at the halt, a DMU. I have fond but distant memories on my first trip to UK c.1993 in travelling on those DMUs racing along the main western line as I 'did' every branch line from Penzance to Plymouth in one day.

East Anglia (along with many routes in Wales, though years ago I did the 'big 4' heritage lines) is the last area in the UK of which I lack good coverage.

So, two nights in Lowestoft (despite viewing instructions I still cannot correctly pronounce, and keep wanting to spell without the 't' after the 's': ignorant 'Antipodean') and perhaps one night in Felixstowe, the latter largely because I may see intermodals, and the station is close to the sea with a reasonable pub near rail offering accommodation. (In Australia, a minority of 'pubs' offer accomm. though many have 'hotel' in their title).

Your wonderful avenues of 1880s three storey B&Bs are beautiful, amazing and quirky. I wonder how so many survive with holidaymakers' expectations increasing: competition from Spain and other nations and UK/European populations' median age rising, so properties without lifts are no longer ideal. High running costs and as older buildings, maintenance can't be cheap.

A decade ago I stayed in one in Whitby and found it interesting. Fortunately not hot in the middle of your summer.

 

[306024]

Thank you all, including tourism tips. This forum is an incredible repository of accurate information.

So, two nights in Lowestoft (despite viewing instructions I still cannot correctly pronounce, and keep wanting to spell it without the 't' after the 's': ignorant 'Antipodean') and perhaps one night in Felixstowe, the latter largely because I may see intermodals, and the station is close to the sea with a reasonable pub near rail offering accommodation.

Hmm…. Felixstowe station isn’t particularly close to the sea, it’s a 10-15 minute walk. Are you getting confused with the old Felixstowe Beach station which is disused and on the freight line to Felixstowe South terminal? (that’s a bit closer but not a lot).

If you wish to see freight Westerfield is the best station, junction for the Felixstowe branch. You won’t see much in Felixstowe as they are lost in the port complex. Westerfield will capture all freight on the Felixstowe branch, plus passing Lowestoft passenger trains and the stopping Felixstowe passenger service.

Here is todays timetable at Westerfield

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...23-03-14/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[railfan99]

Impressive number of movements.

Yes, thanks, I realised the branch to England's busiest port veers off well before Felixstowe station. I was meaning 'see some intermodals on the way'.

Thank you also for the advice re F's location.

 

[Techniquest]

Trimley may be worth investigating for seeing the intermodals in and out of Felixstowe? I haven't been down that line for years, it was in the hands of a solo 153 when I last went. Suffolk is not an area I'm well versed in.

As for your three route options, it depends on your desires when you get to the end of the route. Clacton is definitely a hotspot for those desiring extreme levels of drunkeness and drugs (in my experience, obviously not everyone is like that!) as well as feeling a bit too much like Blackpool.

Walton-on-the-Naze is good for a much more family-friendly seaside visit, when I did the area in autumn 2021 it was a nicely pleasant surprise. It's nowhere near as vibrant as Clacton, but it's definitely a much nicer place to go. I appreciate my only proper visit to Clacton was tainted by drug addicts and alcoholics, but having done it after Walton-on-the-Naze I would absolutely not bother too much with Clacton.

If I had my photos organised on my phone, I'd dig out some photos of the destination. I'd go for Walton-on-the-Naze for a good bit of exploring along the seafront etc, and maybe divert into Clacton on the way back out west towards Colchester just for line coverage. As others have said, it's a bit of a trek from Clacton station to the seafront, although I must add it's a nice station building there.

Harwich, I've never explored it to be honest and I only did Harwich Town as part of a line coverage mission years and years ago. Arrived on a 321, took a now-lost photo and got back on again! The ferry journey to Hoek van Holland is on my list to do, so I will one day return to the area for some exploring. Until then, I can't comment fairly on it. Memory tells me it was a decent enough journey at least.

 

[306024]

@Techniquest paints a somewhat grim picture of Clacton which as a casual observer you may not notice but it does have its fair share of social deprivation.

Frinton-on-Sea is the nicest town if you are going to alight anywhere in the area. Much more 'upmarket'.

You'll see the same freight at Trimley as at Westerfield, but fewer passenger ervices.

 

[railfan99]

You'll see the same freight at Trimley as at Westerfield, but fewer passenger ervices.

Thanks: looks to be a pleasant pub offering accommodation at Westerfield. I had worked out Trimley last night, but Google suggests no accomm so a choice between W and terminus F.

I am trying to do as many lines as possible. Louts/druggies are annoying, but if Clacton included, an advantage of a nation with a large population is safety in numbers, and I know not to stare. Asking for trouble. I've never been attacked even in South America, dodgy parts of the USA or poorer parts of Asia.

 

[306024]

Thanks: looks to be a pleasant pub offering accommodation at Westerfield. I had worked out Trimley last night, but Google suggests no accomm so a choice between W and terminus F.

I am trying to do as many lines as possible. Louts/druggies are annoying, but if Clacton included, an advantage of a nation with a large population is safety in numbers, and I know not to stare. Asking for trouble. I've never been attacked even in South America, dodgy parts of the USA or poorer parts of Asia.

I didn’t realise The Railway did accomodation, but yes looks very pleasant on the website. One minute walk from the station, I’ll have to investigate myself. All I‘d say is it is right on the outskirts of Ipswich so nothing else there but as good a place to sleep as any. Felixstowe town centre is much bigger but quiet in the evening too.

I went to Clacton today and am still alive! Please don’t be put off as it’s most unlikely you’ll encounter any problem there than anywhere else.

 

[railfan99]

I went to Clacton today and am still alive! Please don’t be put off as it’s most unlikely you’ll encounter any problem there than anywhere else.

Only location I've had anything stolen was Bolivia (a formerly available rail pass by station master of all people). Promise I won't be put off. Always exciting to 'do' new lines. A great (and under rated) rail network in UK.

Railway Inn is very reasonably priced from a ghost booking.

 

[bspahh]

I had a nice, reasonably priced breakfast at the Beach Diner at Clacton-on-Sea.

The southern end of the beach at Felixstowe is worth a walk, for the Martello tower and chance to get fairly close to some really big container ships like this https://goo.gl/maps/9KWQc1Ss67C6dW1u7


If you go through Berney Arms, in the right weather its well worth getting off and walking to Great Yarmouth station.

 

[Kite159]

Felixstowe is a nice town, I enjoyed my little explore of that area last year.

Maybe see if you can work in doing a round trip from Ipswich towards Felixstowe for the ferry to Harwich to train back towards Ipswich via manningtree

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Felixstowe is a nice town, I enjoyed my little explore of that area last year.

Maybe see if you can work in doing a round trip from Ipswich towards Felixstowe for the ferry to Harwich to train back towards Ipswich via manningtree

Think the (hourly?) harbour ferry across from Harwich to Felixstowe only operates from April to October, and then only in "favourable weather" but not the worst suggestion for a circular day trip in the area.

(And there's always the Treasure Chest (Martin Bott) bookshop in Felixstowe with a decent selection of railway/transport items if the itinerary allows!)

Cost would be around a fiver (2022 prices) for the 15 minutes ferry crossing, plus £5.60 for a single from Manningtree out to Harwich Town and a further £9.20 back from Felixstowe to Manningtree.

Might also need to factor in the cost of parking if using the car park at Manningtree. This'll be round about £5.50 depending on how long you're actually parked up there.