The history of the East Anglian Railway Museum is one of hard work, sweat and steam, as a small number of dedicated enthusiasts and volunteers strived to ensure the survival of an important piece of our industrial and cultural heritage.
The Stour Valley Railway Preservation Society was initially formed in 1968 with the aim of preserving the recently closed stretch of line from Sudbury to Long Melford, a distance of some three miles. However, lack of funding meant this project was ultimately unsuccessful and the line was lost.
The following year the society re-established at Chappel and Wakes Colne Station after securing a lease from British Rail for the derelict goods yard, goods shed, signal box and station buildings. Members were faced with a daunting task – the site was without electricity and the track had been dismantled in preparation for removal.
Despite this, the first public “steaming” took place just three months later, when the only operational locomotive carried passengers along a short stretch of re-laid track. The hard work continued for many years as buildings were restored the teams took delivery of a miscellany of rolling stock and locomotives.
