Suffolk Coastal District Council has postponed until mid September its decision on whether or not to approve an application by the Southwold Railway Trust to reopen a stretch of the original Southwold Railway at Wenhaston. The Trust has submitted an application to build a replica station, a visitor reception building and workshop on land close to the original Wenhaston station site. Plans also include the reopening of 22 chains of the original Southwold Railway trackbed running towards Blythburgh. Fundraising to purchase the site is ongoing, and supporters are invited to join the 22 Club to help get the project off the ground. In a parallel development the Southwold Railway Trust continues to assemble parts and drawings for a replica Sharp Stewart 2-4-0 3ft gauge loco “Blyth”. The trust now has the frames, some wheels, much steel plate, many drawings, a smokebox door and chimney. The next stage is to complete a rolling chassis, and to complete the boiler drawings. Supporters are invited to join the 2-4-0 club to help fund the loco build project.
