Thaxted

Thaxted was the terminus of the Elsenham & Thaxted Light Railway running from Elsenham on the West Anglia Main Line.

Information
Type:	Great Eastern Railway
Opened:	1913
Closed:	1952
Platforms:	1

Thaxted was opened in 1913 as part of a new branch of the Great Eastern Railway [1]. The station was built just over a kilometre from the town of Thaxted to avoid the expense of having to build a crossing over the River Chelmer [2].

Like the other stations and halts on the Elsenham & Thaxted Light Railway Thaxted was a fairly modest affair with a single platform. However as it was a terminus it also had a run-around loop, some freight sidings and a small engine shed. The station also had a cattle dock. As with other stations on the line an old GER coach body was used as part of the station buildings. There was no ticket office, tickets were always issued on the train [3]. The station did have toilets however.

Passenger services ceased to Thaxted (along with the rest of the line) in 1952, freight continued until 1953 when the line was closed completely.

Thaxted station, postcard view (public domain image)

Station layout

Thaxted station at it's opening, public domain image [1]

[1] "New branch on the Great Eastern Railway", Railway Times (April 5th, 1913) p. 343
[2] Vic Mitchell, Broxbourne to Cambridge including the Thaxted Branch (Middleton Press, 2012) Map XVIII
[3] Mitchell Fig. 78