Long Melford–Bury St Edmunds branch line

[4] The line opened on 9 August 1865 along with the extended Stour Valley Railway route from Sudbury to Shelford.

A press report in the Bury and Norwich Post newspaper on 20 October 1891 reported: A passenger train which was passing between Bury and Melford and travelling at a high rate left the rails about two miles from Melford near Lineage Wood where the line has a sharp curve also a decline of 1 in 110.

The land belongs to the Rev Sir William Hyde Parker on the west and to Earl Howe on the east.

The engine without warning left the line turning a complete somersault and fell funnel downwards some 60 yards into the field.

The Brake with the other carriages except a horse box left the metals and plunged down the embankment and capsizing on to their sides.

The subsequent enquiry by the Board of Trade was reported again by the Bury and Norwich Post newspaper on 26 January 1892.

The official report on the railway accident on the Bury Melford line has been issued by the Board of Trade.

The Inspector attributed the accident not to the permanent way which was in good order but to the character of the engine which was one of a class that runs unsteadily when the chimney is in front and it is desirable and that there the balance weights on the leading and driving wheels must be restored.

[8] Bury Eastgate station closed in 1909 although it temporarily opened in July 1914 for the Suffolk Agricultural Show.

[11][12] However, a society wedding took place on 2 June 1962 and two special passenger trains headed by Class 31 locomotives, bringing guests visited the remnants of the branch.

[13] The very last freight train ran on 15 April 1965 and was formed of a Class 15 locomotive number D8221 and, on departure from Bury St Edmunds, a single Brake Van.

At Lavenham the engine cleared the yard of 16 ton mineral wagons (suggesting the last traffic was domestic coal) and departed.