Station Name: HELLESDON Looking north-west form Hellesdon station in 1972. It is unclear why the platform has been fenced.
Photo from Jon R Batleys Flickr photostream 
At Hellesdon in 1972, it appears that work was underway to modify the building which had been in commercial use for many years. Curtains at the windows suggest the building is still occupied.
Photo from Jon R Batleys Flickr photostream
A desolate winter scene at Hellesdon, facing Norwich, sometime after closure of the line south of Drayton in 1969. The two tracks at bottom left were for stowage of trolleys for use by track gangs. In the days before complex on-track plant became the norm and Bullhead rail was still common, track gangs would be responsible for maintenance of a dedicated section of route covering several miles and in this case may have been from Norwich City to Lenwade or even beyond. Unconnected side tracks for trolley stowage were usually, but not always, complete with a small shed. The presence of two such tracks at Hellesdon might suggest two motor trolleys or, more likely, one motor trolley and a trailer. Trolleys, motor or otherwise, were designed to be lifted on and off the running line and stowage tracks and this could for achieved by four men in the case of motor trolleys and two in the case of trailers. Most familiar were the trolleys of D. Wickham & Co. but some railways, including the LNER, also produced their own. Exactly what facilities were provided at Hellesdon for the track gang is be no means clear. Older photographs show a wooden shed, complete with stove, but this shed appears to have been too far from the running line to have been used for trolley stowage. In later years, including during the period the line was intact but disused, the wooden shed had been replaced by a, then, modern structure but this itself had disappeared by the time of track lifting. Unfortunately no close-up photographs of either shed, or other photos of the trolley stowage tracks, had come to light at the time of writing.
Photo from Jon R Batleys Flickr photostream 
The A-frame’ bridge, number 249, just south of Hellesdon, looking towards Norwich in 1972. One of three very similar structures at the Norwich end of the branch, it survives in use on the cycleway that occupies the trackbed.
Photo from Jon R Batleys Flickr photostream  A view of the closed station at Hellesdon in April 1973 taken from the former forecourt area. The building was occupied and in good condition. It had a number of occupiers after closure and it used for both social and commercial purposes at various times. It was demolished in 1975: why it fell into disuse requiring its destruction is not clear. The ugly oil tank that could be seen in the 1969 image has gone. The attractive design of the Wilkinson & Jarvis building, although modified, is evident.
Photo by John Mann 
Hellesdon station seen from the trackbed in 1973 four years after closure. The station building was still occupied at the time. The fencing seen on the platform a year earlier has now been removed.
Photo
by John Mann
 A close-up image of the station building at Hellesdon from the trackbed as it was in
April 1973. The pleasant balance of the original building had been spoilt by replacement windows and unsightly block-work in the doorways. Photo by John Mann 
The front of Hellesdon station building seen from Hellesdon Road c1973. The River Wensum is seen on the right with Hellesdon mill in the distance.
Photo copyright Gill Wright / Norfolk Railway Heritage Group 
Looking north-west from bridge 250, probably 1973 before the track lifting started. The lattice spandrels were fitted when the bridge was rebuilt and strengthened in 1909.
Photo copyright Gill Wright / Norfolk Railway Heritage Group  Looking north-west from bridge 250, probably 1973 before the track lifting started. The white washed face of the cattle dock is clearly visible on the right,
Photo copyright Gill Wright / Norfolk Railway Heritage Group 
Looking south-east towards Norwich c1973. Although overgrown the track appears to have had some recent use. This would have been the demolition train which ran south into Norwich City station to begin track lifting. The train would gradually work its way north through Hellesdon.
Photo copyright Gill Wright / Norfolk Railway Heritage Group  Looking north-west from Hellesdon Road bridge c1973 shortly before the track through Hellesdon station was lifted.Photo copyright Gill Wright / Norfolk Railway Heritage Group Click here for Hellesdon Station Gallery 3:
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