History of the East Anglian Railway Museum

Below is a breif history of the Museum, for more details on the Society and its rolling stock please consult out Guide and Stock Books.
The Light Railway Order

The transfer of ownership of the site had led to the requirement to obtain a Light Railway Order to regularise the running of trains, and this was granted in 1991, being known as The Chappel and Wakes Colne Light Railway, with operation vested in the East Anglian Railway Museum, which by then had become a company limited by guarantee, with charitable status also being granted in 1991.

EARM became a Registered Museum in 1995 and four years later in 1999 the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the Colchester, Sudbury, Stour Valley and Halstead Railway was celebrated in grand style (Shown Left) at Chappel in conjunction with the launch of the Gainsborough Line name on the Sudbury Branch, the Museum supplying a re-enactment of the opening train complete with guests in period clothes and a brass band. A splendid occasion!

For nearly forty years now the Museum and its predecessors have struggled to conserve a historically significant representation of our regional railway heritage, and largely through the efforts of its volunteers, thousands of visitors annually enjoy the working of the Museum that is the Chappel experience, and the intention is that it will continue to develop and bring a slice of living history into the lives of future generations.

The museum has struggled to conserve a historically significant representation of our regional railway heritage over many years. Largely through the efforts of its volunteers, thousands of visitors annually enjoy the working museum that is the Chappel Experience.

The intention is that it will continue to bring a slice of living history into the lives of generations to come, and continue to preserve the past for the future, using the site where new meets old, as shown right, where the modern day Sprinter unit operated by National Express East Anglia with a service to Sudbury past the Museum's North Signal Box and grounded GER coach.

Find out about our buildings and rolling stock by using the links on the left.