The Elsenham and Thaxted Light Railway

The branch line engine 0-6-0T J69 No. 68539 running around the train at Elsenham

(Image: Lamberhurst [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)])

The line between Elsenham and Thaxted was sanctioned in 1906, but due to money shortages and difficulties in construction, was not completed until 1916. This line is a typical example of one of the many light railways that could be found around Britain at the turn of the century; with very little traffic and poorly maintained rails, the lines were typically single track, and were restricted to the slow speed of 25 miles per hour, slowing to 10mph over the many unguarded level crossings. The line had three stations: Elsenham, Thaxted and Sibelys; and three halts, none of which were near the towns they were supposed to serve. The line typically was served by one train, running back and forth nine times a day, and carrying both goods and passengers on one train. When the railways were nationalised in 1948, British Railways had to abolish many lines which were unprofitable and could be replaced with rapidly advancing road transport. The Elsenham and Thaxted line was one of these routes, closing in 1952, only 36 years after it opened.

OS Map of the railway's route (1888 to 1913) (Image: NLS Mapping)

Elsenham Station

Elsenham station, along with the rest of the West Anglia main line, opened in 1845. At the time, it was located some distance from Elsenham itself, but the village has since grown to meet the station. From 1913 to 1952, the station was also served by the Elsenham and Thaxted Light Railway, which had its own terminating platform adjacent to Platform 2, located on a curve, with a run-around loop for the locomotive and connection to the goods yard.

The branch line engine 0-6-0T J69 No. 68539 at Elsenham railway station

(Image: Lamberhurst [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)])

Elsenham Station viewed on 0S 25-inch map (1892-1914) (Image: NLS Mapping)

Sibelys Station in 1952. This picture was likely taken from the window of one of the last passenger services on the line.

(Image: Lamberhurst [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)])

Sibelys (for Chickney & Broxted)

Sibleys station opened in 1913 and was located some distance from anywhere well inhabited. The station had a single platform and a goods loop. When the train stopped at Sibelys, it would shunt the goods on the adjacent track using a tow rope, which could take up to ten minutes. The platform had three buildings; a waiting room, and station-masters hut, and an old good carriage used for storage. When the station completely closed in 1953, it was demolished. No trace of the platform remains, but the course that the railway took can still be seen.

Sibelys Station, looking towards Thaxted

(Image: Lamberhurst [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)])

Cutlers Green Halt, likely around opening in 1913

(Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Mill Road, Henham and Cutler Green Halts

To make the line more useful, three halts opened with the line in 1913. These were typical of small local lines across Britain, and would have had a small raised gravel platform, a sign, and sometimes an old carriage to serve as a waiting shelter. Trains would only stop if passengers were waiting to be set down or be picked up at the halts. There were three such halts on the line, at Mill Road, Henham and Cutler Green. As with the other stations on the route, the halts saw very few passengers as they were located far from their namesakes, with the exception of Henham Halt, which was just a short distance from the village of Henham.

Cutlers Green Halt on June 30th, 1951, shortly before the line closed for good in 1952.

(Image: Stuart Axe (Flickr Photostream) (CC BY-ND 2.0))

Elsenham Station in 2025

(Own work)

Mill Road Halt Postcard

(By Anonymous - old postcard, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147596559)

Henham Halt Station

(Image: Lamberhurst [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)])

Thaxted Station in the 1930s. The car is a sign of things to come, as new buses and lorries rendered the railway useless less than 40 years after it opened.

(Image: Willett, Dunmow [Public domain])

Thaxted Station

Opened in 1913, a small single-platform station with a run-round loop for the locomotive to change ends. There was also a small siding for good traffic, and a corrugated iron engine shed. The station was a considerable distance from the town – passengers had to alight and then walk nearly one mile across the Chelmer Valley. This station, located here to save costs, was one of the key causes of the railways decline: once buses began to transport people between the centre of Thaxted and local destinations, including Elsenham station, the line was rendered redundant, and closed in 1952.

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