Thorpe Bridge

Image: © N Chadwick Taken: 14 Jul 2013

The Bittern Line crosses the River Yare. It was the scene of a fatal rail accident in 1874 In 1874, whilst still awaiting inspection before the new line could be opened, a tragic and devastating accident occurred near to the eastern bridge at Thorpe when two trains collided. The London to Yarmouth Express train had been delayed at Norwich and would usually be given straight passage through, any other trains heading from Great Yarmouth were held on a side track at Brundall until it had passed. Confused communications between stations meant that the mail train heading to Norwich was given the go ahead to proceed before the express train had gone though. Despite desperate attempts to telegraph messages of the error through to Brundall, it was too late to stop the mail train which collided at high speed with the oncoming express train. The explosion could apparently be seen in Norwich, 25 people were killed and hundreds of others were seriously injured

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