Rayne Calor Essex Village Of The Year 2006.Winner Calor Village of the year 2007 Regional ICT Category.

Winner Calor Village of the Year 2007 National ICT Category.

 

 

Flitch Way On A Summers Afternoon

 

The old Bishops Stortford to Braintree railway line that ran through Rayne became disused many years ago.

In its day it carried  passengers and freight from the market towns of Braintree and Dunmow and in WWII it was used  to transport rubble from the East End of London to build the USAAF airfields at Great Dunmow and Great Saling (Andrewsfield).

Once these airfields were built the line was used to supply munitions, fuel and stores to them as well as the airfield at Stanstead and after 1944 the line was used to transport the wounded, possibly to the military hospital at Bishops Stortford.

 

The line had never been particularly profitable for passenger traffic, instead relying on freight to pay its way but by the 1950's road transport was taking over and the line closed to passengers in 1952. By 1971 even freight had gone over to the roads and the line closed.

The last train was a “spotters special” that ran along the tracks one final time on the 27th July 1972.

 

Now the bed of the old line is called “The Flitch Way” and is open for  the public to enjoy.

These are a few snapshots of the short stretch between Rayne Station and Fentons Lane bridge  taken in July 2010 by Ben Rawlings aged 15.