Editing North Norfolk Railway (section)

===Route history===
The line once formed part of the [[Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway]]'s [[Melton Constable railway station|Melton Constable]] to [[Cromer railway station|Cromer Beach]] branch line. The first section, from Melton to Holt, was opened on 1 October 1884.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=58 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> After a suspension of work, the Holt to Cromer section of line was completed by direct labour and opened on 16 June 1887. A through [[London King's Cross railway station|Kings Cross]] to Cromer express started running in August 1887 and, although the construction had been expensive, the boost to revenue from the new line was considerable.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=60 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> A second train was put on the following year, in the down direction, consisting of coaches slipped at Peterborough from a GNR Manchester train. The time from Kings Cross to Cromer was typically {{frac|4|1|2}} hours, but the GER achieved {{rws|Liverpool Street}} to Cromer in {{frac|3|1|2}} hours.

The [[Lynn & Fakenham Railway]] had proposed a branch from this line, at Kelling, to [[Blakeney, Norfolk|Blakeney]], via [[Cley]] and [[Wiveton]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=43 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> The decision was taken not to go ahead with this line, but land for the proposed junction at Kelling had already been secured.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=61 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> Ballast sidings for the company developed in the Kelling area to service the needs of the company.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=104 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> In 1903, a station was added at [[Weybourne railway station|Weybourne]], having previously been refused.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=93 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref>

Under the [[Railways Act 1921]], the line, along with the rest of the M&GN, was jointly managed by the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway|LMS]] and [[London & North Eastern Railway|LNER]], retaining its own directors and staff.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=129 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> This continued until 1935, when the parent companies agreed that local administration should be undertaken by the LNER.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=141 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> The line became part of the Eastern Region of [[British Railways]] under the [[Transport Act 1947]].

In 1954, British Railways announced the closure of the former [[Great Eastern Railway]] terminus at [[Cromer High railway station|Cromer High]], with all traffic being routed into the M&GN station at Cromer Beach.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=155 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> The majority of the M&GN system was closed to passengers on 28 February 1959,<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=164 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref> although the line between Melton Constable and Cromer retained a good level of passenger service - becoming an extension of the former GER line from [[Norwich railway station|Norwich]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=166 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref>

The [[Beeching Report]] of April 1963 called for the end of passenger services between Melton Constable and Sheringham; this was approved by the government on 6 April 1964.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wrottesley |first=A.J. |date=1970 |title=The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |page=168 |isbn=0715381733}}</ref>