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The Colne Valley Railway is mostly in Castle Hedingham, but can be included here because its track does just extend into Great Yeldham. The Colne Valley Railway is a preservation project built on the trackbed of the Colne Valley and Halstead Railway. The original railway became part of the L.N.E.R in 1923 and then British Railways in 1948. It closed in 1964 and was allowed to become overgrown with trees and scrub. In 1972 local enthusiasts formed the Colne Railway Preservation Society, aiming to rebuild as much as possible of the Railway on about 1 mile of the original track bed. The track is laid and there are now two platforms with authentic station buildings, loading bay, signal box, signals and much other railway equipment.

15 December 2005 - start of a new era for the CVR. After much hard work by the volunteers it was announced that they had been awarded £1 million by the National Lottery Board to purchase the line from the retiring owners. This will keep the future of the CVR secure in a trust for perpetuity, allowing for much needed future expansion of the storage sidings and may lead to expansion of the line towards Halstead. The Lottery Award was made in recognition of the valuable educational work of the CVR, encouraging young people to to take an interest in things practical and mechanical.

OPEN DAYS. The Railway is not open to the public every day. For the complete programme of open days visit their web site: timetable CONTACT: The Colne Valley Railway Co. Ltd., Castle Hedingham Station, Yeldham Road, Castle Hedingham, Halstead, Essex. CO9 3DZ. Tel: 01787 461174 www.colnevalleyrailway.co.uk The CVR-based groups (in 2005) are: The Colne Valley Preservation Society. 45163 Ltd. (Restoring a Black Five). The British Enginemens's Steam Preservation Society, 45293 Ltd. (Restoring another Black Five). Colne Valley Diesels Ltd. The Colne Valley and Halstead Railway (formed to promote extensions to the line) Pressed Steel Heritage The Class 47 Preservation Society Colne Valley Railway Enterprises (owners of numerous Class 31s). Further reading: R.A. Whitehead and F.D. Simpson, The Colne Valley and Halstead Railway, Oakwood Press 1988. E.P. Willingham, From Construction to Destruction, Halstead and District Local History Society, 1989.