Newmarket to Haughley and Laxfield

The lines east and west of the junction at Haughley provide a fascinating contrast. Westwards, the route was one of the earliest railways in the area and has become a busy artery for long-distance freight traffic, while retaining a regular passenger service to important towns. Eastwards, the short lived Mid-Suffolk Light Railway was a latecomer to the railway scene, was never completed, and served only a succession of villages as it ambled across the countryside for some 20 miles. We see activities on both lines over the years and also look at the preservation centre, which recreates much of the atmosphere of the Light Railway.

Reviews:

'Another excellent volume from the Middleton Press series that is gradually covering the whole of the railway network. Written by East Anglian expert Richard Adderson, Newmarket to Haughley and Laxfield follows the normal layout of the series.'
(The Railway Magazine, June 2023)

'Reading this book, you should follow a most important East Anglian tradition - put the kettle on, make a cup of tea, and take your time!'
(Howard Johnston, Steam World, Issue 420, June 2022)

'The nature of the ambling Mid-Suffolk Light Railway from Haughley eastwards out into extremely rural country and not reaching either projected destination means that far more of the simple workings of such a rural line are included.'
(John New & Kelvyn Hulme, SLS Journal, May-June 2022)