This is the fourth in our series of features about the locations
on which PC-Rail simulations are based, this time featuring the
city of Norwich.
The original Norwich station
was built for the Yarmouth & Norwich Railway
in 1844.
The present Norwich Thorpe station was built next
to the old one in 1886 by the Great Eastern Railway,
largely replacing its own Victoria station on the
south side of the city.
After the opening of the new station the old one was
used as a goods depot until the redevelopment of the
Riverside area in 1997.
A small part of the original
station remains
and is used as the Train Crew signing-on point.
A view of the entrance to Norwich station. ©link-rail.com
Since the closure of Norwich's other stations,
Victoria and City (the M&GN station), Thorpe is generally known simply
as Norwich station.
Norwich was voted national
station
of the year in 2004.
The City of Norwich has many attractions, including its two cathedrals, 1500 historic
buildings within the walled centre, a new library and Castle. As observed by the
historic author George Borrow, it is indeed "a fine city".
Read about the many things to see and do in Norwich!
The city's library burnt down in 1994 in a spectacular fire
that destroyed much of its content. As part of
the Millenium project, 'The Forum' was built in 2001
to replace the central library.
An impressive glass building
that looks more like an airport than a library,
The Forum also includes public computer facilities, coffee
houses, restaurants and even the studio of BBC
Norfolk. The project cost a no less than £63 million
to complete.
The city's night life has blossomed since the recent development, adjacent
to Thorpe station, of
the 'Riverside' area including a wide array
of bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, clubs and
a multiplex cinema. Why not visit one of the many
excellent Norwich Pubs? |
PC-Rail Norwich
Our Norwich simulation is based in the East Anglian
"capital city" and features an interesting
layout with train services on four routes converging
on the terminus station. The area includes the large
Crown Point depot, as well as Trowse Swing Bridge
and Whitlingham Junction.
How are the trains running today? See the live Arrival and Departure boards for Norwich.
The Canaries
The city's football team, nicknamed the Canaries, had a brief
flutter back in the Premier League last season,
after over a 10 year absence from top flight football.
Although they went straight back down, there were
some memorable games including a 2-0 victory over
the mighty Manchester United.
The season will probably
be best remembered though for Director and supercook Delia Smith's half time "motivational"
ramblings after one too many drinks, "Lets
be avin' ya!"
Norwich has other famous names connected
with it, including Nurse Edith Cavell, Thomas Paine,
George Borrow and the "Norwich School" of painters. Most famously of all the late great Horatio
Nelson was a Norfolk boy, and the county of Norfolk
would later
be nicknamed Nelson County in his honour.
The multi-talented writer, actor, comedian Stephen Fry grew
up in the Norfolk area and still has a house here
to this day. Radio Norwich is the fictional base
for Steve Coogan's hilarious character Alan Partridge,
whose mockery of the county is taken in good heart
by most of the locals!
Let us know what you think of our
Special Feature on Norwich. We will welcome your suggestions for
future features.
|