Broadsman
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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{{Infobox rail service
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|name = Broadsman
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|image = The Down 'Broadsman' passes Stratford Station - geograph.org.uk - 2054608.jpg
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|caption = The Down 'Broadsman' passes Stratford Station on 10 April 1958
|type = Passenger train
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|first = 1950
|last = 1962
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|formeroperator = BR
|ridership =
|start = London Liverpool Street
|stops =
|end = Sheringham and Cromer
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|frequency = Daily
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The Broadsman was a named passenger train operating in the United Kingdom.{{cite book |last=Allen |first=Cecil J. |date=1967 |title=Titled Trains of Great Britain |url= |location= |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd. |page=73 |isbn= |author-link= }}
History
The Broadsman was introduced by the British Rail in 1950.{{cite news |author= |title=More Holiday Trains |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000640/19500425/007/0001 |newspaper=Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette |location=England |date=25 April 1950 |access-date=26 December 2017 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} It provided a service between London Liverpool Street and Cromer, with through coaches for Sheringham. Initially the service was relatively leisurely, departing Cromer at 6.28am, travelling via Norwich with an arrival in London at 10.16am. The return was from London Liverpool Street at 3.40pm, arriving in Cromer at 7.15pm.
In 1951, the service was improved by the introduction of Britannia class locomotives, and 26 minutes was cut from the schedule. In 1952, the service was further improved with speed increases on the section between Norwich and London,{{cite news |author= |title=Faster Trains |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19520915/134/0004 |newspaper=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |location=England |date=15 September 1952 |access-date=26 December 2017 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} running Ipswich to Norwich, {{convert|46.25|mi|km}}, in 45 minutes.
On 4 December 1957 a car crashed into the level crossing gate at Salhouse railway station. The owner managed to remove the vehicle from the line, but the Broadsman hit the level crossing gate at 45 to 50 mph and uprooted a five-ton concrete post. The train was undamaged.{{cite news |author= |title=Car Crashes in Path of Express |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002134/19571205/435/0020 |newspaper=Birmingham Daily Post |location=England |date=5 December 1957 |access-date=26 December 2017 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}
The Great Eastern Main Line was upgraded in the 1960s with continuous welded rail, and diesel hauled services, and the named trains on this route lost their titles in 1962.