A humble tramway that carried fruit and veg from the Fens to market-inspired characters in some of the most-loved children's train stories of all time.

Now another stretch is set to be remembered with a roadside memento in the village where the vicar who wrote Thomas the Tank Engine lived.

West Norfolk council has agreed to grant planning permission for a memorial to the Wisbech and Upwell tramway to be erected in Emneth, near the main A1101.

Eastern Daily Press: One of the coaches used on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway pictured in 1974One of the coaches used on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway pictured in 1974 (Image: Archant Archive)

The tramway ran through the village after it was built to carry produce to the market in Wisbech and further afield in 1883.

At its peak, six goods and passenger services ran along it a day. Passenger services fell victim to competition from the roads in the late 1920s.

Freight survived until the Beeching Axe fell on rural branch lines in 1966. Little of the line remains today.

Eastern Daily Press: Rev Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, with his wife, Margaret and family (from left) Victoria, Christopher and HilaryRev Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, with his wife, Margaret and family (from left) Victoria, Christopher and Hilary (Image: Submitted)

While the Rev Wilbert Awdry began writing his Thomas the Tank Engine stories before he became the vicar of Emneth in 1953, he was inspired to create characters for the series from the quaint locomotives and rolling stock on the tramway.

In a letter supporting the planning application, Outwell villager William Smith writes: "Remembering the tramway is of importance for all living in the area but also for those much further afield, for rail aficionados and enthusiasts, for local history lovers and tourists and also for millions of Thomas the Tank Engine fans.

Eastern Daily Press: Rev Awdry's former home at Emneth, a commemorative plaque outside and a model of his creation, Thomas Rev Awdry's former home at Emneth, a commemorative plaque outside and a model of his creation, Thomas (Image: Archant Archive)

"Toby the Tram Engine and his coach, Henrietta, and later Marvis, the Diesel tram, were based on rolling stock used on the tramway."

The memento will be a large noticeboard charting the route of the tramway and its history on Bird's Corner just off the main A1101.

The line ran mainly alongside the route of the road across the flat countryside south of Wisbech.

Memorials have previously been put up in the neighbouring villages of Upwell and Outwell.