By 1898 a tramway from Elmswell to Woolpit Brickworks was well under way, supported by the Great Eastern Railway Board.

Before this time the transportation of these bricks would presumably have meant an initial journey of 1.25 miles by horse and cart to the Great Eastern Railway station at Elmswell.

The Elmswell History Group website says:-
"In 1898 an agreement was drawn up whereby George BORLEY, an Elmswell farmer, granted C.D. Lavington Esq the free right to lay and construct on his land a narrow gauge tramway on a 14 years lease from 24th June 1897. This tramway was 1.25 miles in length. Leaving the brickworks in a northerly direction, it followed the course of a footpath and a lane for much of its route, crossing a stream and forming four level crossings with public roads en route. It terminated alongside a standard gauge siding at Elmswell Station, where a narrow gauge siding enabled shunting to take place.

On 9th November 1899, Mr C D Lavington sold property in Woolpit to the now retitled Woolpit Brick Co Ltd, and it is likely that this sale was in anticipation of the replacement of the tramway by a standard gauge line, as the transhipment of goods must have been a time consuming and costly operation.

The construction of the standard gauge railway began in 1900 on a more direct route to that previously taken by the narrow gauge line. The new standard gauge railway took about two years to construct, using employees from the brickworks. The standard gauge railway opened to traffic in December 1902."

The rail link to Elmswell seems to have finished by 1915 when plant was sold off and the line was lifted in 1916.

Woolpit and Elmswell were once easily accessible to each other by footpaths across the fields. This illustration shows how the dual carriageway A14 trunk road divides the two communities today.

The location of the now defunct brickworks can just be seen showing where they are compared to the modern scene.

All the coloured elements are present day features.

Loads of bricks went out from Woolpit and loads of coal were brought in from Elmswell railway station.

Quoting again from the excellent Elmswell History Group website:-

"The Woolpit Brick & Tile Co. bought this Sharp Stewart 2-4-0 tank engine, Haro Haro, to add to the 0-6-0 saddle tank engine which they already ran on the standard gauge line into the sidings at Elmswell. Haro Haro had previously seen service both on the Jersey Railway and on the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal."