MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY

The 'Mid-Norfolk Railway' (MNR) is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk and running between the historic market towns of Wymondham and Dereham.

Contents

Description

Locomotives

Stations

Steam

External links

Description

The Mid-Norfolk Railway is built on part of the former Great Eastern Railway line from Wymondham to the coast at Wells. The line between Wymondham and East Dereham was double track, the line north of there being single track. At Dereham many trains reversed their course and headed west to the towns of Swaffham and King's Lynn, although this route is now lost. A further branch, to Wroxham left the line at County School Station - part of this line is now the narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway. The formation between Wells and the religious centre of Walsingham now hosts the miniature Wells and Walsingham Light Railway.
The 'Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust' was established in 1995 with the aim of buying and restoring the then-disused line between East Dereham and Wymondham. It was formed from a number of campaign groups and organisations which had been trying to restore passenger services over the route since 1971. The official aims of the charity are "to preserve and to renovate reconstruct and operate for the benefit of the people of the County of Norfolk and of the nation at large, whatever of the historical, architectural and constructional heritage that may exist of the permanent way, track, buildings (including any building as defined in Section 336(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990), bridges, operating equipment and rolling stock once forming part of or connected with or adjacent to the Great Eastern Railway line running between County School at North Elmham in the County of Norfolk and Wymondham in the County of Norfolk."
At present the line extends between Dereham and Wymondham, a distance of 11.5 miles (18.5 km); and the Trust owns the further 6 miles (9.66 km) of disused railway to County School Station near North Elmham. This makes the Mid-Norfolk Railway one of the longest heritage railways in the United Kingdom. The track bed is mostly intact from County School to Fakenham, and is reserved by the council for railway use, meaning non-railway development on this land cannot take place, although it is not yet in the Trust's ownership, the railway plans an eventual restoration of the line to this third market town. The line is also home to some great examples of preserved stations, Yaxham station still retaining period features such as a signal box and shelters.
In addition to their passenger services, the railway has a proven record of carrying commercial freight trains as well as occasional main-line charter trains. The railway's rich and varied locations have also been used as locations for two film shoots and for the filming of an episode of '''Allo 'Allo!'' and the early soap opera Weaver's Green.
Present projects include improving facilities and siding space in Dereham Yard, reconstruction of Dereham North Signalbox (ex Laundry Lane, Lowestoft) restorng the ex Halesworth signalbox at County School, and ongoing work on the currently non-operational extension north towards County School. Almost all the work, including maintaining the track and locomotives, running the trains and working the crossings, is carried out by unpaid volunteers.
In the past few years many large projects have been completed with help from European and Government funding, this includes the full restoration of Dereham station building, construction of a locomotive pit and provisions for steam working.
Trains run on most weekends, and also on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer. There are special events throughout the year.

Locomotives

★ 'Diesel Locomotives'

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★ BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. 08631 'EAGLE' (painted in Network South East livery)

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★ BR Bo-Bo Class 20 no. D8069

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★ BR A1A-A1A Class 31 nos. 31235, 31438 and 31530 "Sister Dora"

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★ BR Co-Co Class 47 no. 47596 "Aldeburgh Festival"

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★ BR Co-Co Class 50 no. 50019 "Ramillies"

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★ BR Co-Co Class 56 no. 56040 "Oystermouth"

★ 'Diesel Multiple Units'

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★ BR Class 100 DTS no. 56301

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★ BR Class 101 units 101695 (51226+51499) and L836 (51434+59117+51503)

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★ BR Class 122 DMBS no. 55009
The MNR is unique in being the only diesel-only preserved railway in the UK.
Currently operational locomotives/Diesel Multiple Units: D8069, 31438, 47596, 101695
Locomotives undergoing repairs: 08631 (awaiting commissioning), 31235, 31530, 50019, 56040, all other DMU's

Stations

The MNR serves the following stations, listed from north to south:

★ East Dereham

★ Yaxham

★ Thuxton

★ Kimberley Park

★ Wymondham Abbey
MNR trains do not serve Wymondham railway station, which is served by trains on the Breckland Line of the National Rail network. Wymondham and Wymondham Abbey stations are approximately one mile apart. There have been plans to create a Wymondham Junction railway station on the boundary between MNR and NR, allowing a very short walk from branch line to 'main' line. The fully restored Hardingham Station is passed between Thuxton and Kimberley Park however this station is in complete private ownership and therefore no trains stop here.

Steam

During May 2006 and May-July 2007 the line has seen the return of steam in the form of a GWR Pannier Tank (No. 9466). This is the first time a steam-hauled passenger service has run between Dereham and Wymondham since 1955. Previous steam-powered visitors to the line have included B1 61462; "Little Barford", an 0-6-0 Andrew Barclay industrial shunter; and "Sir Berkeley", which hauled services between Dereham and Yaxham in the late 1990s.
The return of steam marks the completion of Dereham Station restoration and the installation of steam infrastructure such as a water tower. The Trust in the future hopes to attract further steam engines to show more diversity on the usually 100% diesel line.
In May 2007, there was a special steam charter train from East Dereham to London Liverpool Street ''via'' Norwich, hauled by unrebuilt ex-Southern Railway Battle of Britain class locomotive 34067, Tangmere. This locomotive remained on the railway to operate train services over the following Sunday. 9466 returned to operate services on the line later in the season.

External links

★ The Mid-Norfolk Railway