Mid-Norfolk Railway

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Class 101 DMU at Dereham.

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.

1 Description
2 Locomotives
3 Stations
4 Steam
5 External links

[edit] 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.

At present the line extends between those towns, a distance of 11.5 miles (18.5 km); and the Trust owns a 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, 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 the provision of facilities for steam haulage, the restoration of Dereham Station, and the extension of the operational section of railway 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.

Trains run on most weekends, and also on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer. There are special events throughout the year.

[edit] Locomotives

Diesel Locomotives
- BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. 08631 "Eagle"
- BR Bo-Bo Class 20 no. D8069
- BR A1A-A1A Class 31 nos. 31235, 31438 and 31530 "Sister Dora"
- BR Co-Co Class 47 no. 47596 "Aldeburgh Festival"
- BR Co-Co Class 50 no. 50019 "Ramillies"
- BR Co-Co Class 56 no. 56040 "Oystermouth"

Diesel Multiple Units
- BR Class 100 DTS no. 56301
- BR Class 101 units 101695 (51226+51499) and L836 (51434+59117+51503)
- BR Class 122 DMBS no. 55009

The MNR is unique in being the only diesel-only preserved railway in the UK.

[edit] Stations

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

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 boundry between MNR and NR, allowing a very short walk from branch line to 'main' line.

[edit] Steam

During May 2006 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 will be a special steam charter train from East Dereham to London Liverpool Street via Norwich. 9466 is then planned to make a return visit to operate services on the line.