Mid-Norfolk Railway
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| Mid-Norfolk Railway | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Class 47 No.47596 at Dereham. | |
| Location | |
| Place | England |
| Terminus | Dereham |
| Commercial Operations | |
| Name | London and North Eastern Railway |
| Built by | Samuel Morton Peto |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved Operations | |
| Operated by | Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust |
| Stations | 5 |
| Length | 17.5 miles (11.5 operational) |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial History | |
| Opened | 1845 |
| Closed | 1969 passengers, 1989 goods |
| Preservation History | |
| 1974 | Wymondham, Dereham and Fakenham Rail Action Committee formed |
| 1997 | MNR reopened |
The Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR) is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The 11.5-mile line runs through the centre of Norfolk between the historic market towns of Wymondham and Dereham via Yaxham, Thuxton and Kimberley Park. It is the southern section of the former Wymondham, Dereham, Fakenham and Wells-next-the-Sea line which was closed to passengers in stages from 1964 to 1969 as part of the Beeching cuts. The MNR is owned and operated by the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust (a Charitable Trust and is mostly operated and staffed by volunteers. The company owns a further 6 miles of line, as far as County School railway station, which will make it the third largest heritage railway in England once restoration is complete.
Trains run on most weekends from the end of February to December, and also on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer. There are special events throughout the year. Trains are mostly diesel-operated; however in some cases steam is used.
[edit] History
The Lynn and Dereham Railway and the Norfolk Railway both obtained Parliament's permission to build lines to Dereham in 1845, at the height of the so-called "Railway Mania", when railways were being frantically built across the whole country. The Norfolk Railway, building its line from Wymondham, reached Dereham first, and opened its railway to passengers on the 15th February 1847; while the line from King's Lynn had to wait until 11th September 1848.
The line between Wymondham and East Dereham was later provided with double track, the line north of there remaining single track. At Dereham many trains reversed their course and headed west to the towns of Swaffham and King's Lynn. A further branch, to Wroxham, left the line at County School Station, while a branch from Heacham joined at Wells.
The line was heavily used during both World War One and World War Two, with extra sidings being provided at East Dereham during the Second World War. Both Wars exacted a heavy toll on the railway network, so, in 1947 the Labour government of the day, under Clement Atlee, elected to Nationalise the network and the Wymondham to Wells branch became part of the new nationalised British Railways, ending 100 years of private ownership.
The 1954 Modernisation Plan saw the line's last steam passenger service, which ran on the 17th September 1955. Diesel units took over the next day, with the line enjoying quicker trains and a more frequent service. Steam-hauled freight continued into the early 1960s.
By 1960 there was an hourly passenger service to Norwich taking between 32 and 40 minutes. Despite this, the increased use of road transport lead to a decline in passenger numbers, which caused it to became one of the many railways to be threatened by the "Beeching Report" in 1963.
The passenger service between Dereham and Wells ended in 1964. Dereham became an intermediate station for Norwich and King's Lynn services. In June 1965, the Wymondham to Dereham section was reduced to single track with a passing loop at Hardingham. The passenger service from King's Lynn ended in September 1968 followed by the service between Wymondham and Dereham in October 1969.
Dereham, North Elmham, Ryburgh and Fakenham remained open to freight, with the section of line between Ryburgh and Fakenham closing on 1st January 1980. The last freight train worked from Ryburgh in August 1981. Complete closure of the line took place in June 1989.
[edit] Preservation
| Mid-Norfolk Railway | |
|---|---|
The Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust was established in 1995 with the aim of buying and restoring the then-disused line between 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 1974. 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.
Present projects include improving facilities and siding space in Dereham Yard, reconstruction of Dereham North Signalbox (ex Laundry Lane, Lowestoft) restoring 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, including the full restoration of Dereham station building, construction of a locomotive pit and provisions for steam working.
Part of the line which formerly ran from County School to Wroxham 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. Both of these schemes are independent of the MNR. Another independent scheme, the "Norfolk Orbital Railway" plans to link the MNR to the North Norfolk Railway and the coast at Sheringham.
[edit] Rolling Stock
[edit] Diesel Locomotives And Shunters
| Number & Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 08631 'Eagle' | BR 0-6-0 Class 08 | Operational. |
| D8069 | BR Bo-Bo Class 20 | Operational |
| 31235 | BR A1A-A1A Class 31/1 | Operational. |
| 31438 | BR A1A-A1A Class 31/4 | Operational |
| 31530 'Sister Dora' | BR A1A-A1A Class 31/5 | Under Restoration |
| 47596 'Aldeburgh Festival' | BR Co-Co Class 47 | Operational |
| 50019 'Ramillies' | BR Co-Co Class 50 | Under Repair. |
| 56040 'Oystermouth' | BR Co-Co Class 56 | Under Restoration. |
[edit] Multiple Unit Stock
| Number | Description | Formed of | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56301 | BR Class 100 | 56301 | Static Display. |
| L836 | BR Class 101 | 51434 + 59117 + 51503 | Operational. |
| 101 695 | BR Class 101 | 51499 + 51226 | Under Restoration. |
[edit] Single Unit Railcars
| Number | Description | Formed of | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| P109 | BR Class 122 | 55009 | Under Restoration. |
| MLV | BR Class 419 | 68004 | Hauled / Engineers. |
[edit] Passenger Coaching Stock
| Number | Built for | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1218 | British Railways | Mk2f RFB | Blue Grey livery, Air Brake |
| 1380 | Great Eastern Railway | T | Body only, under restoration |
| 3521 | British Railways | Mk2 SO | Blue Grey livery, Air Brake |
| 5211 | British Railways | Mk2e FOT | Anglia livery, Air Brake |
| 5219 | British Railways | Mk2 TSO | Maroon livery, Vacuum brake |
| 5255 | British Railways | Mk2 SO | Blue Grey livery, Air Brake |
| 5265 | British Railways | Mk2a SO | Blue Grey livery, Air Brake |
| 5497 | British Railways | Mk2b TSO | Blue Grey livery, Air Brake |
| 5536 | British Railways | Mk2c TSO | Maroon livery, Air Brake, Stored |
| 9409 | British Railways | Mk2 BSO | Maroon livery, Vacuum brake |
| 13446 | British Railways | Mk2a FK | Maroon livery, Vacuum brake |
| 13447 | British Railways | Mk2a FK | NSE livery, Vacuum brake, Stored |
| 17079 | British Railways | Mk2a BFO | Blue Grey livery, Air Brake |
| E25189 | British Railways | Mk1 SK | Maroon livery, Vacuum brake, Stored |
[edit] Stations
The MNR serves the following stations, listed from north to south:
- Dereham is the headquarters of the railway, and has recently been restored to 1950s condition with help from European and Government funding. The station has a large car park, and is situated close to the town centre. The line continues northwards to North Elmham, but is not yet in passenger use.
- Yaxham retains many of its buildings, including the signal box, in private ownership. It is also the home of the Yaxham Light Railway and a local boiler engineering company. There is no parking at this station.
- Thuxton's waiting rooms are, in common with all the intermediate stations, in private hands. The waiting room has been restored as holiday accommodation.
- Hardingham Station is fully restored and is passed between Thuxton and Kimberley Park however this station, apart from the platforms, is in complete private ownership and therefore no trains stop here.
- Kimberley Park is a private home, but the platforms have been restored for local use. There is no parking near the station, which is located on a busy road.
- Wymondham Abbey is a simple platform built close to the original Wymondham Abbey. There is limited car parking here. MNR trains do not serve the main 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.
[edit] Steam
Although the line has a reputation for operating diesel trains, it is not and has never intended to be a diesel-only railway. The first train to depart from Dereham after preservation, running between Dereham and Yaxham was hauled by 0-6-0 tank locomotive "Sir Berkeley", and the railway has always intended to be a multi-function railway - operating both steam and diesel trains.
During May 2006 and May-July 2007 the line saw the return of steam in the form of a GWR Pannier Tank (No. 9466). This was the first time a steam-hauled passenger service had run between Dereham and Wymondham since 1955. Previous steam-powered visitors to the line have included B1 61264 and "Little Barford", an 0-6-0 Andrew Barclay industrial shunter (now operational at the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway). In May 2007 the first special steam charter train from Dereham ran to London Liverpool Street via Norwich, hauled by unrebuilt exSR 4-6-2 Battle of Britain Class class locomotive 34067, Tangmere.
The return of steam marked the completion of Dereham Station restoration and the installation of steam infrastructure (such as the water tower). The Trust hopes to attract further steam engines in the future, to show more diversity on the line.
[edit] Freight
In addition to its passenger services, the Mid-Norfolk Railway has a proven record of carrying commercial freight trains, using its connection with the National Rail network at Wymondham. Dereham yard was used as a servicing depot by Direct Rail Services in late 2007 and for Network Rail track plant during 2008.
[edit] TV and Film Appearances
The railway has been seen both on television and in film. County School station was used as Weavers Green station in the Anglia Television soap opera of the same name. The station also featured as "Gare de Nouvion (Nouvion railway station)" in 'Allo 'Allo!, the comedy series set in occupied France. The station was also used in a yet to be released film about composer Philip Heseltine and featured as Thetford station in a documentary about the arrival of American troops in World War Two. Dereham station, along with the railway's set of Mark 2 coaches, have also featured in a minor film. The railway has also featured in several documentary series for local television.
[edit] External links
Other Places in Norfolk
- Bressingham Steam & Gardens
- Bure Valley Railway
- North Norfolk Railway
- Wells and Walsingham Light Railway
- Yaxham Light Railway
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