National Network
Passengers suffer a week of calamity on the GEML
The worst week on the GEML in living memory – that’s how Norwich – London line regulars viewed five days in June.
The sequence of calamities began on Monday June 9 when a trio of Class 360 emus working the 17:20 Liverpool Street – Ipswich brought down a mile of OHL between Ingatestone and Chelmsford. Passengers in the stricken train waited over two hours before being helped down ladders and transferred to an empty hauled set. People desperate to travel from London to East Anglia were advised to go via Cambridge.
Next day, as attempts began to remove the train and repair the OHL, a restricted each-way service between Chelmsford and Shenfield was brought in over the unaffected track.
Then on Wednesday afternoon three engineers repairing the OHL at Margaretting were injured when the basket of a hoist fell from its hydraulic arm. An air ambulance took two of them to hospital. Power on the adjacent line was turned off, trapping the 13.30 Liverpool Street – Norwich. At 16.00 services east of the accident began moving again, but no train services on the London side were allowed to resume their journeys until inspectors were satisfied that the engineers could work safely. Sadly, one of the workers later died from his injuries.
By the following day, Thursday, the OHL had been reinstated and services returned to normal – until mid-afternoon when a wagon bogie on the 4L41 0805 Daventry International – Felixstowe North became derailed at Chitts Hill, damaging many sleepers and asignal. Trains were once more brought to a halt, and a full service did not resume until early Friday morning. A letter of apology was distributed on all NXEA trains to and from London. It acknowledged the severe disruption and pledged that “our key priority now is to work together to prevent these major disruptive incidents happening again”. After negotiations between NXEA and NR, season ticket holders from stations between Ingatestone and Norwich were granted compensation amounting to a week’s free travel.
Duke and Oliver fail to reach Norfolk
Two prestige BR standard 4-6-2s were pencilled in to visit Norfolk in July, but in the event neither materialised.
One-of-a-kind no. 71000 Duke of Gloucester was rostered to haul the Railway Touring Co’s Scarborough Flyer from Norwich on July 12. However it was unavailable, so ex-LNER A4 4-6-2 no. 60009 Union of South Africa was called upon instead. The train ran late all day (signalling along the Breckland line had been disrupted the previous day by a lightning strike) despite some fast running on the main line by the A4, and by EWS no. 67021 on the return leg from York. It arrived back in Norwich’s platform 2 around 21/2 hours late at 23.00.
Meanwhile the eagerly-awaited return to steam of long-time Bressingham resident no. 70013 Oliver Cromwell has been delayed, with the restoration team at Loughborough settling on a new target date of August 10 (the 40th anniversary of the 1T57 ‘15 Guinea Special’). Oliver Cromwell had been due to take a fully-booked Steam Dreams excursion from Liverpool Street to Norwich on July 24, but this has now been put back to September 9.
Colchester Castle – second time around
In October 2002 Bob Russell, MP for Colchester, unveiled the name Colchester Castle on Anglia Railways’ loco no. 86242.
The Class 86s have long been retired, and, six years on, Mr Russell has been called back to perform the same duty on a current main-line regular. On the morning of July 31 no. 90015, in freshly-applied NXEA livery, was brought to Colchester North station from Norwich Crown Point depot by no. 47375. There Mr Russell unveiled the name Colchester Castle in recognition of NXEA’s partnership with the Castle Museum and its current ’Guardians to the King’ exhibition.
Felixstowe branch doubling gets go-ahead
As part of a large scheme to increase capacity at the Port of Felixstowe, consent has been granted to lay a second track along part of the Felixstowe branch.
41/4 miles will be doubled between Trimley St. Mary and a point just east of the old Orwell station. In addition, three additional sidings will be laid in Ipswich Upper Yard. Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited which owns the Port of Felixstowe said that the rail improvements would allow 40 trains a day to serve the port instead of the current 26, and take hundreds of thousands of vehicles off the region’s roads.
The Ramsey Way Residents’ Association (Ipswich) had objected to the work because of the increased activity at Ipswich fuelling point near their houses. However the inspector commented that the fuel point is outside the relevant geographic areas and, of course, the railway was there years before the new houses.
Perfect fare on NXEA
For the third year running, transport journalist Barry Doe has rated the restaurant service on NXEA trains between London and Norwich as the best on the UK rail network. The categories he evaluated included: service reliability, on-board announcements, last orders, staff attitude, menu choice, value for money and general on-board service. He awarded NXEA 10 out of 10 in each category.
Crossrail passes parliamentary hurdle
The bill for the long-awaited Crossrail scheme (NRS Newsletter Nov-Dec 07) has finally received Royal Assent. The £16bn project will construct a rail line running through London in tunnels and linking Maidenhead and Heathrow to Shenfield. For East Anglian travellers, Crossrail should allow rail operators such as NXEA to run more trains into Liverpool Street.
Main construction work on what will be Europe's largest civil engineering project is scheduled to start in 2010, and the project is due for completion by 2017.
Take note – things are normal!
It’s ironic when ‘normal service’ is so rare as to merit a special announcement.
Weekend engineering work, and the consequent need to change to a bus for part of the journey, have become an accepted part of life for passengers on the Norwich - London main line. Fortunately the summer months have seen a halt to the work, and ‘Engineering Work-free Weekends’ were the subject of a NXEA press release. The company joyfully announced that most weekends over the summer period would be free of improvement works, and encouraged people to plan trips during the summer without the need to check for service alterations.
These weekends were scheduled to see no Network Rail engineering work affecting the Norwich to London main line:
June 28/29; July 12/13, 19/20*; August 2/3, 16/17**, 23/24, 30/31; Sep 6/7, 13/14, 20/21, 27/28.
* Except for minor alterations to Saturday late evening and Sunday early morning services between Norwich and Diss.
** Except for service alterations for the V festival at Chelmsford.
Extras to the Airshow
Sunny weather brought crowds flocking to the two-day Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival on July 24 and 25. As in previous years, extra loco-hauled trains were laid on to take spectators to the coast.
On the Thursday two morning trains ran from Norwich to Lowestoft, and an afternoon one ran in the reverse direction. The next day an extra Lowestoft departure was slotted in at 1800; according to one report, ‘the best part of 900 people’ were aboard. Two hired-in class 47s, nos. 47375 and 47818, topped and tailed the trains on each day. No. 47375, in blue Advenza freight livery, had not been observed on passenger duty since the late 1980s. No. 47818, stripped of its Emily nameplates, was reported to be on the point of being sold by Cotswold Rail.
To release a coaching set for the shuttles, some Norwich – London services were formed of two class 321 units.
Counties unite to urge speedier OHL renewal
Norfolk and Suffolk county councils are jointly urging an early start to OHL renewal on the main Norwich – London line.
As a result of recent disruption on the route, Adrian Gunson, Chairman of the Norfolk Rail Alliance and Norfolk's Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, and Guy McGregor, Suffolk's Portfolio Holder for Roads and Transport have written to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, and Iain Coucher, Chief Executive of Network Rail. Their letter stresses that some OHL dates from the late 1940s and urges Network Rail and the Government to:
~ bring forward OHL replacement, currently scheduled to be completed by 2012.
~ ensure that maintenance standards are kept up as replacement nears.
~ install bi-directional signalling of the entire route to reduce the impact when one track is out of use.
~ continue upgrading cross-country routes to remove more freight from the Norwich – London line.
Wymondham students assist in Mk3 door trial
A quartet of Wymondham High School sixth form students have been trying to improve the reliability of the air-operated internal doors on NXEA’s Mark 3 coaches. Andy Knights, Matt Rudling, Ryan Frost and Tom Dougall worked in partnership with the engineering fleet team at Crown Point Depot as part of an engineering education scheme.
The four developed an electrical box and replaced relays so as to make the doors operate more consistently. They built a prototype which was fitted to a replica carriage door, the intention being to move towards a proper vehicle trial on the coaches. which operate on main line Norwich – Liverpool Street trains.
‘Porter Perks’ launches East Suffolk guide
2009 sees the 150th birthday of the Ipswich – Lowestoft line. As a foretaste of the celebrations, the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership has produced a new guide which it hopes will attract more people to go by rail to the coast, towns and villages along the route.
Partnership chairman John Brodribb, dressed as Albert Perks from The Railway Children, launched the guides on June 13 at Lowestoft and Ipswich stations and announced details of the 150th anniversary celebrations.
As well as providing train times, the guide features attractions (such as Sutton Hoo, accessible from Woodbridge station), events and areas of interest around the East Suffolk Lines, cycle hire outlets and bus links.
A brighter look for Needham Market
Needham Market station looks much smarter following the completion of a redecoration programme. NXEA’s rural buildings team has meticulously repainted the decorative Victorian canopy columns, as well as the fencing, windows and doors. The passenger subway has also been redecorated and has had its lighting levels improved.
Needham Market lies south-east of Stowmarket on the Norwich - London main line but is served only by hourly trains between Ipswich and Cambridge.
Level crossing death at Santon Downham
A man was killed on July 19 by a train at Santon Downham level crossing, 3m east of Brandon.
NXEA unit no. 170272, forming the 8.40am train from Norwich to Cambridge, struck the man at about 9.30am, and he was declared dead at the scene. Several trains were delayed, and the 0957 Norwich – Liverpool was cancelled. The line reopened at 10.39.
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and Miniature
Mid-Norfolk plans loop at Thuxton
To enable the Mid-Norfolk Railway to double its service frequency on special events days – as well as run test trains, driver experience and freight trains alongside the passenger service – it needs a passing loop. Although previous plans located a loop at Hardingham, access problems mean that Thuxton has been chosen instead.
The signalbox from East Winch on the King's Lynn to Dereham line (NRS Newsletter May/Jun 2008) has been donated to the MNR. It will be reconstructed and situated next to Thuxton level crossing. The crossing itself will require widening back to its size before the line was singled in 1965..
The project is likely to cost in the order of £50,000, and the MNR has launched a Chairman’s Appeal to raise the funds. Work is due to start in January 2009 with completion planned for 2010.
Monster loco line-up for Bure Valley gala
This year’s Bure Valley Railway gala, to be held on September 13-14, will see the most intensive service ever on the 15”-gauge line. With trains departing at roughly 25-minute intervals, all three passing loops will be in use. Trains will also cross at the Aylsham and Wroxham termini.
Supplementing the home fleet will be no less than four visiting locomotives: 4-6-2 Black Prince (RH&DR); 4-6-2 Männertreu (Bressingham); 2-6-2 no. 24 (Cleethorpes Coast Light Rly); and 0-4-4-0 diesel-hydraulic Douglas Ferreira (Ravenglass and Eskdale Rly).
Sheringham level crossing gets closer
The North Norfolk Railway has been granted planning permission for a reinstated ‘occasional use’ link at Sheringham between its line and the national network (NRS Newsletter Nov/Dec 2007). The NNR is now investigating the utility services under the level crossing, and ascertaining what work is needed.
‘Depending on the civil engineering work and its cost,’ said project director Julian Birley, ‘the restored crossing could be in place before next season’. A £1,800 prize raffle has been launched to raise funds for the work.
Another quad-art ‘first’
Such is the enthusiasm surrounding the return of the M&GNJRS’s immaculately restored Gresley quad-art set (NRS Newsletter May/Jun 2008) that it has seen a number of ‘firsts’ and ‘launches’.
On June 19 benefactors and contributors to the restoration were invited to its ‘official launch into service’. After a short ceremony at Holt, the guests travelled in the wooden-bodied ex-commuter stock to Sheringham behind Class N7 0-6-2T no. 69621. There they enjoyed a buffet lunch before returning to Holt. The event was covered briefly on BBC Look East.
The Quad-Arts entered public service for the first time on the weekend of July 12/13.
100-year-old MSLR restores its loco
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway has begun restoration work on its Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST Alston, hitherto a static exhibit. The boiler condition is being assessed, and the museum is preparing to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant. Built in 1928, the loco worked all its life at Bardney (Lincolnshire) sugar factory until withdrawal in 1970.
Ground frames and pointwork interlocking are being installed in Brockford station area, and a siding is under construction in the copse at the far end of the track.
MSLR passenger services began in 1908 and a special weekend will be held on September 13/14 to mark the centenary.
Scotty’s first half enters traffic
The Mid-Norfolk Railway’s operational railcar fleet took a step forward on June 1 when DBS no. 51226, one car of its Metro-Cammell dmu set no.101695, was used for the Sunday service – a 66-mile duty.
The dmu arrived at the MNR in 2003, its Strathclyde livery, earning it the nickname ‘Scotty’. Its restoration has included engine overhaul and a repaint into early BR green. For the moment DBS no. 51226 is working coupled to blue/grey car no. 51503 from set no.L836 – representing, according to the MNR, the transitional years of the 1960s.
The second ‘Scotty’ car, DMC no. 51499, should soon also enter service.
Lynn & Dereham closure to be marked by coach trips
This September sees the fortieth anniversary of the closure of the line between King’s Lynn and Dereham. To mark the anniversary, the Mid-Norfolk Railway will host a special weekend on September 6/7.
On each day two coach tours – one starting from Lynn, the other from Dereham – will visit the old stations along the line (details: tel. 01362 851723). The MNR will also run an intensive service, based on the 1968 timetable and using the green class 101 dmu (see Scotty’s first half enters traffic above). Every day from August 23 to September 7, photographs of the Lynn & Dereham line through the years will be on show at Dereham station.
More Great Westernry at Sheringham
Two ex-GWR steam locomotives are visiting the North Norfolk Railway this summer. Green-liveried 16xx class 0-6-0PT no. 1638 arrived from the Kent & East Sussex Railway on July 23 and will return in early September after starring in the NNR Steam Gala on August 29-31. The Furness Railway Trust’s 56xx class no. 5643 will also appear at the Gala, where the ex-GWR pair will be joined by home-based WD 2-10-0 no. 90775, J15 0-6-0 no. 65462 and N7 0-6-2T no.69621.
Away from the tracks
‘Final day’ Ivatt mogul model scrapped
The 50th anniversary of the M&GN’s closure in 1959 will be widely remembered next year. As part of its contribution, the M&GN Joint Railway Society was hoping to commission a limited edition 'final day' Ivatt 4MT mogul no. 43145 from Bachmann. However by the end of May, only a tenth of the required minimum 512 models had been ordered, and the project has been cancelled.
Despite this disappointment, the M&GNJRS stresses that other ‘exciting plans’ are in hand for the 2009 anniversary.
Passengers suffer a week of calamity on the GEML
The worst week on the GEML in living memory – that’s how Norwich – London line regulars viewed five days in June.
The sequence of calamities began on Monday June 9 when a trio of Class 360 emus working the 17:20 Liverpool Street – Ipswich brought down a mile of OHL between Ingatestone and Chelmsford. Passengers in the stricken train waited over two hours before being helped down ladders and transferred to an empty hauled set. People desperate to travel from London to East Anglia were advised to go via Cambridge.
Next day, as attempts began to remove the train and repair the OHL, a restricted each-way service between Chelmsford and Shenfield was brought in over the unaffected track.
Then on Wednesday afternoon three engineers repairing the OHL at Margaretting were injured when the basket of a hoist fell from its hydraulic arm. An air ambulance took two of them to hospital. Power on the adjacent line was turned off, trapping the 13.30 Liverpool Street – Norwich. At 16.00 services east of the accident began moving again, but no train services on the London side were allowed to resume their journeys until inspectors were satisfied that the engineers could work safely. Sadly, one of the workers later died from his injuries.
By the following day, Thursday, the OHL had been reinstated and services returned to normal – until mid-afternoon when a wagon bogie on the 4L41 0805 Daventry International – Felixstowe North became derailed at Chitts Hill, damaging many sleepers and asignal. Trains were once more brought to a halt, and a full service did not resume until early Friday morning. A letter of apology was distributed on all NXEA trains to and from London. It acknowledged the severe disruption and pledged that “our key priority now is to work together to prevent these major disruptive incidents happening again”. After negotiations between NXEA and NR, season ticket holders from stations between Ingatestone and Norwich were granted compensation amounting to a week’s free travel.
Duke and Oliver fail to reach Norfolk
Two prestige BR standard 4-6-2s were pencilled in to visit Norfolk in July, but in the event neither materialised.
One-of-a-kind no. 71000 Duke of Gloucester was rostered to haul the Railway Touring Co’s Scarborough Flyer from Norwich on July 12. However it was unavailable, so ex-LNER A4 4-6-2 no. 60009 Union of South Africa was called upon instead. The train ran late all day (signalling along the Breckland line had been disrupted the previous day by a lightning strike) despite some fast running on the main line by the A4, and by EWS no. 67021 on the return leg from York. It arrived back in Norwich’s platform 2 around 21/2 hours late at 23.00.
Meanwhile the eagerly-awaited return to steam of long-time Bressingham resident no. 70013 Oliver Cromwell has been delayed, with the restoration team at Loughborough settling on a new target date of August 10 (the 40th anniversary of the 1T57 ‘15 Guinea Special’). Oliver Cromwell had been due to take a fully-booked Steam Dreams excursion from Liverpool Street to Norwich on July 24, but this has now been put back to September 9.
Colchester Castle – second time around
In October 2002 Bob Russell, MP for Colchester, unveiled the name Colchester Castle on Anglia Railways’ loco no. 86242.
The Class 86s have long been retired, and, six years on, Mr Russell has been called back to perform the same duty on a current main-line regular. On the morning of July 31 no. 90015, in freshly-applied NXEA livery, was brought to Colchester North station from Norwich Crown Point depot by no. 47375. There Mr Russell unveiled the name Colchester Castle in recognition of NXEA’s partnership with the Castle Museum and its current ’Guardians to the King’ exhibition.
Felixstowe branch doubling gets go-ahead
As part of a large scheme to increase capacity at the Port of Felixstowe, consent has been granted to lay a second track along part of the Felixstowe branch.
41/4 miles will be doubled between Trimley St. Mary and a point just east of the old Orwell station. In addition, three additional sidings will be laid in Ipswich Upper Yard. Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited which owns the Port of Felixstowe said that the rail improvements would allow 40 trains a day to serve the port instead of the current 26, and take hundreds of thousands of vehicles off the region’s roads.
The Ramsey Way Residents’ Association (Ipswich) had objected to the work because of the increased activity at Ipswich fuelling point near their houses. However the inspector commented that the fuel point is outside the relevant geographic areas and, of course, the railway was there years before the new houses.
Perfect fare on NXEA
For the third year running, transport journalist Barry Doe has rated the restaurant service on NXEA trains between London and Norwich as the best on the UK rail network. The categories he evaluated included: service reliability, on-board announcements, last orders, staff attitude, menu choice, value for money and general on-board service. He awarded NXEA 10 out of 10 in each category.
Crossrail passes parliamentary hurdle
The bill for the long-awaited Crossrail scheme (NRS Newsletter Nov-Dec 07) has finally received Royal Assent. The £16bn project will construct a rail line running through London in tunnels and linking Maidenhead and Heathrow to Shenfield. For East Anglian travellers, Crossrail should allow rail operators such as NXEA to run more trains into Liverpool Street.
Main construction work on what will be Europe's largest civil engineering project is scheduled to start in 2010, and the project is due for completion by 2017.
Take note – things are normal!
It’s ironic when ‘normal service’ is so rare as to merit a special announcement.
Weekend engineering work, and the consequent need to change to a bus for part of the journey, have become an accepted part of life for passengers on the Norwich - London main line. Fortunately the summer months have seen a halt to the work, and ‘Engineering Work-free Weekends’ were the subject of a NXEA press release. The company joyfully announced that most weekends over the summer period would be free of improvement works, and encouraged people to plan trips during the summer without the need to check for service alterations.
These weekends were scheduled to see no Network Rail engineering work affecting the Norwich to London main line:
June 28/29; July 12/13, 19/20*; August 2/3, 16/17**, 23/24, 30/31; Sep 6/7, 13/14, 20/21, 27/28.
* Except for minor alterations to Saturday late evening and Sunday early morning services between Norwich and Diss.
** Except for service alterations for the V festival at Chelmsford.
Extras to the Airshow
Sunny weather brought crowds flocking to the two-day Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival on July 24 and 25. As in previous years, extra loco-hauled trains were laid on to take spectators to the coast.
On the Thursday two morning trains ran from Norwich to Lowestoft, and an afternoon one ran in the reverse direction. The next day an extra Lowestoft departure was slotted in at 1800; according to one report, ‘the best part of 900 people’ were aboard. Two hired-in class 47s, nos. 47375 and 47818, topped and tailed the trains on each day. No. 47375, in blue Advenza freight livery, had not been observed on passenger duty since the late 1980s. No. 47818, stripped of its Emily nameplates, was reported to be on the point of being sold by Cotswold Rail.
To release a coaching set for the shuttles, some Norwich – London services were formed of two class 321 units.
Counties unite to urge speedier OHL renewal
Norfolk and Suffolk county councils are jointly urging an early start to OHL renewal on the main Norwich – London line.
As a result of recent disruption on the route, Adrian Gunson, Chairman of the Norfolk Rail Alliance and Norfolk's Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, and Guy McGregor, Suffolk's Portfolio Holder for Roads and Transport have written to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, and Iain Coucher, Chief Executive of Network Rail. Their letter stresses that some OHL dates from the late 1940s and urges Network Rail and the Government to:
~ bring forward OHL replacement, currently scheduled to be completed by 2012.
~ ensure that maintenance standards are kept up as replacement nears.
~ install bi-directional signalling of the entire route to reduce the impact when one track is out of use.
~ continue upgrading cross-country routes to remove more freight from the Norwich – London line.
Wymondham students assist in Mk3 door trial
A quartet of Wymondham High School sixth form students have been trying to improve the reliability of the air-operated internal doors on NXEA’s Mark 3 coaches. Andy Knights, Matt Rudling, Ryan Frost and Tom Dougall worked in partnership with the engineering fleet team at Crown Point Depot as part of an engineering education scheme.
The four developed an electrical box and replaced relays so as to make the doors operate more consistently. They built a prototype which was fitted to a replica carriage door, the intention being to move towards a proper vehicle trial on the coaches. which operate on main line Norwich – Liverpool Street trains.
‘Porter Perks’ launches East Suffolk guide
2009 sees the 150th birthday of the Ipswich – Lowestoft line. As a foretaste of the celebrations, the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership has produced a new guide which it hopes will attract more people to go by rail to the coast, towns and villages along the route.
Partnership chairman John Brodribb, dressed as Albert Perks from The Railway Children, launched the guides on June 13 at Lowestoft and Ipswich stations and announced details of the 150th anniversary celebrations.
As well as providing train times, the guide features attractions (such as Sutton Hoo, accessible from Woodbridge station), events and areas of interest around the East Suffolk Lines, cycle hire outlets and bus links.
A brighter look for Needham Market
Needham Market station looks much smarter following the completion of a redecoration programme. NXEA’s rural buildings team has meticulously repainted the decorative Victorian canopy columns, as well as the fencing, windows and doors. The passenger subway has also been redecorated and has had its lighting levels improved.
Needham Market lies south-east of Stowmarket on the Norwich - London main line but is served only by hourly trains between Ipswich and Cambridge.
Level crossing death at Santon Downham
A man was killed on July 19 by a train at Santon Downham level crossing, 3m east of Brandon.
NXEA unit no. 170272, forming the 8.40am train from Norwich to Cambridge, struck the man at about 9.30am, and he was declared dead at the scene. Several trains were delayed, and the 0957 Norwich – Liverpool was cancelled. The line reopened at 10.39.
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and Miniature
Mid-Norfolk plans loop at Thuxton
To enable the Mid-Norfolk Railway to double its service frequency on special events days – as well as run test trains, driver experience and freight trains alongside the passenger service – it needs a passing loop. Although previous plans located a loop at Hardingham, access problems mean that Thuxton has been chosen instead.
The signalbox from East Winch on the King's Lynn to Dereham line (NRS Newsletter May/Jun 2008) has been donated to the MNR. It will be reconstructed and situated next to Thuxton level crossing. The crossing itself will require widening back to its size before the line was singled in 1965..
The project is likely to cost in the order of £50,000, and the MNR has launched a Chairman’s Appeal to raise the funds. Work is due to start in January 2009 with completion planned for 2010.
Monster loco line-up for Bure Valley gala
This year’s Bure Valley Railway gala, to be held on September 13-14, will see the most intensive service ever on the 15”-gauge line. With trains departing at roughly 25-minute intervals, all three passing loops will be in use. Trains will also cross at the Aylsham and Wroxham termini.
Supplementing the home fleet will be no less than four visiting locomotives: 4-6-2 Black Prince (RH&DR); 4-6-2 Männertreu (Bressingham); 2-6-2 no. 24 (Cleethorpes Coast Light Rly); and 0-4-4-0 diesel-hydraulic Douglas Ferreira (Ravenglass and Eskdale Rly).
Sheringham level crossing gets closer
The North Norfolk Railway has been granted planning permission for a reinstated ‘occasional use’ link at Sheringham between its line and the national network (NRS Newsletter Nov/Dec 2007). The NNR is now investigating the utility services under the level crossing, and ascertaining what work is needed.
‘Depending on the civil engineering work and its cost,’ said project director Julian Birley, ‘the restored crossing could be in place before next season’. A £1,800 prize raffle has been launched to raise funds for the work.
Another quad-art ‘first’
Such is the enthusiasm surrounding the return of the M&GNJRS’s immaculately restored Gresley quad-art set (NRS Newsletter May/Jun 2008) that it has seen a number of ‘firsts’ and ‘launches’.
On June 19 benefactors and contributors to the restoration were invited to its ‘official launch into service’. After a short ceremony at Holt, the guests travelled in the wooden-bodied ex-commuter stock to Sheringham behind Class N7 0-6-2T no. 69621. There they enjoyed a buffet lunch before returning to Holt. The event was covered briefly on BBC Look East.
The Quad-Arts entered public service for the first time on the weekend of July 12/13.
100-year-old MSLR restores its loco
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway has begun restoration work on its Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST Alston, hitherto a static exhibit. The boiler condition is being assessed, and the museum is preparing to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant. Built in 1928, the loco worked all its life at Bardney (Lincolnshire) sugar factory until withdrawal in 1970.
Ground frames and pointwork interlocking are being installed in Brockford station area, and a siding is under construction in the copse at the far end of the track.
MSLR passenger services began in 1908 and a special weekend will be held on September 13/14 to mark the centenary.
Scotty’s first half enters traffic
The Mid-Norfolk Railway’s operational railcar fleet took a step forward on June 1 when DBS no. 51226, one car of its Metro-Cammell dmu set no.101695, was used for the Sunday service – a 66-mile duty.
The dmu arrived at the MNR in 2003, its Strathclyde livery, earning it the nickname ‘Scotty’. Its restoration has included engine overhaul and a repaint into early BR green. For the moment DBS no. 51226 is working coupled to blue/grey car no. 51503 from set no.L836 – representing, according to the MNR, the transitional years of the 1960s.
The second ‘Scotty’ car, DMC no. 51499, should soon also enter service.
Lynn & Dereham closure to be marked by coach trips
This September sees the fortieth anniversary of the closure of the line between King’s Lynn and Dereham. To mark the anniversary, the Mid-Norfolk Railway will host a special weekend on September 6/7.
On each day two coach tours – one starting from Lynn, the other from Dereham – will visit the old stations along the line (details: tel. 01362 851723). The MNR will also run an intensive service, based on the 1968 timetable and using the green class 101 dmu (see Scotty’s first half enters traffic above). Every day from August 23 to September 7, photographs of the Lynn & Dereham line through the years will be on show at Dereham station.
More Great Westernry at Sheringham
Two ex-GWR steam locomotives are visiting the North Norfolk Railway this summer. Green-liveried 16xx class 0-6-0PT no. 1638 arrived from the Kent & East Sussex Railway on July 23 and will return in early September after starring in the NNR Steam Gala on August 29-31. The Furness Railway Trust’s 56xx class no. 5643 will also appear at the Gala, where the ex-GWR pair will be joined by home-based WD 2-10-0 no. 90775, J15 0-6-0 no. 65462 and N7 0-6-2T no.69621.
Away from the tracks
‘Final day’ Ivatt mogul model scrapped
The 50th anniversary of the M&GN’s closure in 1959 will be widely remembered next year. As part of its contribution, the M&GN Joint Railway Society was hoping to commission a limited edition 'final day' Ivatt 4MT mogul no. 43145 from Bachmann. However by the end of May, only a tenth of the required minimum 512 models had been ordered, and the project has been cancelled.
Despite this disappointment, the M&GNJRS stresses that other ‘exciting plans’ are in hand for the 2009 anniversary.