News Archive May - June 2010 Back to News Archive index
National Network
Tornado makes first Norfolk appearance
Since emerging on to the main line at the end of 2008 it has appeared in many parts of the UK and attracted many lineside crowds. Now brand-new A1 Pacific no. 60163 Tornado has paid its first visit to Norfolk.
On May 28 it headed The Great Eastern Explorer from Liverpool Street to Norwich. Taking the GE main, line the ten-coach train arrived at a crowded Norwich station with no. 66157 on the rear. The return journey travelled via Ely and Bury before rejoining the GEML. At Colchester it was delayed for about 20 minutes when the 19.33 Colchester – Liverpool Street was trapped in Platform 4 (the only one where water could be taken) following the failure of the 18.30 from Norwich in Platform 3.
The tour was organised by a newcomer to the railtour scene, Amethyst Experience of Hockley, Essex.
Another summer of Yarmouth 'drags'
The annual summer Saturday sight of diesel traction hauling main-line electric train sets to and from Yarmouth began on May 29, when DRS no. 47790 Galloway Princess undertook the first 'drags'. Pulled dead that day to Yarmouth and back were locos nos. 90001, 90009 and 90003. This year's schedule is:
• 5V29 : 08:48 Crown Point to Great Yarmouth (via Reedham)
• 1V29 : 10:08 Great Yarmouth to Norwich (via Reedham)
• 1V18 : 12:06 Norwich to Great Yarmouth (via Reedham)
• 1V41 : 13:10 Great Yarmouth to Norwich (via Reedham)
• 1V26 : 14:18 Norwich to Great Yarmouth (via Acle)
• 5V26 : 15:40 Great Yarmouth to Crown Point (via Acle)
The ‘drags’ are suspended on June 12/19/26 Because of Wherry Lines engineering work (see below), with all London-Yarmouth services starting/terminating at Norwich.
Give us your views on Ipswich plans, says NR
Network Rail is inviting people to have their say on a new length of railway planned for Ipswich. NR is spending £53m on upgrading the route between Felixstowe and Nuneaton for freight traffic, and the two main elements which will increase capacity between Ipswich and Peterborough are a new 1km chord north of Ipswich goods yard, linking the East Suffolk line and Great Eastern main line (NRS Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009), and two 775m loops east of Ely station.
NR is asking people to comment on the Ipswich scheme. Between June 8 and 22 you can click ‘have your say’ on www.networkrail.co.uk/felixstowe-nuneaton. There will also be an exhibition at Ipswich’s Corn Exchange on June 8 - 10 where visitors will be invited to express their views.
Work on the scheme should start in 2012, with completion due in 2014.
Swing bridge failures anger Broads Authority
The unreliability of the region's swing bridges is once again concerning the Broads Authority.
In May Somerleyton bridge jammed, preventing the passage of boats with fixed masts and some larger motor boats. It may be months before it can open to river traffic.
The mechanism at Trowse bridge failed two years ago and boat owners have to book two days in advance for it to be opened manually. The bridges at Reedham and Oulton Broad have also been known to fail.
The Broads Authority has warned that the closure of Somerleyton bridge could have a devastating effect on tourism in the southern Broads. “If a bridge jammed so trains could not cross it," claimed one member, "the problem would be sorted in days.”
Two-in-one Broadsman to the coast
Spitfire Railtours' The Broadsman, a three-loco railtour with a difference, attracted a lot of interest on Saturday, April 24.
The excursion began at Crewe, ran via Wolverhampton, Leicester and Ely, and arrived at Norwich behind DRS no. 37423 Spirit of the Lakes, with nos. 37059 and 20305 Gresty Bridge on the rear. The train then divided and two 'mini-tours' set off. No. 20305 took six coaches to Yarmouth, where it arrived at 12.22. The 37s meanwhile top-and-tailed the remaining five coaches over the Bittern line to Sheringham, and used the new road crossing to run non-stop to Holt. Both portions spent time at their destinations before returning to Norwich, where they reconnected. The return trip set off at 17.29, the 37s leading and the 20 on the back.
Some local enthusiasts had hoped to travel between Norwich and Holt, but were deterred by the £65 fare, the same as for Crewe - Holt.
Is The Broadsman becoming a little tired as a name for excursions to Norfolk? The Oliver Cromwell-hauled tour which reopened Sheringham crossing on March 11 (NRS Newsletter Mar/Apr 2010) was also dubbed The Broadsman – and on May 14 DBS nos. 66189 and 66101 top 'n' tailed a UK Railtours' excursion of the same name from King's Cross to Hoveton & Wroxham.
Boost for EMT punctuality and customer satisfaction
New performance figures show that East Midlands Trains (EMT) delivered its best-ever performance in April 2010 with 94.9% punctuality.
Brian Souter, Chief Executive of EMT's parent Stagecoach Group, said: "At East Midlands Trains, we have been top of the long-distance operator league table for punctuality since January 2009. We have made huge advances across the network since taking over responsibility for the franchise in 2007 as a result of our investment and drive to improve services."
In the latest National Passenger Survey (Autumn 2009), 85% of EMT passengers said they were satisfied with the punctuality and reliability of services, marking a 6% year-on-year increase.
Top marks for Wymondham
NXEA’s Wymondham station has gained maximum scores in a recent 'mystery shopper' survey. In all of the categories assessed – customer service, cleanliness, quality of public address announcements and information provided – the station was given a 100% rating.
James Steward NXEA’s Area Manager for Rural stations said: “The success of Wymondham station in recent years shows that rural stations can be vibrant, flourishing places at the heart of the communities they serve. I’d like to thank David Turner, station adopter and proprietor of The Brief Encounter Café, for his enthusiasm and dedication in helping to provide a welcoming environment for our customers and station visitors."
Weekend closures on Wherry Lines
Engineering work between Norwich and Reedham on the weekends of June 12/13 and 19/20 June means that trains between Norwich and Yarmouth will be replaced by buses calling at all stations via Acle, while Norwich to Lowestoft services will be replaced by buses calling at Oulton Broad North only.
Passengers for Buckenham and Cantley are asked to use the station call point 'to request alternative transport', while passengers from Reedham and Berney Arms should travel by train to Yarmouth then by bus from Yarmouth to Norwich. From Haddiscoe and Somerleyton, passengers to Norwich should travel by train to Lowestoft then by bus from Lowestoft to Norwich.
Crossing gate collision at Harling Road
Rail services between Norwich and Ely were in disarray on April 9 after a train struck the crossing gate at Harling Road station.
The 15.52 East Midlands Trains dmu from Norwich to Liverpool was slowing for its Harling Road stop when it hit the manually-operated gate. The dmu suffered minor damage, but no passenger was injured. NXEA's 16:38 Norwich – Cambridge service was terminated at Attleborough, while 5Z21 Carnforth - Norwich empty stock working for the next day's Nenta Traintours excursion reversed at Brandon and headed back to Ely.
Heritage, Narrow-gauge and Miniature
Locos come and go at Dereham....
Class 56 no.56101 arrived at the Mid-Norfolk Railway on May 26. The privately-owned 'Grid' will provide a serviceable Class 5 loco while sister no.56040 Oystermouth is under repair away from Dereham. GBRf no. 66732 hauled the 56 from Eastleigh Works to Wymondham Abbey, and it continued its journey to Dereham coupled to the rear of the 1615 Wymondham - Dereham passenger working.
The previous day Class 08 no. 08631 Eagle CURC left the MNR by road for the Gwili Railway which is temporarily short of motive power. It is due to return from Wales in September.
....and at Sheringham too
LMS Black 5 4-6-0 no.44767 George Stephenson has arrived at the North Norfolk Railway for its summer duties. Peter Adds reports that two Allelys Heavy Haulage road vehicles brought the Black 5 and its tender to Sheringham on May 19. Later that day ex-SR BoB no.34081 92 Squadron was pulled from Weybourne to Sheringham by GWR 0-6-2T no.5619, which was rostered for the day's steam diagram. The Pacific was loaded on the Allelys vehicles, which then left for the Nene Valley Railway's Wansford works where the loco is to receive a boiler overhaul. George Stephenson was later propelled to Weybourne by Class 31 no. 31207.
The Locomotive Conservation and Learning Trust's J21 0-6-0 no.65033 has also left the NNR. It moved to the NRM's Shildon site in May, where it may be restored as a joint venture between the LCLT and the NRM.
First new-era passengers for railbus prototype
Having undergone test runs at the beginning of April, four-wheel railbus LEV 1 (RDB975874) entered public service on April 18 and 19 during the North Norfolk Railway's Vintage Bus Event.
LEV 1 (Leyland Experimental Vehicle 1) was built in 1978 as a prototype hybrid vehicle consisting of a double-cabbed bus body mounted on a BR two-axle underframe. Now part of the national collection, it has been on long-term loan to the NNR since June 2004. The NNR believes that this was its first passenger-carrying duty in preservation. LEV1 also appeared at the NNR's Mixed Traffic Gala on June 5/6.
Carlton Colville's no 14 on show
One of the long-term projects at the East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colville is the restoration to working order of Lowestoft Corporation tram no.14. Recent progress is such that the partially-complete vehicle was shown to the public for the first time at the museum's annual classic and vintage weekend on April 24/5.
Volunteers at local charity SOLD (Special Objectives for Local Disabled) have helped restore wood body panels of the 1904 Milnes-built vehicle, and the lower saloon is nearly complete. Installation of wiring is now being planned.
B12 overhaul nears completion
The M&GNJRS is optimistic that B12 4-6-0 no. 61572, undergoing its second heavy overhaul since its BR days, will soon be in steam once again.
Last December the insurance assessor inspected the boiler and sanctioned re-tubing. With this now complete, the boiler should soon be hydraulically and steam tested.
At Ian Riley's works at Bury the cylinders have been re-bored, piston heads have been built up and new rings and glands fitted. Work has been completed to the alignment of the horn guides, tapered wedge adjusters and axle boxes. New slide face inners have been fitted and white-metalling completed on the axleboxes.
Meanwhile work to the tender chassis at Weybourne is almost complete. The tender tank has been grit-blasted, painted and reunited with the frames.
More passenger stock at Wells line
In readiness for its forthcoming 'two engine' status, the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway is to build two extra carriages. The frames and framework covers will be made by Fakenham firm Wensum Engineering.
Cash awards for Whitwell
The Whitwell & Reepham Railway Preservation Society has won a £70,000 grant under the Government's Low Carbon Communities Challenge. The money will provide a biomass boiler to heat the engine shed and station and improved insulation in both buildings. The station will also receive a new electricity supply, thanks to an award of £25,000 from the 'Biffaward' environmental programme.
Unhappily a carriage, two goods vehicles and buildings at Whitwell and Reepham were sprayed with graffiti in mid-April. The attack is under investigation by Norfolk Police. Anyone with information should telephone Reepham's Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0845 4564567.
All aboard the Cromer Diner?
According to The Railway Magazine, the North Norfolk Railway is examining the possibility of taking advantage of the newly-installed Sheringham level crossing to operate Sunday dining trains over NR metals to Cromer and back.
J94 Group to welcome members
Norfolk Heritage Steam Railway Ltd, which is restoring a Hunslet-built 0-6-0ST for use on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, has launched a membership scheme.
There are four levels: Junior Member (£15 p.a.), Friend of Hunslet 3193 (£30 p.a.), Full Member (£10 per month) and Sponsor. Membership details and benefits can be found on www.norfolksteamloco.co.uk/j94supporters.asp
Help sought to restore NNR vehicles
The M&GNRJS is seeking funds to help restore two historic items of rolling stock.
Restoration of GER brake third no 295 is now about to begin. It was built in 1907 as part of the GER's first modern-style corridor train which formed the crack Liverpool Street – Sheringham service. No. 295's body framing is badly wasted and all fourteen doors need major repair work or replacement. New external panelling and toughened window glass will be needed, as well as new seats in three compartments.
The Society also plans to restore a BP/Shell tank wagon built in 1944. The total cost of restoration will be £2,100. A BP employee has offered £700, which BP will match as a charity donation, leaving just £700 to raise.
Donation and gift aid forms are available on the M&GNJRS website.
Wissington to return to steam this year?
Progress continues on the restoration of the M&GNJRS’s 0-6-0ST Wissington which used to work in west Norfolk, and which was a NRS-supported 'good cause' in previous years. The Friends of Wissington report that, with boiler stays fitted and caulked, tubes fitted and washout plugs cast and machined, a hydraulic test may take place soon. If current progress is maintained, the loco could be operational later in 2010. An appeal for funds has been launched and a grant application made to the Transport Trust.
Spruce-up for NNR's Met-Cam
The North Norfolk Railway reported in early April that trailer car no. E56062 of its class 101 dmu had emerged from Weybourne workshops in BR dark green livery with speed whiskers. Power car no. 51228 was undergoing work on the engines before being transferred to the works for a repaint in green livery.
Management changes at Bramley Line
The Annual General Meeting of the Bramley Line on March 27 witnessed important changes to its structure. Rail industry manager Simon Rudge is the new chairman, and a new treasurer and two new committee members were also elected.
The meeting also adopted a new constitution which established the Wisbech & March Bramley Line Heritage Railway Trust in place of old Bramley Line group. The structure is modelled on the Swanage Railway in Dorset and has been approved by the Heritage Railway Association. The Bramley Line has now become a member of the HRA.
Trust Chairman, Simon Rudge, said, "We are now in a much stronger position and confident we will succeed in our objective of restoring trains to the Bramley Line. I hope that those who have let their membership lapse, or didn’t believe we could succeed, will now join us in creating a new heritage railway on the Fens”.
Away from the Tracks
Wells and Burnham Market back in the timetables
For what must be the first time since the Fakenham to Wells-next-the-Sea section of the line from Wymondham closed in 1964, reports Martin Thorne, the latter destination has rejoined the rail network – albeit via bus connections.
First Capital Connect's Kings Cross-Kings Lynn timetables (but not Table 17A of the National Rail Timetable) now show connections to and from Wells via Norfolk Green's Coasthopper bus service.
Also appearing in the same timetable and served by the Coasthopper is Burnham Market, which lost its passenger services as long ago as 1952.
Network Rail archive guarded by Norfolk firm
Network Rail's archive warehouse at York contains an irreplaceable collection of rail-related documents from the last 160 years. When NR wanted a modern fire protection and detection system for the archive, it chose the Hydramist system developed by Watermist, a new firm based at Hethel Engineering Centre.
Hydramist pumps water at 100bar through a finely drilled nozzle. The mist it creates sucks the heat out of the fire and creates a blanket to starve it of oxygen. Hydramist uses far less water than normal fire hoses, and is less likely to cause water damage to precious documents.
Rail display at Mundesley
The old Norfolk & Suffolk Joint line which ran between North Walsham and Cromer via Mundesley is the subject of a special exhibition at Mundesley Maritime Museum.
The volunteer-run museum, in Cromer Road, Mundesley, also houses the local branch of the National Coastwatch Institution who watch over local shipping and beaches. The museum is open to the public from May 1 to September 30, from 11.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.00.
Memento of Norfolk's earliest line
Is this the ultimate piece of Norfolk railwayana? In its last sale, auction house railwayana.net offered a Yarmouth & Norwich Railway circular silver pass. The 1½" diameter pass, inscribed 'G N Tootal Secretary' and entered for sale by Mr Tootal's descendants, sold for £480.
The Yarmouth & Norwich was Norfolk's very first railway, whose rails first linked the two towns in its title in 1844. The Y&N soon amalgamated with the Norwich & Brandon to become the Norfolk Railway, which in turn became part of the Eastern Counties Railway and then the GER.
Tornado makes first Norfolk appearance
Since emerging on to the main line at the end of 2008 it has appeared in many parts of the UK and attracted many lineside crowds. Now brand-new A1 Pacific no. 60163 Tornado has paid its first visit to Norfolk.
On May 28 it headed The Great Eastern Explorer from Liverpool Street to Norwich. Taking the GE main, line the ten-coach train arrived at a crowded Norwich station with no. 66157 on the rear. The return journey travelled via Ely and Bury before rejoining the GEML. At Colchester it was delayed for about 20 minutes when the 19.33 Colchester – Liverpool Street was trapped in Platform 4 (the only one where water could be taken) following the failure of the 18.30 from Norwich in Platform 3.
The tour was organised by a newcomer to the railtour scene, Amethyst Experience of Hockley, Essex.
Another summer of Yarmouth 'drags'
The annual summer Saturday sight of diesel traction hauling main-line electric train sets to and from Yarmouth began on May 29, when DRS no. 47790 Galloway Princess undertook the first 'drags'. Pulled dead that day to Yarmouth and back were locos nos. 90001, 90009 and 90003. This year's schedule is:
• 5V29 : 08:48 Crown Point to Great Yarmouth (via Reedham)
• 1V29 : 10:08 Great Yarmouth to Norwich (via Reedham)
• 1V18 : 12:06 Norwich to Great Yarmouth (via Reedham)
• 1V41 : 13:10 Great Yarmouth to Norwich (via Reedham)
• 1V26 : 14:18 Norwich to Great Yarmouth (via Acle)
• 5V26 : 15:40 Great Yarmouth to Crown Point (via Acle)
The ‘drags’ are suspended on June 12/19/26 Because of Wherry Lines engineering work (see below), with all London-Yarmouth services starting/terminating at Norwich.
Give us your views on Ipswich plans, says NR
Network Rail is inviting people to have their say on a new length of railway planned for Ipswich. NR is spending £53m on upgrading the route between Felixstowe and Nuneaton for freight traffic, and the two main elements which will increase capacity between Ipswich and Peterborough are a new 1km chord north of Ipswich goods yard, linking the East Suffolk line and Great Eastern main line (NRS Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009), and two 775m loops east of Ely station.
NR is asking people to comment on the Ipswich scheme. Between June 8 and 22 you can click ‘have your say’ on www.networkrail.co.uk/felixstowe-nuneaton. There will also be an exhibition at Ipswich’s Corn Exchange on June 8 - 10 where visitors will be invited to express their views.
Work on the scheme should start in 2012, with completion due in 2014.
Swing bridge failures anger Broads Authority
The unreliability of the region's swing bridges is once again concerning the Broads Authority.
In May Somerleyton bridge jammed, preventing the passage of boats with fixed masts and some larger motor boats. It may be months before it can open to river traffic.
The mechanism at Trowse bridge failed two years ago and boat owners have to book two days in advance for it to be opened manually. The bridges at Reedham and Oulton Broad have also been known to fail.
The Broads Authority has warned that the closure of Somerleyton bridge could have a devastating effect on tourism in the southern Broads. “If a bridge jammed so trains could not cross it," claimed one member, "the problem would be sorted in days.”
Two-in-one Broadsman to the coast
Spitfire Railtours' The Broadsman, a three-loco railtour with a difference, attracted a lot of interest on Saturday, April 24.
The excursion began at Crewe, ran via Wolverhampton, Leicester and Ely, and arrived at Norwich behind DRS no. 37423 Spirit of the Lakes, with nos. 37059 and 20305 Gresty Bridge on the rear. The train then divided and two 'mini-tours' set off. No. 20305 took six coaches to Yarmouth, where it arrived at 12.22. The 37s meanwhile top-and-tailed the remaining five coaches over the Bittern line to Sheringham, and used the new road crossing to run non-stop to Holt. Both portions spent time at their destinations before returning to Norwich, where they reconnected. The return trip set off at 17.29, the 37s leading and the 20 on the back.
Some local enthusiasts had hoped to travel between Norwich and Holt, but were deterred by the £65 fare, the same as for Crewe - Holt.
Is The Broadsman becoming a little tired as a name for excursions to Norfolk? The Oliver Cromwell-hauled tour which reopened Sheringham crossing on March 11 (NRS Newsletter Mar/Apr 2010) was also dubbed The Broadsman – and on May 14 DBS nos. 66189 and 66101 top 'n' tailed a UK Railtours' excursion of the same name from King's Cross to Hoveton & Wroxham.
Boost for EMT punctuality and customer satisfaction
New performance figures show that East Midlands Trains (EMT) delivered its best-ever performance in April 2010 with 94.9% punctuality.
Brian Souter, Chief Executive of EMT's parent Stagecoach Group, said: "At East Midlands Trains, we have been top of the long-distance operator league table for punctuality since January 2009. We have made huge advances across the network since taking over responsibility for the franchise in 2007 as a result of our investment and drive to improve services."
In the latest National Passenger Survey (Autumn 2009), 85% of EMT passengers said they were satisfied with the punctuality and reliability of services, marking a 6% year-on-year increase.
Top marks for Wymondham
NXEA’s Wymondham station has gained maximum scores in a recent 'mystery shopper' survey. In all of the categories assessed – customer service, cleanliness, quality of public address announcements and information provided – the station was given a 100% rating.
James Steward NXEA’s Area Manager for Rural stations said: “The success of Wymondham station in recent years shows that rural stations can be vibrant, flourishing places at the heart of the communities they serve. I’d like to thank David Turner, station adopter and proprietor of The Brief Encounter Café, for his enthusiasm and dedication in helping to provide a welcoming environment for our customers and station visitors."
Weekend closures on Wherry Lines
Engineering work between Norwich and Reedham on the weekends of June 12/13 and 19/20 June means that trains between Norwich and Yarmouth will be replaced by buses calling at all stations via Acle, while Norwich to Lowestoft services will be replaced by buses calling at Oulton Broad North only.
Passengers for Buckenham and Cantley are asked to use the station call point 'to request alternative transport', while passengers from Reedham and Berney Arms should travel by train to Yarmouth then by bus from Yarmouth to Norwich. From Haddiscoe and Somerleyton, passengers to Norwich should travel by train to Lowestoft then by bus from Lowestoft to Norwich.
Crossing gate collision at Harling Road
Rail services between Norwich and Ely were in disarray on April 9 after a train struck the crossing gate at Harling Road station.
The 15.52 East Midlands Trains dmu from Norwich to Liverpool was slowing for its Harling Road stop when it hit the manually-operated gate. The dmu suffered minor damage, but no passenger was injured. NXEA's 16:38 Norwich – Cambridge service was terminated at Attleborough, while 5Z21 Carnforth - Norwich empty stock working for the next day's Nenta Traintours excursion reversed at Brandon and headed back to Ely.
Heritage, Narrow-gauge and Miniature
Locos come and go at Dereham....
Class 56 no.56101 arrived at the Mid-Norfolk Railway on May 26. The privately-owned 'Grid' will provide a serviceable Class 5 loco while sister no.56040 Oystermouth is under repair away from Dereham. GBRf no. 66732 hauled the 56 from Eastleigh Works to Wymondham Abbey, and it continued its journey to Dereham coupled to the rear of the 1615 Wymondham - Dereham passenger working.
The previous day Class 08 no. 08631 Eagle CURC left the MNR by road for the Gwili Railway which is temporarily short of motive power. It is due to return from Wales in September.
....and at Sheringham too
LMS Black 5 4-6-0 no.44767 George Stephenson has arrived at the North Norfolk Railway for its summer duties. Peter Adds reports that two Allelys Heavy Haulage road vehicles brought the Black 5 and its tender to Sheringham on May 19. Later that day ex-SR BoB no.34081 92 Squadron was pulled from Weybourne to Sheringham by GWR 0-6-2T no.5619, which was rostered for the day's steam diagram. The Pacific was loaded on the Allelys vehicles, which then left for the Nene Valley Railway's Wansford works where the loco is to receive a boiler overhaul. George Stephenson was later propelled to Weybourne by Class 31 no. 31207.
The Locomotive Conservation and Learning Trust's J21 0-6-0 no.65033 has also left the NNR. It moved to the NRM's Shildon site in May, where it may be restored as a joint venture between the LCLT and the NRM.
First new-era passengers for railbus prototype
Having undergone test runs at the beginning of April, four-wheel railbus LEV 1 (RDB975874) entered public service on April 18 and 19 during the North Norfolk Railway's Vintage Bus Event.
LEV 1 (Leyland Experimental Vehicle 1) was built in 1978 as a prototype hybrid vehicle consisting of a double-cabbed bus body mounted on a BR two-axle underframe. Now part of the national collection, it has been on long-term loan to the NNR since June 2004. The NNR believes that this was its first passenger-carrying duty in preservation. LEV1 also appeared at the NNR's Mixed Traffic Gala on June 5/6.
Carlton Colville's no 14 on show
One of the long-term projects at the East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colville is the restoration to working order of Lowestoft Corporation tram no.14. Recent progress is such that the partially-complete vehicle was shown to the public for the first time at the museum's annual classic and vintage weekend on April 24/5.
Volunteers at local charity SOLD (Special Objectives for Local Disabled) have helped restore wood body panels of the 1904 Milnes-built vehicle, and the lower saloon is nearly complete. Installation of wiring is now being planned.
B12 overhaul nears completion
The M&GNJRS is optimistic that B12 4-6-0 no. 61572, undergoing its second heavy overhaul since its BR days, will soon be in steam once again.
Last December the insurance assessor inspected the boiler and sanctioned re-tubing. With this now complete, the boiler should soon be hydraulically and steam tested.
At Ian Riley's works at Bury the cylinders have been re-bored, piston heads have been built up and new rings and glands fitted. Work has been completed to the alignment of the horn guides, tapered wedge adjusters and axle boxes. New slide face inners have been fitted and white-metalling completed on the axleboxes.
Meanwhile work to the tender chassis at Weybourne is almost complete. The tender tank has been grit-blasted, painted and reunited with the frames.
More passenger stock at Wells line
In readiness for its forthcoming 'two engine' status, the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway is to build two extra carriages. The frames and framework covers will be made by Fakenham firm Wensum Engineering.
Cash awards for Whitwell
The Whitwell & Reepham Railway Preservation Society has won a £70,000 grant under the Government's Low Carbon Communities Challenge. The money will provide a biomass boiler to heat the engine shed and station and improved insulation in both buildings. The station will also receive a new electricity supply, thanks to an award of £25,000 from the 'Biffaward' environmental programme.
Unhappily a carriage, two goods vehicles and buildings at Whitwell and Reepham were sprayed with graffiti in mid-April. The attack is under investigation by Norfolk Police. Anyone with information should telephone Reepham's Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0845 4564567.
All aboard the Cromer Diner?
According to The Railway Magazine, the North Norfolk Railway is examining the possibility of taking advantage of the newly-installed Sheringham level crossing to operate Sunday dining trains over NR metals to Cromer and back.
J94 Group to welcome members
Norfolk Heritage Steam Railway Ltd, which is restoring a Hunslet-built 0-6-0ST for use on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, has launched a membership scheme.
There are four levels: Junior Member (£15 p.a.), Friend of Hunslet 3193 (£30 p.a.), Full Member (£10 per month) and Sponsor. Membership details and benefits can be found on www.norfolksteamloco.co.uk/j94supporters.asp
Help sought to restore NNR vehicles
The M&GNRJS is seeking funds to help restore two historic items of rolling stock.
Restoration of GER brake third no 295 is now about to begin. It was built in 1907 as part of the GER's first modern-style corridor train which formed the crack Liverpool Street – Sheringham service. No. 295's body framing is badly wasted and all fourteen doors need major repair work or replacement. New external panelling and toughened window glass will be needed, as well as new seats in three compartments.
The Society also plans to restore a BP/Shell tank wagon built in 1944. The total cost of restoration will be £2,100. A BP employee has offered £700, which BP will match as a charity donation, leaving just £700 to raise.
Donation and gift aid forms are available on the M&GNJRS website.
Wissington to return to steam this year?
Progress continues on the restoration of the M&GNJRS’s 0-6-0ST Wissington which used to work in west Norfolk, and which was a NRS-supported 'good cause' in previous years. The Friends of Wissington report that, with boiler stays fitted and caulked, tubes fitted and washout plugs cast and machined, a hydraulic test may take place soon. If current progress is maintained, the loco could be operational later in 2010. An appeal for funds has been launched and a grant application made to the Transport Trust.
Spruce-up for NNR's Met-Cam
The North Norfolk Railway reported in early April that trailer car no. E56062 of its class 101 dmu had emerged from Weybourne workshops in BR dark green livery with speed whiskers. Power car no. 51228 was undergoing work on the engines before being transferred to the works for a repaint in green livery.
Management changes at Bramley Line
The Annual General Meeting of the Bramley Line on March 27 witnessed important changes to its structure. Rail industry manager Simon Rudge is the new chairman, and a new treasurer and two new committee members were also elected.
The meeting also adopted a new constitution which established the Wisbech & March Bramley Line Heritage Railway Trust in place of old Bramley Line group. The structure is modelled on the Swanage Railway in Dorset and has been approved by the Heritage Railway Association. The Bramley Line has now become a member of the HRA.
Trust Chairman, Simon Rudge, said, "We are now in a much stronger position and confident we will succeed in our objective of restoring trains to the Bramley Line. I hope that those who have let their membership lapse, or didn’t believe we could succeed, will now join us in creating a new heritage railway on the Fens”.
Away from the Tracks
Wells and Burnham Market back in the timetables
For what must be the first time since the Fakenham to Wells-next-the-Sea section of the line from Wymondham closed in 1964, reports Martin Thorne, the latter destination has rejoined the rail network – albeit via bus connections.
First Capital Connect's Kings Cross-Kings Lynn timetables (but not Table 17A of the National Rail Timetable) now show connections to and from Wells via Norfolk Green's Coasthopper bus service.
Also appearing in the same timetable and served by the Coasthopper is Burnham Market, which lost its passenger services as long ago as 1952.
Network Rail archive guarded by Norfolk firm
Network Rail's archive warehouse at York contains an irreplaceable collection of rail-related documents from the last 160 years. When NR wanted a modern fire protection and detection system for the archive, it chose the Hydramist system developed by Watermist, a new firm based at Hethel Engineering Centre.
Hydramist pumps water at 100bar through a finely drilled nozzle. The mist it creates sucks the heat out of the fire and creates a blanket to starve it of oxygen. Hydramist uses far less water than normal fire hoses, and is less likely to cause water damage to precious documents.
Rail display at Mundesley
The old Norfolk & Suffolk Joint line which ran between North Walsham and Cromer via Mundesley is the subject of a special exhibition at Mundesley Maritime Museum.
The volunteer-run museum, in Cromer Road, Mundesley, also houses the local branch of the National Coastwatch Institution who watch over local shipping and beaches. The museum is open to the public from May 1 to September 30, from 11.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.00.
Memento of Norfolk's earliest line
Is this the ultimate piece of Norfolk railwayana? In its last sale, auction house railwayana.net offered a Yarmouth & Norwich Railway circular silver pass. The 1½" diameter pass, inscribed 'G N Tootal Secretary' and entered for sale by Mr Tootal's descendants, sold for £480.
The Yarmouth & Norwich was Norfolk's very first railway, whose rails first linked the two towns in its title in 1844. The Y&N soon amalgamated with the Norwich & Brandon to become the Norfolk Railway, which in turn became part of the Eastern Counties Railway and then the GER.