Teddy Bear to take to the tracks at the Poppy Line

The North Norfolk Railway is set to welcome a special visitor this summer. The popular heritage line, which runs from Sheringham through the north Norfolk countryside to Weybourne, beside Kelling Heath and to Holt, has announced they are looking forward to welcoming British railways Class 14 diesel locomotive D9553. The locomotive is due to enjoy an extended visit and will haul occasional services throughout the summer season.

In common with many British Railway (BR) locomotives, D9553 was built at the Swindon Works in 1965 to work goods trains but after only 2 1/2 years’ service it was withdrawn by BR and purchased by British Steel and employed at the giant Corby Steelworks. Class 14s have a distinctive central cab and were nicknamed “Teddy Bears” by railway enthusiasts in the 1960s. Today, the engine is visiting courtesy of Jon Gill.

NNR General Manager, Graham Hukins, commented “We’re very grateful to Jon for allowing us to welcome D9553 to the Poppy Line this summer. We always enjoy hosting different visiting engines up on the north Norfolk coast, giving our visitors the opportunity to travel behind a wide variety of both steam and diesel traction.”

He added “Our diesel locomotives also provide us with vital back up to cover the rare occasions that our steam locomotives suffer a breakdown. Being vintage machines in their own right, there is quite a following for each of our diesel locomotives with specialist events like our Rails and Ales weekend growing in popularity each year. One of our resident engines, D5631 which is now 66-years-old, needs a little TLC so having D9553 here for the summer will allow our engineering team the chance to carry out the work required.”

D9553 is due to arrive at the North Norfolk Railway later this month and, after enjoying a few pre-service checks, will form part of the popular line’s summer fleet. The engine carries a special experimental livery of pale green and pale yellow developed specially for the class in the late 1960s before BR adopted the rail blue corporate colours that was applied to locomotives and carriages in the 1970s and 80s. For full details of when the railway is open and the North Norfolk Railway’s daily services please see www.nnrailway.co.uk.

Image with thanks to D Hargreaves