Varied Line-up Scheduled for Poppy Line’s Festival On Rails

The North Norfolk Railway is set to round off the peak season with a ten-day celebration of train travel through the eras as the line stages the popular Festival on Rails.  Recently-restored N2 locomotive, the oldest surviving engine devised by Sir Nigel Gresley is set to feature on a number days. The 105 year-old locomotive returned to service in July following an overhaul costing around £800,000 and which took eight years to complete.

Three locomotives are scheduled to be in action each day from 22 to 31 August with the possibility of up to nine engines taking part at some point across the ten-day event. These include “Wissington”, the line’s smallest working engine and the mammoth WD 2-10-0 No. 90775 which was built in World War Two and worked in Egypt and Greece before being repatriated. Also slated to appear are Hunslets No 22 and “Newstead”, GWR 42XX No 4277 and BR Standard 4MT tank No 80080.

Resident Class 37, D6732 is also scheduled to be in action on selected days with visiting Class 14, D9553 pencilled in subject to crew familiarisation being completed ahead of the event.

The line’s train of Victorian carriages, including GER Saloon No 37 which dates from 1897 and arrived on the line earlier this year and recently repainted GER brake third No 853, will be in action each day alongside the Poppy Line’s unique teak-bodied Quad-Art set and a train of BR mark 1 coaches.

The line’s popular Cream Tea trains and the recently-introduced “Brunch on Board” service  will run on selected days. In addition, there will be a chance to look behind the scenes on a guided tour of  Weybourne Engineering Works – advance booking is essential for dining services and tours as there are limited spaces available. Full details and timetables can be found at: https://nnrailway.co.uk/festival-on-rails-2026/.

General Manager, Graham Hukins said “Our Festival line-up features several locomotives and carriages that are unique to us. Tickets give unlimited travel all day so there’s a chance to ride on different types of train, explore the wonderfully restored stations and try a variety of activities. One, two and three day tickets are available for those wishing to see a and ride behind a variety of motive power.”

In addition, the line has added a number of summer dates to its ever-popular dining experiences in order to help meet demand through August and September. Cream Teas are available on selected Sundays and Thursdays while the new “Brunch on Board” service featuring a freshly cooked “Full English” runs on selected Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August. Fish & Chip specials and Sausage & Mash diners run on selected evenings and, in common with other dining trains, advance booking is essential.

The heritage line’s 2026 season sees the railway open every day until 3 September and then daily except Mondays and Fridays until 1 November; more details can be found on the line’s website www.nnrailway.co.uk. Advance booking is strongly recommended and passengers doing so can claim a 15% discount on their tickets.

ENDS