North Norfolk Railway News

Unique Steam Locomotive to Visit Poppy Line Visitors to the North Norfolk Railway this summer will have the chance to travel behind a type of steam locomotive not seen for almost 60 years as the line plays host to 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ for a three month visit from August. The engine has been created by a dedicated team over the past 30 years after all 80 original members of the class were scrapped in the 1960s. The completion of No. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ is the culmination of 30 years’ work by a small and dedicated team to create what is [...]

Poppy Line welcomes visiting steam locomotive   The North Norfolk Railway has announced the upcoming arrival of its second visiting engine for the 2024 season which kicks off on March 29 with a special line-up of three steam trains for the Easter weekend.  Austerity No. 22 is usually based at the Appleby-Frodingham Railway on the British Steel Works in Scunthorpe, and is due to arrive later this week.   Built in 1956 by the Hunslet Engine Co. its original purpose was to haul trains for the National Coal Board. A powerful tank engine class, No. 22 was built to the [...]

Visiting locomotives are announced for North Norfolk Railway Gala   The North Norfolk Railway has today announced details of two locomotives scheduled to visit for its “Rails & Ales” event which runs on 7, 8 and 9 June this year. Class 50, 50008 “Thunderer” and Class 33, 33012 “Lt. Jenny Lewis RN” are anticipated to arrive at the Poppy Line as part of a Hanson & Hall rail tour, and are planned to be part of the line’s 8 plus locomotive line up alongside a visiting London Underground 4TC set.   All arrangements are subject to contract with Class 50, [...]

Poppy Line 9F Bows Out   The North Norfolk Railway’s 9F No. 92203 “Black Prince” has been withdrawn from traffic at the end of her “ten-year” boiler ticket. The popular 2-10-0 entered service on the line in 2014 following an extensive overhaul and has been a regular performer since, covering almost 35,000 miles over the last decade.   No. 92203 was built at Swindon in 1959 and enjoyed a working life of just eight years with British Railways before being withdrawn in November 1967.  NNR Interim General Manager, Graham Hukins explained “There was such a desire to move away from [...]

SECOND AWARD FOR RESTORED RAILCAR   A unique driving coach from a 1958 railcar that entered service at the North Norfolk Railway late last year following a 9½ year restoration has secured its second award in the space of six weeks! The team that returned M56182 to her former glory were Highly Commended at the national Heritage Railway Association Awards on 10 February 2024.   The annual awards celebrate the best achievements of the HRA’s 300 members which range from lengthy heritage railways operating historic steam locomotives, to short electric tramways, miniature lines, tramways, cliff railways, railway preservation groups and related [...]

Railway welcomes visiting steam locomotive “Hercules”   The North Norfolk Railway has welcomed visiting engine No. 4277 “Hercules” in readiness for the re-opening of the line for its half term running from 17 – 25 February. The engine made the long trip from her usual home at the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway in South Devon and arrived at Sheringham Station on February 6.   Built for the Great Western Railway at the famous Swindon Works in 1920, 4277 was originally designed to haul heavy coal trains in the Welsh valleys and based at Aberbeeg for most of its working [...]

STANDARD 4 TO BOW OUT AT AUTUMN SHOWCASE WHILE 104 MAKES FIRST EVENT APPEARANCE   The North Norfolk Railway Autumn Showcase weekend on 7 and 8 October is scheduled to feature up to 6 locomotives and a DMU operating a frequent timetable that utilises many of the historic rail vehicles in the care of the North Norfolk Railway and the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society.  British Railways Standard 4 MT No 76084 is set to make its last event appearance prior to overhaul while the weekend will also see the event-debut of newly-restored Class 104 Driving Trailer M56182. [...]

Restored Railcar Takes to the Tracks   A unique driving coach from a 1958 railcar is set to return to service in early September, 36 years after it last carried passengers. The restoration of M56182 has been a labour of love for father and son team Paul & Chris Moxon who have carried out the work in their spare time over the past nine years.   The Class 104 driving coach was built in 1958 at the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company as part of the British Railways’ modernisation plan that saw the construction of many diesel trains to [...]

STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT HELPS GET 1920S CARRIAGES BACK ON TRACK Visitors to the North Norfolk Railway (NNR) this Easter will be able to experience travel in a unique train of 1920s commuter carriages following refurbishment work that will keep the 99 year old carriages in services for years to come.   The London North Eastern Railway (LNER) 1924 Quad Articulated Set is scheduled be in action on Easter holiday services from 4 to 16 April, including during the line’s Spring Steam Gala, marking the set’s return to service following reprofiling of its tyres for the first time since its restoration approximately [...]