50 Years of the North Norfolk Railway! - 'Summer Steam Gala' 2025 скачать в хорошем качестве

50 Years of the North Norfolk Railway! - 'Summer Steam Gala' 2025

The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway was opened in 1893 following the merger of numerous smaller railway companies in Norfolk. Covering over a hundred-and-eighty route miles, it soon became Britain’s largest joint railway network, boasting its own fleet of goods sheds, carriages and locomotive workshops. However, the line was less than practical, served sparsely populated areas on meandering routes, as well as being dwarfed by the much larger Great Eastern Railway. Therefore, following the second world war, British Railways recommended its closure, with the final service over the whole system running on February 28 1959. A young group of enthusiasts travelling on that last train from Great Yarmouth were adamant that the line should be retained. Thus, the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway Society was formed. Initially hoping to save the entire network, their plans were ultimately scaled back to the five-mile stretch between Sheringham and Holt. Having purchased two East Anglian steam locomotives, the group moved into the defunct station at Weybourne in 1965, relocating down to Sheringham two years later. Although having upgraded the infrastructure, only members could be carried on trains until 1975, when the line reopened to the public. Reconnecting to Holt in 1989, this former section of the M&GN is now one of England’s primary heritage lines: the North Norfolk Railway. Celebrating their fiftieth anniversary of public running in 2025, the railway is staging a number of high-profile events throughout the year. Their ‘50th Anniversary Steam Gala’ was held over the weekend of 29 to 31 August. Originally planning to feature former NNR resident Peckett ‘Ashington No.5’, the engine has only returned to traffic at the North Tyneside Steam Railway and ended up being unable to attend. Nevertheless, the railway still played host to guest engines, including GWR 68XX 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ on hire for the summer season and 42XX 4277 ‘Hercules’ on extended loan. Heading up the home fleet was newly-restored Hunslet 16’’ ‘Newstead’. Dubbed ‘the lost engine’, she was once thought to have been scrapped but was discovered decades later hidden in a convent in Hertfordshire. Supporting her was fellow Hunslet ‘Austerity’ No.18 and Hudswell Clarke ‘Wissington’. The mighty WD ‘Austerity’ 90775 ‘The Royal Norfolk Regiment’ and SDJR 7F 13809 would also be in action; the 7F making her final gala appearance before withdrawal. A total of seven engines were in steam over the three-day event. I visited on all three days of the gala. Six engines were scheduled to be in steam each day, with five sets of rolling stock. This included two rakes of MK1s, one of which included a coach painted in the M&GN’s umber livery. Also out were a set of three BR Suburban coaches and a brake van (recreating the railway’s reopening train), the sole-surviving LNER ‘Quad Arts’ and a short branchline rake. Friday proved to be a washout, with heavy rain dominating most of the day and causing flash flooding across the county. Thankfully, this gave way to warm sunshine over the weekend. Many trains looked busy and all ran mostly to time, with some great showcases from the engines. The full lineup consisted of: Visiting: GWR Collett 68XX ‘Grange’ 4-6-0 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ (from the 6880 Betton Grange Society Ltd and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. On loan for the summer season) GWR Collett 42XX 2-8-0T 4277 ‘Hercules’ (from the Dartmouth Steam Railway. On long-term loan to the NNR. Ran on Saturday and Sunday only) Home Fleet: Hunslet 16’’ 0-6-0ST 1589 ‘Newstead’ (making her first gala appearance since restoration) Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST NCB No.18 S&DJR Fowler 7F 2-8-0 13809 (final gala appearance before withdrawal) Hudswell Clarke ‘Countess of Warwick’ 0-6-0ST ‘Wissington’ WD ‘Austerity’ 2-10-0 90775 ‘The Royal Norfolk Regiment’ (ran on Friday only) I hope you all enjoy the video. Personal highlights would have to be the WD in the pouring rain, ‘Betton Grange’ charge up the bank and the 7F skirting the edge of the golf course. Huge thanks to all staff and volunteers for a brilliant weekend. If you liked what you saw, head over to our Instagram page at   / secondvalvesteam   for bonus material. Feel free to leave a like or comment and subscribe for more!