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News Archive-2011.
12/11/11
Wissington Rewheeled.
Ian Lake's Photo shows the
engine
being lowered back onto her wheels following final
adjustment to bearings and frame horns, using the C&W
departments 7.5 tonne jacks. A small engine like
Wissington is well within the working capacity of these
jacks, normally used to lift the railways Mark 1 carriages.
15/10/11
M&GN Society stand will attend
the Roydon and Diss Model Railway Club Show.
The Society will be selling a
number of DVDs and books at this small but well formed show,
not as big as Southwold but worth a look, held at Roydon
Village Hall near Diss, on Saturday 29th October 2011
Class 31 (D5631) in service
Still awaiting the white lines
around the body, but now with its pre-"TOPS" numbering, seen
at Sheringham on 15th October 2011. The Sheringham end
is the one without major weld repairs, though you wouldn't
know it from the repaint, which looks very smart.
4/10/11
Members day Pictures.
Farewell Little Black Goods (for now).
Two of Steve Allen's fine
photographs showing the J15 on a vintage train comprising
the BYP pigeon van and the Wisbech and Upwell tram coach,
now in Great Eastern Maroon livery with lining out.
The second contra jour shot
seems almost to be saying goodbye for now to our little
engine. assistance with restoration is always welcome
via the loco
club
12/9/11
New Books at the M&GN bookshop
and online:
19/9/11
Members day UPDATE 1st October 2011.
Although ‘Wissington’, and the B12 will
definitely not be available for haulage on members day, the Class 31
is now repainted in green albeit without the warning panels
and looks rather good with the original buffer-beam
fairings. There are still some traction motor issues
but the engine should be available for members day. It
is also hoped that the J15 can be steamed, and will haul the
vintage train including the BYP pigeon van and the Wisbech
and Upwell tram coach, this would be absolutely for the last
time before the major overhaul. This is still not
ideal, but does look a little more optimistic than the
earlier post.
Members will still be able to ride the rails free
of charge on the day and visit the sheds (in controlled
numbers) to have a look at the progress we are
making on ‘Wissington’ and Nigel Scarlett's Joint
Heritage Coach Fund projects.
To make up for this lack of Society motive power, we are planning, in
conjunction with the NNR, a celebratory event to mark the
125th anniversary of the Holt–Sheringham line which opened
on 16 June 1887. Apart from 90775 we intend to have all the
Society’s motive power and rolling stock running with,
possibly, a guest.
The Council hopes you will understand the situation and
looks forward to meeting you on the 1st October and trusts
that you will join us again on 16 June 2012.
3/9/11
A "Black Five" for the steam
gala.
LMS designed Class 5MT "Alderman Draper" is shown on the
level crossing at Sheringham on 31st August 2011 for the steam gala,
with a support coach and 47500 to the rear.
The crossing allows the arrival of main line certificated
engines without the stress on springs and frames that travel
by low-loader can entail and emphasises the benefits of the
crossing.
Photo: Robert Price
19/8/11
Native M&GN engine returns.
LMS designed Ivatt Class 4MT is shown arriving at Weybourne
on 16th August in preparation for the steam gala. This
engine was allocated new to South Lynn shed in 1951.
Photo: Mel Massen
11/7/11
NENTA railtour departs from Holt
for Scarborough on 8th July 2011 making use of the level
crossing, headed by 47580 County of Essex and 47851 (owned
by West Coast Railways)
Photo: Mel Massen
9/7/11
Beer festival 15th - 17th July.
Conveniently located next to the
AGM (on Saturday 16th) in the calendar.
Click here
for details
9/5/11
Black Prince arrives.
Watched
by David Sheppard, 9F Black Prince is slowly inched onto
North Norfolk Railway metals at Sheringham on 23rd June.
The tender had arrived earlier on another low loader from
the Midland
Railway Centre at Butterley, Black Princes own tender
being under repair at Crewe. (photo:
Ann Alldred)
18/6/11
Annual General Meeting.
The 2011 AGM will be held at
Sheringham High School & Sixth Form Centre, Holt
Road, Sheringham, NR26 8ND on Saturday 16th
July at 13:00. The
official AGM notice and papers will be sent to members
as inserts to 'Joint Line 150' in mid-June
6/6/11
Society Class 31 latest pictures
The society class 31 is receiving some considerable body
repair, the cab windows have been completely plated over, by
Paul Newson and Graham Matheson, the better to provide a
true straightness to the window openings into which H
section rubber window mounting seals fit.
(photos:Chris Green)
9/5/11
Vintage Diesels in the Spotlight
(Gala 25th / 26th June).
 It’s
over 50 years since British Railways started the headlong
dash to replace steam with diesel traction. Which means that
those early diesel locomotives are now classics in their own
right. And whilst diesels don’t have quite the romantic
nostalgia of the steam age, a growing number of fans want to
see these big beasts in action.
Their wish comes true on the Poppy Line over the weekend of
June 25th and 26th, when the railway’s first Diesel Gala for
some years puts the spotlight on internal combustion.
Heading the line-up is
“Saltburn-by-the-Sea” (see left, photo
Mel Massen),
a ‘Type One’ engine built in 1962. Other engines are
listed here,
Also in service is the unique Leyland Rail-bus, first
trialled on lightly-used lines in East Anglia and based on
the body-shell of the Leyland National bus, itself once a
common sight across Norfolk.
There’ll be an intensive service on both days of the
weekend, with plenty of opportunity to ride behind some of
the engines that replaces steam, and in their turn became
familiar to travellers.
All day hop-on, hop-off Rover fares are £16 adult, £15
senior citizen and £10 child 5 – 15 (but children under 5 go
free). A family ticket for 2 adults + 2 children or 3 adults
+ 1 child is £45; over the Gala weekend, the family ticket
does not include the usual £5 spending voucher. There’s 15%
off all Gala tickets booked before June 17th – go to
www.nnrailway.co.uk
or call 01263 820 800.
9/5/11
Level Crossing sees another
railtour.
 66107
heads a railtour back across the level crossing on Saturday
7th May 2011
(Photo: Ann Alldred)
3/5/11
Britains most powerful steam
engine, comes to the Poppyline
 Black
Prince, a giant steam locomotive with 10 driving wheels, is
to become a resident on North Norfolk’s Poppy Line for three
years from the end of May. She is one of the last surviving
operational class 9F engines.
The 140 ton engine was built for British Railways in 1959,
but prematurely retired only nine years later. David
Shepherd, the artist now renowned for his work in wildlife
conservation, saved her from the scrapyard. Forty years
later, Mr Shepherd, who has four daughters, jokes: “Black
Prince is my fifth daughter – and the most expensive of
all!”
Owner and engine previously visited the North Norfolk
Railway in 2007. Black Prince proudly carried a headboard
for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, which since 1984
has given away over £5 million in grants to its conservation
projects working to save critically endangered mammals in
the wild. The railway plans to host a special weekend on
20th and 21st August this year, to raise money for the
Foundation to help keep its wildlife projects in Africa and
Asia alive and operational. The artist will display his
paintings and prints, and talk about his life and the work
of the Foundation, in celebration of his 80th birthday. A
similar event in 2007 was a sell-out
Mr Shepherd said: “During that visit in 2007, I was
impressed by the way the North Norfolk Railway looked after
Black Prince, so when two catastrophic landslips disabled
the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, her home for many
years, I was very happy for her to come to Norfolk.”
NNR managing director Hugh Harkett commented: “We’re
delighted to have this magnificent engine back for a
long-term visit, and to help David raise funds to support
vital wildlife conservation work.”
Black Prince will see regular service on the Poppy Line,
where her huge reserves of power will make light work of the
1 in 80 climb from Weybourne through Kelling Heath to Holt
station. (photo: Ben Boggis)
3/5/11
Volunteer day 21st May 2011.
LIKE TO BE
PART OF RUNNING A RAILWAY?
Come along to the Volunteering Day at any of the three Poppy
Line stations on Saturday May 21st – and see how you’d fit
in!
North Norfolk’s Poppy Line had a record year in 2010,
carrying almost 144,000 passengers on steam and heritage
diesel trains. It’s a busy railway, run almost entirely by
volunteers – most of whom have no previous railway
experience!
As the 2011 season gets under way, we’re looking for more
volunteers to make sure we maintain our position as one of
the area’s best and busiest attractions (we were runner-up
as Best Norfolk Attraction in last year’s EDP Tourism
Awards).
Poppy Line stations at Holt, Weybourne and Sheringham are
holding a special Volunteering Day on Saturday May 21st,
from 11.00am to 3.00pm, so local people can meet railway
volunteers and get to know the varied opportunities on
offer.
If you enjoying meeting people, you’ll enjoy volunteering on
the railway. Maybe working on station platforms, assisting
the stationmaster, seeing the trains safely away, staffing
the booking office – or even tending the gardens. In
catering and sales, you’ll be helping our visitors to enjoy
more than just a train ride. And at Holt station, volunteers
man the William Marriott Museum and help the railway’s
education department in out-of-the-classroom school
projects.
“There’s never a dull moment,” says Holt’s volunteer
stationmaster Tony Hey. “Working on the railway you make new
friends, meet all sorts of people.”
Mick Cambridge, volunteer stationmaster at Weybourne, makes
the point that volunteers give the time that suits them:
“Some come for as little as a day a month, some for a few
hours a week, some pretty well full time. We plan our
rosters to suit our volunteers.”
If you’re interested after your visit on May 21st, you’ll be
given full and thorough training in your chosen job – and be
welcomed as part of the team that one of our visitors
described as “the nicest, most friendly and helpful people
imaginable.”
Your main contacts on Volunteering Day are:
Holt: Tony Hey, stationmaster; Jenny Phillips,
Education Dept; Dave King, William Marriott Museum
Weybourne: Mick Cambridge, stationmaster
Sheringham: Rod Langsdale
1/5/11
Carriage Cottage Grand Opening
(photos by Chris Green)
The museum's education department
is an important part of the railway, introducing thousands
of children to a hands on experience of the past. The
Heritage Lottery funded carriage cottage is a major new part
of the education
department. A well attended opening ceremony took place
on 30th April 2011.
Left: Dr. Paul Atterbury
(Patron of the group, writer & rail enthusiast & regular
member of Antiques Roadshow covering ceramics, social
history & transport), Centre: Neil Storey (President
of Poppy Line Education Group, dressed as the returning
soldier, proud owner of the cottage). Right: Farmer
Giles has turned up in his Austin, the Alvis must belong to
the lord of the manor, the occupants of the cottage can't
afford a car. (Photos Chris Green)
1/5/11
Society's Class 31 gets some
rust treatment.
(photo by
Chris Green)
The Class 31 has suffered
considerable bodywork corrosion, Graham Matheson has started
cutting out areas ready for new material to be welded in.
At least it doesn't seem as bad as the cab floor on the
Class 25 which neared collapse until repaired last year.
These locomotives were never expected to last into
preservation! Remember "Loco
Club" supports all the society's locomotives, a small
monthly contribution, enters you in a prize draw and gives
updates on restoration projects. Restoration will be a
little easier once the travelling crane is up an running at
Weybourne sheds, the adjacent photograph shows the steel
supports being installed.
13/4/11
Society on the road.
(photo by Ann Alldred)
The society attended the Norwich
Model Railway show again this year.
Spring Steam Gala and Vintage
bus weekend, some pictures
(photos by Ann Alldred and Chris Green)
Andy
Sharples at Weybourne, J72 near Blindmans Crossing with the
Quad Arts
David
Butcher with the society stand at Weybourne, Society
treasurer Tony Dewey and David Butcher share the footplate
on City of Truro.
Two different eras of railbus design at
Sheringham and in the car park a selection of preserved
omnibuses. (Please don't ask your webmaster to identify
them!).
10/4/11
History Day:
LOCAL HISTORY LIVE
How the railway changed North Norfolk
The Railway Institute at Holt Station, THURSDAY MAY 12th
When the railway arrived at Holt and
Sheringham in 1887, it was the catalyst for rapid and
far-reaching change but it lasted less than a century.
How the railway waxed and waned, how a seaside hamlet became
a resort town, how William Marriott’s railway enterprise
brought new hopes and business to Norfolk – all these and
more are the themes of the North Norfolk Railway’s first
History Day, giving a fascinating insight into the
development of the region.
Features presentations by renowned historians Adrian
Vaughan and Neil Storey. There will then be a tour of the
William Marriot Museum, followed by a two-course lunch on
the North Norfolkman train, hosted by Adrian and Neil.
This special event is limited to just 50 people, and tickets
for the day are £29.50 per person, including lunch. Drinks
can be bought on the train.
In the afternoon, there is an optional £5 tour of the
railway’s workshops at Weybourne, limited to the first 20 of
the History Day guests.
Advance booking is essential – call 01263 820 800 or visit
www.nnrailway.co.uk
26/3/11
Three year stay for 9F,
"Black
Prince":
The locomotive should arrive at
the end of May and then stay at the North Norfolk Railway
for three years. This engine was a real
favourite last time it visited and while the Austerity
awaits its turn in the works for refurbishment, will provide
super-power, while the Austerity was also rated as 9F power
classification, the "Space Ships" (BR standard class 9F) at
39,667 foot pounds
tractive effort (176.45 kilo-Newton's)
is quite a lot more powerful
(Our Austerity is 34,215 foot pounds t.e. (152.20 kN)
12/3/11
Tank Wagon restoration advances,
Wissington
reassembly in progress:
The second shell tank wagon will
soon join its sister it a restored condition, sand blasting
of the frame and tank is complete, primer applied and the
silver tank paint commenced. Meanwhile Wissington
progresses with vacuum pipes installed.
 
Holt Developments:
The new second road next to the museum completes the track
layout at Holt. The platform is being extended around
the recently installed M&GN pattern water crane.
 
19/2/11
British Sugar Supports
Wissington's restoration
The British Sugar Group has donated £400 towards the
restoration of a 70-years-old steam engine that was built to
work at its sugar factory in Wissington, near Kings Lynn.
The small but powerful industrial locomotive, appropriately
named “Wissington”, is being restored by volunteers from the
Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society, the
supporting charity of the North Norfolk Railway, and will
run on the Poppy Line when completed.
The Society’s Ian Lake is leading the project, and says:
“This generous gift will help us accelerate work on the
loco, and with any luck we should have her back in service
this year.”
British Sugar produces over a million tonnes of sugar each
year, selling under the well- known Silver Spoon brand. It
is a division of Associated British Foods plc, and the
Wissington factory is one of its major plants.
19/1/11
Record Year for "Poppy Line"
(Press Release)
North Norfolk’s Poppy Line heritage railway is celebrating a
record 2010. Figures just released show that a total of
143,991 passengers took a trip back to yesterday in 2010, a
rise of over 13% on the 2009 total.
Director of marketing Colin Borg said: “Given the
challenging economic conditions during the year, this is a
splendid result – and the railway’s highest-ever passenger
total. It’s a real tribute to the skills and dedication of
our volunteers and staff in delivering a superb experience
for both residents and visitors”.
The Poppy Line, originally built as part of the Midland &
Great Northern Joint Railway 124 years ago, keeps on
developing as one of North Norfolk’s most vibrant
attractions.
General manager Trevor Eady puts last year’s success down to
three key factors: “The reopening of Sheringham level
crossing, doubling the number of trains run in May and June,
and introducing new events like the visit of Ivor the
Engine.”
Established events also played their part. The July Beer
Festival dispensed an astonishing 11,500 pints over two and
a half days, and the ‘40s Weekend in September attracted
record crowds.
The Poppy Line was a runner-up for the 2010 EDP Tourism
Award for Best Norfolk Attraction. The judges’ citation
commented: “This well-managed railway provides a snapshot of
an era gone by that will captivate young and old alike. It
was its community link that impressed the judges most.”
With fares for this year held at the level of 3 years ago,
and a full programme of special events, the Poppy Line aims
to continue growing its rich nostalgic appeal.
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