Latest information - updated 27 April 2008
Full details are now available about our all-new Family Weekend
scheduled for 24 & 25 May 2008.
The event will take the form of "hands-on, have-a-go
fun" for children, learning how the railway operates.
Click here
for full details of the event.
24 April 2008
As part of the final phase of testing the Quad-Art
set operated its first passenger train since restoration today.
The 12.00 Sheringham to Holt and 12.45 Holt to Sheringham
services saw the usual British Railways Mark 1 coaches replaced
by the unique wooden-bodied stock. WD 2-10-0 90775 was the
locomotive in operation and the photos below (copyright Steve
Allen) show the train passing Sheringham Golf Course (left)
and passing Bridge Road Carriage Sheds near Holt (right).
The coaches will spend the next week in Weybourne sheds whilst
the NNR's carriage and wagon staff complete the finer details,
before the set is safely stored away until the official launch.
23 April 2008
For the first time in over five years the unique Quad-Articulated
set number 74 was joined together as one yesterday morning.
The two sets of two coaches were connected up, followed throughout
the day by the necessary pipework and wiring. The set was
then adjusted to be made level and the springs and brakes
were fine tuned. Several runs down the yard and back took
place to see how the adjustments stood up to movements and
after the last service train the Quad-Arts made a full round
trip of the line on a test run, behind Class
25 25057/D5207.
Further finishing touches and fine tuning will take place
over the next few days.
The first three pictures below show the complete set of coaches
today and are copyright Steve Allen. The final image shows
the set just prior to departure in early 2003 and is copyright
Coral Gillespie. Click on an image for a larger version.
Top left: The complete set outside for the first time
in over five years, being shunted up and down Weybourne yard.
Top right: The first test run hauled by the Class 25 heads
to Weybourne after crossing bridge 303.
Bottom left: The Quad-Arts at Holt whilst running round
during the test run. Compare this to the next picture from
a similar angle of the set just before leaving for restoration.
Bottom right: The Quad-Art set waiting in Sheringham yard,
just prior to departure to Carnforth for restoration by West
Coast Railway Company.
22 April 2008
 Yesterday,
21 April 2008, the remaining two Quad-Art
coaches arrived back on the North Norfolk Railway from Carnforth,
where they have been painstakingly restored. They have been
joined together and conveyed to Weybourne, to join the first
two coaches which have been brought out of Bridge Road Carriage
Shed.
First thing this morning the two halves are due to be joined
together into one set again for the first time since leaving
the NNR. The finishing touches will then be applied over the
next few days in Weybourne sheds, after which the set will
be safely stored in Bridge Road Carriage Shed until the official
launch into public service, details of which will follow nearer
the time.
For more information on this unique set, visit the M&GN
Society website.
The pictures above and below show the second stage of returning
the set and are copyright Steve Allen. Click on an image for
a larger version.
Above left: The second two coaches making their way to
Weybourne from Sheringham.
Photographs below:
Top left: The third coach of the set after being unloaded
at Sheringham.
Top right: The final coach, the brake van, just after
being unloaded.
Bottom left: The coaches are shunted through Weybourne
yard.
Bottom right: The original two coaches that returned last
October after being shunted into Weybourne shed.
Also, visiting GWR 2-8-0T 5224 has now left the NNR for its
home base on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. This engine
has been very valuable to us at a time when our own locomotives
have been undergoing maintenance and repair.
8 April 2008
We are pleased to announce that visiting GWR
2-8-0T 5224 will be staying on the NNR longer than expected.
The engine will remain in Norfolk until around the 22 April.
This is to help cover for a locomotive shortage, as BoB 4-6-2
34081 92 Squadron is in the last weeks of its boiler
ticket, prior to a boiler inspection and J15 0-6-0 65462 undergoes
repairs on its return from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
1 April 2008
The railway was treated to a reasonable amount of snow over
the Easter weekend period, as shown by the images below.
Meanwhile in the relative warmth of the loco shed progress
has been continuing with stripping B12 4-6-0 61572 for a full
boiler inspection, as show in the left hand picture below.
Also WD 2-10-0 90775 is nearing the end of some maintenance
work on it's valves and pistons, including having its cylinders
rebored. The photo on the the right below shows the progress
up until Easter.
22 March 2008
Dates, times and prices are now available for our Santa
Special trains. Bookings are now being taken for these
popular services. Click here
for details including how to book.
A great deal of progress has been made on various projects
on the railway over the closed season, in particular at Holt.
At Sheringham the ticket office has been refurbished over
the winter months and the children's activity coach has had
its displays inside updated.
At Weybourne the locomotive department have been busy with
the winter maintenance schedules whilst next door the carriage
and wagon department have continued work on the new buffet
car and overhauled one of the suburban brake vans, BS
E43357. This coach used to house a generator for the old
Pullman coaches but has now had this removed and the Guards'
compartment converted to carry bikes and buggies. The coach
has also undergone a full repaint and now looks superb in
plain maroon, as shown in the first photograph below.
At Holt progress on the signalling system has taken dramatic
steps forward, with all of the signal posts now in place,
with many of the signal arms also installed. Work continues
to wire up the signal box and set up the necessary equipment
to operate the points and signals. The bottom two photographs
below show some of these signals in place.
Also at Holt, the first siding has been laid in the goods
yard, alongside the museum building. This will be connected
to the rest of the track at a later date.
Between Holt station and the new carriage sheds near bridge
299, a footpath has been installed to allow visitors to view
the new buildings. The path starts next to the water tower
beyond the museum and extends alongside the line to the sheds.
Unfortunately there is no public access inside the carriage
sheds. The lineside footpath will undoubtedly also prove popular
with photographers.
These photographs show some of the developments mentioned
above, along with visiting engine
GWR 2-8-0T 5224. Click on an image for a larger version.
Top left: 5224 hauls its train towards Holt, including
newly overhauled BS E43357.
Top right: The same engine passes Bridge Road Carriage
Sheds. On the left you can see the end of the footpath from
Holt station to allow visitors to view the new sheds.
Bottom left: Some of the new signals at Holt are clearly
visible both sides of the line in this shot of 5224 running
round its train.
Bottom right: Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34081 92 Squadron
approaches the newly installed distant signal, just before
bridge 299.
19 March 2008
Visiting locomotive GWR 2-8-0T 5224 arrived on the NNR this
morning. Photographers may be interested to know the locomotive
is facing smokebox towards Holt. The first confirmed steaming
dates of this locomotive is over the Easter weekend red
service, Friday 21 to Monday 24 March inclusive. Over
these four days it is expected the locomotive will be running
alongside Battle of Britain 4-6-2 34081 92 Squadron,
giving the weekend a "South-Western" feel!
Why not visit for one of these days and make the most of
our visiting locomotive's short stay with us. With our rover
tickets you can travel as many times as you like behind
either engine or on the DMU services later in the day. Details
can be found on the timetable
and fares pages.
If you can't make this weekend, the railway is operating
a steam service daily
over the entire school holiday period, up to and including
Sunday 6 April.
13 March 2008
We can now confirm that visiting locomotive GWR 2-8-0T 5224
is due to arrive on the railway on Tuesday 18 March. It will
operate on a minimum of 8 days before leaving the NNR on Wednesday
9 April.
11 March 2008
 We
are pleased to announce that
GWR 2-8-0T 5224 will be visiting us for a few weeks from Easter
weekend. The large tank engine is coming from the North
Yorkshire Moors Railway to cover whilst the J15 attends
the NYMR's
LNER Festival and is expected to operate over a number
of days during its short stay with us.
3 March 2008
The restoration of the remaining two Quad-Art coaches is
progressing well at Carnforth. These images show the completed
third coach and the three-quarters completed brake coach,
taken on 29 February by Steve Allen.
Click here
for more details on the unique Quad-Art set.
25 February 2008
 There
are only a few places left on our early-season Driver Experience
days. If driving a steam locomotive has always been an ambition
or boyhood dream, or for that perfect gift or early Fathers'
Day present, why not book today to avoid disappointment?
Details of our Driver
Experience days are available here and you can book immediately
online by clicking here.
21 February 2008
Once again we are operating Sunday Lunch trains. Currently
we have two scheduled for March, the first being for Mothering
Sunday - an ideal treat! Click here
for more information and details of how to book.
The Beer Festival
page has been updated with the latest details of the 2008
event.
The railway is due to operate on the 2 and 9 March and then
daily from the 20 March until 6 April, over the Easter holiday
period. A variety of services will be running during this
period, details can be found on our timetable
page.
7 February 2008
The railway will be operating daily over the half term period
of 9 to 17 February 2008 inclusive.
Four steam trains will depart in each direction on each of
these days. For full details click here.
Information on fares is available here.
2 January 2008
The railway is now closed until 9 February.
The events pages
have been updated with the latest information and the 2007
fares and timetable information have now been removed.
The North Norfolk Railway would like to wish all of our visitors
the very best for 2008.
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