The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.

NRS NL 61-5 first published October 2016

Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by Norfolk Railway Society, 2018-12-14 12:07:11

NRS NL 61-5 Sept-Oct 2016

NRS NL 61-5 first published October 2016

Norfolk Railway Society

Founded 1955 www.norfolkrailwaysocie ty.org.uk
Volume 61 No. 5 Sept/Oct 2016

_________TRACK REPORT

news from railways in and around Norfolk

National Network

GE LINES UPDATE: September

GE LINES NEWS
Greater Anglia franchise renewal:
The Brexit vote delayed the announcement of the party
selected to run the new nine year franchise commencing on
16th October 2016 until early August after which there
followed a period during which the decision could have been
challenged. Abellio retained the franchise after two short
franchise periods extending over about 4 years.

The major surprise was that all existing vehicles including the
Class 90 and Mk3 fleet, Classes 153,156 and 170 DMUs and
Classes 317, 321, 360 and 379 EMUs are to be replaced by
new build units during 2019 and 2020.

Two manufacturers have been selected – Bombardier - who 46521 at Holt on 2nd September (Andy Wright).
are to supply 665 Aventra EMU vehicles in 5 or 10 car
formations, as a follow-on order to the Class 345 Crossrail The total cost of these new vehicles will be some £1billion
units which will replace the present London commuter EMU although Abellio are committed to pay the Government a
fleets, and a new entrant to the UK market namely Stadler of premium of £3.7bn during the franchise period.
Switzerland who will provide 378 vehicles based on their Flirt
design. A total of twenty 12 car EMUs are to be provided for Abellio completes Mk3 refurbishment programme:
Norwich – London and Stansted Express services (the Class A media event took place on 16th September to mark the
379 Stansted units to be displaced are less than 5 years old completion of the £12m refurbishment programme on the Mk3
at present) and, subject to crashworthiness approvals, these carriage fleet. On 2nd February 2015 Abellio Greater Anglia
12 car units will be formed of six 2 car articulated pairs – the had marked the completion of the first Mk3 coach
first domestic articulated vehicles since the Gresley Quads refurbishment upgrade with due ceremony at Norwich station
(Eurostar sets do not qualify unless their temporary use with with local Norwich MPs present. The upgrade of the 119
GNER counts!). The remainder of the Stadler order will vehicles features plug points, new LED lighting, new carpets,
involve 24 x 4 car units and 14 x 3 car units for regional new tables (fewer in Standard but with more seats in some
services which create another first for the UK – electro-diesel vehicles), new seat covers and controlled emission toilets (the
units. number of wcs has been reduced by 50% as one former wc
per coach has been utilised for the new electronics – it is
In This Issue
1
Track Report 1
National Network

Heritage, Narrow-Gauge & Miniature 4

Away from the Tracks 4

Pick-up Goods 5

NRS News 13

Features 13
The Bude Branch by Michael Roach

Working Timetable 15

_________TRACK REPORT

claimed that 2m flushes to track are now avoided). A figure of concrete bridge structure, which had been created in situ on
600,000 additional seats (per annum) into London is largely the city side of the present bridge standing on the closed
the result of the former restaurant cars being converted to public highway, was wheeled into position courtesy of a multi-
Café Bars with the 24 First Class seats being replaced by 54 wheeled vehicle which had been inserted beneath the new
Standard seats in the enlarged saloon area created. BBC structure to lift and move it. The brick support walls had been
Look East’s coverage failed to mention the completion of the reduced in height enabling the new structure to be lowered on
refurbishment programme leaving viewers believing that to them.
600,000 additional seats were in the offing!
Restoration of the railway formation was completed on Bank
Norwich Long John Hill underbridge: Holiday Monday 29th August enabling normal services to be
Closed to road traffic since May 2015, this bridge was reinstated the following day subject to the 20mph speed
replaced over a 3 day period created by the 27th-29th August restriction continuing to apply to trains crossing the new
Bank Holiday weekend. Rail replacement services operated structure. The historic line speed of 55mph was restored from
between Norwich and Ipswich. 12th September. The road should be re-opened to road traffic
by the end of September after restoration works have been
The possession commenced at 0200 on 27th August enabling completed.
the operational railway to be severed during the morning and
the old brick arch of Bridge No. 351 to be demolished. At Proposed station at Norwich Broadland Business Park:
about 1030 on Sunday 28th August the new reinforced Broadland District Council have published a study report
aimed at establishing a business case for the new station on
Norfolk Railway Society the Norwich – Sheringham line. The station is meant to serve
(Founded 1955) Broadland Business Park and the cost of construction has
been precisely estimated as being £6,591,431. Local
President: Ken Mills, Esq. residents following the escalating costs of the nearby
Northern Distributor Road will note that the cost of the
Committee and Officers 2016-2017 Telephone reauthorised £160m approx. scheme has recently increased
by £6.5m, largely due to delays with a new railway overbridge
Chairm an Ray Halliday at Rackheath (£2.3m) and additional agricultural land
purchases on a scheme which was meant to be fully
Vice Chairman Brian Kirton designed and costed!

Past Chairman & Brian Cornwell A further £491,588 per annum subsidy would be required to
Outdoor Visits Andrew Wright operate the station (two 106m long platforms with footbridge,
lifts or ramps and a 150 space car park) and provide a half
Secretary & hourly service frequency between Norwich and North
Web master Walsham. Any new station will need to be agreed with the
train operator and the DfT.

Treasurer John Laycock It is claimed that 190,000 passengers will use the station
each year – circa 600 each day.
Memb ership Sec Mike Handscomb
Given central Norwich’s traffic gridlock problems at peak
Newsletter Editor & Edward Mann hours a better scheme might be the re-opening (again) of
Indoor Programme Trowse station (but what about car parking –Ed.?).

Pub licity Chris Mitchell Diss station:
In mid-August a number of large colour photograph display
Indoor Programme Graham Kenworthy boards depicting attractions in the Waveney Valley were
affixed to the platform fences at Diss station. In addition, the
Show Day Organiser Peter Willis Up side platform fence now also carries coach letters
indicating where London-bound passengers should stand in
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------- order to join the carriage designated by their pre-booked
ticket reservations.
Norfolk Railway Society Newsletter
Editor: Edward Mann Ely Potters Terminal:
The withdrawal of Class 442 EMUs from use on the London –
Layout & Picture Editor: Andrew Wright Brighton route has seen the withdrawn units moved to
storage sites, including Ely! By 24th August three units 2407,
Distribution: Graham Smith 2422 and 2423 had arrived for warm storage with 47815
providing electrical power to keep the units’ electrics in
Please contact Graham if the next edition does not arrive working order.
by the end of the month of publication.
Potters have created additional siding capacity radiating away
Opinions expressed in any articles are those of the author from the main line, possibly in anticipation of more withdrawn
and should not b e taken to represent those of the Society. stock arriving - Abellio’s present fleet perhaps!
Next issue published 1st December 2016.
Copy date: 24th November 2016. GE INCIDENTS
The following details represent the most serious of known
delays in recent weeks.

24th August: The day the new franchise award was

2

_________TRACK REPORT

confirmed. A lineside fire at Claydon delayed services after Cambridge terminating at Thetford. A bus replacement
1600. The 1500 London – Norwich was held at Ipswich 34 service operated between Ely and Thetford with a rail shuttle
mins departing 45L. The 1600 Norwich – London was held at service operating between Thetford and Norwich. Normal
Stowmarket reaching Ipswich 32L and the 1630 Norwich – services were resumed with the 1452 ex-Liverpool Lime
London was cancelled due to the late arrival of the incoming Street service which departed Ely 19L and reached Norwich
service. The 1750 and 1830 London – Norwich services were at 2124 62L. The first westbound service was the 2115
cancelled although the 1810 ex-London ran. Norwich to Cambridge which reached Ely 27L. (Peter Adds)

The 1900 London – Norwich was halted 55 mins in the Vivarail Update (Steve Cane)
Stratford area and proceeded to Shenfield, passing Gidea
Park 71L, and the train was then terminated at Shenfield Earlier this year Andy Hamilton gave a talk about Vivarail’s
101L (2044). Given the previous Norwich-bound project to convert London Underground “D” stock carriages
cancellations, hot weather and subsequent services to to use on the mainline. He hoped that, after testing a unit
Norwich thinned out because of planned engineering work between Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham, the units could
Norwich passengers faced a gruelling onward journey. The then be used on certain branch lines in England.
first available train from Shenfield was the 2018 London –
Clacton which departed 36L at about 2100. The 2030 London Well, the tests must have proved successful as according to
– Norwich having departed London 12L was 51L at the August edition of the Railway Magazine they have
Colchester and 53L at Norwich so passengers intending to secured backing to run a prototype Class 230 on London
travel on the 1830 ex-London experienced a journey time of Midland’s Nuneaton to Coventry line.
around 5¼ hours.
The three-car unit will increase the passenger carrying
25th August: The 0624 Norwich – London was cancelled in capacity, as the present Class 153 DMU is only a single-car
reaction to the failed train yesterday. unit. This often causes problems at the Ricoh Arena in
Coventry after sporting events. Vivarail expect there to be
The failed train was stabled in the Royal sidings beside much interest from other branch and rural rail lines when
Norwich station and was being retrieved when the Class 08 the service starts this Autumn, because the units have very
from Crown Point failed! It is understood that a Class 68 was low running costs compared to conventional DMUs.
commandeered to assist. Train services approaching Norwich
from Ely and Ipswich were held in the Trowse area for some Personally I am pleased for them as much money and hard
30 minutes delaying arrivals and leading to some work has gone into the project, and Andy was extremely
cancellations such as the 1640 Norwich – Cambridge. enthusiastic about reaching a successful outcome. You may
like to read more about Andy’s talk in the May/June edition of
10th September: The privately owned former railway goods the Newsletter, page 5.
shed at Higham, located between Bury St Edmunds and
Kennett, caught fire early in the morning and the building was Who knows, in the future we could see these units working
gutted. Due to its close proximity to the operational railway, on local branch lines such as Ipswich to Felixstowe and
train services were suspended whilst 18 fire appliances other similar lines.
fought the fire. The building was then adjudged to be
structurally unsafe so train services remained suspended until Loco hauled trains east of Norwich
1800 on Sunday 11th September when demolition of the
structure had been completed. An engineering blockade east As reported in NRS/NL 61/4 p.2 Class 68 locomotives have
of Bury St Edmunds still prevented passengers reaching joined Class 37s in hauling short sets on services between
Ipswich by rail! Norwich, Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Fast forward four years -
assuming the Stadler units arrive on schedule - and the
13th September: The hottest September day since 1911 in images captured by Richard Adderson will represent
the south-east (34.4°C/94°F recorded in Gravesend) saw another aspect of our local railway heritage!
speed restrictions imposed between London – Shenfield –
Southend Victoria with several cancellations being necessary
in an attempt to maintain the service.

The 1500 Norwich to London failed and was terminated at At Acle on 13th July, 68016 is on the rear of the 1806
Diss and the subsequent 1530, 1600 and 1630 services were Norwich to Yarmouth service while 37422 heads the 1817
cancelled throughout, although the 1630 ran ecs to London. Yarmouth to Norwich train.
In reaction, the 1730, 1750 and 1830 London – Norwich
services were cancelled.

The 1630 London to Norwich was less than 5L passing Marks
Tey at speed when a signal ahead reverted to red causing the
driver to make an abrupt stop. After a few minutes the train
went forward to Colchester where the necessary “report
procedures’ were concluded. Departure was 22L and arrival
at Norwich at 1846 was 26L – the 1840 service to Great
Yarmouth was held to connect but the 1840 towards
Cambridge was not.

16th September: This week’s heatwave ended in dramatic
fashion with violent thunderstorms spreading into East Anglia
during the day. Lightning strikes on signalling equipment at
Broxbourne and Brandon disrupted services. The Brandon
incident commenced at about 0915 – the 0840 Norwich –

3

_________TRACK REPORT

Heritage, Narrow-gauge and
Miniature

North Norfolk Steam Gala

The final Steam Gala of the year took place from 2nd - 4th
September. Visitors included the Somerset and Dorset 7F
2-8-0 53809 designed by Sir Henry Fowler and Ivatt Class 2
46521. Both are seen below on the embankment
approaching bridge 303 with trains for Holt.

53809 is due at the Mid Hants Railway’s Steam Gala on 21st
- 23rd October. On 1st October it was still at Weybourne
where it is seen in the shed (bottom). Pictures by Andy
Wright.

(Above) 68023 at Brundall on 13th July with the 1005 Norwich
to Lowestoft service. 68016 is on the rear.

(Above) 68022 at Reedham swing bridge on 19th September
with the 1057 Lowestoft to Norwich service. 68024 is on the
rear. Only 20 minutes later the 1117 Yarmouth to Norwich
service is seen at Lingwood with 37422 leading and 37405 on
the rear (Richard Adderson).

Away from the Tracks

Norwich Victoria station

The EDP’s website (20th September) invited us to take a
look at Norwich’s forgotten railway station. As both City and
Victoria could fit the description, it turned out to be the latter.
Visit the EDP website and enter Norwich’s forgotten railway
station in the search box.

4

_________PICK-UP GOODS

A miscellany of news and members’ contributions

Long John Hill Bridge Replacement

This series of photographs was taken during August and
September. On 16th August a Norwich bound train crosses the
old bridge with the new deck in the foreground (right). By 27th
August the new deck was on a self-propelling transporter
(below upper). Demolition work commenced during the
afternoon (upper middle, right) and was completed that
evening (below middle). The following morning the new bridge
was in place with reinstatement of track and OLE finished in
time for services to resume on 30th August when 90007 is
seen crossing the new bridge (right, lower middle). By 27th
September (bottom left & right) reinstatement of the road and
footpaths is still to be completed before the road re-opens to
traffic. (Andy Wright)

5

_________PICK-UP GOODS

Recently at the URC Hall

Members’ Summer Reports – 15th September to extend southwards soon, but the Teifi Valley Railway is
barely surviving due to financial mismanagement by a
Our season opened on a very warm evening. Several former “manager”.
members were still enjoying their holidays, but it was
heartening to see Ian Woodruff amongst those present. David Pearce visited his favourite G.C. exactly 50 years after
B.R. closed most of it, and the heritage railway did its best to
Brian Kirton began with a series of images of the Tourist re-create the times and trains of that last day. Unfortunately,
Railway in Colombia (3’ gauge). Although the state railways the Saturday weather was not so kind, but we saw 70013
finished in the early 1990s, a tourist train runs some 50km Oliver Cromwell on a last day special and a 9F on one of the
from Bogota to Zipaquira for its “salt cathedral”, He then famous “Windcutters”. Station staff were out in force,
moved to The Netherlands and we saw something of the outnumbering passengers sometimes, so some things did
heritage Hoorn – Medemblik line, which forms part of a not change in 50 years.
triangular trip (by boat) to Enkhuizen, and paid a visit to
Utrecht Railway Museum. Ken Mills has remained loyal to transparencies, and briefly
reviewed his outings, beginning with 31806 and the Y14/J15
Bob Brister described a recent Nenta excursion to Plymouth at the NNR’s Steam Gala, and then moving to France for the
(20th August) which required an 0450 departure! The train Baie de Somme Weekend where a 230D from Mulhouse
was wisely top’n’tailed by Class 47s, the leading one getting Museum, and a PLM Pacific were the “big engines”. He
no further than Trowse! After putting the back loco on the came back to the MNR’s Steam Gala in June when 6100
front (1¼ hours’ delay) it ran very well to reach Plymouth on Royal Scot and 6233 Duchess of Sutherland were the
time! He went on the optional cruise around Plymouth distinguished visitors.
Sound, which took him close to the Tamar bridges. Return
was punctual at 0100 and Bob spoke highly of Premier Finally, many thanks to David Pearce for operating the
Class travel! projector and to Andy Wright for David’s tutorial.

Ray Halliday updated us about developments on the North Railway Walks Part IV – Dolgellau to Barmouth
Norfolk Railway – the new Tourist Information Centre and The Mawddach Trail - 9½ Miles
toilet block, station extension and footbridge, for example. (Brian Cornwell)
He related how General Manager Trevor Eady was pressed
into guards’ duty on a very busy day. Dining trains have I walked this route in the summer of 2011 with my younger
started to run to Cromer, and the inaugural train came to the son, Michael, after he had finished his GCSE’s. We had a
rescue of some AGA passengers when the 1230 Cromer – “Father and Son” few days away in Wales, visited some
Sheringham AGA service was cancelled and they used the preserved railways and did some walking which Michael
dining train instead! also enjoys. It was also a way of testing my stamina
following neurosurgery at Addenbrooke’s in late 2010.
Chris Mitchell had visited New York and we saw something Thankfully all was well. How time flies - Michael has just
of the “High Line”. If you’ve seen footage of the Liverpool finished his degree (he got a First) and is starting a career.
Overhead Railway, imagine walking at that level. The We had often mused to Julie, my wife, about what a great
original High Line was opened in the 1930s and was a very day we had doing this walk, and she had also seen the Julia
significant link during WW2, ferrying men and matériel to the Bradbury TV show and the accompanying book on Railway
waiting ships in New York Docks. It also allowed freight Walks so asked “When are we going to do this walk?”
trains to load and unload their cargoes inside buildings. The
system was in decline by the 1950s due to interstate Having both organised a few days’ holiday we set off by car
trucking competition and the docks moving to New Jersey. in early June for a longish weekend to North Wales. We
About 1.45 miles has been reopened as a “linear park” and broke our journey overnight in Shrewsbury and visited
seems a popular attraction. On a visit to Fort Worth we saw Powys Castle and its beautiful gardens near Welshpool en
a massive 4-6-6-4 undergoing restoration. route the next day. Welshpool is interesting. The station is
now a modern shelter type building which was constructed
Graham Kenworthy had paid a visit to Chester Cathedral when a road was put through and the railway slewed to
where there is a chapel in memory of railway civil engineer accommodate this. This left the old and rather magnificent
and contractor Thomas Brassey, who was born nearby. He station building isolated from the railway; however it now
had been heavily involved with many of the pre-G.E.R. has a new lease of life as a retail outlet and café.
railway companies in East Anglia and, when he died in
1870, was estimated to have been responsible for the We were staying two nights in Talybont, a small village just
building of 1 in every 20 miles of railway in the world! north of Barmouth along the Welsh coast. Whilst we had
been enduring cold (12°) wet weather in the east, the
Edward Mann showed images of a recent holiday in South western side of the Kingdom had been basking in sunshine
Wales, having visited the Brecon Mountain Railway. He then which had “cracked the pavements” at 28° so the heat came
moved on to Newport and visited its Transporter Bridge – as a bit of a shock! We had planned to do the walk on the
and a climb to the top, across the walkway, down again and Monday of our “long weekend” and were a little concerned
back across the River Usk in the bridge’s gondola is about the 26° forecast for the next day because I hadn’t
recommended. The Gwili Railway near Carmarthen is likely

6

_________PICK-UP GOODS

packed my Panama (nor a light-weight waterproof jacket as The tree-lined route.
it turned out); we had no sun cream and there is only one
place en route to get drinks. However, two large bottles of The start of the walk out of the car park by Pont Fawr is down
drinking water turned out to be enough for the walk. a grey-coloured ballast-like track. The dry conditions of the
recent days had created a lot of dust and sparrows were
Public Transport is a bit thin on the ground in the area so we taking advantage of this and having dust baths. Whilst on the
decided to park the car in Barmouth as we couldn’t make subject of birds I always like to report on what was about.
use of the Cambrian Coast Line trains unfortunately. The We had seen, in no particular order: swallow, house martin,
bus to Dolgellau was at 0950. This departure time came blackbird, thrush, wren, robin, great tit, oyster-catcher,
and went – no bus. There was however a single decker mallard, herring gull, heron and sparrow. We had heard a
sitting at the bus stop with a constantly texting Polish, as it cuckoo and a woodpecker. My expert botanist reported that
turned out, driver who was not our man. Julie wondered how the flora encountered was stitchwort, foxglove, speedwell,
a Polish driver got on with the Welsh language. Anyway, with campion, ragged robin, broom, sedum acre, red valerian,
the help of a lovely German lady (cosmopolitan or what?) a vetch - these plants seem to typify the vegetation found on
quick call to the bus company revealed that they didn’t know disused railways. Sadly no small or large ”furry fauna” was
where the bus was either. It then turned up three minutes seen during the walk, though a “plop” heard emanating from
later. a freshwater stream could have been a water vole.
Having left Dolgellau proper the track soon becomes a
The bus was soon heading east along the northern side of straight tree-lined avenue. The tree lining continues almost
the estuary and our new German fraulein friend, who was all the way to Penmaenpool where, just before you see the
travelling to Wrexham and ultimately back to Germany via wooden trestle toll bridge, you reach the old signal box
Liverpool, joined us and we chatted about our experiences which has found a new lease of life as an RSPB visitor and
in Wales. I have to confess that I did mention the war once information centre. From photos it appears that the two
(but I think I got away with it). Having arrived in Dolgellau, platforms were staggered and the station building, which is
now rooms for the adjacent George III hotel, is on the
Penmaenpool Signal Box.
Penmaenpool Bridge.
which is a typical mid-Wales town, we provisioned and
headed to the starting point adjacent to Pont Fawr
(translated as Big Bridge – I kid you not!) in the car park by
the river Wnion.

The history of the line started in 1862 when the Vale of
Llangollen Railway, which first ran between Ruabon and
Llangollen, opened, followed by the Llangollen and Corwen
Railway along the scenic Dee Valley in 1865. Next was the
Corwen & Bala Railway, which reached Bala in 1868. All
three railways were operated from the start by the GWR
before being absorbed in 1896. The next section was the
Bala & Dolgelly Railway, which also opened in 1868 and
was again worked and finally absorbed by the GWR. A
branch line had opened from Barmouth to Penmaenpool by
the Cambrian Railway in 1865. Financial problems stopped
the railway around one mile short of Dolgellau, however the
54½ mile line was completed when Penmaenpool to
Dolgellau was finally opened in 1870 with GWR backing.

7

_________PICK-UP GOODS

western side of the toll bridge to the signal box. We decided However epoxy resin effected a suitable repair and the
to take a break at the hotel for coffee. I had eaten an evening bridge reopened and still carries the Cambrian Coast line
meal here previously with Michael, which had been very across the Mawddach Estuary. There is a toll booth for
nice, so having seen a sign at the bar adverting roast walkers and cyclists on the northern bank but this was not
dinners I asked the sullen, sulky Welsh barman if they open on the day we crossed.
would be cooking a roast tonight? “Possibly” was the non-
committal reply. He was clearly not a Monday morning After Penmaenpool the path hugs the bank of the estuary,
the northern side historically defined by a mining industry
and the southern more agricultural, with both sides having
the hills and mountains of Snowdonia beyond. The trail dips
in out of tree lined areas with the open bits giving us the full
benefit of the early afternoon heat. We came across half a
dozen or so telegraph poles which, with the exception of the
railway buildings at Penmaenpool and two bridges, was the
only railway evidence we had seen so far. Passing by Arthog
we saw the remains of the concrete blocked tank traps, put
there during WW2 (I’ve mentioned the war again.........) and
built to guard against a potential invasion launched via
Ireland. This might seem implausible but Ireland was
officially neutral and active hostilities with Britain were still
fresh in the memory. Thankfully these defences were never
needed.

View of Barmouth Bridge. On our arrival at Morfa Mawddach (where there are public
toilets) the remains of a platform could be seen before the
pers on. track reached the Cambrian Coast line where the junction
had once existed. The trackbed on the embankment leading
From now on we would start to see Barmouth bridge on and up to bridge after Morfa Mawddach was very sandy and
off as the river widened out, and curves on the river banks marram grass infested. On the bridge deck, alongside each
gave us clear views to the estuary mouth a few miles away. running rail, a high level guard rail had been placed to stop
Sure enough it wasn’t long before we saw a black ribbon vehicles derailing, well actually to stop them crashing off the
down river which was Barmouth Bridge. The bridge, at 2,292 bridge into the sea. A wise precaution I thought. This guard
feet long and technically a viaduct, opened in 1867, consists rail also served as an anvil for sea birds to crack open
of 113 timber spans and an eight span iron section. Each cockles and mussels and was littered with broken shells.
column was sunk to 120 feet below sea level to reach solid The swing bridge section of the crossing is now extremely
rock. It was hi-tech too, with the northern end housing a corroded, years of exposure to salt water having caused this
sliding mechanism to move a section of the bridge which I guess. The views from the bridge back up the estuary and
out to sea are beautiful with sands on the seaward side that
stretch for at least a mile when the tide is out. Having
negotiated the bridge and completed the walk a treat and
refreshments were in order. Previous knowledge pointed us
towards a fantastic ice cream parlour on the quay side for a
Banana Split and a Knickerbocker Glory. Delicious!

I have recommended railway walks to members previously,
not least because the walking is generally easy and flat, but
this particular walk is one that is beautifully scenic and
interesting. If you need more proof have a look at Julia

Ducking the Question (Steve Cane)

Having been invited to a relative’s wedding in Greece, my
wife and I decided to travel there and back using only trains
and boats. This account is about our first night in London
before the start of our journey to France on Eurostar.

Barmouth Bridge - the track and guard rail. Because our train left quite early in the morning, we decided
to spend the night before in a hotel near St. Pancras station.
allowed larger vessels to travel up river. Unfortunately this After we had booked into the hotel, we walked to the station
was not a great success as it took 37 minutes to open and to check how long it would take us in the morning. This
was eventually replaced by a conventional swing bridge but turned out to be quite a short distance, taking about twenty
this has become disused and has not been opened for minutes. We called in at King’s Cross station on the way,
decades. In the mid 1980’s the bridge was closed for and as we walked across the new concourse we spotted the
repairs after it was found to be infested by marine worms. somewhat forlorn statue of Sir Nigel Gresley standing by a
wall next to a fast food shop. It was commissioned as this
year is the 75th anniversary of his death. I took a few photos

8

_________PICK-UP GOODS

of the “great man” as commuters and travellers rushed past Now I’m not against anything Harry Potter-related, but it
without even noticing him. seems so ironic that a fictional character gets much more
attention than a railway legend!
As we walked further on we were surprised to see a queue
of about forty people waiting for a professional photographer Maybe more attention would be paid to Sir Nigel if the
to snap them. They were queueing in front of a luggage original plan for the statue, which featured a mallard duck at
trolley partly disappearing into the wall, above which was a his feet, had been used. It was Gresley’s two grandsons
sign which read “Platform 9 ¾”; yes, you guessed it - Harry who thought the duck would detract from the dignity of the
Potter! memorial but I thought the positioning next to a coffee shop
was far more demeaning. Something like the position of the
statue of Sir John Betjeman next door in St Pancras station
would be far more appropriate. This has a fantastic location,
and shows Betjeman holding on to his hat as he stares up
at the splendid Barlow train shed roof.

The duck controversy “quacks” on with a petition signed by
3,000 people supporting its reinstatement. Already three
members of the Gresley Society have resigned over the
issue. One of the key supporters of reinstatement is Sir
William McAlpine who helped to save Gresley’s Flying
Scotsman before it was purchased on behalf of the nation.

Personally I would prefer a more suitable position AND
bring on the duck!

Editor’s Note: A diehard L.N.E.R. memb er has pointed out
that the initials G.W.R. could mean “Gresley Was Right”! I
must remain neutral!

Going West from Peterborough East – Rod
Lock adds his recollections about the

Peterborough – Rugby line (also see NRS/NL
61/3 pp. 9/10)

It was pleasing to read an article about this not often-
mentioned part of the system.

My first acquaintance with it was in May 1950 and a couple of
occasions in the next two months. In the middle of the
month I was “called-up” for National Service and told to
report to R.A.F. Padgate, a travel warrant being provided to
Warrington Bank Quay. I travelled to March to catch the 0735
Norwich – Birmingham as far as Rugby. For that journey and
the immediately-following I took little notice of the line’s
features, being more concerned with how I would cope with
Service life which, in the event, I enjoyed.

9

_________PICK-UP GOODS

Whilst at Padgate, where I remained for eight weeks’ Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
“square-bashing”, the Whitsun holiday intervened, for which 0910 Whitemoor – Wansford 1018
leave was granted. Several hundred East Anglians were 1100 Wansford – King’s Cliffe 1124
lined up on one of the parade grounds and told to be at 1220 King’s Cliffe – Nassington 1235
Rugby on Whit-Tuesday to catch the 12 noon leave train to 1255 Nassington – Wansford
Warrington. To catch this train (the R.A.F. “b rass” should 1318 Wansford – King’s Cliffe 1341
have invested in a timetab le – Ed.) meant spending the 1405 King’s Cliffe – Nassington 1420
night on Peterborough East station. There was a large 1440 Nassington – Whitemoor
contingent of Servicemen so the station staff unlocked the
compartment stock of what was to form the 0653 all-
stations, except Castor, to Rugby, hauled by an L.M.S.
“Compound” 4-4-0. The Norwich arrived in Rugby at 1155,
too tight a connection for the “leave” special; missing it
carried the risk of “jankers”!

My next use of the route was in November 1956 when I And finally…some years ago I discovered that East Suffolk
visited my eldest sister in Birmingham. On that occasion I Travellers’ Association member Nigel Glithro had been a
caught the 1425 Ely to Birmingham service. Unfortunately fireman at Market Harborough, whose workings included the
most of the journey was undertaken in darkness, my only Seaton to Stamford and Uppingham services. Until recently
recollection was of an L.M.S. 3F 0-6-0 in the sidings at he was a driver and firing inspector on the North Norfolk
Pingle, near Whittlesea. From Peterborough East the train Railway. Here we see Nigel (left) and Driver Reg Parsons
was hauled by the prototype diesel no. 10800, built for the (right) on 84008 at Seaton on 7th March 1964 (Rod Lock
L.M.S. by the North British Loco Co., and intended for collection).
branch and secondary routes. I think it performed for some
time on the Rugby route (correct, b ut it also spent a lot of Those Cowbit & Spalding photographs (see
time under repair – Ed.). NRS/NL 61/3 p.4)

Following the withdrawal of passenger services from 6th The image of Spalding station, looking north or north-east,
June 1966, the King’s Cross Division took over the line reminds us what a lot of physical railway there once was.
eastwards from King’s Cliffe, where iron ore was loaded, as From left to right, the converging lines are, or were, from
it was at Naylor Benzon’s sidings at Nassington. When I Bourne (M&GN), Peterborough (GN), March (GN/GE “Joint”)
arrived at the Division in February 1965, the Works & and South Lynn (M&GN). However, it is interesting to look at
Planning Section had already decided on a revised track part of the GN/GE “Joint” and consider the number of
layout at King’s Cliffe which eliminated the need for an intermediate stations that once existed between March and
attendant locomotive to shunt the yard whilst loading was Lincoln Central (as it used to be) – there were 18, and only
carried out. The L.M.R. provided an 8F 2-8-0, a costly Spalding and Sleaford were still open between late 1961
business. The mine closed on 30th September 1967. and 1975. Even the March – Spalding section of the “Joint”
has been closed since 1982. These stations – going north
Naylor Benzon had an extensive layout at Nassington, from March – had some wonderfully bucolic names and
employing their own locos. Most of the low-content ore was were (with the dates of closure following or marked with an
forwarded to Corby and Scunthorpe, a greater tonnage than asterisk): Guyhirne 5th October 1953, Murrow (West) 6th July
King’s Cliffe. Forwarded tonnages for the following years 1953, French Drove & Gedney Hill*, Postland*, Cowbit*,
were as follows: Spalding, Pinchbeck*, Gosberton*, Donington Road*,
Helpringham 4th July 1955, Sleaford, Ruskington*, Digby*,
1965 – 187,010; 1966 – 158,137; 1967 – 90,557. Scopwick & Timberland 7th November 1955, Blankney &
Metheringham*, Nocton & Dunston 2nd May 1955,
I understand that the decline continued, B.R. claiming it Potterhanworth 2nd May 1955, Branston & Heighington 3rd
needed 75,000 tons to justify the line’s retention. However, November 1958, Lincoln Central.
expensive renewals were necessary in 1969: £8,000 at
underbridge no. 38 at Nassington, and £3,500 in Wansford No doubt a combination of more convenient bus services,
tunnel. remoteness from the village served, few trains and,
eventually, rising car ownership was enough to sound their
The lines to Nassington and Oundle, retained for coal class death-knell as there was a final, widespread “purge” from
traffic, closed in 1971. 11th September 1961 – the closing stations concerned

The freight service after June 1966 centred on Whitemoor as
follows :

Tuesdays & Thursdays
0910 Whitemoor – Oundle 1053
1117 Oundle – Wansford 1150
1200 Wansford – King’s Cliffe
1320 King’s Cliffe – Nassington 1335
1355 Nassington - Whitemoor

10

_________PICK-UP GOODS

being shown by an asterisk. I suppose it begs the question here’s an image of the cover. The Nocton Potato Railway
of the number of passenger trains making calls. Put briefly, was a 1’11½” gauge system, established after WW1, and
the final timetable for these stations showed a Mondays - much of its product went into Smith’s Crisps. A few Simplex
Fridays 0627 March – Doncaster, which called everywhere diesels were used to power the trains, but by 1969 the
apart from French Drove, Postland & Cowbit. These stations system had closed and lorries had taken over. Smaller
were served by a 1540 March – Lincoln, which did stop systems existed in other parts of Lincolnshire, and if anyone
everywhere, and that was it. Saturdays saw the same 0627 has images or recollections of a visit (I think employment is
service, then an all-stations 0825 March – Lincoln, and unlikely) please get in touch. I would also be interested to
finally a 1521 all-stations March – Lincoln. Southbound, see images of the slow trains at any of the intermediate
Mondays to Fridays, there was an all-stations 0600 s tations .
Doncaster – March, and an 1834 Lincoln – March, which Finally, thanks to Richard Adderson for a couple of ticket
omitted Gosberton, Cowbit, Postland & French Drove. scans from his collection. Although both tickets were
Saturdays saw an all-stations 0735 Lincoln – March, an all- genuinely issued the dates are illegible. (EM)
stations 1251 Doncaster – March and a 1654 Doncaster –
March which, like the 1834 from Lincoln, made a few fewer Something to Think About (NRS/NL 61/4 p.4)
calls. Once this train had left, doors could be locked behind
the last passenger. All doom and gloom? No – Ruskington Answers could have been: 1. Beaufort, Lancaster,
and what is now Metheringham have been re-opened, Overstrand, Sunderland & Wellington; 2. Ford (there were
seeing more passenger trains than ever before, and several, but there’s still one near Littlehampton) & Vauxhall
Donington and Pinchbeck may follow. just outside Waterloo; 3. Perth is very obvious, but there
used to be a Melbourne in Leicestershire; 4. Angel (LUL) &
After the 1961 closures services were long-distance, to or Eccles, just west of Manchester Victoria; 5. Bugle (on the
from the Eastern Counties, apart from a few DMUs between Newquay branch) is still with us, but what about Drum, on
Lincoln/Gainsborough/Doncaster. It would be interesting to the Aberdeen – Ballater branch, which closed to
see a contemporary freight timetable to gauge line- passengers from 10th September 1951? And there was also
occupation. But…the stations closed in 1961 were still in the Triangle, near Sowerby Bridge, closed entirely from 8th July
1962 Summer Timetable, and this gave details of the bus 1929! That’s enough wincing for now! Well done, Richard,
companies serving these villages. Thus, the Holme Delight for pointing out (!) Triangle as well as being 100%.
Bus Service of Donington served Pinchbeck and Gosberton,
for example! Love it!

Motive power would have been anything from a V2
downwards, and probably B1s or K3s were the most likely
on these short trains. However, given that ex-Doncaster
“Plant” Pacifics had a canter or two up and down the ECML
after repair, could these trains have been used to “run-in”
their smaller brethren if the need arose?

Another station worthy of mention is Nocton & Dunston, and I
am aware that a couple of members have the book about

Another brain-teaser, I’m afraid

Station names used to be longer, maybe in the hope of
gaining more business from a wider catchment area. Thus,
on your way to Liverpool St, plain Gidea Park used to be
Gidea Park & Squirrels Heath. Here are 10 to get you delving
amongst your railway literature and so on. Answers to me
please (email preferred) giving the suffixes that used to be
part of the following station names (the “suffixed” name isn’t
necessarily the original name of the station):

the Lincolnshire Potato Railways (!) – yes, most railway 1. Acock’s Green & …; 6. Llwynypia & …;
subjects have spawned a book, and if you don’t believe me 2. Bearsted & …; 7. Moorside & …;
3. Cholsey & …; 8. Ockley & …;
4. Clarkston & …; 9. Potters Bar & …;
5. Cressington & …; 10. Town Green & …

11

_________PICK-UP GOODS

North Norfolk Railway Photo Charters Corrections Corner

A number of organisations run photo charters where a There was an unfortunate error at the end of the second
location is hired for exclusive use by a group of paying paragraph of Barry Gayton’s letter in NRS/NL 61/4 p.9. The
photographers. I recently attended a charter run by Timeline final station should have been Whitwell & Reepham.
Events at the Mid Suffolk Railway.
Steam Through North Walsham
During November they are advertising two charters on the
North Norfolk Railway. Both will feature Y14 564. On the 7th Monday 19th September 2016 saw 76084 undergo her light
this will be with a “period correct” mixed train and the engine test run from Sheringham to Carnforth, covering a
following day with the Quad-art coaches. Both days will total distance of 317 miles all of which were trouble-free.
feature a short night shoot at Weybourne Station. Following a tip off Mike Young saw the consist at North
Characteristically these events enable lineside access at a Walsham (below) where he reports an unofficial stop to pick
number of locations and sometimes involve re-enactors to up sandwiches for the crew’s lunch followed by a
add a human element to the scenarios created. spectacular restart complete with chime whistle and full
exhaust noises.
Details can be found at: timelineevents.org.uk
(Andy Wright)

Visit to Gauge 1 East Anglian Group

Model railway enthusiasts are invited by NRS members
David Beeken and Brian Sayer to visit the Gauge 1 club on
Sunday 30th October please call in from 1100. Tea, Coffee
and Biscuits will be provided but please put a donation in
the tin.

How to find us - Church Lane. Hepworth, IP22 2PU is off
the main street in Hepworth sign posted “the church”
100yds on the left from the junction through double gates
into a large field car park. The track is in the Nissen Hut.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

And another question

The location in the images, below and right, may well be
familiar, but what is the railway association between
Jessica Ennis and Steve Backley and the town? (AW)

12

___________NRS NEWS

Annual Show 2017 From the committee

The date of our Show will be Saturday 11th February. The committee meets next on Monday 10th October and will
continue discussion regarding the future legal structure of
Dr Richard Joby the society (See NRS/NL 61/3 p. 13). If a clear proposal for
change is agreed one option will be to call a General
We have been advised that Richard’s wife passed away Meeting of the Society on Thursday 1st December. Notice of
recently. Richard, however, is still in St Michael’s Care any such meeting will be sent to all members in accordance
Home, Aylsham, and would appreciate any visitors. Thank with our Constitution and Rules. (AW)
you.

NRS Annual Christmas Meal

Monday 5th December 2016 at 19:30 for 20:00,

Old Feathers Restaurant, A146, Framingham Pigot, Norwich

Starters
Broccoli & Stilton soup topped with fresh cream & croutons
Smoked salmon, cream cheese & prawn parcels on a beetroot salad

Pork liver pate & homemade red onion chutney
Crispy duck and hoi sin spring rolls
Tomato & pesto pastry tartlet

Traditional prawn cocktail with our homemade Marie-rose sauce
Breaded whitebait with homemade tartar sauce

Mains  - All mains are served with a table selection of fresh vegetables
Norfolk Turkey served with sausage, stuffing, honey roasted parsnips, roast potatoes & Yorkshire.
Slices of 6hr braised leg of lamb in rosemary and red wine with spring onion & cabbage mash

Sea bass fillets with lemon butter & shrimp sauce on crushed new potatoes
Brie, mushroom spinach, walnut & cranberry parcel, crushed new potatoes

Winter vegetable suet pudding with buttery mash
Rack of ribs served with American fries, coleslaw and salad

Desserts
Christmas pudding served with pouring brandy cream and cinnamon ice cream

Homemade chocolate and black cherry cheesecake & ice cream
Homemade Banoffee tart & ice cream

Raspberry & chocolate Pavlova & ice cream
Creme patisserie & fruit tartlet

Coffee, chocolate & mixed nut ice cream sundae

A two course meal costs £19.95 per person. A three course meal costs £24.95. Coffee and gratuity included.  Booking by
6th November absolutely essential.  You can do this by email  or by phone  - messaging service available.   Please include

your name(s) and contact details. Members and wives/partners only please.  Your choice of courses and full payment
(cheques to Norfolk Railway Society, please) will also be required by 6th November – please use the contact details above

to state your choice.

The NRS Committee looks forward to welcoming you all to this annual festive event.
Brian Cornwell

_________FEATURE

The Bude Branch by Michael Roach

In British Railways days Bude was at the end of an 18½ mile For comparison the train took a minimum of 2¼ hours, and

branch line from Halwill on the North Cornwall line to mostly longer than that.

Wadebridge and Padstow. Bude is a seaside resort on the

wild north coast of Cornwall, although it actually faces west Ten miles to the east of Bude the branch line passed through

towards the setting sun. Even now, Bude’s population is some the small town of Holsworthy, population about 2,700.

5,000. Beyond Halwill the railway headed east to Meldon Holsworthy is a market town and it got a brand-new livestock

Junction, Okehampton and Exeter. In 2016 the Stagecoach market in September 2014 replacing a life-expired one in the

bus still follows a similar route providing a lifeline connection centre of the town beside the former railway line. When the

from railless Bude to Exeter St David’s every 2 hours. The Devon & Cornwall Railway and its ally the London & South

journey time from Bude to St David’s by bus is about 2 hours. Western Railway were planning this line in the 1870s it was

13

_________FEAT URE Back in the 1880s and 1890s, after the railway had arrived at
Holsworthy, there was pressure to extend the line to the coast
the town of Holsworthy that was the aim, even though it only at Bude. It is hard to see why as there was very little there.
had a population then of just 1,650. The line opened from Indeed it was the arrival of the railway in 1898 that saw Bude
Meldon Junction to Holsworthy in 1879. There were expand rapidly as a town created by the railway. What I find
intermediate stations at Ashbury, Halwill for Beaworthy and really strange is that 2 miles to the east of Bude was the town
Dunsland Cross. All three stations were similar with a passing of Stratton. This is an ancient town with a history dating back
loop, a couple of sidings and a signal box. However Halwill more than 1,000 years, and with a similar population to Bude
was destined for greater things. The North Cornwall Line was now. The town of Stratton was far more important than Bude
opened in 1886 from a junction just west (actually north) of in Victorian times and yet was ignored by the builders of the
Halwill & Beaworthy station and the station was renamed new line. There was just one station between Holsworthy and
Halwill which it retained until closure. The village which grew Bude at Whitstone & Bridgerule which was sited right on the
up around the railway station is still called Halwill Junction, as boundary between the Counties of Cornwall and Devon.
witnessed by the sign on the A3079 at the north end. In 1925
a third railway arrived at Halwill from Torrington. Each time a

Ivatt 2-6-2T 41223 runs into Halwill with the 12 noon from Standard 2-6-4T 80037 calls at Halwill with the 1324 Exeter
Bude on 24th October 1964.The Torrington branch platform St David’s to Padstow on 24th October 1964. This was the
is on the right. This platform was added when the line from only through Exeter to Padstow working left after the
Torrington was opened as a light railway in 1925. timetable changes of early September that year.
new line arrived at Halwill the facilities were expanded with
more sidings, a goods shed, a 50’ turntable and an abattoir. Bude Station was provided with just a single platform, a run
In its final form Halwill had 4 platforms. Portions of trains to
and from Bude and Padstow were split or put together here round loop, a goods shed, several sidings, an engine shed
and a couple of times a day it was possible to see 4 steam
and a turntable. The engine shed was in use until the last day
N 2-6-0 31406 runs into Halwill with a train from Padstow on
14th April 1962. The loco had arrived at Exmouth Junction of steam haulage, with the loco off the last arrival at 2100
two months earlier from Weymouth and would be a regular
performer on the North Cornwall line until withdrawal at the retiring to the shed to be serviced and looked after overnight.
beginning of September 1964.
locos at this rural junction. Some people claimed for Halwill This was quite
the distinction of being the single-line capital of England &
Wales with 4 lines coming in and 4 single line token unusual by 1964.
instruments in the signal box. However, we are jumping
ahead. Was this necessary

as the first

passenger arrival of

the day was at

0735 and the first

departure at 0743?.

Perhaps there was

an earlier freight

train out of Bude. In

the summer of

1964 there were Bude platform ticket. But why does it

departures from say GW Railway when it never was?

Bude at 0743, 1020,

1350, 1535, 1735

and 1920 on

weekdays. There

was the same

number of

departures on

Saturdays, but

some at different

times. There were 3

departures on A poorly printed Southern Railway

Sundays in the first class single from Halwill to Hole

summer timetable of dated 6th August 1960 and costing

1964 at 0945, 1430 1/3 (about 6p) for the 3-mile journey.

and 1835.

14

_________FEAT URE

The rundown of the Bude branch was inextricably bound up N 2-6-0 31842 stands at Bude with the 3-coach 1511
with the rundown of the North Cornwall line. At the beginning Okehampton train on a rainy 23rd May 1964. It had
of 1964 through freight from Padstow, Wadebridge and previously brought in the 1318 from Okehampton and been
Bodmin North was diverted away from the North Cornwall line turned on the turntable.
to Bodmin Road on the Cornish main line. This left just one
pick-up freight over the line. The first weekend of September was almost inevitable. While writing this in June 2016 my
1964 proved to be a watershed for the Bude branch and the local daily paper reported that the 13 mile length of the A3079
North Cornwall line. Most of the stations lost their freight from Okehampton through Halwill Junction to Dunsland Cross
facilities including Bude itself. There would be no more freight is the third quietest A-road in Britain, beaten only by the A897
trains. The passenger trains were reduced to a basic service in Scotland and the A481 in Wales (east of Builth Wells).
of just 4 each way on the North Cornwall line. Some signal
boxes and passing loops closed. The service was still steam Photographs all taken by the author.
hauled, principally by the BR Standard 2-6-4 tanks, but this
situation would not last long. Also in September 1964 the
TUCC hearing into the proposed line closures was held at
Wadebridge. There were 78 objections to the closure of the
Bude branch; 86 objections to the North Cornwall line; and 12
to the closure of Halwill to Torrington.

Monday 4th January 1965 would see dmus take over all the
trains between Okehampton and Padstow/Bude. Since the
freight trains had already ceased the dmus would see steam
eliminated, causing the redundancy of many drivers and
firemen at Wadebridge, Launceston and Bude. The diesels
were either single car or 3-car. Patronage was poor, and
some trains ran completely empty. This new situation itself
only lasted 20 months when the 2 lines were completely
closed on and from Monday 4th October 1966. At this point it
should be pointed out that the whole area served by the 2
lines was (and still is) very sparsely populated and closure

_________WORKING TIM ETABLE
a selective look ahead at local railway events

NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY and Norfolk Transport Group meetings take place (unless otherwise stated) at: United
Reformed Church Hall, Ipswich Road, Norwich, NR4 6QR

Events are listed in good faith, b ut visitors should check with the organisation concerned b efore travelling.
Norfolk Transport Group - please contact Mike Fordham or John Laycock.

Services on our Local Railways

Ashmanhaugh Light Railway, East View Farm, Stone Lane, Ashmanhaugh, NR12 8YW. For information:
www.ashmanhaughlightrailway.co.uk. Running days resume next year.

Barton House Railway, Hartwell Road, Wroxham, NR12 8TL. For information: www.bartonhouserailway.org.uk – Tel: 01603-
782008.

The Bure Valley Railway - Daily running until 30th October. For details of individual events please visit their website -
www.bvrw.co.uk - or telephone 01263-733858.

The Mid-Norfolk Railway - For details of individual events please visit their website - www.mnr.org.uk - or telephone 01362-
690633.

The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, Brockford Station, Wetheringsett, IP14 5PW - For details of individual events please visit their
website - www.mslr.org.uk - or telephone 01449-766899.

The North Norfolk Railway - Daily running until 30th October. For details of individual events please visit their website -
www.nnrailway.co.uk - or telephone 01263-820800.

The Norwich & District Society of Model Engineers meets at Eaton Park, Norwich on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays
from 1300-1700. N.B. Sunday running on the last Sunday of the month has ceased. See website www.ndsme.co.uk. Final
Sunday running for 2016 is on 9th October.

15

_________WORKING TIM ETABLE

The Wells & Walsingham Light Railway. Daily running until 30th October. For information:
www. wellswalsinghamrailway.co.uk or tel: 01328 711630 (up to 1700 please).

The Whitwell & Reepham Railway - For details of individual events please visit their website - www.whitwellstation.com - or
telephone 01603-871694.

The R.C.T.S. (Ipswich Branch) and the Ipswich & District Historical Transport Society have begun their autumn and winter
meetings. Please contact me if you’d like to see their programmes.

Most of our local railways will be running the usual Santa Specials etc during December, and intending participants should
please refer to the relevant railway company website, consult one of their brochures or telephone the company concerned.

OCTOBER

9th Sun NORWICH & DISTRICT SOCIETY OF MODEL ENGINEERS – “Children in Need” Day – Eaton
Park 1300 -1700.

13th Thu NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP - “A Lifetime in Oil & Gas” - Peter Davies 1930.

15th - 16th Sat - Sun MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY – Autumn Diesel Gala - Check with the railway for details.

16th Sun BARTON HOUSE RAILWAY - Running Day 1430 - 1730.

20th Thu NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – “The Southwold Railway: Past, Present & Future” – John
22nd - 30th Sat - Sun Ridgway - 1930.
22nd - 29th
22nd - 30th BURE VALLEY RAILWAY – “Spooky Expresses”.
27th
31st Sat - Sat NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY – “Hallowe’en Week”.

Sat - Sun WELLS & WALSINGHAM LIGHT RAILWAY - “The Spooky Express/I-Spy”

Thu NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP - “A3s (Part 2)” – John Hutchinson - 1930.

Mon MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY – Hallowe’en “Scream Express” Train.

NOVEMBER

3rd Thu NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – “North Woolwich to Palace Gates” – Jim Connor - 1930.

6th Sun WHITWELL & REEPHAM RAILWAY – Steam Sunday.

10th Thu NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP – Transport Quiz Night – Malcolm Cooper. We
look forward to seeing as many as possible. 1930.
17th Thu NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – “Steam Locomotives on East Anglian Metals” – Peter Groom
– 1930.
24th Thu
26th Sat NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP – “S.N.C.F. Railways” – Ken Mills – 1930.

NENTA TRAINTOURS – “The Festive Yorkshireman” – From Great Yarmouth (0600 approx) and
Norwich (0640 approx) via Ipswich & Ely to York, Keighley (for KWVR & Haworth) and Skipton
(canal trip). Norwich return 2310 approx and Yarmouth return 2350 approx. Fares from £65.75.
First Class & Premier Class available. Details: www.nentatraintours.co.uk or telephone 01692-
406152.

DECEMBER NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – To be arranged – 1930.
1st Thu
4th Sun WHITWELL & REEPHAM RAILWAY – Steam Sunday.
8th Thu
NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP – “20 Slides from the Past” – Unearth some of your
masterpieces or simply items of interest – 1930.

Printed by Pride Press Ltd. Tel: 01603 665045.
16


Click to View FlipBook Version