NRS NL 65-1 Jan-Feb 2020

Norfolk Railway Society

Founded 1955 www.norfolkrailwaysociety.org

Volume 65 No. 1 NEWSLETTER Jan - Feb 2020

Graham Kenworthy

Graham’s health had been failing for some time, and he passed away
on 6th January. His obituary, courtesy of Richard Adderson, will be
found on Page 12.

____________TRACK REPORT - News from railways in and around Norfolk

National Network

For the Last Time

Richard Adderson has been busy photographing the
combination of new units and old infrastructure before
the latter is swept away in February. We’re very grateful
that he’s been able to get out and about, and I know he
intends to cover the area even more thoroughly.

Clockwise from right:
On 6th January 755422 from Lowestoft is flanked by
signals at the Norwich end of Brundall station; 755421
holds up traffic at Brundall level-crossing gates on 8th
January; 755328 from Lowestoft is seen at Brundall
on 8th January - a traditional scene with signals,
gated crossing and footbridge. Only the footbridge will
survive the remodelling work (Richard Adderson).

In This Issue Editor’s Leave of Absence

Track report It’s looking more and more likely (but who can second-guess the NNUH at
National Network 1 present?) that I’ll be having (or recovering from) surgery before the April
4 Newsletter is prepared. Please send all contributions to Andy Wright by email,
Pick-up Goods
NRS News preferably in a Word document with images as appropriate, together with a
Feature The NRS Archive: a final 13 copy for me. Mike Handscomb will continue to write his stylish meeting reports.
report on its disposal by Mike 14
Handscomb.
I’m extremely grateful to Andy & Mike for “stepping into the breach”.
Working Timetable
16

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____________TRACK REPORT

Clockwise from left:
755412 passes signals as it approaches Acle loop from Yarmouth on
9th January; 755333 arrives at Cantley from Lowestoft on 15th
January. The signalbox remains only to control the level-crossing
gates; both will be replaced during February. The new starter signal is
covered over, awaiting commissioning; 755328 runs into Acle from
Yarmouth on 9th January; 755337 near Strumpshaw, passing the
down distant for Chapel Road level-crossing at Lingwood on 13th
January. (Richard Adderson)

NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY

(Founded 1955)
President: Ken Mills, Esq.

Committee and Officers 2019-2020 Telephone

Chairman Warren Wordsworth

Vice-Chairman Vacant

Past Chairman Brian Kirton

Secretary & Andrew Wright
Webmaster John Laycock
Treasurer

Membership Sec Mike Handscomb

Newsletter Editor & Edward Mann
Indoor Programme
Committee Members Brian Cornwell

Richard Keeys
Peter Willis

Malcolm Wright

Norfolk Railway Society Newsletter

Editor: Edward Mann

Layout & Picture Editor: Andrew Wright

Distribution: Graham Smith

Please contact Graham if the next edition does not arrive by Wayward Deer
the end of the month of publication.
On 21st January the 1630 London – Norwich, formed of 2 x 321
Opinions expressed in any articles are those of the author and units (no catering) left Ipswich on time at about 1735 but it hit a
should not be taken to represent those of the Society. deer near Bramford forcing the train to come to a stand before
Next issue published: 2nd April 2020. reaching Claydon LC, the deer having damaged the train’s
Copy Date: 19th March 2020. brake pipes. The 1700 stood at Ipswich for 65 min. before

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being cancelled, effectively to create space for the following noisy when the train was accelerating, with noise coming from
1730 which, after a 20 min. wait at Ipswich, went forward 67L, between the two gangways.
running wrong line to Claydon, stopping alongside the failed
train to set down assisting staff members. The failed train had The free wi-fi is 802.11n for those who know about routers – not
already been divided, with all passengers moved in the the latest but O.K. The sockets are as per the 755s and difficult
darkness to the trailing 321 unit which then set back wrong line to reach with only one pair of seats, so if you both want to use it
to Ipswich, arriving there at 2033, almost 3 hours after it had left may be a case of the best man win! In 1st class it is the usual 2 +
Ipswich! The 1730 arrived Norwich 84L and the second train to 1 configuration with a strange little set of seats and tables in a
run wrong line past the obstruction was the 1810, which was 72L closed-off area behind the driver. On the other hand, in 1st class,
into Norwich. The absence of bi-directional signalling north of the sockets and USBs are between the seat backs in a much
Colchester was a real handicap. An assisting train arrived on better position than in standard and one USB + socket per seat.
site at 2146 and succeeded in pushing the failed unit into
Claydon loop at 2210 allowing the Down line, which had been On the road the train “went like the clappers”, and Ian clocked it
blocked for 4½ hours, to re-open! The line was inspected by a at 103 mph by Forncett. Although 100 mph units they could
container train booked to follow the 1630 and which had been probably do 110 mph if asked! The train was 2 min. early into
held on the Bacon Factory Curve for over 4 hours! London and it was a nice gesture for GA management to go
through the train handing out goodies to the somewhat surprised
The train service was dire with northbound Norwich services regulars.
being terminated at Manningtree (1750) and several at Ipswich.
Long waits were experienced at Colchester; 1hr + late arrivals Overall, Ian
into Norwich were common and there were some cancellations. thinks the new
There were related delays on the Cambridge/Peterborough lines trains are O.K.
and to Up trains from Norwich. Finally, the 2330 ex-London was apart from a few
only 4L into Norwich!!! niggles, and
hopefully all will
As usual, we are left to guess at the deer’s fate! By contrast, a be in service
stag which got ahead of a DMU on Glenfinnan Viaduct a day or before the end
two later got away unscathed as the train patiently followed! of March. GA
(Peter Adds) have advised
there will be a
The New Trains – first Liverpool St service more formal
launch when all
Ian Dinmore “happened to be working at Stratford”, so was a the new trains
passenger on the first Up service at 0740 on 8th January worked are in service.
by a Class 745 Stadler - 745007.

He has briefly recorded his impressions of the first train – a very
long 12-coach EMU set – seats are the same as in the 755s,
certainly better than in the 345/700/800 contraptions! The mini-
buffet is a long, 9-coach walk away if you’re at the back of the
train! There was a trolley on the train and it started in 1st class.
With only 5 toilets in a 12-coach train these may be overworked
(Achilles heel – Ed?) and another problem may be with luggage
as it’s not catered for very well – lower racks and only 6 bikes
per set. As Ian is over 6’ he cracked his head twice! Ian says the
ride was much smoother than expected, but he chose to sit in
coach G over some of the articulated bogies where it was very

From top right: 745007 before departure from Norwich with the
0740 service; after arrival at Liverpool St.; the connecting
corridor between the two halves of the train; and the First Class
layout. (Ian Dinmore)

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A miscellany of news and members’ contributions

Recently at URC Hall Andy travelled on the first “London in 90” and the evening return
on 20th May, and it is remarkable what modern technology is
“The Evolving Ipswich Transport Museum” – able to do. I am sure many members are familiar with RealTime
Brian Dyes (21st November) Trains, but Signal Maps raises one’s understanding of delays
and pathing problems to a new level, as Andy explained when
Sometimes a presentation has a fascination far beyond its the return service was delayed, and how controllers did their
simple title, and so it proved when Brian Dyes, a founding best to mitigate delay
member of Ipswich Transport Museum, addressed us.
Images of Brundall’s trackwork before and after were
The Museum had its beginnings in a field near Coddenham, interspersed with Class 68s on Yarmouth Air Show workings.
where a bus operator simply drove his life-expired vehicles into Class 37s on short sets were noted in October, along with the
the field and left them! Thus, in 1965, a group of enthusiasts usual RHTT workings. In July he, and several other members,
“recovered” a Dennis Ace. An early (1916) battery lorry came had visited David Pearce’s excellent “Departures” exhibition at
from Ransomes in 1966 and in 1969 Ipswich Fire Brigade Lowestoft.
presented them with a pre-war machine.
He had been to Ely (bypass now complete), but what caught his
Gradually, the burgeoning collection was assembled in a eye was the veritable forest of signs at the north end of the
warehouse near Portman Road, and eventually Ipswich station. Have a look next time you’re there.
Transport Museum Ltd was established as both a company and
a charity in 1978. Other explorations took in the recently-completed Equestrian
Bridge at Trimley, complete with “dismounting steps” and the
The Museum is in the old trolleybus depot at Cobham Road, but busy Dagenham Dock station on the Barking/Grays/Pitsea loop.
in the 1990s it was not a pleasant place in which to work, or to At this point, unfortunately, it was time to call a halt, but at least
display restored items. Heritage Lottery Funding was secured in it means another instalment won’t be too far away!
1999 to bring the Museum up to modern standards, and in 2001
the Museum re-opened after its refurbishment. Thanks to Andy for all his work during the evening.

Handcarts, cycles, prams, motorcycles are alongside “Return to T’ebay” – David Pearce
commercial vehicles, public service vehicles and emergency (5th December)
vehicles, and they have Ransome’s first lawnmower from 1831.
With four sons – all living at home – and his role as Vice
Amazing finds continue to be made, such as the cobbler’s Chairman of the Bittern Line Partnership, you’d think that David
workshop in Ely, obtained when the gentleman retired. At first Pearce has little time to browse eBay looking for mouth-watering
sight it was a Cambridge horse tram, but investigation revealed railway negatives.
a Bradford coat-of-arms, and more investigation showed that the
vehicle had begun life with Bath Tramways back in 1880! But you’d be wrong! David’s presentation to us, following a
similar evening in January 2019 (NRS/NL 64/2 p.4), illustrated
A very few facts and figures: they have 163 uniforms, an 8391- the results of countless hours (and probably pounds!) studying
book library, 25812 archive items, 83173 plans and 102251 and bidding for images which he finds attractive.
photographs and slides. And everything is done by volunteers.
Delivered in his customary entertaining and self-deprecating
Many thanks to Brian for his most interesting show, and it is to manner, David’s evening encompassed images taken in many
be hoped members will visit the Museum soon corners of the UK by many different photographers, several of
whom David had known. It’s the pictorial appeal of the image,
“East Anglia & Beyond and not necessarily the significance of the motive power, which
– A Review of the Current Scene” gets his attention. Whereas I have always – mistakenly –
assumed that ‘creative’ railway photography began with Colin
The second half of the evening was a presentation by Andy Gifford in the mid-1960s, David’s purchases of negatives which
Wright who, since retirement, has been a regular traveller on all had been taken well before then showed that many
of our local lines, and he has supplemented these travels with photographers were already thinking ‘outside the box’. Indeed
further investigations by road, and also by air. during the course of evening, only one or two images might
have come from those doyens of the ‘front-three-quarter’ view,
He began with a brief reminder that, before Abellio took over the Eric Treacy or Maurice Earley.
local services National Express/”One” held the franchise
between 2004 & 2012 though the “One” tag could hardly have The presentation was divided into sections, with themes such
been a worse choice. “London in 90” was written into Abellio’s as Steam to Diesel Transition, More Than One Train on the
franchise, and it became reality in May 2019 but punctuality Move, Water Troughs, Consecutively-numbered Locos in the
leaves much to be desired, owing to (mainly) the dense line Same Shot. Among the photographers whose work he admired
occupation. We also saw some aerial views of the “forgotten” was Jim Carter, a footplateman who always carried a camera
train-care depot near Manningtree. with him and who appeared to enjoy scaling any nearby high
vantage point to get his shot. Former NRS members – Peter
Andy summarised the arrival of the first FLIRT sets in November Starling and past President Arnold Hoskins – also put in an
2018, and now deliveries are almost complete. The first Inter- appearance.
City sets arrived on 30th May. As is well-known, extra storage
facilities have been built at Kimberley on the MNR. Crown Point Often David will buy an image which appeals to him, without
has also been modernised, and Victoria Sidings have been being sure of its precise location. But hours searching with maps
rebuilt and brought back into use. (those on the National Library of Scotland’s site are invaluable)
usually, it seems, provide the answer.

Scottish Two-Road Sheds demonstrated the attractive, if quirky,
structures to be found, inter alia, at Stirling, Boat of Garten,

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Dingwall and Glasgow Glebe Street - the last with a cottage built Peter Davies had visited the Nene Valley Railway, which has its
on top. Appropriately, David rounded off the evening with a H.Q. at Wansford. They have a most interesting Swedish railcar
sequence showing Tebay in a snowy 1967. from the early 1950s, whilst Thomas was active on brakevan
rides. They have become associated with the Class 14s, and
In the enforced absence of Chairman Warren Wordsworth due one was under repair.
to illness, past chairman Brian Kirton delivered a well-deserved
vote of thanks. (Mike Handscomb) Brian and Velma Kirton had enjoyed a business relationship with
Chiltern Trains (not to be confused with Chiltern Railways, the
David Pearce Reprise TOC) and on 28th September he met former “leading lights” for a
social day out on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway,
The excellent selection of images shown during David Pearce’s using “Bubble car” W55024, which commemorated 10 years
presentation on 5th December almost demanded that a few be since Chiltern Trains had closed down. We learned that the line
shown in the next Newsletter. I particularly enjoyed these two: was occasionally used by the Metropolitan Police to refresh their
train-storming skills.

Arthur Barrett showed part of a DVD -“Box of Delights”- hoping
the heritage line could be identified. The Severn Valley Railway
was the answer.

Peter Cooke then read some notes from an Airfix kit of 92220
Evening Star which recalled its naming and entry to service in
1960. He continued with a eulogy about his Society
membership.

No sooner had I resolved to keep Barmouth out of a few issues After a seasonal refreshment break (thanks largely to Philip &
than this fine image (above) by our late member Peter Starling Maureen Moore) Andy Wright took over with a most interesting
put paid to that! It is dated September 1962 and shows a local set of images taken during an NR-supervised visit to Oulton
service (82XXX-hauled) about to enter Barmouth Tunnel, having Broad swingbridge at the end of November. We saw something
crossed Barmouth Bridge and the Mawddach Estuary, before of the bridge controls, but disaster struck whilst part of the party
reaching Barmouth with a northbound service. received a bridge-swinging demonstration! Somehow the bridge
stuck unexpectedly and the emergency team had to be called
out. Probably a couple of services had to be cancelled whilst the
fault was fixed in remarkably short order. We also saw aerial
views of Reedham & Somerleyton swingbridges (both open).

Mike Handscomb was once Secretary of the Exeter University
Railway Society; he had recently invested in a negative scanner
and, thanks to David Pearce, a number of interesting images
were identified with a view to sale.

Richard Adderson weighed-in with a number of views of the
local scene; most contained 755s, but he had made a point of
making these subsidiary to the main items of interest. The
RHTTs (both early in the season and later) also received good
coverage. An image and supporting notes can be found on page
7.

Mike Fordham rounded off the evening with a series of images
of the “Jacobite” (Fort William – Mallaig) hauled by 45407. Some
were taken from the train and others as he followed it. Of
particular interest was the legend of the entombed horse and
cart in Glenfinnan Viaduct. Mike explained this was wrong, and
recent detection has found the remains of the horse and cart in
Lochnan Uamh Viaduct, between Lochailort and Beasdale.

With thanks to all of our presenters, and to Andy Wright for
projecting whatever format came his way.

Impromptu DVD Evening (2nd January)

The late Eric Bentley’s work was much-admired by David, and Warren Wordsworth wasn’t well enough to present his
this view (above) of Greenholme shows 70051 Firth of Forth Chairman’s Address so we look forward to seeing “The Railways
(12A) climbing Shap with the 1Z38 1450 Blackpool North – of South Africa” sometime soon.
Glasgow on Monday 25th September 1967.
Instead we had an entertaining DVD evening, begun by Mike
Members’ 10-Minute Presentations (19th Fordham, with an old Buster Keaton film, featuring The General
December) and, on his side, his girlfriend and some Confederate soldiers
whilst some dastardly Confederate deserters opposed them.
There will always be a surprise when this evening comes The usual Keaton “props” came into play – a platelayer’s trolley,
around, and this year was no exception. a cannon, and some timber baulks – whilst the deserters were
adept at ripping up track behind them to evade capture. Much
enjoyed by all, and thanks to Mike for bringing it.

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Next was Edward Mann with some b & w footage c.1959
featuring 62471 Glen Falloch & 62496 Glen Loy on a journey
from Glasgow Queen St to Fort William (the old station) and
back. It was hard to date exactly, though some electrification
masts were in position, and I wonder if it preceded the familiar
Railway Roundabout filming?

Andy Wright showed part of Branch Lines Across East Anglia,
concentrating on the March – Wisbech – King’s Lynn line just
before its closure in 1968. The Derby & Metropolitan-Cammell
“Lightweight” DMUs were still in service, though not for much
longer. Also seen were the Cravens 105/106 classes. The
branch from March had been recently converted to “Paytrain”
operation though the conductor-guards were not unduly busy.
The large number of manned level-crossings didn’t help the
line’s economics and it lost its passenger services from 9th
September 1968. Wisbech remained busy for the despatch of
agricultural produce, however.

After the break Edward Mann continued with the first part of The
Somerset & Dorset Remembered taking viewers from Bath
Green Park to Evercreech Junc and then west to Glastonbury
and Highbridge. Most of the filming took place in 1965 when a
few 32xx 0-6-0s still worked the Highbridge branch – otherwise
B.R. Standards were in control. An anachronism was an evening
train from Bath to Binegar and back, its single coach hardly
taxing 82041; the return was usually empty! We also saw
something of the collieries around Radstock and the former S &
D loco works at Highbridge which had closed in 1930.

Andy Wright closed proceedings with footage of the
Wymondham – Dereham – Fakenham East line, which included
scenes on the Wymondham – Dereham section between
singling in 1965 and passenger closure in 1969. The then-
ramshackle stations south of Dereham confirmed just how thin
passenger traffic was, though a healthy freight traffic seemed to
run to Fakenham until the 1980s when it was progressively cut
back. We also saw something of the Cromer/Sheringham
branch, including inside Cromer signal box.

Thanks to Andy for all matters technical. Withdrawn in 1931, the body of one autocar was sold for use as
a holiday home at Kirbymoorside* (on the former Pickering –
Can You Still Send Telegrams? Pilmoor line); it survived for 70 years until a preservation project
could be started. The cars also saw use on the little-known
It looks as if you can, but who would bother when so much Selby – Cawood line which closed in 1930.
better and cheaper instant messaging is available today.
After 15 years of restoration the autocar re-entered service in
But things were different in the 1930s. The inside front cover of October 2018; it is based at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam
the LNER’s Winter 1938/39 Timetable offered the following Railway.
service:
With thanks to Malcolm Wright, and for his Warley images.
“TELEGRAMS ON TRAINS
Post Office Telegram Forms can be obtained on application to * Final railway spelling.
the Train Attendants and Restaurant Car Conductors, who will
arrange for the Telegrams to be despatched.” Feeding the Needy & Homeless at Christmas

Clearly the service was available only on prestige or restaurant Norwich has its “Open Christmas”, held in St Andrew’s Hall –
car trains but how did it operate in practice? And did WW2 end well done if you volunteered. I was, however, astonished when I
the service? read that a similar event was held on the concourse of
Birmingham New St station on Christmas Eve – hats off to
Warley Model Railway Exhibition – 23rd Network Rail for joining forces with Midland Langar Seva
November Society.

A number of members visited this exhibition, which sprang a What’s in the Box, then?
surprise.
It was my intention to include an illustration of the Colonel
In 1903 steam reigned supreme, powering most things on land Stephens “with compliments” slip as part of Barry Gayton’s
and sea. Although the North Eastern Railway (in common with article in NRS/NL 64/6 p.11. I must hold up my hands – the
others) already operated steam autotrains it built a world first – a relevant document is now shown opposite, but at least it
pair of electric railcars powered by electricity generated from an provides an opportunity to say a few words about the
on-board petrol engine. These were called autocars and addressee, G.A. Sekon. Brownie points if you knew who he was
operated in Yorkshire and the North-East and were popular with anyway.
passengers but suffered from technical problems as they were
ahead of their time.

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____________NRS News

Who was G.A. Sekon? acrimonious correspondence in The Engineer involving Sekon,
author Clement E. Stretton and locomotive engineer Henry
George Augustus Nokes Greenly concerning the application of 10-ft driving wheels to
(1867–1948) was the first early broad gauge locomotives. (Mike Handscomb)
editor of The Railway
Magazine when it began Another Quiz for you to think about!
publication in 1897. This
was the first periodical to 1. The “Condor” freight service ran between Hendon &
be aimed squarely at rail Glasgow using Class 28s. Was “Condor” a flight of fancy or did
enthusiasts – or the name mean something else?
"railwayacs" as they were
sometimes known. As 2. In which years did the first and last Class 31s enter
Nokes also worked for the service?
family firm of land agents
and auctioneers, he 3. The first Class 5 to be withdrawn was 45401 following a
decided to conceal his collision. What was the other loco involved in this collision?
journalism by using the
name ‘G. A. Sekon’ (his 4. In the whole of Ireland how many stations were there
name spelt backwards). whose name began “Bally”, whether as a 2 part name or as part
Under this nom-de-plume of a longer name? Was it 49, 59 or 69?
he continued to edit The
Railway Magazine until 5. There were once 5 stations with “Malvern” as part of their
1910, when he fell out name. Where was “the odd man out”?
with the magazine’s
proprietor. He set up his 6. In terms of the Forth, you can probably work out where
own title The Railway and Travel Monthly. Upon his retirement in North & South Queensferry stations are/were. But where was
1922, this latter title was subsumed into The Railway Magazine. Queensferry station?

As Sekon, he also wrote a number of books. These 7. What is the nearest, present, railway station to Forest
include History of the South Eastern Railway (1895), History of Green Rovers’ ground?
the Great Western Railway: being the story of the broad
gauge (1895), History of the London, Chatham & Dover 8. When was it last possible to travel from Long Sutton to
Railway (1919) and Locomotion in Victorian London (1938). Long Sutton & Pitney by rail? If you’re really keen, look at a
There was also Sekon's Dictionary of Railway Words and suggested route after the Answers.
Phrases - still available via Amazon for £94.00 !
9. What was the last steam locomotive to be rebuilt and
Railway author C. Hamilton Ellis knew Nokes in his later years, reclassified, and in which year?
and commented, “He was charming to younger people who
hung on to his memories, but he could get very cross with those 10. All of the Class 14s entered service over 2 years. Which
who disagreed with him.” An example of this comes from a less- years (don’t ask what the traffic need was)?
than-favourable review of Sekon’s The Evolution of the Steam
Locomotive (1899) which sparked a long-running and Answers on Page 15

RHTT-Chasing on a Wet Election Day
– Richard Adderson reports

As far as I know, the RHTTs have not been
diagrammed to cover the East Suffolk line in
daylight hours since 2012. On 12th December I
heard a whisper that there had been two RHTTs
over the East Suffolk the previous day, passing at
Beccles around lunchtime. With nothing much
planned, I decided to go to investigate whether
there would be a repetition – normally this year the
line has hosted just one such train, running in the
early hours of the morning.

I duly made my way to Beccles - in heavy rain - and
the following sequence unfolded. The times are
approximate.

12 noon: 57002 and 57003 run into the "down"
platform with a RHTT from the south, pause briefly,
and then head off to Lowestoft.

1228: 66126 and 66091 run into the "down" platform with 1248: I ventured on to the rainswept expanse of the “up”
another RHTT from the south and come to a stand. Driver gets platform in the hope of a photo of the two trains together as they
out and buys sustenance from the station café. continued their journeys in opposite directions. Foiled as at…

1246: 57002 and 57003 run into "up" platform with the RHTT 1253: The two 66s set off south again, taking full advantage of
from Lowestoft. Four very big and very dirty engines now occupy the bi-directional lines through the station.
the platforms to the disgust of a few hopeful and hardy souls
waiting in both "bus-shelters”. See image above.

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1302. After taking a few more snaps, I depart. 57s still in
platform, presumably waiting now for the 66s to get to
Halesworth (or perhaps they too reversed and went back to
Lowestoft).

With Beccles being the only passing point between Halesworth
and Lowestoft, all this must have decimated the skeletal planned
passenger services. You will be pleased to know that I have now
dried out!

Editor’s Note: Passenger trains are helpfully scheduled to pass
at Beccles at xx25. Pity those hopeful and hardy souls!

Going Dutch…

The Dutch seem to prefer a long word where we might use two. And Something from Belgium…
Here are some images of spoorverbetering (track
improvements) from 1997 relating to the separation of the We begin with a view of a train in Antwerp port. Unfortunately,
Arnhem – Ede/Utrecht & Arnhem – Nijmegen routes. With I’ve been unable identify the class of locomotive or, as a result,
thanks to Brian Kirton for forwarding these images taken by give a date. The men’s fashion suggests just before WW1, but
Jaap Boersema’s father. please let me know if this is wide of the mark, or if you can give
any other information.

The aerial view of Antwerp port is amazing, and may even date
into the 1950s. Sleuths to the fore again, please!

Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth - the Sequel

Back in the September/October 2018 Newsletter, John
Hutchinson and I wrote a short article under this title about a
large collection of railway photographs which had been given to
John. Fifteen months or so on, we feel some members may be

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interested in an update as to what has happened with the special place in my memory. As I have mentioned in previous
collection. articles - from about 1955 to about 1960 - I lived and breathed
the railway in Norwich along with a few others.. Mind you, we
The photographs were passed on to Mike Handscomb, who mustn’t get carried away because the railway was only a hobby
undertook to sell them through eBay on behalf of the Norfolk and wasn’t allowed to override things in life that were important
Transport Group. This wasn’t simply a case of trying to sell a – events at Carrow Road and Lakenham cricket ground spring
single lot of 971 photographs, but deciding which were worth to mind!
offering as stand-alone items and which ones could be grouped
together in attractive small sets. And what was left could be The railway, though, was always there – a convenient and
offered in larger lots under the slightly cryptic but nonetheless intriguing place to absorb the attention for a few hours. Through
accurate description: “Miscellaneous including damaged”. Many the long, hot summer of 1959 my friend and I had become
of the photos had mould or other defects along one or more sufficiently trusted by our parents to make the occasional sortie
edges, which had to be disclosed in the eBay listing. to various destinations from Norwich by rail, and the early
afternoon all-stations Ely shuttle offered the attraction of a
In the end, 67 photographs were sold singly, whilst the decent train ride and back in time for tea. As the schedule
remainder were grouped into 83 lots. Many of the results were indicated a quick about-turn at Ely we decided to get off at
surprisingly good – the best results from single photographs Shippea Hill to get some air and look around; we estimated that
were:- we had about half-an-hour before the train returned. As the
diesel disappeared towards Padnal and Ely we ambled across
Double-headed 4MT 2-6-0s leaving Saxby on M&GN train, the line to the down platform, only for the signalman to lean out
£19.33; of his box and ask what we were doing there. We explained that
we were there only until the DMU returned from Ely when we
LMS 4F and train heading for M&GN at Saxby, larger format would be back on our way home. He then dropped the
£15.49; bombshell: “You’ll be lucky; it doesn’t stop here – the next train
to Norwich isn’t for another four hours!” Even on a glorious high
M&GN Hindolvestone station, Norfolk, in 1959 £13.50; summer day Shippea Hill was a pretty bleak place as we sat on
the platform seat contemplating our mothers tearing their hair
GER 0-6-0 steam loco on goods near Colchester, Essex, early out wondering where we were.
£14.47;
A while later the signalman joined us and, to our relief, said that
L1 67775 and Met-Cam dmu at Ipswich, Suffolk, larger format he would stop the train for us. Our spirits then rose further as his
£8.45. wife kindly brought us drinks and a bun. We boarded the train to
a dressing-down from the guard who told us that, because of our
And the top five grouped sets were:- thoughtlessness, we would be late into Norwich and the other
passengers (all four of them) would miss their connections!
Railways in Essex & E. London: 14 vintage photographs Apparently, chaos would ensue throughout the whole rail
Witham/Ongar/Alresford etc £78.00; network, and a two-minute delay at Shippea Hill would no doubt
result in trains coming to a standstill at Bristol. Needless to say,
M&GN Gayton Road station, Norfolk + 4MT 2-6-0s etc: 6 photos we arrived in Norwich dead on time!
£25.52;

M&GN steam at Spalding, Hellesdon, Whitwell etc: 28 larger Shippea Hill, of course, is famous (infamous?) for being one of
format £24.42; the least-used stations within the entire rail network, although
from a low of 12 passengers during the year 2013/14 the
Aldeburgh, Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds etc: 7 photos £17.61; numbers, no doubt encouraged by an aggressive marketing
campaign, rose dramatically to 276 in 2017/18 – that’s almost
Steam at Stratford and Liverpool Street, 1950s: 10 pictures one passenger per day!
£16.51.
In their haste to join up with what became the Norfolk Railway at
A random selection of four pictures were illustrated with the Brandon, and complete the Norwich – London link, the Eastern
previous article, and it is worth noting what these fetched. Counties Railway surveyed a crow’s line from Ely disregarding
Victoria was sold as part of a lot of 14 BR(S) pictures for £2.50, the mutual benefits to the good fen folk along the way.
South Acton and Met Rly no. 11 at Harrow each yielded £1.95 Lakenheath station is 3 miles away from the substantial
while St Albans London Road was included in a set of three settlement that it purports to serve. At Shippea Hill there is
which sold for £10.27. nothing, not even a hill, just the blackest soil in England for as

So all in all this proved a very worthwhile exercise with the
finances of the Transport Group ultimately benefiting by just
under £1000. Not a bad return on a collection which was initially
purchased at a car boot sale for £2.50!

Finally, thanks are due to Mike for his hard work in sorting and
describing the photographs in a way which maximised the
income from the sales, and to John for his generosity in
agreeing that the proceeds should be donated to the Norfolk
Transport Group.
Richard Adderson (27th November).

A Brief Encounter at Shippea Hill (Barry Gayton)

As an enthusiastic collector of the colourful, high-quality enamel
signage that graced the post-war railway scene I was very
pleased recently to pick up the sign shown in the accompanying
image which originates from Shippea Hill, a location that holds a

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far as the eye can see. Opened in 1845 as Mildenhall Road, today’s operators but, even then, a special stop would have to
after 20 years it became Burnt Fen, before acquiring its current be explained to the District Office, and perhaps this preyed upon
name in 1904. the minds of the signalman and guard.

Shippea Hill did, however, make the headlines some 40 years To be a Pilgrim
ago when, following a bungled robbery at Mildenhall, the
getaway was foiled by the quick-thinking of the local police who I think it’s common knowledge that the Pilgrim Fathers left
‘phoned the signalman and asked him to close the level- Plymouth for America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. No doubt
crossing gates where they were then able to apprehend those many of you will recall John Bunyan’s hymn – “He Who Would
responsible. Valiant Be” – and the last lines of each verse have “inspired” the
title here. Little wonder, then, that Plymouth Argyle were
Editor’s Note: I couldn’t believe there was a 4 hour wait for a nicknamed “the Pilgrims”.
Norwich train at Shippea Hill. Perhaps the staff simply wanted to
see the back of them (anything for a quiet life) and took Michael Roach has sent me part of an old pamphlet (see below)
advantage of their naivety, but only the Summer 1959 Timetable from the 1963/64 season which had the best interests of the
would tell. Thanks to Richard Adderson this has been travelling Argyle fans at heart. Timetabled trains would have
forthcoming, and the position is rather different. The 1350 from been used – with probably only one change en route – and there
Norwich arrived Shippea Hill at 1501. Its return, the 1520 from were opportunities to travel far and wide. Maybe an extra
Ely, didn’t call at Shippea Hill, but the following 1631 ex-Ely did, carriage would have been added to the (mainly) cross-country
at 1641! In passing, readers will be surprised how lavish services, but before fixed-formation trains became normal this
Shippea Hill’s service was compared to today. No doubt the was hardly a problem.
large local military presence and National Service (soon to end)
played their part. A special stop is, of course, anathema to And if you want to know: Norwich v. Plymouth ended 1-1.

Christmas Tree
Festival

The early December
Christmas Tree Festival at
St Peter Mancroft was
an opportunity for Graham
Smith to show his German
Christmas Market display,
and thanks to Allan Shirley
for the image.

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Reedham Junction Signalbox Project – an storage. Also, Network Rail kindly arranged to have the windows
Update (Steven Ashling) boarded up. Unfortunately, the signallers were still booked to sit
in the box for the first week on ‘caretaker’ duties and soon found
themselves entombed!

In the summer a working party dismantled the mechanical
interlocking and a further party removed all redundant cables
and wiring in the locking room. This task required much care as
the working circuits and dead circuits both use black wires!

We are pleased, and quite humbled, to report that Reedham Once the resignalling commissioning is completed, this
Junc Signal Box Appeal has exceeded its target of £35k. We February, Network Rail will be able to transfer its attention to
now have enough funds to build a base at Holt, transport the enlisting its contractors to arrange to lift the top half of the
signal box to it and repair and repaint the exterior. The next step building onto a waiting low loader. The plan is to move the top
is agreeing a date with Network Rail to do this. half in one piece and then ‘flatpack’ the locking room walls.
Once we have a date from Network Rail, we will go in prior to
this and dismantle the lever frame. Although it looks heavy and

Although Reedham Junc ceased to be an operational signalbox
last year it has retained working circuits which are needed
pending resignalling in February this year. However, this has not
stopped progress being made. The week of closure we
recovered any pinchable items and put them in crates for safe

Reedham Junction Signal Box after boarding up.

All signalling equipment removed for storage.

Locking trays stacked up ready to for their journey. Cables in locking room being removed.
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____________PICK-UP GOODS Eaton Park

huge it is simply a kit of parts which can be dismantled and The Elves were again supporting the Eaton Park Miniature
rebolted together. We are hoping to have this done during the Railway's Santa Specials on 8th December; among them were
summer. Watch this space, as they say. some 10 Society members suitably dressed for the occasion!
About 150 children and 180 adults visited during the day.
You can rely on Archant…

The Northern Belle visited the city on 12th December, taking
passengers on a round trip in old Pullman cars. But Archant
(again) failed to distinguish between a locomotive and a train,
this time calling it “the luxury locomotive”! Thanks to Allan
Shirley for braving the rain to get this image.

Graham Kenworthy 17th August 1943 – 6th January 2020.

Sadly, we have to report that Graham Kenworthy died on 6th January, having been in failing health for some time.

Graham joined the NRS during the late 1970s, and quickly became involved in the Society’s
activities, being elected as Chairman for 1980-81. Around this time he took on the role of
Fixtures Secretary, a post he retained until shortly before he died. Although the job was shared
in later years, it is fair to say that he was single-handedly responsible for organising the
Society’s meetings for quarter of a century or more - a tribute to his commitment, his wide
circle of contacts and, indeed, his powers of persuasion!

He was always ready to make contributions to meetings, and more often than not his offerings,
whether verbal or visual, were quirky and offbeat, and frequently enlivened by his dry sense of
humour. However, his enthusiasm and his deep, even encyclopaedic, knowledge of the
subject were always evident.

A native of Coventry, Graham went into the railway industry on leaving school in 1960. He
spent the first four years as an Engineering Student with the Chief Civil Engineer at Euston
and, after working on the London Midland Region for a further year, moved to Norwich in
October 1965. Here he stayed, employed in various Civil Engineering capacities for the
remainder of his working life, before retiring in 1996.

During his railway career, he had always been ready to provide a good home for unwanted but
historically important documents which would otherwise have been destroyed, and was happy
to share their contents with people who were genuinely interested.

Retirement brought the opportunity to undertake considerably more research, mostly involving
East Anglian railway matters, and he could often be found at the NRM, Public Records Office
and the Norfolk Record Office. As well as his involvement with the NRS, he was an active
member of the Great Eastern Railway Society and the M&GN Circle, and contributed greatly to
these Societies in various ways. In addition to all this, he also found time to be the co-author of
eighteen books in the Middleton Press series.

Graham had wide and varied interests beyond his railway-orientated activities. He thoroughly
enjoyed travelling, both in the U.K and further afield, sharing regular holidays with his family.
Switzerland seemed to be one of his favourite destinations and featured with some regularity in
his pictorial presentations to the Society. He also had a wide range of musical tastes, and was
interested in local history and in most sports.

He was a devoted family man, and is survived by his wife Joy, two sons and a number of In happier times, Mike
grandchildren. Finally, it is worth recording that his son Stephen and grandson Lewis have Fordham took this image of
also been members of the NRS – membership through three generations is not unique, but Graham when the Society
certainly extremely rare. visited the Nene Valley
Railway on 16th July 2016.
The funeral took place at St Faith’s crematorium on 27th January, and the Society was well-
represented amongst those present.
(Richard Adderson)

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Farewell to LNER HSTs

December 2019 saw the final public HST passenger services on the East Coast Main Line. The first prototype began trial running
over the Leeds – Newcastle – Edinburgh route in 1973 but it was not until later in the decade that production examples
appeared. The first set – 254 001 - was delivered to the Eastern Region at Bounds Green in July 1977. Originally intended to run
as fixed formations the HSTs were known as Class 254s on the Eastern Region with two power cars and eight trailers (2+8).
Western Region sets were designated Class 253 with a 2+7 formation.

To mark the end of service of this workhorse of
intercity service LNER organised a 4-day charity
railtour. In preparation for this power cars 43206 and
43312 and 7 coaches were repainted in the original
livery. The power cars were given their original
numbers W43006 and E43112 and in addition each
was given a set number – the former carried 253 003
and the latter 254 029.

Over 4 days from 18th – 21st December the set worked
a farewell tour: Edinburgh to Inverness, then
Inverness to Edinburgh, then Edinburgh to Leeds, and
finally Leeds to London King’s Cross. Its final move
was empty to Craigentinny depot later on the 21st.

This image was taken at Ely on 3rd January by
Matthew Wright with the set en route to nearby
Potters Yard.

____________NRS News

St Martin’s Housing Trust Collection Society Christmas Meal

The box was out at both of our pre-Christmas meetings, and I’m Almost 40 diners enjoyed our usual Christmas meal at the Old

please to say that our collection totalled £131.85. Thank you for Feathers, Framingham Pigot, on 2nd December. Many thanks to

your generosity. Malcolm & Shirley Wright for organising the evening.

NRS VISIT TO FAWLEY HILL RAILWAY

The Society has obtained an invitation to visit the
above railway on

SATURDAY JULY 11TH 2020

A coach has been arranged to leave from Eaton Park
at 8am on the day.

The cost for the day including a donation to the
railway (In lieu of tickets) is

£35.00

It is essential to know final numbers by the 1st of May,
if not the invitation will be withdrawn.

If interested in coming to this unique private railway,
please forward cheques payable to Norfolk Railway

Society to:

Malcolm Wright

Or at Society meetings.

THANK YOU

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____________FEATURE

The NRS Archive: a final report on its disposal by Mike Handscomb

In its Book & Ephemera sale last December, G A Key sold a BR(E) track plan of Cambridge District dating from the mid-1950s.

What, you might ask, is the significance of that? Well, it was the very last item from the Norfolk Railway Society Archive to have
found a new home.

Back in 2015 the NRS Committee concluded that we have few – if any – members wanting to use the archive for research
purposes. We therefore decided to offer the documents to other bodies who could conserve them in suitable conditions and make
them available to researchers.

The Committee emphasised that we should not regard this purely as a
money-making exercise. It is reasonable to assume that most items were
donated to the Society in the belief that they would be preserved for future
generations.

I was given the task of organising this disposal programme, and was
fortunate in recruiting the assistance of Richard Adderson, whose knowledge,
not just of East Anglian railways but also of local transport-oriented
organisations, proved invaluable in getting the right items to the right people.

Richard and I picked out many documents – and even ‘hardware items’ –
that we thought could be of interest to public institutions or specialist
societies. They, we felt, were likely to welcome donations, undertake to
preserve them in suitable conditions and make them accessible for research.

Feelers were put out – some successful, some not – and ultimately 18 bodies
benefited from our donations:

Cambridgeshire Archives At first glance, an unexciting book - but open it up
EACH (stationery) and you’ll find countless fold-out diagrams and
East Anglia Transport Museum, Carlton Colville charts relating to “the new classes of locomotives
East Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel & Wakes Colne introduced in 1952”; i.e 2-6-0s 76000 - 76114 &
Friends of Bure Valley Railway 78000 - 78064 and 2-6-2Ts 84000 - 84029. The
GER Society Archive held two copies, which sold for £54.10 and
GNR Society £27. It also had a similar book dealing with 9F 2-10-
Ipswich & District Historical Transport Society 0s – and that fetched no less than £103.20.
Ipswich Transport Museum
M&GN Circle
M&GN Trust
Mid-Norfolk Railway Museum
Norwich & District Society of Model Engineers
Norfolk Heritage Centre
North Norfolk Rly, Weybourne
Norwich Engineering Society
Southwold Museum
Thorpe History Group

We consulted other bodies, including the National Railway
Museum and Norfolk Archives, but they declined our offers.

The donation to the M&GN Trust was in gratitude to Ray Meek
for housing the archives for the previous 15 years. Ray had
expressed interest in a number of the M&GN items, mostly
working timetables, and we were only too pleased to pass
these to him.

That left a not inconsiderable residue, which I began to sell.
Following the Committee’s guidance, many booklets and East
Anglian documents were offered at very cheap prices to NRS
members at meetings in 2016, and also at our Shows in that
and the following two years.

Then it was time to use the internet auction site eBay, which A detail from the BR Cambridge District track plan, the very last
has a proven record of attracting good prices for what may be item to be sold. Just look at all those closed lines, stations and
termed collectors’ items. And so it turned out, with some very junctions! We had four copies: two sold on eBay (£24.45 and
successful results. In the end, the total sales figure was £23.45); one at T W Gaze’s auction (£20) and the last one at
Keys’ Auction (£10).

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____________FEATURE

£6,203; after expenses (mostly eBay and PayPal fees) this
came to £5,021 net.

As well as documents, the Archive also housed the
photographs and 35mm slides which our late member
Bernard Harrison had bequeathed to the NRS. Bernard had
assiduously photographed the daily progress of two major
exercises in our region: the rebuilding of Liverpool Street
station, and the remodelling of Norwich station in
preparation for electrification. We offered these sets of
slides to the GER Society, who accepted them with alacrity.
They have subsequently transferred the images to DVD for
sale to their members, thus giving Bernard’s images a much
wider audience than they might have had.

Richard, and David Pearce too, spent many hours scanning
the rest of the slides so that they could be sold on eBay. It
was worth their efforts, as Bernard’s slides contributed
£1,803 to the total £6,203 sales figure above.

Bernard Harrison’s slides found ready buyers. ‘Modern traction’
enthusiasts were prepared to pay as much, if not more, than steam
fans. The highest price, just shy of £38 went to this shot of two 4-car
class 309 EMUs (set nos. 309622 and 309601) passing Crown Point
on April 6th 1987. A test working from Stowmarket, it was the first
electric train to work to Norwich. The chimneys of Norwich power
station, demolished a few years after this picture was taken, are
prominent in the background.

By far the bulkiest item was this GER swivel chair. Another of Bernard Harrison’s slides, taken in 1976, showed the
It was used, many years ago, at Norwich loco by facade of Newmarket’s original station building. Gordon Biddle
NRS past president Bill Harvey. Bill had fixed a described it as “a prime example of an elaborate terminal station
brass plate to the seat with the names and dates of serving a small branch-line company out of all proportion to the
service of previous Norwich shedmasters. We company’s size, importance and capital”. The station was demolished
offered the chair to Norfolk Museums Service, in around 1980. This slide fetched £8.
thinking it might fit well in the Museum of Norwich
at the Bridewell, but they thought otherwise. It now
resides with Ken Mills, our President, serving as
his ‘badge of office’!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quiz Answers east of Taunton en route to Westbury. It closed from 10th
September 1962. Here’s a plan of the southbound journey.
1. Container Door to Door; 2. 1957 & 1962; 3. 45630 Swaziland
was also condemned; 4. 59; 5. Cheltenham Spa (Malvern Others may have better ideas, but this is one for the purist! Long
Road); 6. It was near Chester on the main line to Holyhead; 7. Sutton dep 0724, which is a through train from King’s Lynn to
Stroud; 8. Any time, except Sundays, before March 1959 - Long Nottingham (Midland) arr 1025 followed by a connecting service
Sutton & Pitney on the West of England main line wasn’t closed to Derby (Midland) arr 1057. Then it’s the 1221 Derby –
until September 1962; 9. Crosti 2-10-0 92022 was converted to Gloucester (Eastgate) arr 1436 (0815 Newcastle – Cardiff).
a normal 9F in 1962 – the last “West Country” rebuilds were in Change into the 1510 arr Taunton 1719 (1015 Bradford –
1961; 10. 1964/65. Paignton), and finally catch the 1900 Taunton – Westbury which
would arrive at Long Sutton & Pitney 1930!
Long Sutton to Long Sutton & Pitney
I have used the last (pre-M&GN closure) E.R. timetable plus the
First, I must explain where we are. Long Sutton was on the Summer 1960 W.R. timetable for the last leg. In those days
M&GN just west of Sutton Bridge en route to Spalding. Long there would be little (if any) change year on year. Try devising a
Sutton & Pitney was on the West of England main line 15 miles return journey if you have the timetables!

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____________WORKING TIMETABLE - 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, but visitors should check with the organisation concerned before travelling.
Norfolk Transport Group - please contact Mike Fordham or John Laycock.

Meetings

Thursday 13th February – NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP – “Small Ships, Sail, Smoke & Steam” – Presentation by Brian Kirton
(1930).

Thursday 20th February – NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY - “Teenage Travels with a Camera 1959-1966 – My black & white
pictures” – Presentation by Richard Adderson (1930).

Thursday 27th February – NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP – “Norwich’s Lost Railways” - Presentation by Mike Fordham (1930).

Thursday 5th March – NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – “The Art of Railway Timetabling” – Presentation by Ian Henderson
(1900). Please note earlier starting time, to enable Ian to catch the 2100 back to London.

Thursday 12th March – NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP – “Malcolm Cooper’s Transport Evening” (1930).

Saturday 14th March – NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – Annual Show, Poringland Community Centre, Overtons Way,
Poringland, NR14 7WB (1030 – 1630).

Thursday 19th March – NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – “The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway” – Presentation by John Stark,
Chairman, MSLR (1930).

Thursday 26th March – NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP – “Things You Had to Collect” (Please bring yours along) (1930).

Thursday 2nd April – NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – “Rhythm Express” – An AV presentation by Roy Headland followed
by “East Anglia and Beyond - The Changing Railway” Presentation by Andrew Wright (1930).

Thursday 9th April – NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP – “A Freelance Transport Photographer” – Presentation by Simon Finlay
(1930).

Services on our Local Railways NENTA Traintours: Saturday 23rd May – Bath, Bristol &
Cardiff. By train from Norwich dep 0505 approx then via
Where events have been listed they are selective and not Ipswich, Ely & Royston to Bath/Bristol/Cardiff for optional tours
comprehensive. of Cheddar Gorge or Bristol Harbour & River Avon Cruise.
Norwich return 2355 approx. Fares from £84.75 with First
Ashmanhaugh Light Railway: East View Road, Stone Lane, Class & Premier Class available. Go to
Ashmanhaugh, NR12 8YW. Running begins 3rd May 1400- www.nentatraintours.co.uk or tel: 01692-406152.
1700 (weather permitting). For information:
www.ashmanhaughlightrailway.co.uk The North Norfolk Railway: Station Approach, Sheringham,
NR26 8RA. Half-term running 15th-23rd February; Spring
Barton House Railway: Hartwell Road, Wroxham, NR12 8TL. Steam Gala 27th-29th March, followed by daily running until 1st
For information: www.bhrw.org.uk or tel: 01603-782008. November. For information: www.nnrailway.co.uk or tel:
Running begins Easter Monday 13th April 1430-1730 then 01263-820800.
Sunday 19th April 1430-1730 and subsequent 3rd Sundays
(weather permitting). Please note new website.

Bressingham Steam & Gardens: Low Road, Bressingham, The Norwich & District Society of Model Engineers: Eaton
IP22 2AA. Main season begins 27th March. For information: Park, Norwich. Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday running
www.thebressinghamgardens.com or tel: 01379-686900. begins 12th/13th April. For information: www.ndsme.org

The Bure Valley Railway: Aylsham Station, Norwich Rd, The Wells & Walsingham Light Railway: Stiffkey Road,
Aylsham, NR 11 6BW. “Teddy Bear Express” 15th-23rd Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1QB. Half-term events 15th-23rd
February. Daily running begins 30th March. For information: February. For information: www.wwlr.co.uk or tel: 01328-
www.bvrw.co.uk or tel: 01263-733858. 711630 (up to 1700 please).

The Mid-Norfolk Railway: Dereham Station, Station Rd, The Whitwell & Reepham Railway: Whitwell Rd, Reepham,
Dereham, NR19 1DF. Spring Diesel Event 3rd-5th April. For NR10 4GA. Steam Sundays 1st March & 5th April. For
information: www.mnr.org.uk or tel: 01362-851723. information: www.whitwellstation.com or tel: 01603-871694.

The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway: Brockford Station,
Wetheringsett, IP14 5PW. Easter Steam-Up 12th/13th April. For
information: www.mslr.org.uk or tel: 01449-766899.

Printed by Pride Press Ltd. Tel: 01603 665045.
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