Sheringham Link

This is what appeared in today's (EDP) Eastern Daily Press.

Railway Link to be reinstated.

Railway enthusiasts keen to see the mainline Bittern Line and the heritage Poppy Line linked at Sheringham have cleared a hurdle.

The board of the North Norfolk Railway met on Saturday to give the nod to the reinstatement plans, which would see the bridging of a 100m gap between the two services.

The link-up would enable tourists to visit on board special steam trains.

Now that the board has said yes, contracts can be finalised to achieve the various necessary work programmes. It is only the final funding push which remains to be achieved, with another £22,000 needed to reach the final appeal target of £140,000.

The tramway-style crossing, cut by the Beeching branch line axe in the 1960s, would be used on average once or twice a month for charter trains from all over the country. It could be ready for an opening ceremony on March 11, if all goes to plan.

Plans are afoot for the National Railway Museum's steam locomotive Oliver Cromwell to head the first train over the road.

Project director Steven Ashling said: "This is tremendous news for the railway, for the town's business-es, and for all the many people who have given so generously to turn this link from a dream into reality."

The contract for EDF to move electricity cables has already been let, and work is expected to be carried out in October. The plan is for all the other work to begin towards the end of January, with the road closed for a few days in February to allow the actual crossing to be laid.

Mr Ashling said that before the roadway was closed, a concrete path would give unobstructed pedestrian access to and from the car park, the coast road and Station Road.

Sheringham businesses are being urged to help close the funding gap.

Send donations to The Crossing Appeal, North Norfolk Railway plc, Sheringham Station NR26 8RA, with cheques to North Norfolk Railway.

 

Hurray!

Looking forward to the 11th March then.

 

Twenty-two grand!

Do a Xmas raffle in pubs from Norwich to Hunstanton, and...
...double the price of lineside passes for the mixed traffic gala. That'll bring in an extra thousand from the photters.

Ahem!

 

And the RYTC are doing there bit too ..........
http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-broadsman---110310.html

 

see it go over the crossing (jam packed) or see it on the bittern line

at least I have ages to decide!

 

Has there been any news from Norfolk on when construction will start ? Their Website suggested that it might be October, but that was a while ago.

 

Initial work by EDF has started I believe and the rest of the work is due to happen january, february time.

 

The NNR today announced that the target had been reached. See http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp2...=xDefault&itemid=NOED04 Nov 2009 21:29:04:070

Steve A

 

Don't you just love 12 year old local rag hacks, with their limited array of cliches and patronising puns that get trotted out every single time?

You think they might take 30 seconds to actually come up with some new ones...

 

I am going to order the Sheringham level crossing book as an xmas present for my dad, now the total has been raised will profits go to general funds?

 

Well they may find they now need a turntable

 

Where can the NNR put it. My vote is to reopen the triangle at cromer. We could get longer trains in as well if they did that!

 

Guesswork its true, but there is possibly 'just' enough space at Holt for a small turntable somewhere near the minature railway. No doubt one of the locals would know for sure. Give it another 10 years perhaps.

Doesn't the chord still exist that is missing from the triangle at Cromer ? Last time I was there (a good few years ago) it was just overgrown.

 

I can't see there being enough room at Holt for a turntable. There is some sort of viaduct/bridge going off the West Runton side. Can't see much on the norwich side.

 

There isn't enough room for a T/T at Holt, and even if you argued there was by moving the Model Railway, then you would still have the issue of having to connect it into the present trackwork etc.

SteveA will be able to confirm this if it's true, but I think the West Runton Chord's trackbed is still pretty much intact, save for some gardens that have encroached onto it.

 

Dave,

Certainly can, the route of the Runton Curve is still pretty much in tact and clear of buildings. See the attached image from Google. Can't see much chance of it being reinstated though, unless one of those new lottery winners was feeling generous!

Steve A

 

Wouldnt it be great to see the B12 using the soon to reinstated crosssing?

Jim S

 

I think NNR are still asking for donations to the crossing in case work costs more than it should, if theres any money left over, i think its going towards the project of putting the glass canopies etc back in on Platform 2/3 at Sheringham?

 

yes you are correct


quote nnr website

Although we have now reached our initial target for the crossing a financial buffer would be helpful to cater for the inevitable additional costs which arise from this type of project. Any surplus that may accrue will be put towards the existing fund for the erection of the canopy on Platform 2 at Sheringham in the original M&GN style using some scroll work which we have carefully stored. This is planned to be erected during 2010 assuming sufficient funding can be raised.

This, as well as restoring Sheringham to nearer its original design, will also serve a useful purpose in protecting passengers from the weather when Platform 2 is being used.

 

Of course George is correct, he volunteers on the NNR! He is a most trustworthy gent. Dace mate, we'd love your help here too!