M&GN 50 - Anniversary Gala on the NNR

Wow! What an event.

I would just like to say a few words. Firstly thanks to everyone who came to visit. All the feedback has been (mainly) positive, made all the hard work worth while. Speaking of hard work, I'd like to thank Ben Fraser and Geoff Gowing (my fellow partners in crime) in making this event the outstanding success it has been. Also special thanks needs to go to Mark Middleton, Daniel Gillespie, Steve Allen, Neil Sharpe, John Abson, Adrian Vaughan, the girls at Sheringham Office (especially Vinny and Cherrill), and all the NNR volunteers who turned out in their droves to make this event work (over 100 volunteers were needed each day to run the railway). Finally thanks to all the loco owners/groups that have brought in their engines for a holiday by the sea. Thanks one and all again – "Cheers". =D>

I totally agree. I was a little frustrated when I first found out as I'd already worked out a few photo locations! That said it did look a million dollars with the Quads (and 129). =P~

Ashley: The reason why 76079 wasn't renumbered on Tuesday is because the transfers broke up when they were applied on Monday. I did tell a large group of photographers before we started, you must have been taking pictures! 8-[

 

The reason for not renumbering 76079 as 76034 was, as I've explained elsewhere, because the transfers were faulty and the numbers fell apart on application. Would have been pointless to affix the 76034 smoke box plate I had made and run with 76079 cabside numbers. I'll be asking for my money back from the transfer suppliers.

 

Forgive my confusion but I've seen photos of the goods train running during the charter! :-k Also, as I understand it, the set was swapped for a passenger set in the afternoon on the photographers' requests.

Great photos as always Ben!

 

Sadly the lack of suitable goods vehicles wasn't made clear to the organiser in the run up to the charter but given the massive workload in organising the gala it's understandable that some communications went astray.
I think we owe a massive thanks to the NNR for staging this gala and so what if there were a few hiccoughs with the photo charters? It's not the end of the world and thankfully many of those who had booked were quite understanding and had a good day anyway. One chap did complain a) about the cleanliness of the 4MT and b) it's air brake pipes. Rather odd complaints considering 76079's recent repaint has hardly been kept secret and it's air brake pipes have been a feature of the loco for a long while.

 

No complaints here about the B1 facing Sheringham. Opened up a few photo opportunities not normally available.

 

When is the next Joint line out, I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures and the reports ect.

 

There are some fantastic shots of the B1 out there on the net which are a credit to the loco and the photographers who took them

 

In three or four weeks I think - I'm sure I read last year that the publishing dates this year being put back a month so that the gala news/pictures could be included in the issue that normally appears in March (now April), rather than waiting until June. There was a piece about it in the last issue of JL which was probably more specific with dates than I can be from memory.

 

It wasn't a goods, it was a breakdown train. The same set as was used during the gala. What had been requested was a mixed goods - open wagons, box vans etc. - but obviously wires got crossed somewhere.
If the crane and its runner gets repainted into 1950s colours there's the making of a nice charter.

 

Ah that must have been where the confusion was. Unfortunately the NNR doesn't have many usable box vans, open wagons etc at the moment so they were never going to be a feature of the "demolition" train which ran. Currently most of our wagons are full up with spares and heavy items and aren't really suitable for running up and down the line.

We were also restricted on the gala by the length of Holt headshunt, where the goods train sat each day. Because the crane and runner are so long it didn't leave much room for other wagons, even for the few servicable ones we do have. Hopefully in September the crane won't be used so maybe we can get more "proper" wagons formed into a short train.

 

website state's that some of the visiting locomotives will be staying on the railway, so just wondered if anyone new which ones and for how long ?

 

I read 1300 will be staying till the end of April.
The website only lists 4 of the visitors now, so it looks like 78019 has gone back home, i would have thought 76079 will be going shortly too.
The 4F is in service this weekend, but i'm not sure how long that and the B1 are staying for.

 

That's good. 1300 is required haulage.

 

1300 was due to stay til the end of March then return to the ELR for their April gala, however a change of gala theme mean't 1300 was in the wrong kind of black. The owner had been asked if the loco could stay in Norfolk for longer, so seeing as he'd had such a good time at the NNR thus far and there was no further booked work on the ELR til May he readily agreed to the loco staying till the end of April.
I believe the 4f and the Std 4 are due to leave this coming week and 1306 is to move direct to llangollen in a few weeks time.

 

I emailed the Joint Line editor about somthing he said the next issue is currently at the printers.

He also said the 'summer' edition will also include further coverage of the gala

 

Sounds good, I can't wait to read it

 

I had an idea today, I was reading my book on the waveney valley line today and thought it would be nice to have a Waveney valley day next year. The North Norfolk has many links with the line with the J15 being a regular on freight duties over the railway. Also the water tower at Weybourne is from Bungay station.
The Waveney valley also had B12s and N7s visit on freight and special duties.
Plus the M&GN special tour with 65469 visited the line on the 8th October 1960.
Maybe the b12 could be renumbered 61535 and the N7 69679, even get the societies class 31 going.

 

Post hog here again #-o

Whitwell will get its first permanent steam engine on the 20th March.

 

3855 is correct. 78019 left last week, 76079 should have left today and 44422 ran over the weekend but is due to leave on Wednesday/Thursday. Ring Haw should return from the CVR at the same time the 4F leaves.

1300 is due to stay until the end of April and I'm reliably informed that it is booked to run the services for the next two weekends (subject to the usual disclaimers!).

1306 will leave straight for Wales in a few weeks but will not operate on the NNR between now and then.

 

Will the L&Y be with us for the Easter Red Service?

I've finally got round to chopping up the bits of film I took over the weekend, they're now on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THyoUMGthrU

Owen