Mid Norfolk Railway - General discussion

Railway news:

Breaking News (30th June 2018) - At the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust's Annual General Meeting today, it has been announced that the railway has entered into a three-year contract to store rolling stock for Abellio's Greater Anglia train operating company. This will involve some exciting infrastructure changes to the railway in the coming months, most of this work will be carried out by Sonic Railway Services in order to deliver the required rolling stock storage capacity on time. We are not expecting the work to cause any disruption to our advertised services or events. The work will involve: completing the double-track between Hardingham and Kimberley Park, installation of four sidings on our land north of Kimberley Park and providing a connection into Hardingham Yard.

 

I'm just wondering why you started two threads on the MNR ? Would it be possible to combine them as it would be easier for the rest of us to follow and avoid duplication of posts? That said, please do carry on posting the info (and also the progress on your toplight at the SCR).
Cheers,
Ray.

 

The other thread until today didn't have a post in it since 2011 so very easy to forget.

 

Was working at Weybourne today and overheard someone already calling this the "Great Eastern Main Line" :-D

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Sorry forgot I had opened the original one. I joined and posted for a year or two but then didn't look at this website for around 5 years or so. I have no connection to the MNR other than as a visitor but like it and can see its potential. I also grew up and went to school not far from the Wymondham end of the line so I know the area well although it was still a BR freight line until 1989 do didn't really get going as a preserved line until after I moved away.

By the way if you visit, Wymondham is pronounced 'Windham', overheard a few visitors on the train last time I was there pronouncing it in various wrong ways. Both the Abbey and town centre are pretty and are a short 5 minute walk from the MNR station. The Abbey is more or less next to the station. See some pictures below. You pass the Green dragon pub on the left as you walk into the town.

 

According to the facebook group it is planned to be double track eventually

 

I see there is a recent video of the line someone has put here on youtube. Good to see in the video that they have started on erecting the replacement GER footbridge at Dereham in the original location so they can then start using the other platform which currently the public can't access.



This picture here of Thuxton station (which is a private house) shows the charm the line has with many of the old fashioned crossing gates still in use. Both the line on the right and the signal box are new and recently installed.

 

That part of the footbridge has been in that location for years. It doesn't look any different so I'm not sure if they have actually started work on it yet. I think I'm right in saying on of the Reasons they don't use that platform is because the rail is not fit for passenger carrying use. Something about it being light weight army rail? It's a shame really as I have often thought it would be really useful when there are big events. Plus with the northern extension coming on they surely need another loop.

 

Also, does anyone know if the platform building at Thuxton loop has been completed yet? It was looking great last time I visited

 

Must be true then! I notice the same author on your screenshot goes on to state they have dogs with sharp teeth?!?!

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If the rail on the running line is coming to the end of its useful life, could it see several years of siding then occassional gala double track use as opposed to a couple more years of regular use? Or is that a misunderstanding of what is worn out ie if it is sleepers, they'll rot whether used or not

 

MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY SECURES EU GRANT FUNDING TO CONSTRUCT MAINTENANCE SHED

East Anglia’s longest heritage railway is pleased to announce that it has secured EU grant funding towards the construction of a train shed at its Dereham headquarters. After 18 months of preparation and hard work, on Thursday 22nd August Vice Chairman Barry Woodgett signed the EU Leader Fund grant agreement form, covering 80% of the costs of construction. The rest of the costs have been covered through the generous donations of the railways’ members and visitors.

The 3-track train shed will be able to accommodate nine railway vehicles undercover and is one of the short-term goals of the railway which, up until now, has always had to carry out maintenance and restoration works out in the elements at the mercy of the weather.

The provision of undercover maintenance facilities provides a safe and dry environment allowing for work to be carried out all year round, safeguarding the future of the railway’s collection of historic vehicles. The provision of such facilities also makes the MNR more attractive to the owners of ‘iconic’ locomotives and will most certainly mean it will be able to welcome some exciting visitors to the region in the future. If all goes to plan the shed could be in place by Christmas 2018.

The EU Leader Fund’s Wensum and Coast Local Area Group’s main need is to boost levels of tourism and associated jobs for local people, away from the regular tourist ‘hotspots’; something which the MNR, with its c.16 mile corridor from North Elmham to Wymondham, is singularly well placed to do.

The MNR’s Trust Council would like to thank local hoteliers, Breckland and South Norfolk District Councils, Breckland Council’s Leader Cllr William Nunn, County Councillors Brian Long & Tim East of the ‘Norfolk Rail Group’, the National Railway Museum and MPs Richard Bacon & George Freeman for their letters of support in helping the railway secure this grant funding.

 

So that means it will have a shed, double track section of track, northern extension happening. It's really going well at the MNR now.

 

Wow, that barely made it under the wire!

Noel

 

This is great news for the railway. Whilst I try not to fall into the trap of "telling other people what to spend their money on", I can't deny that I have felt for many years that the MNR is far too big a railway to not have a (connected) restoration shed. For long term sustainability of the existing rolling stock, this development can't come soon enough. I'm pleased for all those hard working volunteers who will hopefully be coming in out of the rain after all these years, they deserve it!

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I noticed on the MNR website there is a 9466 Railtour on 20th October. Does anyone have any info on this?

 

I can't get on the website. Not sure if it's currently down?

 

I see the Mid Norfolk are having some DMU running days on their extension north of East Dereham which they don't run all the time (as I think further upgrades are needed to signalling etc before they are allowed to.) . Days are 6/7th and 13/14th October.

See here

http://mnr.org.uk/events/northbound

 

They happen to coincide with NNR members' day and gala weekends, which could make for a fun Norfolk trip