Sheringham Link

Similar experience was had when this loco was on the SVR last year.

 

I have to agree with you on that, we've got an awful lot to do in some areas such as overhauls and increasing the facilities on the stations.

The frustrating thing is that if the NNR did get back into Holt properly there would undoubtly be an increase in passenger numbers, even more so if a park and ride scheme was operated which would only go to help the railways financial position.
I'd hope that if an extension is built then it would be built properly and using the same P-Way equipment as used in the crossing making it very maintenance friendly with no sleeper changing etc.

I don't think that running into Holt would mean that more stock would be required although maintenance would increase slightly obviously. It might even give the DRB & Lev something useful to do just running between Holt town and the current Holt station as a park & ride operation. If anyones ever visited Holt they'll know how bad the parking situation can be especially in the summer.

Give the NNR a few years to get Sheringham and Holt more complete and overhauls back where they should be then Holt might be an option.

 

Hi Jim,

Yep, got a Traction Engine, restored it from derelict condition

 

I did mean as a track project. I do realise that there is all that, wheather you are having the bridge at whity anymore.
I also went on the tour of the engine shed, tip my hat to all the work that is going on in there. My dad would love to work on the diesels.

 

Volunteer packs are available from the office! Diesel maintenance/restoration is one area we are very short of volunteers in!

 

I know, its just the time avalible is very short. Only really get one day a week free and we got to whitwell then, could alternate.

 

I think the next big project is Sheringham P2, I saw the planning permission sign there last week (retail and toilet space)
here are the canopy supports at WB
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1752064
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1752068

I would prefer the million to extend to Holt to go towards running to Cromer one day.

 

I think Holt would be the better option.
For starters you'd hopefully include a loop and possibly a bay platform so you only need one loco per train and can run shuttles between Holt town and the current Holt station.
As for Cromer, it's basically a single line empty platform. Unless you managed to find somewhere for an additional siding for a shunt release pilot loco you're going to have to T&T all the time.
The costs of running over NR lines isn't going to be cheap, neither is the other option of taking on a lease of the line and allowing a mainline TOC to run to Sheringham.
Non of the NNR locos or rolling stock is mainline certified and there certainly aren't enough people to maintain them to that standard either.

Ideally you'd want to take over the old station building and some of the Morrisons car park to rebuild the old canopy & platform and then you would at least have some facilities but it will always be a compromised site.

One other point is that if you extend the line to Holt, a distance of just over a mile you can get away with maybe a very modest ticket increase. However if you increase the line length to Cromer so effectively doubling it, no-one is going to pay double the ticket price.
Either way both would be great to see but I really think that Holt is the way to go unless big changes are made at Cromer by NR.

 

I agree with all of the above. One of the NNR's 'sticking points' is that we run from Sheringham to (effectively) the middle of nowhere. Whilst 'Holt' station is now a much better destination than it was and is improving all the time, a lot of people still wish to travel into the town. The routemaster bus is helpful on some days but can be unreliable and ultimately it would be better if people could travel into the town. A shuttle service could be an ideal way to make people change at 'Holt' (High Kelling) and spend some time in the shop, museum etc.

If we could increase the parking even more then a park & ride option is certainly viable. But as I said in my earlier post, there's much to be done on the existing railway first, including the car park and footbridge at Holt that would be essential if we were to extend.

 

Definately, the railway has come a huge way in the last few years and is getting quite close to finishing off in a number of areas.
For example at Sheringham we now have the crossing, active plans for buildings of platform 2 and footbridge as well as other various smaller projects which will really improve the whole site.
Weybourne continues to improve as do the workshops. Holt has gone from a single platform and loop in the middle of nowhere to a lovely country station complete with signal box and goods shed and plans for even more in the next couple of years.
Once these plans are complete or virtually complete then the railway could and probably should go for one last major project and head into Holt if finance can be raised, proposing a park & ride service for Holt could well win more help from the council and other funding agencies.
Then the NNR can settle down and make the most of what it has.

 

Now that the crossing is in place, could the signal box currently on the platform be moved back to its original location by the crossing ? Is it in the way off where the station buildings where originally located ?

How close will the new station building and footbridge that are planned for Sheringham be to what was originally there, Will it be an exact replica ? . Are the canopy support columns that were recovered the same as the originals ? I really do hope the railway tries as much for historical accuracy as possible, at the very least with the outside of the buildings.

 

I'm not sure about the Signalbox as I think to put it alongside the line by the crossing would involve building it in the council car park!

I am sure however that the NNR will rebuild the station buildings as sympathetically and close to the originals as they can, otherwise there is very little point. The interior use will probably be different, but I would be amazed if they didn't try to replicate the exterior look.

 

I heard that they where goning to move it.

 

It may well be in the long term plans but as far as I'm aware it's not a priority.

 

I have definitely heard it will be moved. From what I have heard the plan would be to put it on the otherside from the car park. I quite like it where it is. I don't know of too many railways where you can look around and pull the levers of a reasonable sized box.

 

Moving it doesnt mean that they can stop the museum part. Path from the car park.

 

I bet the locals would love us ripping up yet more of the green to build railway things!

 

We own it now!
I doubt it will happen for a very long time, we need a rest!

 

I think, the box would fit, but only just. Also I believe it would have to be set back further from the road than it was in its original position.
That being said it would be a great advert for the railway if the box was moved and refurbished as people driving down the hill into town don't always notice the station unless an engine is in the headshunt.

It would obviously leave a space on an otherwise empty platform 2 but with the buildings being reinstated to the original design and hopefully a footbridge as well I don't think it would be missed. Don't forget that it could also be seen as a access problem waiting to happen as there's no way anyone who is mobility impaired can get into the box at the moment.

It would also make a great vantage point to watch anything coming across the crossing.
Come to think of it, moving the box sounds like a nice little project.

 

Just had a look at the planning application online for the new buildings at Sheringham. To the old design externally with toilets and a multipurpose space within. Old bricks as well to make it look as if it were never demolished!
To see the plans the application is PF/10/0003, http://planweb.north-norfolk.gov.uk...NWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeDocs&TheSystemkey=72767