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Latest News
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Latest News
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Michael Portillo. 18th July 2010. Photo: Fred Chapman |
Michael Portillo travelled over the line from Dereham to Thuxton with MNR driver instructor Peter Eyre, undertaking filming for the second series of the BBC2 travel documentary "Great British Railway Journeys".
Whilst the primary purpose of the visit was to reach Thuxton, home of Peele's Norfolk Black Turkeys, and to talk about their history and links with the railway, Michael was also able to see first hand the fantastic progress on the passing loop.
In the programme, Michael uses his trusty copy of Bradshaw's Railway Companion as a guide and compares modern Britain with that described by the Victorian cartographer, George Bradshaw. The new Great British Railway Journeys series will feature five different railway journeys, and Norfolk is the final destination of a trip that starts in Brighton and finishes in Cromer. The series is expected to be broadcast in early 2011.
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31 438 crosses the road at Thuxton. 12th June 2010. Photo: Owen Stratford |
Today has seen a major milestone in the construction of the new passing loop at Thuxton. For the first time since 1965, trains can now use the up line across Thuxton level crossing. This has been the culmination of 18 months' hard work, and is the last major effort to complete the permanent way. There is still a significant amount of work to be done before the loop can be opened to passengers, including completing the construction of the platform and signalbox, installing most of the signalling, and many smaller tasks.
Fundraising is ongoing, as we still need to raise £15,000 to reach the £50,000 target to complete the work.
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D182 at Dereham. 21st March 2010. Photo: Graham Moates |
This weekend saw another successful Diesel Gala for the Mid-Norfolk Railway drawing enthusiasts from across the country to Dereham. In a first for the MNR, the Railway used the Stratford 47 Group-owned 47 580 County of Essex to bring in three other preserved locomotives by rail from the Midland Railway Centre and Barrow Hill.
The locos, 45 133, D182 (46 045) and 26 007, all performed well alongside resident engines D8069 (20 069), 50 019 "Ramillies" and 73 210. The Mid-Norfolk Railway would like to thank the loco owners and all those who have assisted with this event. Plans now turn to MNR's Class 37 Jubilee weekend planned for the 24th-26th September.
This evening saw a successful film shoot at Dereham Station by local film production company, Independent Studios UK. The film - a ghostly tale - is expected to be released by the end of the month as filming was already quite advanced. Scenes were taken in the ticket office, station masters office and on the platform in the guise of Tulse Hill Station, London (c. 1950s).
The film - Haunted London - has now been released in time for Halloween.
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9466 at Hoe. 30th August 2009. Photo: Matt Goodrum |
Sunday 30 August saw the first steam train reach Hoe Level Crossing since the early 1960s. At the request of the owners of loco 9466, arrangements were made at short notice by Gary Hall and the pannier pushed up a train of goods wagons immediately after the final passenger run of the day. We arrived at Hoe to find a small welcoming committee waiting at the gates to greet the loco on this historic occasion. This was just a one off for now but can you help us make this a regular occurrence? Please consider sponsoring a sleeper or even volunteering some time to help the MNR reopen this section of line to passengers.
For the latest information about our volunteers' recent activities, see the volunteer news.