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Latest News: Archive
February 2006
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Latest News: Archive
February 2006
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The Mid-Norfolk Railway is pleased to announce the forthcoming visit of Western Region Hawksworth Pannier Tank No. 9466 to haul the inaugural steam services between Dereham and Wymondham Abbey.
9466, which is owned by Dennis Howells and is being provided by the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton, will operate seventeen steaming days between April 30th and June 4th.
9466 was built in 1952 for British Railways Western Region based on the original design by the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer F.W. Hawksworth. 9466 was one of thirty built by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn. It worked as a shunter at Worcester, Bristol and South Wales before being withdrawn in 1964. The engine then went to Quainton in 1975 and Dennis Howells took possession in 1977. The original restoration took eight years.
The introduction of steam services on the Mid-Norfolk Railway follows the completion of the Station restoration and installation of basic steam infrastructure funded through the European-funded Breckland Cultural Package with match funding from Norfolk County Council and Breckland Council.
Fares for the 22 mile round trip are priced at £9.50 (adults), £9 (senior citizens), £5 (children) and £24.50 (families). A limited number of seats are available for pre-booking - for further information, please call (01362) 851723.
By Owen Stratford, Trevor Brackpool and Matt Goodrum.
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Packing Track. 4th February 2006. Photo: Owen Stratford |
We went out with a works train today to complete our programme of track packing. We started off at Kimberley, lifting the final panel of track over bridge 1680 back to a good level, before Hilti hammering ballast under the sleepers. We then moved to Crownthorpe for lunch and then restored the track level either side of bridge 1677. This bridge has a fixed deck but the track on either side settles over time and so we periodically have to lift each side. After a good day, we got back to Dereham early.
The p-way team returned to Whinburgh Cutting today to continue the removal of the regrowth that has sprung up in the last few years.
We managed to finish the clearance between the bridges in Whinburgh Cutting today. With the removal of the scrub, the primroses growing on the cutting side should have enough light to thrive. Already, their first leaves are showing: it should be a good display this year.
We spent today back at Wymondham with a few little outstanding jobs to complete on the loop. The day started by drilling and installing the Annett's Lock to the north end ground frame. This proved a lot more challenging than expected as the lever was unexpectedly hard. Once fitted, the quadrant plated was cut to receive the lock. We then moved on to the south frame, where the locking had to be modified. We had to cut in some more lockways into the tappets and then fit some more lock dies in order to make all of the interlocking work.
Meanwhile we also tidied up around the area. Cut wood was trollied up centrally and burnt along with some hedge cuttings which had kindly been dumped over the fence by a neighbour. We also trimmed overhanging branches.
We were in Dereham today, using the rail crane. The day started off lifting some components into a locomotive. We then used the rest of the day to move point components around into more organised piles, pairing up switch blades, grouping check rails and crossings together and separating out the parts that we will need in order to build the point towards the new pit.
By Roy Malyon.
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Fire near Garvestone. 4th February 2006. Photo: Ian Martin |
The Drains and Fences gang have been busy with vegetation clearance to the north of Garvestone lately, and this effort was continued by four members of the team today.
By Richard Cullen and Gary Hall.
Three of the County School Area Group met at County School 8:30 before going to North Elmham to continue the widening of the footpath to 8 feet. We were shortly joined by two new helpers and Matt Goodrum. Since there was only a little more work to be done, we were soon finished and could turn our attention to removing a few suspect tree limbs. With a quick tidy-up, everyone headed home by 1:30.
A meeting with the contractor with his driver has been scheduled this week for his final survey and price quote. Work should start soon thereafter.
Thanks to all those who have helped in preparing this site for the contract work to be done.
A member has been kind enough to donate money to flail the section between County School and North Elmham. This has enabled us to complete around 2 years' worth of clearance in under a week. This has made a drastic improvement the state of the line here and given us a major boost in our efforts to reopen our northern section. As the trackbed is currently used as a footpath in this area, closure notices and barriers were erected at each entrance and a volunteer was needed each day to act as a look out in case anybody ventured out on to the line.
We realise the importance of acting in harmony with the local wild life hence some time ago a study was commissioned from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust to advise us on how best to proceed. By returning most of the line to managed grassland as it was through most of its operational life, we increase the diversity of flora and fauna, and provide a suitable habitat for several species of reptiles and mammals. Many larger trees and some scrubland remains near the fence line for nesting birds and other species.
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Cleared vegetation near North Elmham, looking north towards County School. 24th February 2006. Photo: Ray Jordan |
The flail gets to work at the end of the line. 24th February 2006. Photo: Terry Mann |
County School Area Group continued work in the cutting by bridge 1706. Three fires were lit and all the cuttings of the day were burned off as well as some previously cut limbs. We haven't got far to go now to complete this area. We took the time to walk all the way to North Elmham to inspect the work that the flail had done. Although very impressive, there is still a lot of work to do in this area to bring it up to standard, but it is a lot better now and you can actually see the track bed now as well as bridge 1706 from the buffer stop. Now that this area has been opened up we can start spraying the track bed for weeds.
This weekend work has continued on the GER coach, with more of the ceiling of the large compartment being stripped ready for painting. It is amazing how much drier this coach is with the new roof fitted. One of the doors has been removed for restoration off-site. It should return fully refurbished and fitted with working hinges and locks.
A start has been made on restoring the station to its standard WW2 condition. We have located a source for the correct gummed tape for the windows - no more masking tape here! Genuine sand bags are also being placed around the doors onto the platform. We are aiming for total authenticity - and the effect is already impressive. Once the recreation is completed and we are rail connected, we will be able to offer a very accurate trip back in time.
Grounds work has continued, with the path through the orchard being cleared to allow for the delivery of a signal box later in the year. A start has also been made on strimming an area of the track formation north of the station, ready for the car boot sale. A pond liner has been offered to the station. This will be fitted in the summer. Hopefully our seasonal pond will then become a year-round attraction.