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Latest News: Archive
August 2011
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Latest News: Archive
August 2011
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Summer 2011 has proven to be a pivotal moment in the development of the Mid-Norfolk Railway.
The inaugural runs of 6023 "King Edward II" really drew the crowds, and with about 75 return journeys between Dereham and Wymondham, the loco has now completed its planned running-in, with 1600 trouble-free miles. It was joined by long-time visitor 9466 for our first-ever two-train steam service on 9th July.
The highlight of the season was our steam gala, with 6023 and 9466 joined by the Jinty 47406. Despite the bad weather on the Saturday, passenger numbers were high both days of the gala and the popularity of the Beavertail™ Observation car was high throughout.
MNR Chairman Barry Woodgett said "On behalf of everyone at the MNR I wish to express our gratitude to the Great Western Society for entrusting the MNR with the important task of running in King Edward II. The memory of its eye-catching BR Experimental Blue livery and the sound of its exhaust beats will remain with us for a long time to come."
King Edward II has helped demonstrate that MNR already had a very credible Steam Operations Department, which is now reinforced by the appointment of Dennis Howells, M.B.E. as Traction Inspector-Steam and Bruce Murray as Chief Mechanical Engineer-Steam.
Everyone at the Mid-Norfolk Railway is rightly proud of the achievements made this summer, and we have had much positive feedback from visitors. Planning for the 2012 steam season is well underway. In the meantime, 9466 will be in service at the Mid-Norfolk Railway for the remainder of August.
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Three steam locos (6023, 47406 and 9466) at Dereham. Top row: Ian Elvar, David Horsley, Rod Eastman and Leslie Dale. Standing: Oliver Hannam, Martin Ashworth, Bernie Bland, John Antell, Roger Paddison, Richard Varley, George Saville, Dennis Howells MBE, Alan Pearce and James Francis. 17th July 2011. Photo: Fred Chapman |
By Matt Goodrum, Toby Rawlings and Gary Hall.
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Backfilling ballast. 7th August 2011. Photo: Toby Rawlings |
Today seven Northern Section members (including new volunteers Ashley and Brian) worked incredibly hard backfilling approximately 75 sleepers and tidying the ballast shoulders up to Bridge 1697. We also managed to change a cracked fishplate, burn a pile of cuttings and collect some scrap metal.
With nearly all the regular Northern Section members away on holiday a smaller than usual group of five including new volunteers Nick and Nigel spent the day burning. Heading northwards from Bridge 1699 we worked our way through the larger piles left by the Probation Services after their clearance earlier in the year. Several strong gusts of wind helped blow the flames through the dry material which had become part covered in new vegetation.
Today six Northern Section members spent a pleasant day between Bridges 1697 and 1698. While the main activity was backfilling around 32 new sleepers, we also managed to build up the ballast shoulders over part of the length. The rail keys between the bridges were checked and this included the "final 13 panels" so, at long last, all the missing or badly worn examples in the 2.5 miles to Hoe have been replaced. Finally we moved on to vegetation matters with two large bonfires and the restacking of logs on the Up formation.
Being the final Sunday of the month, the Northern Section group were up at County School where Brian, Gary, Harry, Ian and Ray worked on removing vegetation from along the footpath towards the P-Way Hut. Meanwhile Nick and Toby set about using the wooden keys recovered from Dereham-Hoe to fill in the gaps on both lines north of the Level Crossing. They also cleared out the flange-ways on the crossing, repaired the bay platform picket fence and, with Gary's help, moved some much-needed materials back to Dereham.
By Trevor Brackpool, Owen Stratford and Roy Malyon.
The PW team spent the day at Thuxton, regulating ballast that was dropped last winter. Some of the excess was moved to the platform area to top up shortages, while te remainder was used to build up the shoulders. One area in the middle is still awaiting attention, as we need to build up a retaining edge to keep the ballast from rolling away down the embankment.
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Building a siding at Thuxton. 13th August 2011. Photo: Simon Addington |
Setting the expansion gap. 13th August 2011. Photo: Toby Rawlings |
P Way spent today at Thuxton starting the installation of a new siding. We had previously dropped off 12 panels of track and these were positioned and fishplated together. Each one had to be moved up to the end of the adjoining one, and then the two rails in the panels squared off to each other. This is quite a challenge in elastic rail spiked track as you do not have the luxury of being able to remove the fittings. With the new track in position, the alignment was roughly set up. We also cut in a 60ft closure to tie in to the bullhead track. After replacing missing and rotten sleepers, this will be ready for lifting and packing.
We started off today at County School preparing a signal post for transport by removing vulnerable fittings and castings. We then decamped back to Dereham and spent the afternoon installing replacement trespass guards at Hall Lane AOCL. These had been removed during earlier resleepering, but we had found that the batons were rotten that support the guards themselves. We cut in and fitted new batons across the sleepers and also dug in a new timber to support the outside end. With these secured, the old guards were then refitted. We also took the opportunity to replace several of these that we damaged or showing signs of decay at the ends.
A five strong P-Way team were in Whinburgh Cutting today topping up ballast in the four-foot and on the shoulders as required. We covered the 440 yards north of the 9 mile post which took us under the main road bridge, No.1690. The availability of good size spare ballast from the second formation was patchy so wheel barrows were employed to transport material to where it was needed.
With a great deal of tree-felling and sleeper-changing having happened in recent years, the quantity of logs and rotten sleepers in Whinburgh Cutting was starting to become a problem. Three of us spent a day stacking up the sleepers and logs for resale.
Meanwhile, the rest of the gang continued with the topping-up of the ballast. The track has been lifted slightly by a stoneblower, and so many of the beds are low on ballast. Fortunately, there is plenty to be found on the lifted formation.