Following its 20-year restoration, 6023 "King Edward II" journeyed by road from its home at the Didcot Railway Centre to mid-Norfolk, where, after almost 50 years, this eminent locomotive was again seen hauling trains of fare-paying passengers.
Running time 90 minutes.
After its introduction in December 1960, the English Electric Type 3 (later Class 37) locomotives quickly became a familiar sight throughout the British Rail network, particularly in East Anglia where it formed the main motive power for Inter-City services. Fifty years on, many evolutionary forms of the original Type 3 remain in service on Britain's rail network, true testament to the 37's versatility and unquestionable success.
To commemorate the 37's 50th anniversary, no less than 12 members of the class were assembled at the Mid-Norfolk Railway in September 2010 to take part in a three-day Class 37 Golden Jubilee Gala. The event attracted visitors, enthusiasts and loco owners from far and wide to join the celebrations.
Dramatic action featuring all participating 37s can be seen in this DVD, including the spectacular nine-loco cavalcade through Dereham station.
Running time 80 minutes.
This DVD features three chapters filmed at the North Norfolk and Mid-Norfolk Railways. Both steam and diesel-hauled services can be seen working through the beautiful Norfolk countryside.
Running time 63 minutes.
Four Sulzer-engined locomotives journeyed by rail to Dereham to take part in this year's Spring Diesel Gala event. The Stratford 47 Group's minline-certified 47 580 "County of Essex" headed the cavalcade from Tyseley with 46 045, 45 133 and 26 007 in tow.
During the three-day event, the four visiting locomotives performed well alongside Mid-Norfolk resident English Electric classes: D8069, 50 019 "Ramillies" and 73 210 "Selhurst".
Of particular interest was the sight of a preserved loco venturing south as far as the MNR boundary with Network Rail at Wymondham Junction.
Running time 78 minutes.
On 25th April 2009, ex-GER N7 69621 became the first Great Eastern-designed locomotive to haul revenue-paying passengers over the former Wymondham-Wells line since the early 1960s.
Normally based at the North Norfolk Railway, the East Anglian Railway Museum-owned locomotive is seen working over the Mid-Norfolk line between Dereham and Wymondham Abbey during its two-weekend visit in April and May.
Running time 39 minutes.
Heavy Haulage was the theme of the 2009 Spring Diesel Gala, which saw no fewer than nine locomotives in action over the weekend. Amongst the highlights of the event was the return to service of newly-restored 56 040 "Oystermouth" after her two-year restoration programme at Dereham.
DB Schenker (formerly EWS) provided four visiting mainline locomotives, 66 144, 67 008, 60 059 "Swinden Dalesman" and 37 425 "Pride of the Valleys" / "Balcher y Cymoedd".
Dereham stablemates completed the impressive lineup, with D8069, 31 438, 50 019 "Ramillies", 73 210 "Selhurst" and 56 040 "Oystermouth".
Running time 60 minutes.
On 24th May 2008, Barry Island Railway-based Class 14 (D9521) arrived at the Mid-Norfolk Railway. The ex-British Railways diesel hydraulic locomotive is owned by the Class 14 Group. D9521 is believed to be the first of its class to work in Norfolk.
From 24th May to 6th July, D9521 was rostered to haul our service trains between Dereham and Wymondham, which it managed with ease.
This DVD features lineside video footage of the 0-6-0DH at work on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, filmed by volunteer David Roe.
Running time 50 minutes.
Chapters one and two feature video footage of 9466 during her stay at the Mid-Norfolk Railway during May and June 2007. During her two-month stay, 9466 hauled a series of weekend and bank holiday steam services between Dereham and Wymondham.
On Sunday 24th June, the 13:00 service from Dereham became the first steam-hauled service to call at Hardingham since the 1950s. For one day only, the train stopped at Hardingham to enable passengers to travel to the village fete. A special bus service was laid on for the occasion in the form of a 1959-built Bristol MW5G, beautifully restored in Eastern Counties burnt maroon and primrose livery. LS 789 is part of the Eastern Transport Collection.
Chapter three features a short film "A day at the Mid-Norfolk Railway". After a successful month-long visit to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in 2006, 9466 is seen working her last day of public services on Saturday 3rd June. The film begins with a slideshow of pictures, which were captured on the day and ends similarly with some pictures from the "Transport through the Decades" event, held at Dereham Station on 17th June 2006, plus a couple of scenes from the northern section of the line at County School and Worthing.
Running time 53 minutes.
A DVD featuring unique footage of "Battle of Britain" Class Pacific 34067 "Tangmere" on Mid-Norfolk Railway metals. The visitor replaced failed V2 "Green Arrow" which was originally scheduled to haul "The East Anglian" Railtour specials on Saturday May 5th from Dereham to London and Norwich to Scarborough on Monday 7th May 2007.
With watering and inspection facilities now installed and working at Dereham, the Mid-Norfolk was the ideal stabling location for the locomotive. Visitors and enthusiasts gathered to enjoy the sights, sounds and smell of the Bullied Pacific, as Sunday's service trains were steam hauled by the eminent guest.
Running time 68 minutes.
Featuring six films shot at the North Norfolk and Mid-Norfolk Railways in March and April 2007.
J15 65462 in service at the North Norfolk Railway on a very windy Sunday in March. A day at the Mid-Norfolk Railway, featuring 31 438 and 47 596 "Aldeburgh Festival" in her smart new BR Blue livery. After a lengthy absence for essential repairs, B12 61572 makes a welcome return to traffic. M&GN Society locomotives 61572, 65462 and 31 207 are seen in service at Easter. A1A Group's 31 162 in service at the North Norfolk. North Yorkshire Moors-based GWR 56XX 0-6-2 6619 makes a brief visit to the North Norfolk Railway.
Running time 62 minutes.
Travel the long-lost branch from King's Lynn to Dereham in the 1960s.
East Anglia was once the home of a system of rural railways. Most have long since passed into history, but in this programme we recreate life on one of the branch lines from a very different era of travel. On the way, we explore every aspect of this long-lost railway, and look back at the post-war history of the East Anglian branch line.
Running time 57 minutes.
East Anglia was once home of a system of rural railways. In this programme, we take a selected look at a number of branches in the 1960s. The lines across Essex via Braintree and Sudbury and to Maldon are explored. The route across the Fens via Wisbech to March is featured in detail. Finally we look at passenger and freight traffic on the Dereham and Sheringham branches.
Running time 65 minutes.
In the pre-Beeching era, the railway was often the main mode of travel for the legions of holidaymakers making their way to the seaside. A network of branches connected the coastal resorts with the main line network. We explore various lines employing both steam and diesel traction in the 1960s.
The programme comprises: the Minehead branch in the days of steam and in 1969; the Maiden Newton to Bridport branch including an ill-fated steam special; the Hayling Island branch; the Clevedon to Yatton branch; Yeovil Junction and its lines connecting to the coast; and the Sidmouth branch.
An exploration of the railways of East Anglia in the 1960s.
The St Ives branch, and the Norwich to Sheringham branch in the late 1960s with passengers and freight. The Sudbury to Marks Tey branch in 1968. Scenes on the Sudbury to Haverhill and Shelford cross-country branch after closure in 1967. The cross-country line through Newmarket travelling behind a Type 3 diesel in the late 1960s. East Anglian freight in the 1960s including the Stoke Ferry branch, plus "before" and "after" scenes almost 40 years later.
Running time 70 minutes.
An exploration of long-lost railways in East Anglia and the north east of England.
A journey along various long-closed branches in the 1960s, including: the Saxmundham to Aldeburgh branch; the Marks Tey to Haverhill lines via Sudbury and Halstead in 1962; the last train to Easton Lodge on the Braintree branch; Cambridge diesel depot in 1959 with shunters, DMUs and a Type 3; electrification of Bishop's Stortford; the freight-only branch from Wroxham to Norwich City via Lenwade and Aylsham in 1967; Yarmouth Vauxhall; Lowestoft; and Hunstanton. North eastern branches to Redmire, Stanhope and Middleton-in-Tees, and a detailed look at the Darlington to Richmond branch just before closure.
After the end of steam, East Anglia entered a fascinating period of transition, with early diesel traction operating on a steam-age railway. This programme explores the main line from Liverpool Street to King's Lynn in the 1960s,and from Liverpool Street to Norwich in the 1970s and 1980s. In addition, we travel along the former branch to Hunstanton, visit the branch to Harwich, and travel the cross-country lines via Thetford and Bury St Edmunds.
The pick-up freight train, winding a leisurely course along the branch line railway, disappeared from the network in the 1960s.
In this programme, we take a journey with the crew on a service from Dereham to Fakenham in Norfolk. On the way, we explore the railway and the stations, and watch shunting operations on this delightful by-way in 1968. Haulage is in the form of a Brush Type 2, later to become known as the Class 31s. "Pick Up Freight" provides a unique record of a long-lost aspect of railway operation, as well as looking at the history of the railway to the coast at Wells.
A survey of many of the RHTT leaf-clearing trains across the network during 2008 with a wide range of motive power from EWS, Chiltern Railways and Direct Rail Services.
Stowmarket-based duties with top and tailed DRS class 37 and 57 duties. Includes scenes from many delightful East Anglian by-ways from the East Suffolk line to the Cromer, Acle and Lowestoft branches plus trains on the Mid-Norfolk Railway to Dereham. Also includes class 20s later on in the season.
A class 67 and DVT on the Midland Main Line. Class 37s on the North Wales coast. The East Coast Main Line with top and tailed 66s. Lincolnshire by-ways with Class 66s to Boston. Chiltern Line class 117 and 121 first-generation DMUs on leaf-clearing duties. Top and tailed class 20s through Barnetby and to Hull plus the Beverley branch. Class 37s working from Carlisle Kingmoor and over the Settle and Carlisle, plus some dramatic night scenes. Archive action from recent years with EWS class 37s and 31s.
Running time 55 minutes.
A history of the Peppercorn A1s from their introduction to the last days in service in the 1960s. The preservation era and first moves towards the building of a new A1. The search for drawings, fabrication work on the new locomotive and first steamings at Darlington and the Great Central Railway. Operations from its base at the National Railway Museum. Extensive coverage of the first mainline passenger workings. Prince Charles naming "Tornado" at York and hauling the Royal Train.
