North Norfolk Railway

12 March 2010

The North Norfolk Railway is a heritage railway line running from Sheringham to Holt.

It has long been severed from the national rail network by only a few metres, with the NNR's Sheringham station staring across the road at the National Rail Sheringham station. Sheringham Level Crossing was re-opened in Thursday 11th March, when Pete Waterman OBE welcomed Britannia class 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” bringing the first train over Station Road for 46 years, and today was another day of celebrations with a steam gala - a great excuse for a visit.

After a ride from Sheringham to Holt station, we took an old bus into the centre of Holt where we had lunch in a tea shop, then got the bus back to the station.

A train on one of the platforms gets ready to depart

And another pulls in. This is the Quad-Art set of coaches, recently returned from restoration at Carnforth.

Other rolling stock by the signal box at Sheringham

The beautiful and unique varnished teak Quad-Art coaches, built at Doncaster in 1924 for the intensive London suburban services from Kings Cross station.

The set originally comprised two close coupled 4 car units, a brake all third and a brake composite. In 1967 it was withdrawn from BR service on the former GNR Suburban routes.

A glimpse of the articulated bogey.

Gresley N2 class 1744, built in 1921 for the Great Northern Railway by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow and remained in service out of Kings Cross until 1962. Nowadays it normally lives at the Great Central Railway but is visiting today.

Our friends Dianne and Craig from Louisiana

Watering 1744

A look down on Lucy, Craig and Dianne from the signal box

Inside the (unused) signal box.

The Quad-Art set all ready to head back to Holt

A look along the line to the new level crossing.