North Norfolk Railway Delight...

Today, during a couple of days over in Norfolk with good friend and well known bringer of lateness 'Eddie the Late', we took in a return visit to the North Norfolk Railway. Ed now lives in Sheringham and the NNR's base is only a short ride down the road so I couldn't really miss it. Strolling up to the station from the sea front, we were just in time to see our train roll in behind the huge WD 2-10-0 No90775, now named "Royal Norfolk Regiment". This was the first time I'd seen a Riddles Austerity in steam: what a brute of an engine! The loco was uncoupled from the train before running round to take on water at the column in anticipation of the 12:10 departure for Holt...

We boarded the Mk1 coaches behind the 2-10-0 and settled in for the journey of just over 5 miles. Right on time, the Guard gave the "Right Away" and the big black engine hissed into life. Moving cautiously away, the engine barely muttered as she picked up the train and strolled out of Sheringham towards Weybourne. It was a pleasure to look out from the droplight and listen to the engine casually steaming along with barely 50psi in the chests. Any engine of this size is really overkill in regular preserved railway settings but it certainly saves them being overworked...

At the attractive intermediate station of Weybourne the fireman surrendered the token to the signalman and awaited the 'down' train from Holt. Crossing over with us was the wonderful sole-surviving B12 4-6-0 No8572...

With the B12 clear of the section, 90775 received the appropriate token and the road. With an all clear from the Guard, the 2-10-0 departed Weybourne for Holt. The climb out of Weybourne is the steepest part of the line and the driver did give her a bit more stick up there. You could hear the engine digging in as the reverser was wound in; no doubt to give her something to do. Myself & Eddie both commented that you really did just want a few more miles of that! All too soon, the regulator was closed as the train slowed for arrival at the terminus station at Holt...

These powerful engines were designed by R.A.Riddles for service during World War II as a cost effective but useful machine. The original design was a 2-8-0, with the 2-10-0 variant joining later so as to provide the same power output but a lighter axle loading for use on secondary routes. Surprisingly, the tractive effort is slightly lower than the GWR 2800 Class 2-8-0s, despite the huge proportions. They were known as the "Austerity" and a total of 150 of the 2-10-0 version were built during 1943-1945. 90775 never actually saw BR service (the last BR example was 90774). She was built in Glasgow in 1943 by North British and was, I believe, exported to Greece from new. Repatriated in 1984, the engine first worked on the North Norfolk in 2003. Having not long returned to service from a heavy overhaul, the engine looks and sounds lovely. She was named "Royal Norfolk Regiment" last year. At Holt, the driver kindly invited me onto the footplate for a ride during the run round, much to Eddie's irritation...

As the driver opened the regulator you could feel the engine come to life as its 19" cylinders got it on the move. It's quite a beast, it really is - I'd love a go on something like this! The driver commented that he preferred the WD over the BR 9F which surprised us as Riddles was never a fan of the Austerity. In fact, their designer was quoted as saying that "they could all be pushed into the sea once the war was won". To the surprise of all, they survived long after World War II and 10 of the 2-10-0 type still live on today, although only 3 are in the UK. What a fine engine...

"On The Footplate of Austerity 90775"

Once the driver had gently settled 90775 onto the train, I thanked the crew for my ride and returned to Eddie on the platform. The Fireman then jumped down to couple the loco up to the train. A nice touch I think at the NNR is the addition of a parcels van within the rake to carry pushchairs and other items that require storage: much nicer than storing them in the corridors or vestibules...

Holt station has a refreshment room, museum and miniature railway. After a wander around the museum we spotted a little 5" 3F simmering away on the raised track. The miniature railway runs up the yard and around again in a loop...

It wasn't long before departure time was near and so we boarded the train at the opposite end. Leaving Holt, 90775 drifted gently downgrade back towards Weybourne where we alighted for a cuppa' on the platform...

Another grab shot of 90775 as she prepared to depart Weybourne...

With the train gone we walked over the footbridge to see the attractive signalbox. The friendly signalman kindly invited us in and the high standard of restoration was clear throughout the box. It's lovely to see the appropriate bells, indicators and token machines working as they should: the hallmark of a well restored signalbox. Wandering back over the bridge we visited the refreshment room for a cake and a cuppa' before the Austerity was heard climbing in from Sheringham...

Over in the yard, BR Standard 4 No76084 was undergoing a steam test. This engine is main line registered and is used to work the NNR's Cromer dining trains over Network Rail. I like the Standard 4: a workable engine for any purpose...

With the Austerity waiting patiently in the platform on route to Holt, it wasn't long before the B12 arrived with the Sheringham train...

With a "Right Away" from the Guard we departed Weybourne behind the elderly B12. It sounds just like the T9 - but bigger! Once out of Weybourne the engine drifted steadily back towards Sheringham where we arrived right on time. Having alighted from the train I walked over the footbridge in an attempt to get some shots of the B12 as I missed out on her during her January visit to the Great Central...

Built to a Great Eastern design in 1928, this LNER Apple Green beauty employs a 180psi boiler and 20" cylinders. What a lovely old engine. You can't beat an inside cylindered express engine. The LSWR T9 was wonderful and the B12 looks very much along the same antique lines...

Once uncoupled from the train the engine ran round...

Having watered on the column she was placed at the head of the train...

All in all this was a great second visit to the North Norfolk Railway with two fantastic locomotives in action. Thanks Eddie for the company and thanks to the crew on 90775 for the ride during the run round - it was much appreciated! The NNR is a great set up and well worth a visit. Although only 5 miles long, the line boasts many well restored locomotives, coaches and stations in an attractive seaside setting - what can be better? Now it's off to the Bure Valley Railway! Thanks all, Sam...