North Norfolk Railway Spring Steam Gala: 14 - 16 April 2023

Unfortunately, that's a typo - both the J15 and 7F are unavailable for this event, the latter being re-tubed, so it'll be 90775 vice 53809 for the Sunday I believe.

 

10 days after 76084 appeared alongside 34028 Eddystone at Swanage, the two locos are reunited at Sheringham. 76084 was running round her train ready for the 16.05 departure as the low loader carrying Eddystone picked its way through the car park!
Both engines are scheduled to be in action for the Easter weekend and the Steam Gala.

 

34028 Eddystone has been running over the Easter weekend and additionally on the normal timetable days leading up to the Gala to help with the two steam service while the 9F and WD receive repairs in time for the Gala.
Here's 34028 looking superb in the early afternoon sun today working the 13.40 off Sheringham:

 

Nothing posted on here about how this went. I have looked at some footage on YouTube and the trains looked worryingly quiet, even on the sunny Saturday. Hope the railway covered its costs.

 

I was there on Friday and it was reasonably busy, I would say comparable to the same event last year. No doubt some people who would have gone otherwise, could or did not because of SVR being the same weekend. The train loadings can be deceiving, with departures being so frequent and the line relatively short. Plenty of opportunities for people to travel behind their desired locomotive without the train being packed out, which is no bad thing.

 

TBH I'm glad nothing happened to 401 or 34028, I did watch one video and noticed the 37 out and about, I'm guessing the Dub Dee failed?

 

TBH I'm glad nothing happened to 401 or 34028, I did watch one video and noticed the 37 was out and about working some turns, I'm guessing the Dub Dee failed some when?

 

Trains also start early and it seems many attendees don't rush to get to the railway before mid morning. From my own observations the car park at Holt was very full on Friday and Saturday but quieter on Sunday although on all days trains during the middle of the day were well loaded. Friday ran close to time throughout with locos as planned but on Saturday and Sunday D6732 replaced 90775. Some time was lost by a points failure at Holt on Saturday afternoon but good work by the staff recovered from this with the final trains on time. Overall a gala I much prefer to the more frantic and overcrowded offerings on the SVR but we all have our own preferences.

 

I had hoped to see pictures posted by the many people evident around the railway enjoying the spectacle but as none have appeared thought I'd post a few of my own whilst apologising for not being a photographic expert. Now the trees on the hill have been cleared a high vantage point is possible making it easy to watch Sheringham to Holt trains working between the three arched bridge and almost the top of Kelling Bank. The frequency of trains leaves plenty of time for rides and enjoying a grandstand view provided the weather is kind which fortunately it was.

 

Have got round to working through my pictures from my visit to the Friday of this gala. Full set here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjABpHn

 

Those are some great photos.
Love the mixed train!
Anybody know when the NNR might be holding next years event?