North Norfolk Railway General Discussion

This coming weekend is the M&GN Members weekend. 90775 running with Mark 1s, D5631 with Quad Arts and Wissington shuttling between Weybourne and Holt with the vintage set: https://nnrailway.co.uk/day-visits-mgn/

Also more details added for Britannia's visit during October half term.

25th-31st October: 4 round trips for 70000, also another steam and DMU in operation.
29th& 30th October: Evening Fish and Chip train hauled by 70000
1st & 2nd November: Fiftieth Finale Weekend with Deltic D9000 also running, frequent departures from 9:30 to 16:30.

Looking like a great finish to the main running season and a fitting celebration of the 50th anniversary.

 

I think there is some hard thinking to be done about oil firing.

The primary benefit seems to be about reduced risk of starting lineside fires. In today's (changing) climate, that is certainly an important consideration - how important depending to some degree on what sort of landscape you go through.

On fuel costs though, oil firing is rather more expensive than coal. And given the fact that most railways struggle to overhaul even enough locos to run the service, you really need to maximise mileage on the locos you have - the days of the 1980s when a railway might have plenty of operational locos and only do small mileages on each are long gone. So if you do convert a loco for oil firing, potentially you either end up only running it when the fire risk is high, and have an expensive asset unused for much of the year; or else you use it even when the fire risk is low but at higher running cost than if it were coal fired. (And then, sods law says that having run it for a few weeks, it is in the works for a washout just when a heatwave strikes, such things not generally running to neatly predictable schedules ...)

Potentially oil firing allows you to maintain steam haulage even during heat waves, but it seems to me that it is far from an easy decision to make.

Tom

 

Timing couldn’t be better. I am visiting the UK for the first time in several years (from Australia) and didn’t plan it, but I happen to be visiting friends in North Norfolk this weekend.

Just as well I brought my membership card.

Sadly I’ll miss the other events as I’m flying home next week.


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There are of course all the other issues about coal quality and availability.

 

The Carriage & Wagon Blog has been updated:

C&W Blog - Multiple Roofs and Doors to Nowhere!

 

What a joy to read amidst all the turbulence. Thank you

 

Timetables are up for the final week of October.

Fiftieth Finale Week 25th-31st October: Reserved seats to travel behind Britannia, on non stop runs that you board only at Sheringham for a round trip. Though the tickets include unlimited travel on the other steam and DMU running. https://nnrailway.co.uk/brit-f-c/

Finale Gala Weekend 1st-2nd Nov: No mentioned of reserved seats, so looks like a normal gala including 70000 and D9000. https://nnrailway.co.uk/fiftieth-finale-weekend/

 

Britannia has arrived on the line

 

70000 arriving with D9000 this afternoon.

 

Britannia approaching Bridge 303 this morning and at Sheringham just before her second round trip of the day. Just a couple for now but more to come. Great to see several familiar faces and members of this forum out enjoying the railway today!

 

Still hoping to see 70000 and 70013 together on the NNR one day.

Well done to the NNR for getting 70000. Perfect end to the 50th celebrations

 

Don't mention the standards gala...that was bloody freezing and a bit of a disaster. I was at the NNR on Saturday and had a thoroughly good day. Kudos to all, especially the carriage team for providing carriages with really effective steam (and in the case of the 104, paraffin?) heating

 

I was a very lucky boy to be the driver yesterday. Super engine with a super crew. A credit to LSL.

 

Nice to see the Brit and Deltic being photobombed by the 104...

 

An appropriate class to run alongside the Brit and Deltic as 104's would have met both loco types in numerous places during their working lives. Indeed, 70000 & 56182 were both in Manchester in 1966 so it's likely this isn't the first time they've met!

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Returned on Wednesday to ride behind Britannia, then get a few photos of her at Sheringham under the lights before departing with the fish and chip train. Thanks to the NNR staff and volunteers who arranged for the train to be positioned as far back in the platform as possible, and they even organised for the rain to have stopped by this point.

Tuesday at Kelling Cutting looking the business.


The Broadsman last night.

 

Certainly seems like Britannia’s visit has been a success.

 

Coverage from a very gusty Saturday, featuring 70000, D9000, D5631, 13809 and 18

 

A few more of Britannia and Royal Scots Grey in action from last weekend.