Mid-Norfolk Railway Steam Gala - 19th - 21st July.

The Mid-Norfolk Railway will be holding a steam gala on Friday 19th – Sunday 21st of July. Plans are currently being drawn up for an intensive three day timetable which will feature large coaching rakes, a small coaching rake and some freight turns as well, utilising the passing loop at Thruxton.

We are currently in talks with various railways and locomotive owners about visiting engines although it is too early to reveal their identities as contracts still need to be signed and movements arranged. Although, I can safely say we have some excellent locomotives lined up so far. The plan is for there to be 4 ex-BR steam locomotives in use at this gala.

The one locomotive we can announce is 9466, which will be resident on the line throughout the summer, although we have some plans for this loco over the weekend which will be revealed nearer the time.

So this is a request to put the date in your diary and come down and support the railway.

 

In a shameless attempt to bring this gala to the top of the forum, I just wanted to update people on the gala. We now have a firm agreement for 3 locomotives and are in discussions with a 4th locomotive but are not yet able to confirm it. One is a mainline locomotive and one is a type familiar to the region. We will be announcing the locomotives soon, so please keep your eyes and ears open!

The gala will run over three days with freight train, short and long carriage rakes in operation. It will be by far the biggest steam event the MNR has ever put on. We are really working hard to put on a top event, so please try to come over and support the railway. The timetable will be an intensive one over our 22-mile round trip.

We look forward to welcoming you all to the railway.

 

looks like there is another loco confirmed for the event. looks to be a good one. http://www.heritagerailway.co.uk/news/duchess-to-star-at-mid-norfolk-steam-gala

 

Brilliant! It'll be great to see and hear a Duchess working in East Anglia

 

The Railway Magazine has another visitor attending - 'Mayflower' - http://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/news/mid-norfolk-snap-up-b1-mayflower-for-gala. Looks like it will be an excellent three days!

 

Wow. OK, this event wasn't really on my radar but it firmly is now.

 

We look forward to seeing you Unlikely. We are hopeful it will be a great event. Fingers crossed for some sun.....

 

This line-up is becoming exciting. Looking forward for Youtube clips to come in on this one!

 

OK people of NatPres - can I please pick your brains for a little bit? I am currently writing the timetable for the weekend. I have recently had a discussion with another member of the railway where the idea of putting all the locos together at the end of the Sunday on a triple/quadruple header was mooted. It would look ridiculous and be massive overkill, but is something like that something people would be interested in? Even just at the end of the gala, for one round trip? Opinions please? I know the Llangollen cavalcades have been very popular........... Ideas? Opinions?

Latest news is that we have 3 locos confirmed as many of you now know - 9466, 61306, 46233. We have identified a 4th visitor and the locomotives home railway is trying their hardest to help us. If that does not come off then we are not sure what we will do.

We are looking into the possibility of running the first STEAM passenger train north to Hooe over that weekend, and may also try and run down the spur at Wymondham. That would give a distance of over 14 miles.

We are still planning certain aspects of the event, but we really do need you support, so come on down in if you can.

 

How about having one loco on the front and the rest dead on the back? Worked well at Peak Rail!

 

And SELHURST can come and rescue the lot.

 

I like the idea of the triple header, I am certainly coming to the gala can't wait, how about 46233 pulling a train with 9466 banking

 

As you say "It would look ridiculous." Not really sure more than a double header is worth it, but don't let me spoil it for the few still around Sunday evening! A varied timetable with the odd goods thrown in would be better with running up to Hoe and the spur sound interesting. Throw in the odd brake van ride to Hoe and shunting around Dereham yard in between trains. Express trains/local trains in the timetable. Not sure what capacity you have for running trains, so you could be limited, but I am sure you have got it under control. Keep it simple but interesting. Forget the "Overkill". Good luck for a great weekend.

 

Fourth visitor still being chased. Fingers crossed. Its a good one......

 

Surprised no one has mentioned this, but the MNR's Facebook page is reporting that M7 30053 is the fourth loco for the gala https://www.facebook.com/midnorfolkrailway - so we have a real 'big four' gala With 9466, 6233, 61306 and now 30053 (yes, I know 9466 was built after nationalisation but was a GWR design!)

 

65 years since the end of the 'Big 4' and the start of BR, we have a loco design from each company, each in a different BR livery. We are pleased with the line up. Hope you will all come down and support us.

Kieran Hards - Gala co-organiser.

 

30053 was built sometime before "The Big Four". It also lasted throughout the entire Big Four era and 15 years of BR.
Plus 21 years of preservation service....

 

According to Steam Railway, looks like 9466 is to be renumbered 8443 and trains running north to Hoe and south to MNR's boundary with Network Rail at Wymondham. Footplate rides for single journeys between Dereham and Wymondham or visa- versa have also been mentioned. No confirmation on MNR site as yet and all subject to the usual. I suppose things will become clearer once the timetable is finalised and hopefully published soon. Looking forward to a great weekend.

 

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