4. To Wroxham on the Bure Valley Railway-29.10.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 61. Holiday in Norfolk-24-30.10.15 > 4. To Wroxham on the Bure Valley Railway-29.10.15

On our final day of our Norfolk holiday, we took a trip on the Bure Valley narrow gauge railway from Aylsham to Wroxham.

Click here to search The Archive Files

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

M56352 & M51192, 10.30 Holt-Sheringham, Kelling Heath
On a bright but chilly Autumnal morning, M56352 and M51192 rattle across Kelling Heath working the 10.30 Holt to Sheringham service. Whilst there was a myriad of DMU classes during British Railways and into BR days the Class 101s were amongst the most reliable with many making it into the preservation world on heritage lines. The North Norfolk Railway alone has three sets of Class 101s in various conditions and states of operation.
Keywords: M56352 M51192 10.30 Holt-Sheringham Kelling Heath Class 101 DMU

564, 10.30 Sheringham-Holt, Kelling Heath
Having climbed the steep bank from Weybourne station to Kelling Heath former J14 number 564 is about to crest the summit and continue its journey leading the 10.30 Sheringham to Holt. After this bright start to the day, the cloud was soon to roll in and by the mid-afternoon, that rain had started to fall.

An audio recording of this event can be enjoyed at..... https://youtu.be/1EMYyEdk054
Keywords: 564 10.30 Sheringham-Holt, Kelling Heath J14 GER Great Eastern Railway

564, 10.30 Sheringham-Holt, Kelling Heath
With the cloud building from the south-west J14 number 564 leads the 10.30 Sheringham to Holt across Kelling Heath on the final part of its relatively short journey. Notice the white gate permitting walkers, cyclists and horse riders to cross the line on this popular area of heathland on the North Norfolk coast.

An audio recording of this event can be enjoyed at..... https://youtu.be/1EMYyEdk054
Keywords: 564 10.30 Sheringham-Holt Kelling Heath GER J14 Great Eastern Railway NNR North Norfolk Railway

9, running round, Aylsham station
With a very autumnal backdrop at Aylsham station 9 'Mark Timothy' backs out of the station yard after coaling ready to make its way forward again for turning. Notice the Halloween adornment just above the smokebox in recognition of this being very close to the 31st October.
Keywords: 9 Aylsham station Mark Timothy

9, being turned, Aylsham station
Number 9 'Mark Timothy' is privately owned but sees regular service on the Bure Valley Railway that runs from Aylsham to Wroxham. Here it is seen being turned ready to operate the 12.40 departure to Wroxham. The locomotive is a pretty diminutive 15" gauge and was originally built as an oil burner in 1999 being converted to coal after a complete rebuild very early in its life. It has now gone on to be the line's mot economical performer in terms of its consumption of coal.
Keywords: 9 being turned Aylsham station Bure Valley Railway Mark Timothy

9, taking water, Aylsham station
The crew of number 8 'Mark Timothy' replenish its saddle tanks with water after which it will leave the yard area and attach to the front of the 12.40 Aylesham to Wroxham service. Number 8 is named 'Mark Timothy' in memory of the owner's son who sadly passed away at a young age.
Keywords: 9 taking water Aylsham station Bure Valley railway Mark Timothy

9, 12.40 Aylsham-Wroxham, Aylsham station
The crew undertake some basic servicing of 8 'Mark Timothy' prior to its departure with the 12.40 Aylesham to Wroxhm Bure Valley Railway service. My wife, son and I took this train to its destination some nine miles away from here at Aylesham. One of the coaches operated by the railway is seen in this photograph, small and compact they are comfortable and offer a reasonable ride despite running on 15" bogies.
Keywords: 9 12.40 Aylsham-Wroxham Aylsham station Bure Valley Railway Mark Timothy

9, 12.40 Aylsham-Wroxham & 7, 12.40 Wroxham-Aylsham, Fendyke Nursery Crossover
A meeting of trains on the Bure Valley Railway takes place at the delightfully named Fendyke Nursery crossover. We are travelling on 12.40 from Aylesham to Wroxham behind number 9 Mark Timothy' with Number 7 'Spitfire' leading the balancing 12.40 from Wroxham wearing a Halloween embellishment! Notice the dog leaning out of the compartment in the next coach taking in the whole scene!
Keywords: 9 12.40 Aylsham-Wroxham 7 12.40 Wroxham-Aylsham Fendyke Nursery Crossover Bure Valley Railway Mark Timothy Spitfire

Former Coltishall station
The former Coltishall station is seen from the passing Bure Valley narrow gauge service. The building is unmistakably Great Eastern in origin closing to passengers on 15.09.52 along with the rest of the line from Wroxham to County School station that is now part of the Mid Norfolk Railway. The spur to Aylsham lingered on seeing sporadic freight use carrying prefabricated concrete sections delivered by road from the Lenwade factory up until 1982.
Keywords: Former Coltishall station

9, being turned, Wroxham station
Having brought our train in from Aylesham, number 9 'Mark Timothy' is seen in a welcome burst of sunshine being turned on Wroxham's turntable. This 2-6-4 tank locomotive was built in 1999 as a wood burner but converted a short time later after it was deemed to be too inefficient and tricky to operate.
Keywords: 9 being turned Wroxham station Mark Timothy

Wroxham signal box, preserved (GE, 1900)
Unfortunately, the former Wroxham signal box was closed to visitors on the day of our visit to the town using the Bure Valley Railway. The box has been rebuilt originally being a lot closer to the Network Rail tracks that can be seen beyond the fence to the right. The box is a former Great Eastern structure that was opened in 1900 that had a McKenzie and Holland fifty lever frame installed that had been considerably rationalised by the time closure came in June 2000.
Keywords: Wroxham signal box

7, 14.20 Aylsham-Wroxham, Wroxham station
The 14.20 Aylesham to Wroxham Bure Valley Railway service arrives at its destination with number 7 'Spitfire' leading the train. Notice the large colour light rising above the embankment to the right, this is located on the Norwich to Sheringham Network Rail line.
Keywords: 7 14.20 Aylsham-Wroxham Wroxham station Bure Valley Railway Spitfire

7, running round, Wroxham station
Filling the cutting with steam blowing off from the safety valves number 7 'Spitfire' runs around having been turned on Wroxham's turntable. It is a feature of all of the Bure Valley Railway workings that locomotives always operate boiler first as turntables are located at both ends of the line. Number 7 was named in 1997 in recognition of the role played by the Spitfire which flew from many local bases during World War II.
Keywords: 7 Wroxham station Spitfire Bure Valley Railway

7, 15.30 Wroxham-Aylsham, Wroxham station
Our train back from Wroxham to Aylsham waits at the Bure Valley Railway's eastern terminus. We will soon enjoy a run back along the 15" narrow gauge line behind number 7 'Spitfire'. The Network Rail line that runs from Norwich to Sheringham via Cromer is seen in the background along with the former Wroxham signal box. Spitfire was designed and built specifically for use on the Bure Valley Railway arriving in June 1994.
Keywords: 15.30 Wroxham-Aylsham Wroxham station Bure Valley Railway Spitfire

Tickets, Aylsham-Wroxham-Aylsham
Our ticket for travel on the Bure Valley Railway. I think that £20 for three of us to make the journey from Aylsham to Wroxham and return is good value as a top ten Norfolk tourist attraction. Notice that children under sixteen go free.
Keywords: Tickets Aylsham-Wroxham-Aylsham

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.