6. Trip to Wells-next-the-Sea-11.04.14

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2014 > 19. Week in Norfolk-05-12.04.14 > 6. Trip to Wells-next-the-Sea-11.04.14

We took a run to Wells-next-the-sea for a touch of souvenir shopping and an agreeable afternoon tea. I took the opportunity to take some photographs of the Wells Harbour Railway.

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Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.

8572, 09.45 Sheringham-Holt, Weybourne Heath TG125425
A photograph that I have managed to salvage through Photoshop! The idea was a sound one and up to about thirty seconds before the train arrived it was coming together nicely until an errant cloud had other ideas. The side illumination of 8572 leading the 09.45 Sheringham to Holt is disappointing leaving it dark against the bright sky. It is the exhaust that has saved the day in this scene taken from Weyboune Heath with the well-known windmill in the background.
Keywords: 8572 09.45 Sheringham-Holt Weybourne Heath TG125425 Poppy Line NNR North Norfolk Railway LNER B12 4-6-0

76034 (76084), 10.30 Sheringham-Holt, Weybourne Heath TG123423
As the previous photograph did not go quite to plan I decided to wait for the 10.30 Sheringham to Holt North Norfolk Railway service and try again. This time I opted for a slightly higher vantage point on Weybourne Heath and to include the North Sea. Whilst Class 4MT 76084 is better illuminated this time around the maroon stock has not fared so well being in the shadow of the exhaust; oh. well, you can't win them all!
Keywords: 76034 10.30 Sheringham-Holt Weybourne Heath TG123423 British Railways Standard Class 4MT 76084

8572, 10.30 Holt-Sheringham, Weybourne yard
Former LNER B12 gets the 10.30 Holt to Sheringham away from Weybourne station in lovely spring lighting.
Keywords: 8572 10.30 Holt-Sheringham Weybourne yard Poppy Line NNR North Norfolk Railway LNER B12 4-6-0

Howard, 14.30 Pinewoods-Wells-next-the Sea, Wells-next-the-Sea station
Introduced nine years ago and built new at that time, 'Howard' brings the 14.30 from Pinewood Hills into Wells station. 'Howard' is a diesel-powered 0-6-0 ten and a quarter inch gauge locomotive constructed by the esteemed manufacturer Alan Keef Ltd in Herefordshire.
Keywords: Howard 14.30 Pinewoods-Wells-next-the Sea Wells-next-the-Sea station

Howard, running round, Wells-next-the-Sea station
Having arrived from Pinewoods Hills one of the two resident locomotives of the Wells Harbour Railway 'Howard' runs round the stock at the railway's Harbour station.
Keywords: Howard running round Wells-next-the-Sea station

Howard, 14.50 Pinewoods-Wells-next-the Sea, Wells-next-the-Sea TF915443
'Howard' leads the rather lightly loaded 14.50 Pinewoods Hills to Wells Harbour (for Wells-next-the-sea) train along the straight track between the two stations. The one point one-kilometre long track was opened in 1976 and operates throughout the tourist season from March until October.
Keywords: Howard, 14.50 Pinewoods-Wells-next-the Sea, Wells-next-the-Sea TF915443 Wells Harbour Railway

Howard, 15.10 Wells-next-the Sea-Pinewoods, Wells-next-the-Sea station
Taken from the top of the bunding with the road below the 15.10 Wells Harbour to Pinewoods Hills is preparing to leave with 'Howard' leading the train. During the high season, the trains are usually packed to the gunwales with many seeking to avoid the long walk with all the paraphilia to the beach at Holkham Bay.
Keywords: Howard 15.10 Wells-next-the Sea-Pinewoods Wells-next-the-Sea station

Frontage, former Wells-next-the Sea station (now bookshop)
The Old Station Pottery and Bookshop is housed in the former Wells-next-the-sea station building. The station closed to passengers in October 1964 and then to goods a month later. The current owners of the building have created a rambling bookshop and pottery studio that extends throughout the ground-floor rooms of the building. The rooms remain largely as they were when the station closed having had the minimal of restoration.
Keywords: Frontage former Wells-next-the Sea station now bookshop

Station building & goods yard, former Wells-next-the Sea station (now bookshop),
A side view (from the south) of the former station building at Wells-next-the-sea. This view shows the associated goods office at what was the entrance to the yard. The buildings are remarkably intact considering that they closed fifty years ago. Lines from this Great Eastern outpost on the North Norfolk coast radiated southeastwards towards Fakenenham and thence onwards to Norwich. There was also a line that curved one hundred and eight degrees to then head westwards to Heacham where it joined the King's Lyn to Hunstanton line. Finally, there was also a short single track that led to the town's harbourfront where various fresh produce from the sea was loaded on to small wagons for onward and rapid distribution.
Keywords: Station building & goods yard former Wells-next-the Sea station

8572, 16.30 Holt-Sheringham, Kelling bank
Having popped out in the late afternoon to see the final North Norfolk Railway service of the day the sun was all wrong up on Kelling Heath. So, instead of fighting it I decided to embrace it and opted on this approach with the train becoming the background subject with the common gorse (ulex europaeus) becoming the main subject. Using a wide aperture meant that I could create a short depth of field keeping the gorse in sharp focus with the rest of the image in varying degrees of blur. The image shows B12 8572 easing down Kelling Bank with the 16.30 Holt to Sheringham service.
Keywords: 8572 16.30 Holt-Sheringham Kelling bank Poppy Line NNR North Norfolk Railway LNER B12 4-6-0

8572, 16.30 Holt-Sheringham, Kelling bank
Former LNER B12 8572 gingerly descends Kelling bank leading the 16.30 Holt to Sheringham, the final North Norfolk Railway service of the day. It is about to pass Weybourne's distant signal and it may be stopping at Kelling halt that is just around the curve in the tress subject to any passenger wanting to alight. Steam services will only stop on return workings such as this with them not able to do so coming in the other direction climbing the bank.
Keywords: 8572 16.30 Holt-Sheringham Kelling bank Poppy Line NNR North Norfolk Railway LNER B12 4-6-0

Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.