74. Holiday in Norfolk-14-20.10.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 74. Holiday in Norfolk-14-20.10.23

Our annual holiday in Norfolk found my wife and I again staying at Kelling Heath renting one a caravan. I have travelled widely and been to many places (some more exotic than others!) but I still find a break here one of the most relaxing things that I do. The combination of the sea, big skies, peace and quiet along with the North Norfolk Railway just yards away is perfect. Oh. yes, my wife loves it too even though she's not quite as enamoured with the steam trains as me!
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Images 1-19 of 19 displayed.

53809, running round, Holt station-14.10.23 My wife suggested that we call in at Holt station on our journey as we were passing. In doing so we were just in time to see the North Norfolk Railway's final train of the day, the 16.10 service to Sheringham. Just prior to its departure former Somerset and Dorset's 1925 built 7F 53809 reverses slowly on to its stock. It will then run tender first to Sheringham. Unfortunately, by this stage in October, the sun has dropped a little low in the sky behind some tall trees at Holt station meaning that it's in shadow. Also, this image is captured on my rather old iPhone. Keywords: 53809 running round Holt station 14.10.23
M51188 & M56182, Sheringham-Holt ECS, Weybourne woods-15.10.23 I have visited the North Norfolk Railway many times over the years when on holiday at Kelling Heath and have noted the various adjustments that they make to their working timetable year by year. This season, the green timetable (their minimum service patern) has a morning empty coaching stock working from Sheringham to Holt. I was not aware of this and on making my way down to Weybourne station was caught out by the sound of one of their resident DMUs leaving the station. Luckily, I was on a path close to the line so managed this photograph of M51188 leading their recently restored M56182 Keywords: M51188 M56182 Sheringham-Holt ECS Weybourne woods First generation DMU cla 101
53809, 10.15 Sheringham-Holt & 564, Weybourne station-15.10.23 The North Norfolk Railway's first steam service of the day arrives at Weybourne station. It is an optical illusion that appears to show the line dropping as it approaches Weybourne station from the east but it is in fact a slight climb necessitating locomotives to be under power as they approach the station until abruptly shutting off as they pass the start of the patform. Former S & D 7F 53809 is doing this as it approaches with the 10.15 Sheringham to Holt service as GE 0-6-0 564 redies itself to head off to Sheringham to haul the Sunday lunchtime dining train a little later. Keywords: 53809 10.15 Sheringham-Holt 564 Weybourne station-15.10.23 Somerset and Dorset 7F
M56182 & M51188, 10.20 Holt-Sheringham, Weybourne station-15.10.23 My first proper view of the fully restored Class 104 Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory M56182. It entered service at the beginning of September following an eight-year-long programme that saw the car completely stripped and rebuilt to the 'as built' condition complete with speed whiskers. The job was made more tricky as BR had converted the car for use as a Sandite unit and also that it had been attacked by metal thieves and vandals during a long period of storage at the Churnet Valley Railway prior to moving to the North Norfolk line. Paired with fellow blue square compatible Class 101 M51188 the two units are seen at Weybourne working the 10.20 Holt to Sheringham service. Keywords: M56182 & M51188, 10.15 Holt-Sheringham, Weybourne station Class 104 Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory
M51188, 10.20 Sheringham-Holt & 53809, 10.15 Sheringham-Holt, Weybourne station-15.10.23 As former S & D 7F 53809 gets the 10.15 Sheringham to Holt service away from Weybourne the rear end of the 10.20 Holt to Sheringham DMU service waits to depart. Class 101 motor coach M51188 is at the rear of the Sheringham service with the superbly restored Class 104 M56182 leading. Keywords: M51188 10.15 Sheringham-Holt 53809 10.15 Sheringham-Holt Weybourne station-15.10.23 Class 101 DMU
53809, 13.40 Sheringham-Holt, Sheringham station-15.10.23 After what had been a very warm September and October the first couple of days of our Norfolk holiday were cold with a keen wind blowing from the northwest. The 13.40 Sheringham to Holt service waits to leave the seaside town with former Somerset and Dorset 7F 53809 leading. Dating from 1925 the locomotive was in use on the S & D throughout its working life until withdrawal came in 1964 just four months after I was born! It moved to the North Norfolk Railway in January 2018 on a long-term operational contract and has done sterling service since. Keywords: 53809 13.40 Sheringham-Holt, Sheringham station-15.10.23 7F 2-8-0 S & D
564, running round, Sheringham station-15.10.23 Former Great Eastern Y14 564 (also previously numbered 7564, 5462 and finally 65462 at various times throughout its career) runs round its stock at Sheringham station. Having completed this move it would then lead the stock at platform two forming the The North Norfolkman dining train back to Holt. My wife, son and I have enjoyed this dining experience in previous years but judged that the cost of the trip was prohibitively expensive when looking into it for this year. Whilst heritage lines can make money from these experiences they need to be wary not to price themselves out of the market witnessed by a few empty tables perhaps? Keywords: 564, running round, Sheringham station
564, North Norfolkman Dining Train & M56182 & M51188, 13.45 Holt-Sheringham, Sheringham station-15.10.23 As the North Norfolkman dining train waits to depart from Sheringham led by former GER 0-6-0 number 564 the 13.45 ex-Holt service arrives. The DMU is formed by a Class 104/101 hybrid set with the former having only entered service the previous month after a superb and costly eight-year restoration. The bright sunshine and patches of blue sky belie the fact that it was unseasonably cold with a strong north-westerly wind blowing off the sea that was a bit of a shock to everybody after the balmy month of September (that produced the hottest day of the year) and a similarly mild October until this point that is! Keywords: 564 North Norfolkman Dining Train M56182 M51188 13.45 Holt-Sheringham, Sheringham station 15.10.23 DMU
M56182 & M51188, 10.20 Holt-Sheringham, Windpump crossing Kelling Heath-17.10.23 Looking resplendent in the morning sunshine Class 104 M56182 leads Class 101 M51188 across Kelling Heath taken at Windpump crossing. Contrary to the Manchester Victoria destination blind the train is actually heading for Sheringham having left Holt at 10.20. In this light it is clear to see the standard of the huge restoration that the Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (non-powered) DMU carriage has undergone with its authentic speed whiskers and white roof really looking the part. I can also vouch that the standard of the interior was as good as the outside looks; a magnificent achievement and a credit to all involved. Keywords: M56182 M51188 10.20 Holt-Sheringham Windpump crossing Kelling Heath First generation DMU Class 101 Class 104
92203, 10.15 Sheringham-Holt, Kelling Heath-17.10.23 Previously owned by the late and renowned artist David Shepherd, equally famed for his wildlife and railway oils, 92203 'Black Prince' is now part of the North Norfolk Railway's collection. The 1959 built 2-10-0 9F was one of a class that was widely regarded as being at the pinnacle of steam locomotive production entering service just nine years prior to the complete abolition of steam on British Railways with 92203 being withdrawn in November 1967. The NNR make good use of the locomotive with it being a regular and dependable performer. However, having said this, I did hear from staff that it had failed the previous week having to be rescued by another locomotive! It is seen crossing Kelling Heath working the 10.15 Sheringham to Holt service. Keywords: 92203 10.15 Sheringham-Holt Kelling Heath Black Prince
M56182 & M51188, 10.20 Holt-Sheringham, Kelling Heath-18.10.23 With the bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) now going over and dying back with the onset of autumn the gorse (Ulex europaeus) is still in flower (just) as seen here on the wilds of Kelling Heath. The dying gorse in the immediate foreground is not due to the season but rather to a wildfire last year that saw the entire embankment behind where I am standing burnt to a cinder but recovery is well underway fifteen months later. There is evidence of a more recent fire this previous summer in the mid-distance. These fires on Kelling Heath are something that the North Norfolk Railway have to live and deal with every summer. As long as they are contained they do not do irrecoverable damage to the environment, in fact, controlled burns, similar to these events actually benefit the natural biome. Without sufficient depth-of-field, the background and the 10.20 Holt to Sheringham DMU formed of a Class 104/101 hybrid DMU is out of focus. This is due to a fairly generous focal length and that it is a dull day meaning that the aperture was pretty wide. However, in this case, I quite like the effect. Keywords: M56182 M51188 10.20 Holt-Sheringham Kelling Heath Class 104 101 DMU
92203, 10.15 Sheringham-Holt, Kelling bank-18.10.23 With its 39,701lbf tractive effort, a 9F will have no difficulty lifting six coaches from a standing start at Weybourne up Kelling bank on the North Norfolk Railway. Long-term resident 92203 'Black Prince' is seen leading the 10.15 Sheringham to Holt service, the first steam-hauled service of the day. As well as their power and ability to haul both fast express passenger trains and heavy freight the 9F's were renowned for their excellent fuel consumption making them arguably the finest production steam engines ever built; such a shame that some saw just five years of service with British Railways. Keywords: 92203 10.15 Sheringham-Holt, Kelling bank 9F Black Prince
M51188 & M56182, Weybourne-Holt ECS, Weybourne woods-19.10.23 Recently restored and reintroduced into service Class 104 DMU M56182 brings up the rear of the morning's ECS working to Holt climbing through the woods towards Kelling. Leading the pair, not going to Betws-y-coed as indicated by the destination blind, is Class 101 DMU M51188 which is a long-term resident of the North Norfolk Railway but is actually on loan to them being owned by the National Railway Museum. Keywords: M51188 M56182 Sheringham-Holt ECS Weybourne woods Class 104 Class 101 DMU
92203, 10.15 Sheringham-Holt, Priory Crossing TG122422-19.10.23 Despite being a dull day 92203 'Black Prince' makes a fine sight as it climbs away from the North Sea coast leading the 10.15 Sheringham to Holt service. I have used this spot in the fields just east of Weybourne known as Priory Crossing in the past liking it due to the added interest of the sea in the background and the simple trackside forty-and-a-quarter milepost. The milepost indicates the distance to King's Lyn's M & GN former South Lyn station. Keywords: 92203 10.15 Sheringham-Holt Priory crossing TG122422 Black Prince
M56182 & M51188, 10.20 Holt-Sheringham, Weybourne Yard-19.10.23 Allegedly heading to Alderley Edge the 10.20 Holt to Sheringham DMU appears to be a little off-route! Recently restored Class 104 M56182 leaves Weybourne station leading Class 101 power car M51188. Notice the line of wheelsets to the right along with a stack of bogies, all valuable items for future reuse on the North Norfolk Railway. Keywords: M56182 M51188 10.20 Holt-Sheringham Weybourne Yard Class 104 Class 101 first generation DMU
92203, 13.40 Sheringham-Holt, Holt Garden Centre-19.10.23 A spot from which I have never photographed a train on the North Norfolk Railway is here from the grounds of Holt Garden Centre. Leaving my wife to finish her lunch I popped out to photograph 92203 'Black Prince' leading the 13.40 Sheringham to Holt service. This broadside view reveals the bulk of the 2-10-0 9F but also its simplicity of design that contributed to it being one of the finest class of steam locomotives. Keywords: 92203 13.40 Sheringham-Holt Holt Garden Centre Black Prince 4-6-0 9F
565, D5631, 53809 & D3935, Weybourne Yard-19.10.23 The North Norfolk Railway's yard at Weybourne is always of interest with activity taking place and plenty of stock on view. In this view are (left to right) GER number 565, A1A-A1A Type 2 D5631, S & D 53809 and shunter D3935 that is engaged in moving the 7F about the yard. Notice the Class 101 DMU in the distance returning to Weybourne from Sheringham empty after working its last service of the day. Keywords: 565 D5631 53809 D3935 Weybourne Yard
M51188 & M56182, going on shed, Weybourne station-19.10.23 Having just returned from Sheringham empty the two-car DMU made up of M51188 and M56182 arrive at Weybourne. After changing ends the crew will then ease the unit into the depot for fueling and servicing ready for their next day in service. Class 31 D5631 is stabled adjacent to the unit. Keywords: M51188 M56182 going on shed Weybourne station Class 101 DMU
92203, 16.10 Holt-Sheringham, Weybourne station-19.10.23 I am not a particular fan of tender first photographs of steam locomotives. However, as this was going to be my last photograph of our holiday in Norfolk I have included it! 9F 92203 'Black Prince' eases the 16.10 Holt to Sheringham into Weybourne station. This is the last service train of the day on the North Norfolk Railway's green timetable that would see the 9F deposit the stock at Sheringham to then return light engine to Weybourne for servicing. The end of another week in Norfolk wondering when we will return. Keywords: 92203 16.10 Holt-Sheringham Weybourne station I am not a particular fan of tender first photographs of steam locomotives. However, as this was going to be my last photograph of our holiday in Norfolk I have included it! 9F 92203 'Black Prince' eases the 16.10 Holt to Sheringham into Weybourne station

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