Trains are once again running at the Mid Norfolk Railway's County School station in Norfolk, albeit only in miniature at the moment.
Even though full-size trains are yet to return to County School, the North Norfolk Model Engineering Club (NNMEC) has opened a new miniature railway at the site. The new railway is known as the Wensum Valley Miniature Railway.
Newly laid track has been laid with three rails to allow both 5-inch and 3.5-inch gauge model engines to run. The line is not yet complete, but enough has been laid for public operations to begin.
Trains will run every Sunday from 11.00 to 16.00 until the end of August, weather permitting.
The NNMEC was formerly based at the North Norfolk Railway but has had to find a new home as their previous site was due to be developed as part of ongoing work at the NNR's Holt station. Fortunately, the Mid Norfolk Railway was able to offer the NNMEC a new home.
The NNMEC holds regular meetings at the Village Hall in High Kelling on the first Friday of each month. A working party meets at County School on most Thursdays and on Sundays when the railway is not running. More details can be found on the club's Facebook page.
County School Station is the northern end of the Mid Norfolk Railway. The cafe and museum are open, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12.00 to 15.00 until September, weather permitting. MNR working members meet on Wednesday and Sunday to maintain the facilities and prepare for the eventual reinstatement of the line south to North Elmham that will allow a regular service to once again run.
Anyone who wishes to join in the work can volunteer after first becoming a member of the railway. Details can be found on the railway's website at www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk/volunteering
Explaining the arrangement, Richard Cullen, the Mid Norfolk Railway Station Master at County School said: “It will be a while yet before the MNR is able to run trains from Dereham to County School Station, but while we wait for that day to arrive, lots of work is being done here to create an attraction worthy of a visit. When the opportunity of offering a home to the NNMEC's miniature railway at County School Station presented itself, it was an easy decision to make”.
“The way we have planned this track means that it will not interfere with the full-size track, when that is eventually laid. As from now therefore we have another attraction to add to the popular nature walks, museum, and cafe we already run here.”
Gordon Ford, Chairman of the North Norfolk Miniature Engineering Club, said: “We are grateful to the North Norfolk Railway for giving us a home for 17 years, but we are all excited as we begin a new chapter in our story, here at County School Station. The move was agreed in 2019, but due to Covid we had to pause the project until last year when work could begin. The members are all looking forward to once again be able to run our trains and begin a regular passenger service here at County School”.
