Next month's Mixed Traction Gala on the North Norfolk Railway, is set to feature a nine-engine line-up that is scheduled to include visiting Class 47 and Class 14 diesels, and a variety of steam and diesel locomotives, heritage railcars, and shunters.
The Gala will be held from Friday, 9th to Sunday, 11th June, and will include a new event this year with a “Rails & Ales” showcase that will feature a selection of Norfolk-produced ales and ciders as the line celebrates the county's brewing expertise and heritage.
Guest stars at the Gala will be Class 47 No. 47712 formerly named Lady Diana Spencer and Class 14 No. D9537 Eric. 47712 and will appear in the iconic ScotRail livery it carried whilst working Edinburgh to Glasgow push-pull services in the 1980s.
D9537 was built at Swindon in 1965 but after little more than three years of service was sold to British Steel for use by Corby Steelworks. It is currently based at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Derbyshire.
Also expected to prove popular are the line's two Class 08 shunters, D3935 and D3940, which are due to double-head selected workings during the Gala. D3935 is currently the yard pilot at Weybourne and D3940 is the regular station pilot at Sheringham.
The line's other heritage diesels will also be in action, including Class 37 No. D6732, and Class 31 No. D5631, The event will feature an intensive service of passenger and parcels trains, double-heading, non-stop expresses and other unusual workings. also scheduled to appear One of the line's Class 101 DMUs is, alongside two of the railway's resident steam locomotives.
Ales will be available at the line's three stations and refreshments will be available from the buffet cars on selected trains. Bottled beers and ciders will be available at Sheringham and Holt Stations, and at Weybourne Station, there will be a real ale bar. Between them, the three stations will have around 25 beers and ciders on offer each day.
Each day at Weybourne there will be live music, with bands from the area performing and Drivetime Disco providing DJ sets and playing visitors' requests.
One-day Rover tickets cost £24.00 when booked in advance, with two-day tickets at £40.00 and three-day at £50.00. Full details of the Gala are available at www.nnrailway.co.uk/mixed/
Commercial Manager, Graham Hukins, commented “Rails & Ales Gala promises to celebrate both diesel and steam power alike, giving visitors a host of opportunities to see and ride on the wide variety of the trains that will be running. Variety is also the keyword when it comes to the “Ales” part of the event as we celebrate Norfolk talent both in terms of the breweries represented and the music throughout the weekend.”
