Next month's Autumn Showcase weekend at the North Norfolk Railway will see the last event appearance of British Railways Standard 4MT No 76084 before its withdrawal for overhaul and the debut of Class 104 Driving Trailer M56182 after its restoration.
The event on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 October will feature up to six locomotives and the Class 104 DMU. They will operate a frequent service with many historic rail vehicles in the care of the North Norfolk Railway and the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society.
Another attraction will be The event will see Great Eastern steam locomotive Y14 Class 0-6-0 No 564, which is the line's oldest working locomotive. It was built to a Victorian design in 1912 and will be hauling a train of unique four- and six-wheeled 19th-century carriages.
There will also be a rare chance to travel in the sole-surviving “Quad-Art” set, which dates from the 1920s that has been restored to near-original condition and is only used on a few days each year. Its unique design provided maximum capacity for commuter services from Moorgate.
Two 08 diesel shunters, D3635 and D3940, owned by the Midland & Great Northern Society will make a rare appearance hauling passenger trains when they will double head along the line's full 5½ mile length. This will be the first time that D3940 has hauled a passenger train to Holt after an extensive overhaul and returning to service last year.
Class 104s were once a common sight at Sheringham working trains to Cromer and Norwich, so Driving Trailer M56182 is sure to prove popular. It was withdrawn from passenger service in 1987 and has recently returned to service after a nine-year restoration.
Completing the Showcase line-up will be 9F Class 2-10-0 No. 92203 Black Prince and Class 31 diesel locomotive No. D5631.
Each day from 9.30 am there will be a frequent service of passenger trains between Sheringham and Holt, demonstration goods trains that will recreate the days when many railways looked upon goods traffic as more important than passengers.
At Weybourne, the locomotive and carriage & wagon works will be open for viewing, and visitors can join a guided tour of the sheds in return for a small donation.
The Reedham Junction signal box at Holt, which dates from 1904 and was moved to Holt last year after being saved for preservation will be open for public viewing for the first time so that visitors can see how restoration is progressing.
Further information about the showcase and booking details can be found at www.nnrailway.co.uk/autumn-showcase/.
After the Showcase, steam and heritage diesel services operate on weekends, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays until 29 October, followed by the Norfolk Lights Express and Santa Specials in November and December. Full details of the dates and times of these can be found at www.nnrailway.co.uk.
Commercial Manager, Graham Hukins, commented “The event will showcase the variety of locomotives, carriages and wagons on the line giving visitors a chance to experience contrasting trains and some unusual workings.”
It’s a shame that 76084 only worked two railtours during the time it had a mainline ticket, I’m glad though to have got atleast one trip behind her on the mainline when she double headed with 45690 Leander on “The Buxton Spa Express”. I really do hope though that after the next overhaul is completed that she does once again get a mainline ticket, but I hope that if she does return to the mainline she gets better use next time. Even if running double headed she should be used for some railtour work.
Days are wrong in article Saturday is 7th and Sunday is 8th October 2023. Members weekend/autumn showcase
Thanks Carole,
We have corrected this, the info supplied by the NNR had the wrong dates unfortunately
The truth is that 76084 will not be withdrawn until 24th December when it’s “ticket ” runs out.