Visitors to the Mid Norfolk Railway on Sunday, 22nd March, can experience a taste of recent West Country railway history with a journey on a former Great Western Railway (GWR) high-speed train (HST).

The HST, now owned by the ROMIC Group, moved to Dereham Station on the Mid Norfolk Railway from the GWR’s depot at Laira in Plymouth. The ROMIC Group is a specialist railway company, with a base at the Mid Norfolk Railway’s yard at Dereham. It is mainly concerned with the procurement and sale of new and used locomotives and rolling stock, most recently purchasing redundant HSTs and then exporting them to Nigeria and Mexico. The group also maintains an HST set and two Class 20s for hire in the UK.

On Sunday, 22nd March, the HST will operate services between Dereham and Wymondham, and will include an in-train trolley service, similar to what was once a familiar sight when these units were in use by GWR. The unit will be a cut-down version of a full-length HST, known as a ‘Castle’ set, which was used by the GWR for secondary mainline services in southwest England after their replacement by IETs on services between Penzance and Paddington.

Further information and booking details are online at www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk.

“We are delighted to be able to offer another special HST running day to the MNR following the success of our running day last year. The HST used last year (43094/43122) is now back running on the mainline, and we are really pleased to have been able to acquire one of the last GWR Castle sets. We hope to see it in use for many more years to come, either in the UK or abroad.”

Simon Lowe, ROMIC Group’s Marketing & Hire Manager

“We are extremely grateful to ROMIC for giving us this special opportunity to share with our visitors the experience of travelling on these iconic trains. The HSTs were such an important part of British railway history. I am sure the day will be a great success, and everyone at the railway is looking forward to welcoming our passengers on the day.”

Samantha Tailor, General Manager of the Mid Norfolk Railway