North Norfolk Railway "That's Yer Lot" M&GN 50

Owen · North Norfolk Railway "That's Yer Lot" M&GN 50

This is an event not to be missed. The event will be spread across two weekends, from the 27th February - 1st March and on the 7th and 8th March on the second. The event is being sponsored by Steam Railway and is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the closure of the M&GN system throughout East Anglia. So far, there will be eight locomotives in steam, along with the lovely Quad Art set and demonstration freight/breakdown train.

The list, at the moment is as follows.

Visiting Engines:
- LNER B1 4-6-0 1306
- BR 4MT 2-6-0 76079
- BR 2MT 2-6-0 78019
- Midland 4F 0-6-0 44422
- L&Y 0-6-0 1300

Plus three of the Home Fleet:
- WD 2-10-0 90775
- GER N7 0-6-2T 69621
- GER J15 0-6-0 65462

I think it will be THE event of the year, don't miss it!
http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/steam_gala.htm

Bramleyman

Thanks for advance notice Owen. I MUST try to get there on one of the Saturdays because I am otherwise engaged most Sundays these days.

Mr M&GN

Members get massive discount

Owen

Just to give an update on the Gala, here is the poster for the event:

As the poster says, the eight steam engines in steam are:

B1 4-6-0 1306 Mayflower

Riley's 2-6-0 4MT 76079 "Pocket Rocket"

Midland/LMS 0-6-0 4F 44422

Lancashire and Yorkshire 0-6-0 A Class 1300

BR 2-6-0 2MT 78019

Plus

WD 2-10-0 90775

[size=55]Ben Boggis[/size]

GER N7 0-6-2T 69621

[size=55]Alex Fowles[/size]

GER J15 0-6-0 65462

[size=55]Dave Ballard[/size]

And the
Award Winning Gresely Quad-Articulated Set

"Demolition Train"/Demonstration Freight Train

Thanks,
Owen

Mr M&GN

Ill see if I can go on the Sheringham to Whitwell to Norwich city bus tour.

Bramleyman

Subject to what each of us is doing on these dates, it might be nice to arrange a Forum Meet there and on a date convenient to us all? I will leave to you guys, but will understand if you decline the decision. Either way, it would be nice to support at least one of the Local Heritage Lines during current circumstances. Either way, when I am there, you wont miss me because I will wear Bramley Line merchandise and normally a Fleece and Baseball Cap with a Union Jack badge on it.

Owen

That's a plan for the future possibly. I will be working quite a bit over the gala but should get a day in at some point to enjoy it all. The sheds will be open for 24 hours from the Thursday night to the Monday Morning on the first weekend and the Friday Afternoon to the Monday Morning on the second weekend as all the engines will be kept in steam during the gala. Five Days of Gala with another two preparing and disposing the weekend's actions!

I'm hoping to get some photos over the Friday night in the sheds as I'd like to do a night shift, but there is a public photo shoot on the Saturday Night. On the Monday and Tuesday there are two booked photo charters with the 4F.

Owen

Owen

Just to add, there is now some more information on the gala.

To satisfy bus enthusiasts, a Rail Replacement bus service will be in operation between Sheringham and Holt - three examples will run over the five days, typical of those that began running on the 1st March and thereafter. They will be coming from the East Anglian Transport museum and are:

LS789, (5789 AH) a 1959 ex Eastern Counties Bristol MW5G with 43 seat coach body by ECW.
LKD229 (OVF 229) a 1954 ex Eastern Counties Bristol LD5G Lodekka with a 58 seat double deck bus body by ECW.
LL718 (KNG 718) a 1950 ex - Eastern Counties LL5G Bristol Single Decker with a 39 seat bus body by ECW.

On the Saturday of the first weekend, Weybourne Sheds will also be open to the photographers amongst us, and for the grand total of £1, you can look round and photograph inside the sheds from 19.00 on Saturday evening through to 01.00 on Sunday morning, during which time there will be a minimum of two locomotives on shed at any point - more will probably move inside as the evening draws in. The proceeds from the shoot will go towards moving and improving the staff and volunteer mess room into a new building.

Fares are also online now, visit the Steam Gala page on the NNR website for more information - discounts are available for early booking!

Thanks,
Owen

Bramleyman

Thanks Owen. I will be telling the guys at Model Railway Club about all this, because even though some do come over there, they haven't mentioned it.

Owen

Spread the word, it'll be a winner! Cool

BTW, Vintage Bus tour info is now up on the NNR Gala page Idea

Bramleyman

kieranhardy

Is certainly looking like a cracking gala. I've yet to see 1306 in the flesh, and i havent seen 76079 in steam before. Very much looking forward to seeing the B1 paired up with the Quads and will hopefully make a visit for one of the weekends.

Bramleyman

Owen, I spoke to a couple of the Bramley Line guys this morning and we agreed to try to make a trip to see and Support it. If you are there and get even 2 minutes, please speak, but if I don't see you, I will understand.

Owen

Mr M&GN

I hoping to do my first photo charter on the NNR in March with the pocket rocket, looking forward 2 that

Owen

Just to add, further details regarding the freight train have been added to the Steam Gala page.

Details of the special Dining Train are also on the site.

kieranhardy

Excellent,

Great news about the goods train making a re-appearance. And the price of that dining train isnt too bad. First class menu looks a bit high market for me though!

kieranhardy

Timetables are now uploaded:

http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/

Owen

For the Steam Railway readers amongst us, there have been a number of articles in the latest issue which came out on Friday on the M&GN, the Gala and the events taking place over this weekend. Readers can also get £1 off Gala Tickets with the Mag.

A basic timetable for the Gala is now available on the website, as is the 20 Page, Full Colour Souvenir Programme which contains a full timetable on the Gala with details on locomotives and movements. More details can be found here .

For those of you in the area on Wednesday the 11th February, don't miss a very special occasion when Midland 4F 44422 will spend the day at Melton Constable, to reunite the engine, which used to run the length of the M&GN, with the former Locomotive and Carriage and Wagon works in the town. The locomotive is expected to arrive at around 12 noon. Further details on this FREE event can be found here.

Goods Training also took place on Sunday 8th Feb to test the Steam Crane. The demolition train will be running throughout the weekend - further details on the times it will run are also available in the souvenir programme.

With the Gala only two weeks away, It really is an event not to be missed!

Cheers,
Owen

Bramleyman

While doing my Best to attend, it now looks unlikely because my Partner is to go in Hospital Very soon for either an operation, or a camera to be used, as she has literally just this last two weeks ago, been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer and I feel my duty lies with supporting her first and foremost, as much as I have been looking forward to this event.

kieranhardy

I'm sorry to hear that "Bramleyman" (sorry don't know your real name!)

I hope she makes a full recovery asap. Smile

kieranhardy

I've posted this on another forum, but just in case people arn't signed up to it, i'll copy it across.

Just a word of warning to anyone travelling by train to get there for the first weekend if they dont already know,

There arn't any trains between Shenfield & Manningtree on the Sunday (not sure about the Saturday, but i would guess it's the same situation for then too) , and there is only a 2 hourly service from Sheringham, resulting in giving me only one connection i could make to get home on the Sunday and that was apparently at 11:43. Somewhat pointless going to the gala if i have to go at that time. This almost shattered my plans of being able to make it but i have found an alternative way to go. Does Network rail not bother checking if there are big events on in the area? And why can't National Express put on suitable rail replacement services... was under the impression they ran coach services. Rolling Eyes

Bramleyman

kieranhardy

The 4F is now inside Weybourne shed. B1 No. 1306 "Mayflower" & Standard 2MT No. 78019 are due to arrive at the NNR sometime this week.

Owen

Sorry to hear your wife has fallen ill, cancer is a foul disease. I hope it has been picked up quick enough and makes a full recovery Smile

I've been down at Weybourne for the past few days around the sheds doing bits and bobs in preparation for the Gala. Lots of bits going on. As Kieron says, the B1 is here (Facing Sheringham) and so is the 4F. I have heard the 2MT came this evening.

The WD and J15 are undergoing Steam Tests. The Glands on the J15 are leaking but will not be hard to fix, the WD just needs running in and if all was to plan, they'll have taken her for a spin along the line today.

Only four days till the Gala! In the meantime, here are some photos!

(Very Grubby WD - weathering this was lots of fun, although we ended up weathering ourselves more than the damn engine! Today's rain should have it looking absolutely disgusting by Saturday!)

I also peeked into the C&W shed, the Quads look stunning to say the least, as does M&GN 129 which will also feature in the Gala. This is just one of the hundreds of numbers on Set.74:

Cheers,
Owen

Bramleyman

Thank you for the photo's Owen and on Behalf of the Bramley Line, Good Luck for two successful weekends. I know of a number of people definately coming over, with one couple doing it twice. All being well, I will get there to enjoy the atmosphere and ride on one particular bus.

kieranhardy

Some of my shots of the great weekend.

Shame the weather wasn't as kind as it has been in the past!

The rest can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kieranhardy/

&

http://kieranhardy.fotopic.net/

Cheers,

Bramleyman

Unfortunately, I had to miss out in the end, but all reports I've heard so far have been Very Good.

Owen

I did see someone walking around with what looked like a Bramleyline shirt on, but I was on a mission and didn't have time to stop and chat. More of the same next weekend, so I'll be around again.

Shots from Friday & Saturday Day/Night are now on my site -

www.owensrailwayphotographs.fotopic.net

(More of the same on the site)
Cheers,
Owen

Bramleyman

Thanks Owen, but I won't know until tomorrow as to whether or not I can make this weekend. It all depends on what news my Partner and I get at the hospital.

LNERGE

I had a day out to the NNR today. A thoroughly enjoyable day and i was asked to assist with a track circuit fault at Sherringham that got the old grey matter working. Well done to the guys at Holt for their work with the signalbox. I hope they didn't think i was too harsh with my inspection.

Bramleyman