PoppyLine compartment- based comeback servicesawinner
LNER B12 4- 6- 0No. 8572 led the North Norfolk Railway’s returnfromlockdown with summer services fromSheringham to Holt having resumed onWednesday, July 8.
The timetable was restricted to just four trains a day and seats had to be pre- booked, with compartment coaches, includng the line's solesurviving LNER teak articulated Quad- Art set, the order of the day to maximise social distancing.
Bookings had to be for an individual compartment of up to four persons with all journeys starting and finishing at Sheringham. Weybourne station remained closed, while Holt station was only accessible by rail.
The restart came after the railway received a National Lottery Heritage Fund Emergency Fund grant of £ 46,500 towards the reinstatement of services. Managing director Hugh Harkett said that the grant paid for bringing in the right people to get the line, its infrastructure and rolling stock ready. “This entails up front expenditure – a large part of which is personnel at a time when we do not have the spare cash available owing to the lockdown,” he said.
Reawakening
“Weare very pleased to be coming out of our hibernation and running trains again. This is verymuchalimited servicetosee howthings turnout andhowmanypeoplewant to travel on our lovely PoppyLine. Wearealso beingverycautious and ensuring that everyone stays safeand healthy, which iswhyweare puttingeachgroup ( single travellers too) into their very owncompartment. Wearemaintaining two- metresocial distancing andwe aretreating thewhole train inside and out withaspecial spray that combats the coronavirus.”
He said that 80% of the compartments had been booked, although some had only two people in them.“It has gone very, verywell,” he said.
Resources
After the firstweek of services, train were hauled byWD2- 8- 0No. 90775 The RoyalNorfolkRegiment, and theweek after that, by BR Standard4MT2- 6- 0 No. 76084.
The season began with a new stationmaster in charge at Sheringham.
Anne Hadley said: “I love every minute of being part of the Poppy Line. After spending 40 years as a dental hygienist, I decided to give it up to do something completely different. I have been told there are not many women who become stationmasters.”
Despite the restart, the railway has cancelled its hugely- popular 1940s weekend on September 19/ 20. Attracting around 40,000 visitors, it had been held for the past 25 years and brings welcome late season income not only to the railway, but also to the town of Sheringham.
However, the October 3/ 4 Everything Runs gala is still being advertised.
➜ Tickets for theNNRcan be booked atwww. nnrailway. co. uk