GA stock storage leads MNR to cancel diesel plans

The diesel weekend planned for September 28-30 has been cancelled by the Mid-Norfolk Railway.

It was intended for the event to include visiting locomotives working alongside the operational MNR fleet. However, a decision to cancel it has been made, in the wake of a £3 million deal to store Greater Anglia stock on the railway.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the MNR said: “Major infrastructure works started almost as soon as the contract was signed, with deliveries of sleepers, machinery and other materials almost daily and contractors already busy on site. Tracklaying works are about to begin in earnest.

“For safety reasons, the works are carried out under engineering possessions, and a major one is scheduled for the week before our planned gala, meaning that the days we normally have prior to a gala event for intensive preparations won’t be available to us.” Volunteers arranging leave has also been cited for the cancellation. Rescheduling was not an option.

The event has been reduced to a ‘home fleet’ gala on September 29/30. The only operational main line locomotives currently are 47367 and 47596 Aldeburgh Festival.

Harry Needle Railroad Company 20069 and 31255 are not yet operational at the line, while 37003 is undergoing restoration at UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester depot and 50019 Ramilies remains out of use.