‘MIDLAND & GREAT EASTERN’: North Norfolk returns to the steam gala fray
IT WAS a case of ‘Midland in, Eastern out' on September 3-5, as the North Norfolk Railway held its first steam gala in two years.
Somerset & Dorset 7F 2-8-0
No. 53809 had returned to service the weekend prior to the event, following 18 months receiving attention to its spring hangers, while LNER B12 No. 8572 was making its last gala appearance before its impending 10-yearly boiler overhaul. As reported in the previous issue, the Great Eastern-design 4-6-0 is expected to be withdrawn at the end of the NNR's main season in October.
It was the first steam gala on the former Midland & Great Northern Joint line since September 2019. The planned Spring Steam Gala of March 27-29, 2020 was cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, and since then the only gala was a Mixed Traction weekend this July.
There were no visiting locomotives on this occasion, as newly appointed
NNR commercial manager Graham Hukins explained: “We decided at an early stage not to hire in a guest engine – it was just too great a risk.
Six in steam
“When we were drawing up plans, there were still uncertainties around Covid and what we'd be allowed to do. We're still very much in recovery mode, and we're still honouring bookings from last year for dining and Santa trains.
“But we're in the fortunate position of having six home fleet engines, so we can run a really intensive timetable.”
Joining the 7F and B12 were Great Eastern Y14 0-6-0 No. 564, BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76084, 9F No. 92203 Black Prince and WD 2-10-0 No. 90775 The Royal Norfolk Regiment, with the LNER ‘Quad-Art' coaches and a demonstration goods train in use. Double-headed workings included the Somerset & Dorset-style combination of the 7F and No. 76084, and a pairing of Riddles superpower with the 9F and WD.
Graham said afterwards: “The gala was extremely well supported with 2744 passengers carried across the three days, making it one of our most successful galas in recent years. It is a tribute to the engineering and maintenance teams that we were able to field an impressive line-up of six tender locomotives all from the home fleet, and the operating department made great use of them to put on a fantastic show with 12 hours of action each day.
“We are looking forward to the Members' & Shareholders' Day on October 9, which will showcase the collection of our supporting charity, the Midland & Great Northern Society, with the B12 making one of her final appearances and the Victorian train returning to service, having been sidelined during Covid and the initial resumption of services.”