Trains running again at County School!
TRAIN rides are being offered at the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s isolated County School outpost every Sunday until the end of August.
In 2019, the MNR entered an agreement with the North Norfolk Model Engineering Club, which was looking to relocate its miniature railway from the North Norfolk Railway’s Holt terminus.
The end result is the Wensum Valley Miniature Railway, which runs on dual 3½in and 5in gauge track.
Club chairman Gordon Ford said: “We are grateful to the NNR for giving us a home for 17 years, but we are all excited as we begin a new chapter in our story here at County School station. The move was agreed in 2019 but we paused the project during the Covid-19 pandemic until last year, when work could begin.
“Members are all looking forward to once again being able to run our trains and begin a regular passenger service here at County School.”
The MNR’s County School stationmaster, Richard Cullen, said: “It will be a while yet before the MNR is able to run trains from Dereham to County School station, but while we wait for that day to arrive, lots of work is being done here to create an attraction worthy of a visit.
“The way we have planned this track means that it will not interfere with the full-sized track when that is eventually laid. As from now therefore we have another attraction to add to the popular nature walks, museum, and cafe we already run here.”
Opened in 1886, County School station closed to freight on July 13, 1964 and to passengers on October 5 that year. It is now the northerly end of the MNR-owned trackbed and its cafe and museum are open, weather permitting, from noon to 3pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until September. MNR working members meet on Wednesdays and Sundays to maintain facilities and prepare for the eventual reinstatement of the line south to North Elmham that will allow a regular service to once again run. Volunteers are invited; more details can be found at www. midnorfolkrailway.co.uk/volunteering
The NNMEC holds regular meeting at High Kelling village hall on the first Friday of the month, and has a working party at County School on most Thursdays and when not running on Sundays as well. More details can be found on the club’s Facebook page.