NORTH NORFOLK TO HOLD SOMERSET & DORSET EVENT
Members of the North Norfolk Railway’s home fleet will come together on August 3/4 for a special Somerset & Dorset-themed event.
Organised by the Friends of Black Prince, the support group for the NNR’s ‘9F’ No. 92203, the gala is expected to feature the Riddles 2-10-0, BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 No. 76084 and ‘7F’ 2-8-0 No. 53809, which returned to service on November 22 after repairs to its cylinders and motion. These were the S&D veteran’s first trains over the NNR since it arrived from Minehead in January 2018.
Since arriving at Weybourne, it was discovered that the 2-8-0’s cylinders were out of alignment at the connecting rod end, believed to be a legacy of its fatal accident on November 20 1929 when its crew were overcome by fumes in Combe Down Tunnel. Then numbered 89, it ran away and crashed into Bath Green Park goods yard, killing the driver – Henry Jennings – and two railway workers.
It is hoped that former Bath Green Park Fireman Peter Smith will attend the gala, along with S&D photographer Ivo Peters’ Bentley. There will also be an exhibition of Ivo’s works.