Bressingham celebrates 60th anniversary

Norfolk museum’s Garden Railway was first to open.

BRESSINGHAM Steam Museum in Norfolk is marking the diamond jubilee of the late Alan Bloom starting his collection of rail, road and fairground steam engines. A big steam event is set for September 18/19, with trains running on the various gauge railways.

The first railway opened to the public was the 9½in gauge Garden Railway. This was regauged to 10¼in and extended in 1995, and runs for 1350yd (1230m) along the perimeter of the gardens from the Dell Garden to the coach park.

Construction of a new locomotive was started by Paul Gray, which was completed in Bressingham’s workshops in 1995. Named Alan Bloom in honour of the museum’s founder, it is a scaled-down version of ‘Large Quarry’ Hunslet George Sholto.

JAMES HAMILTON The only loco used on Bressingham’s 10¼in gauge Garden Railway is 0-4-0ST+T Alan Bloom, which hauls a three-carriage train. It is seen during the June 26/27 steam rally.