Members of the Mid-Norfolk Railway were on hand to welcome home to the railway, resident steam engine 80078, British Railways Standard Class 4MT. The engine has been away on its travels over the winter and will now soon resume service hauling trains on the railway.
80078 returns to the railway following service over the Christmas period at the Swanage Railway in Dorset, winter maintenance and then most recently a guest spell on the Epping and Ongar Railway.
“I am pleased to see 80078 back at the Mid Norfolk Railway after its recent travels and together with the rest of the railways steam crews, we are all looking forward to once again working the engine during this summer’s steam service”. Stewart Robinson Mid-Norfolk Railway's Honorary Vice President and Owner of 80078
80078 will be rostered to haul trains from Dereham to Wymondham Abbey station once the current track work is completed by next month on the Blue Steam Timetable that will run at most weekends during the school holidays.
In the meantime, the engine will go back into service on the current service to Thuxton and return. A 10-mile round trip that gives passengers the opportunity to see the new station buildings that are nearing completion and the signal box.
“We are all pleased to see 80078 back at the railway and we are all looking forward to the summer holiday period when we will see steam trains once again travelling through the beautiful Norfolk countryside from Dereham to Wymondham”. Charlie Robinson, Chairman Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust
The railway’s popular evening ‘Breckland Fryer’ fish and chip trains and afternoon tea specials will also be steam hauled, and the ‘Kids Go Free’ family tickets that was successfully introduced in 2021 will again be on sale. These tickets will be available for all standard running days but do not include special events or special trains.
Further details of events and timetables are available on the railway’s website at www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk
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