It is Norfolk's longest fifteen inch narrow gauge line, running nine miles between Aylsham and Wroxham and for the last half-a-century, has taken visitors and tourists through the picturesque Bure Valley countryside.

The railway is operated by a fleet of five steam and three diesel locomotives and has 18 staff working alongside volunteers as well as volunteer supporting group, The Friends of the Bure Valley Railway.

The BVR celebrated its anniversary milestone at the weekend, with visits from guest trains and activities, including a photo exhibition charting the history of the line from when it was a mainline track.

On Friday all passengers also paid the same fares as when the railway first opened in 1990, adults £5.50, juniors £3.95 and under 5's Free.

When the BVR opened on July 10, 1990 it owned no locomotives of its own and relied on hiring them from the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent, where for many years the locomotives also had to go to be repaired.

The railway has now built up a fleet of purpose built locos but keeps strong ties to its Kent counterpart.

To mark the Norfolk attraction's silver jubilee over the weekend, two visiting engines were on loan from Kent, The Green Goddess and The Winston Churchill, which hauled the very first passenger train on the Bure Valley back in 1990.

Also at the event as were the two men who drove The Winston Churchill when it was used on the Bure Valley Railway, Richard Batten, from Kent, and Derek Walsh, who flew in for the anniversary weekend from the Shetlands.

Mr Batten said: 'It has changed tremendously, it has improved dramatically, especially improvements by the chief engineer, Bob King. The track is excellent and the engines have been improved in terms of power and also economically.'

General manager of the railway, Andrew Barnes said: 'People have come from all over the country to see the Kent locomotives alongside our own. We have also had people come for the first time to share the experience of our past.'

He estimated that over the weekend thousands had attended.

Do you know of a north Norfolk attraction celebrating a milestone? Email tracey.gray@archant.co.uk