Full steam ahead for a nostalgic weekend
Trains on the Dereham to Wells line. - Credit: Submitted
Fifty years since the last train chugged down the tracks, steam billowing out behind it, there is a chance to relive the glory days of steam power.
Places -- W / Transport -- TrainsA slice of railway nostalgia -- and a large dollop of poetic licence from the photographer. Alec Tuck was pictured apparently putting his back into operating the former Wells station turntable. But things are not quite what they seem in this evocative photo. His brother later pointed out that the shot was clearly posed as the engine had already been turned ready to roll backwards to the engine shed. Another give-away was the image of engine driver Bill Chapman, with his back to camera looking rather less than concerned while his fireman did the work. Alec, who has since died, was a member of a true railway family. His father Ted, was the last driver in charge of the Wells loco department, while brother John was a railway clerk and another brother Geoffrey also worked as a fireman.Photograph and caption used in EDP "North Norfolk Images" book, published in 1998Dated -- Mid 1950sPhotograph -- C6441 - Credit: Archant
The Mid Norfolk Railway will commemorate the end of the Dereham to Wells line this weekend with a coach and train trip.
Passengers will take a tour to some of the stations that would have been on the line including County School, Ryburgh and Fakenham before taking the train line from Walsingham to Wells.
There will also be talks from former staff who worked along the line.
The event is being organised by railway volunteers Rosemary and Alan Cooper.
Transport - TrainsLangor Bridge signal box near Fakenham in 1959. It still sits alongside the A1067 road and is one of the few surviving faces of the railway in the area.Dated 1959Photograph C10649 - Credit: Archant
Mrs Cooper said: 'We have held events like this before and they have been very popular.
'Most of the people who are going on the coach trip have worked on the line or remember it from when they were younger.
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'Some people are just interested in it.
'There are probably some people who might have gone to school by train, 1964 is not that long ago.'
Mr Cooper said: 'We will go from Dereham to Walsingham station by coach stopping at most of the stations on the way. There will be places that you don't normally get to see.
'We will have a look round Walsingham station before getting on the train up to Wells.'
The line opened in two stages with it first heading from Dereham to Fakenham on March 20 1849 before the track was extended up to Wells in 1857.
Originally the lines were run by individual companies before they were merged into part of the Eastern Counties Railway and later the Great Eastern Railway.
Historic photographs will also be on display back at the Mid Norfolk Railway's headquarters in Dereham.
Tickets for the trip cost £30 and can be booked by calling the Mid Norfolk Railway on 01362690633 or 01362851723.
Do you have memories of the Dereham to Wells railway? Write to dft.letters@archant.co.uk, giving your name, address and contact details.
