As the miniature engine chugged through Eaton Park once more on Easter Sunday, an historic railway tradition was revived.

On Sunday, April 1, the new season opened at the miniature railway and visitors were greeted with a style of railway ticket that largely vanished from Norwich in the 1970s.

Named after its inventor Thomas Edmondson, the Edmondson ticket was an iconic feature of railway journeys for over a century before being displaced by early electronic systems in the 1980s.

The very first ticket was to the Lord Mayor of Norwich and over 450 people came along to ride on the miniature railway on its first day of the 2018 season.

Barry Fane, Chairman of the Norwich & District Society of Model Engineers who own Eaton Park Miniature railway, said: 'We were fortunate in that the foul weather held off until mid-afternoon, giving people a chance to enjoy a ride on two steam trains and a diesel.'

Eastern Daily Press: The Lord Mayor, David Fullman, receives the first ticket for 2018 for the Eaton Park miniature railway. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThe Lord Mayor, David Fullman, receives the first ticket for 2018 for the Eaton Park miniature railway. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Mark Rhodes, publicity officer for the Society, said: 'It looks like our new, retro, ticket system was a great success with the visitors. We hope people will keep these as souvenirs of a memorable day.'

The railway will continue to operate on Sundays until the end of September and will be running a special day for EACH on Mayday Bank Holiday.