Tanks and tankards attract thousands to Mid Norfolk Railway
The Dereham Music and Beer Festival at the Mid-Norfolk Railway. Pictured is Claire Bolster. Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: Ian Burt
Thousands flocked to a real ale and steam festival in the heart of Norfolk.
The event, at Dereham Station, boasted four locomotives, 35 ales and 17 ciders.
'Over the last four days we've had about 4,000 visitors,' said general manager George Saville. 'Slightly more than we were expecting.
'The beer festival goes from strength to strength, it's in its fifth year here, it's the first time we've tried having a steam event at the same time.'
Three pannier tank engines from the former Great Western Railway hauled trains along the 14-mile restored railway between Dereham and Wymondham.
'If Dereham had been on the Great Western, it's the sort of engine you would have expected to see here,' explained Mr Saville.
They were joined by Metropolitan Number One, which pulled the last steam train on the London Underground in 1961.
Most Read
- 1 Every household in the UK to get £400 to help with rising energy bills
- 2 M&S to close 32 stores as part of move away from town centres
- 3 Where you can see the Red Arrows over Norfolk this weekend
- 4 Man dies of collapsed lung after 'busy' hospital meant x-ray was missed
- 5 Explained: What the cost of living support package means for you
- 6 WATCH: 'Unplayable' delivery from Suffolk bowler goes viral
- 7 8 places where you can see fireworks for free in Norfolk for the jubilee
- 8 Neighbours shock at ‘unexplained’ sudden death of woman
- 9 'It is a cash cow' - vicar's warning after being slapped with parking fine
- 10 Rollesby mum shares heartbreak after death of her seven-year-old daughter
Beers from the pannier tanks' former stamping ground were well-represented - along with brews from as far afield as Scotland. By last night, more than 3,500 pints had been sunk by enthusiastic visitors to the station.