Fakenham and Dereham Railway Society
Encyclopedia
The Fakenham and Dereham Railway Society (F&DRS) was a heritage railway
society in the English county of Norfolk
. For a short period of time it operated County School railway station
as the Wensum Valley Railway. The F&DRS later became the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust, owners and operators of the Mid-Norfolk Railway
.
, the Fakenham and Dereham Railway Society leased Hardingham station and opened a small heritage centre. Track was laid in the former goods yard and a Ruston 0-4-0 diesel locomotive was delivered to the site. Income failed to cover the rent and rates, and the Society was forced to move out when the site was auctioned in 1986 - moving to a temporary location at Yaxham station.
In 1987 the station at County School was purchased by Breckland District Council, and the F&DRS were granted a 999 year lease, invited to lay track and relocate to the site. The intention was to relay track to meet up with the British Rail railhead at North Elmham to connect with charter trains operating over the branch. This plan was abandoned when complete closure of the line from June 1989 was announced.
In April 1989 the Fakenham and Dereham Railway Society became part of the Mid Norfolk Railway Project, along with the Wymondham and Dereham Rail Action Committee, the Dereham Society and the Wymondham Heritage Society. The MNRP, an alliance of independent bodies intererested in the future of the line, was established to focus interest in the preservation of the route. During the following 18 months this alliance evolved into a single body, with WyDRAC members being assimilated into the F&DRS, and the latter voting to change its name to be the Mid Norfolk Railway Society in November 1989.
The station building at County School was formally opened by John Timpson
on 15 June 1990, who was brought into the station on a short train consisting of the Ruston diesel and LMS brake van.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
society in the English county of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. For a short period of time it operated County School railway station
County School railway station
County School is a railway station approximately one mile north of the village of North Elmham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is part of a line being gradually restored by the Mid-Norfolk Railway from East Dereham to Fakenham.-History:...
as the Wensum Valley Railway. The F&DRS later became the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust, owners and operators of the Mid-Norfolk Railway
Mid-Norfolk Railway
The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway....
.
History
In 1983, after a 1980 attempt to preserve the Ryburgh to Fakenham section of the Wymondham to Wells branchWymondham to Wells branch
The Wymondham to Wells branch was a railway built in stages by the Norfolk Railway and Eastern Counties Railway between 1847 and 1857. The railway ran from Wymondham in the south, through Dereham and Fakenham to the coastal town of Wells-next-the-Sea; more specifically, the line ran from Wymondham...
, the Fakenham and Dereham Railway Society leased Hardingham station and opened a small heritage centre. Track was laid in the former goods yard and a Ruston 0-4-0 diesel locomotive was delivered to the site. Income failed to cover the rent and rates, and the Society was forced to move out when the site was auctioned in 1986 - moving to a temporary location at Yaxham station.
In 1987 the station at County School was purchased by Breckland District Council, and the F&DRS were granted a 999 year lease, invited to lay track and relocate to the site. The intention was to relay track to meet up with the British Rail railhead at North Elmham to connect with charter trains operating over the branch. This plan was abandoned when complete closure of the line from June 1989 was announced.
In April 1989 the Fakenham and Dereham Railway Society became part of the Mid Norfolk Railway Project, along with the Wymondham and Dereham Rail Action Committee, the Dereham Society and the Wymondham Heritage Society. The MNRP, an alliance of independent bodies intererested in the future of the line, was established to focus interest in the preservation of the route. During the following 18 months this alliance evolved into a single body, with WyDRAC members being assimilated into the F&DRS, and the latter voting to change its name to be the Mid Norfolk Railway Society in November 1989.
The station building at County School was formally opened by John Timpson
John Timpson
John Harry Robert Timpson OBE, , born in Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex, was a British journalist, best known as a radio presenter. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, a boys' independent school in Northwood, London....
on 15 June 1990, who was brought into the station on a short train consisting of the Ruston diesel and LMS brake van.
Diesel locomotives and shunters
| Number & Name | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 'County School' | Ruston Ruston (engine builder) Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and also of steam shovels. Other products included cars, steam... 0-4-0 |
To Mid-Norfolk Railway Mid-Norfolk Railway The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway.... , now Bressingham Steam Museum. |
Carriages
| Built for | Number | Type | Designation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Railways | 9393 | Mk2a | BSO | Vacuum Brake, converted as DBSO To Lincolnshire Wolds Railway Lincolnshire Wolds Railway The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway is a heritage railway based at Ludborough station, near Grimsby in Lincolnshire, England and the only standard gauge steam railway in Lincolnshire open to the public. The line is part of the original Great Northern Railway , a rail system that opened in 1848 and once... |
| 94869 | - | CCT(Y) | Vacuum Brake To Elsecar Railway |
Goods stock
| Built for | Number | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMS | DM 731920 | 20t brake van | Built 1945 to lot 1387. To Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway The Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway is a heritage railway operated by the Rushden Historical Transport Society in the United Kingdom. The aim is to re-open the ex-Midland Railway branch line from Wellingborough to Higham Ferrers, which had been closed completely in November 1969. At... . |