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North Norfolk Railway Thomas Weekend 04/05/2013

On Saturday 4th May 2013, I went to sheringam to photograph the J15's final weekend in service.

My day started off with me boarding 156 409 on the 08:50 Service from Lowestoft to Norwich, I boarded this to Norwich, where upon arrival an announcement was made to stay on the train for sheringham, however, I made the decision to get off quickly for a photograph of the unit at Norwich.

156 409 at Norwich

After re-boarding the train, which by this point was filling up very well, I found myself stuck in an airline seat with little leg room to make myself comfortable, so I settled down for the long run to sheringham.

Once we arrived at cromer, a table infront of me became free, and so I quickly grabbed this for the run to sheringham.

156 409 at Sheringham.

I then crossed the road and headed to the NNR station's booking office where I enquired as to whether or not the J15 was running on this day, I was told it was, but I had missed it just half an hour ago, so I picked up a timetable and headed to the platform.

The Class 101 DMU shortly arrived from Holt, below are some photos of it arriving into the station.

The Class 101 passes some coaches entering the station

The DMU passes under the road bridge.

Next, Having photographed the DMU comming in, I set of on a walk to Sheringham golf course level crossing, I passed Sheringham East signal box, which was involved in a fire recently and got a photo of this.

The back of Sheringham East signal box

 After a 5 minute walk, I arrived at the level crossing, and got ready to photograph the DMU on it's way to Holt, below is a photo of it at the level crossing.

The DMU having just passed the level crossing.

I then walked back to the station, where there was a little diesel shunter making runs up and down the platform disguised as Toby, this was making the runs.

The diesel shunter posing as Toby in platform 2

After about half an hour looking around Sheringham, the J15 arrived from Holt, so I went and photographed it with it face on posing for the event.

The J15 at Sheringham

I next headed back up to the golf course level crossing and once again set up position ready to capture the J15, shortly after, the J15 promptly arrived and I photographed it over the level crossing, photographs of which are below.

The J15 running round prior to departure.

The J15 approaches the Level Crossing with the 12:00 Departure for Holt.

Once again, I headed back to Sheringham and then waited for the DMU to arrive from Holt, I once again phtotographed this before meeting up with fellow spotter Reg Ward, we then chatted a little before he boarded the next bus back to Norwich.

Shortly after the heavens opened and it began to poor with rain, so I stood under the platform canopy with all the others, and then headed over to the ralway station to board the next service back to Norwich, this was formed of two class 153's. these were 153 306, and 153 314, below are pictures of these two,

153 306 at Sheringham

153 314 at Sheringham

I sat in 314 with a table and bay of four seats to myself, this was my seat back to Norwich. I arrived back at Norwich and decided to stay for a while, so I took a quick walk to make sure I was alright to photograph the trains and then headed back to do some photography.

156 422 at Norwich awaits passengers

158 770 stands at Norwich prior to departure.

90 008 Stands at the London End of platform 1

156 422 departs |Norwich

158 770 departs Norwich

90 013 stands at the head of a departure for London.

47 818 at the south end of the DMU replacement consist.

158 856 is prepared for departure

170 270 is seen awaiting departure

156 422 is seen having recently arrived

90 015 is seen  here at Norwich

170 206 awaits departure to Lowestoft

170 206 is seen having recently arrived from Lowestoft

East Anglia Transport Museum Presents: East Suffolk light railway gala

This sunday the East Anglia transport museum's 2ft gauge railway celebrates 40 years since opening to the general public, with two visiting loco's from the Yaxham light railway, and a free bus service to lowestoft, for details please visit our website or facebook page.

Website
Facebook page

Andy's Bus Blog

Just a quick post to promote another blog: Andy's Bus Blog, this is a local bus blog covering all of east anglia and a bit further afield, it is now in the 3rd year, and is still gaining support, so please go give it a read. http://andysbusblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Class 156's at Lowestoft 03/05/2013

Went down to Lowestoft railway station on Friday to buy tickets for my trip the next day (Report to follow soon), I waited for half an hour in the hope the Class 47's might turn up, but yet again, I was disappointed as two 156's turned up.

Newly refurbished 156 402 Turned up first before heading to Ipswich with the 16:07

A shot showing the entire unit and the semaphore signals at the end of the platform at Lowestoft.

156 407 and 156 402 together before working services to their respected destinations.

156 407 is seen departing with the 15:50 service to Norwich

156 402 is prepared for departure

The crew of 156 402 prepare for the departure with the 16:07 service to Ipswich

Thomas returns to Sheringham

This comming weekend (4th to 6th May) the North Norfolk Railway is scheduled to host a Thomas the tank engine weekend, tickets can be brought online here: www.dayoutwiththomas.co.uk/section.php/52/1/north-norfolk-railway It is thought that this will be the NNR's J15's last 3 running dates before withdrawal for overhaul.

153's at Lowestoft

Went down to Lowestoft Railway station this afternoon to see if the Class 47's would turn up, as you can probably guess from the title of the post, they didn't, however, I did get photo's of the two class 153's that were in use.

153 322 is seen at Lowestoft

Shortly after I arrived, 153 309 arrived, and lined up with 153 322

A shot of the other end of the two units.

153 309 prepares for departure to Norwich

153 309 departs for Norwich

153 322 looks on as 153 309 departs under the semaphores for Norwich.

Greater Anglia Stock Shortage

Greater Anglia are having DMU problems which means that they have hired in two class 47's to run top and tail with two Mk3's and a DVT in the following formation (Norwich) 47, DVT, Mk3, Mk3, 47 (Lowestoft)

I will try and get some photo's of these over the coming weeks.

North Norfolk Railway's March Steam Gala 2013 16th March 2013

Here is the delayed report on the north norfolk railway's steam gala in 2013

In the build up to this event, it suffered from several locomotive withdrawals, then on the second day of the gala, Saturday 9th March, a low speed accident occured between 70000 Britannia and 78019, which resulted in both locomotives being withdrawn from the gala, however a replacement locomotive was sourced in the form of 4953 Pitchford Hall.

I visited the railway on Saturday 16th March 2013.

As I arrived at Holt, 4953 was running round to double head with prairie tank no 4141 non-stop to sheringham.

4953 seen running round at Holt.

When I arrived at Sheringham, I took some photo's of both loco's together,

4953 and 4141 at Sherringham

Next, I crossed over to Platform 2 and boarded the Quad-Art's to Weybourne behind 80072, here it waited to pass two trains, the first train was hauled by Black Prince to Weybourne where the J15 was attached and double headed to Sheringham.

80072 is seen with the rear coach of the Sheringham train in the other platform.

80072 Seen poking out under the bridge at Weybourne

80072 seen at Weybourne from the opposite platform

The train is seen at Weybourne from the footbridge

I then boarded the Class 31 Diesel D5631 at Weybourne to Sheringham, The J15 then took the train in the opposite platform out, the diesel was detached and Black Prince ran round the train to take it to Holt.

The J15, taken through the window from the other Train.

Black Prince waiting patiently in the platform to run round, while the diesel is detached.

Black Prince Runs Round.

At Weybourne, we stayed on the train which passed 4141 running southbound.

4141 leaves a nice trail of exhaust as it enters Weybourne

 

The Tokens are exchanged between signalmen and Crew.

We then continued on to Holt, where we took a look around the Museum, and the Model railway.

Wissington was about hauling the goods train.

Black Prince stands at Holt after a good run from Sheringham

We then got back on board the train back to Weybourne with Black Prince in charge. We left the train at weybourne, and then changed onto 80072's train to Holt.

Black Prince waits for the arrival of 80072.

80072 pulls into the platform at Weybourne

The Two engines pass.

On arrival at Holt, the J15 was noted in the other platform ready to depart, and the Class 31 Diesel was run onto the train ready to haul it down to Sheringham.

The Class 31 Running onto the train

The J15 departs.

I then took the Diesel's train as far as Weybourne where I disembarked and waited for Wissington to come through with the goods, Black Prince was hauling the train scheduled to pass both the diesel and the Goods Here.

Black Prince Storms past the Home Signal

Black Prince Slowing down to Enter Weybourne

Black Prince is framed nicely by the bridge at weybourne

Wissington Arrives from Holt with the goods.

Wissington is seen through Black Prince's Steam.

 Once I had photographed the freight, I crossed the footbridge and boarded Black Prince's Train back to  Holt. On arrival at Holt, Pitchford Hall was ready to depart, having relieved 4141 off it's train, once this had left, 4141 ran round, and went to hook onto the train, meanwhile, Black Prince had been uncoupled and was also running round resulting in the two loco's passing each other while running round.

4141 in Platform 1 at Holt.

4141 Runs towards it carriages in Platform 2

Little and Large, Black Prince and 4141 pass each other while running round.

Once 4141 was hooked onto its train, I took it as far as Weybourne, where I boarded the J15 (Which had run E.C.S. with the Quads from sheringham earlier) , which I took from Weybourne to Holt, Holt to Sheringham and then Sheringham to Holt on the last train of the day.

The J15 runs out of the headshunt at Weybourne.

I stayed on board at Holt, and Weybourne, and got out to stretch my legs at Sheringham, I then went and photographed Black Prince leaving, to save paths, 4953 Pitchford Hall was hitching a ride on the back of this back to the Shed at Weybourne.

Black Prince Ready to Depart

Black Prince Lets of steam just before departure.

Black Prince Departs Sheringham With lots of Smoke.

Lots of steam as it slowly builds up speed as it departs

Steam and Smoke goes everywhere as it heads underneath the Road Bridge.

Pitchford Hall on the back of the train.

I then boarded the J15 for the run back to Holt, including a quick stop at weybourne where they cleared us out the way quickly so that everyone could get home, finally we arrived at Holt just as it began to get dark, and managed a decent dark shot of the J15 which I will leave you with.

The J15 runs around at Holt before doing some ECS moving ready for the next days gala.