Steam trains will return to the Mid-Norfolk Railway on Sunday 7th May and the following Coronation Bank Holiday Monday.
The trains, hauled by the British Railways Standard 4 Tank engine, will be a step back in time to the early 1960s with the maroon liveried coaches that would have been a common sight on the region’s railways then. Trains will depart from Dereham station and make a 12 mile round trip through the Norfolk countryside to Thuxton and back.
The newly reopened station buffet will be serving a new menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, including a selection of cakes and savouries made on site, together with a range of hot and cold drinks including fresh barista style coffee. This includes a sit down service in the station tea room.
On the Sunday to celebrate the Coronation, the railway will also be running a Coronation Afternoon Tea train departing at 3.30pm. Tickets are available from the website and passengers will be served their afternoon teas and food at the tables of the open coaches, one of which will the newly repainted Mk 1 Tourist Second Open E 4702. This is a coach that has returned to the region where it originally was used as part of the Liverpool, Norwich service in the 1960s and 70s.
Charlie Robinson, the Chairman of the Mid-Norfolk Railway said: “We would like to invite everyone to come to the railway enjoy a step back in time and celebrate this historic time by enjoying what the railway has to offer”.
The station has extensive free car parking and the popular 'Kids Go Free' promotion with a paying adult will run for standard operating days this year.
Full details of train times tickets and other information are available at the railways website, www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk