The Mid-Norfolk Railway is a preserved railway line in Norfolk, running from Wymondham to Dereham. It makes a great day out for families and rail enthusiasts.
The company has aspirations to extend the line and has relaid the line northwards to the village of North Elmham, and it also has a visitor attraction at County School station a few miles further north. At over 17 miles, it is one of the longest preserved lines in the UK, although regular train services operate only on the 11-mile Wymondham to Dereham section.
The line orginally ran from Wymondham to Wells-next-the-Sea via Dereham and Fakenham, and opened as far as Dereham in 1847, being extended to Fakenham in 1849 and Wells in 1857. As with many other lines, the decline of traffic after World War II led to the section from Dereham to Wells being closed to passengers in 1964, and from Wymondham to Dereham in 1969, though the line remained open for freight until 1981. Various attempts were made to reopen the line, resulting in the establishment of the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust in 1995. Passenger services between Wymondham and Dereham commenced in 1999; the long-term aim is restore the line as fas as Fakenham.
The railway is now run as a tourist attraction, with regular steam and heritage diesel services, geared around school holidays, and regular special events, the most popular of which are the "Polar Express" specials for children at Christmas. They are also available for weddings and other private events. Great care has been taken to recreate the steam-era atmosphere, with appropriate signs, old luggage trolleys etc. Unlike some other heritage lines, the resident stock of steam locomotives is more limited, so they are provided on a periodic basis from other preserved lines.
The main station is Dereham, where there is a museum about the line, buffet and small shop, and a large car park. It also has level access and a wheelchair-friendly toilet. The facilities at Wymondham are more basic, with just a ticket office and platform (though it is fun to watch the steam engines run around the train here, which involves them going across and old-fashioned gated level crossing). Wymondham has level access (albeit with a steep sloped ramp) but only a temporary 'portaloo' toilet. Further details are provided on the website. read more