Bure Valley Steam Railway
Whilst up in Norfolk for a few days I persuaded the family to visit a steam railway. The most convenient to visit was the Bure Valley Railway.
Due to some confusion with the satellite navigation system we ended up in a cul-de-sac and missed the lunchtime train from Aylsham. This did however give us two advantages.
The first that we found an excellent cafe and had some lunch and the second that we got to look around the station. Inside the station building was an excellent model railway shop, I no longer have a track but if I did then I’m sure I would have had a field day. There is a wide range of rolling stock, locomotives and railway buildings as well as a selection of books and kids toys.
Whilst wandering around I spotted some old copies of “Model Engineers Workshop” in an unused carriage so I knew this was my kind of place. The lady in the “friends of the railway” shop told us that those were from a model railway fair earlier in the month.
Down the end of the platform was a sign.
“Workshop Open”
So I went down there are peered through the door, the team were grinding what appeared to be the inside of a boiler. It was a bit noisy so I did not have a chance to quiz them. If you click on the image you’ll see it in more detail. You might even spot the flying pig.
Bure Valley is a Narrow Guage railway with a mixture of steam and diesel locomotives. Our engine was No.9 ‘MARK TIMOTHY’.
Mark Timothy did an excellent job of taking us down the 9 mile run to Wroxham where it was turned on the hand operated turn table. Whilst filling up with water the driver showed us the rubber ducks they keep in the water tanks so that they can see the levels.
Despite being a 15 inch guage track the carriages are surprisingly spacious and the three of us happily shared a section for the 80 minutes journey and thoroughly enjoyed our day out.
Posted in: Uncategorised
Tags: Narrow Gauge, Railway, Steam Engine
Metal sculpture in brass, mounted on an 1800s French Coin
