Images from the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s autumn diesel gala.

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NOT A SIGHT you see every day. The Mid-Norfolk Railway’s Network SouthEast-liveried Class 08 shunter, No. 08631 Eagle CRUC, powers along the line near its destination of Yaxham with the 14.50 service from Dereham on September 20th, 2008. Direct Rail Services Class 20/3 No. 20315 was on the back ready to take the train back to Dereham.

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1970s-era Class 20/0 No. D8069 leads the still-revenue-earning Direct Rail Services’ Class 20/3 pairing of Nos. 20307 & 20315 through Crownthorpe, on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, on September 20th, 2008, with the 14.00 Wymondham Abbey-Dereham service. The trio were the unabashed stars of the two-day autumn diesel gala and have made up a little for the disappointing news that the DRS East Anglian RHTT workings will be in the hands of Class 57/0s this year.

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The English Electric gala event is actually next weekend, but everywhere you look in this view of the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s Dereham station is EE power. From the left, there is Class 08/0 No. 08631 Eagle CRUC, Direct Rail Services’ Class 20/3 Nos. 20307 & 20315 with Class 31/4 No. 31438, and in the far distance, Class 20/0 No. D8069. The triple-header was leaving with the 10.45 Dereham-Wymondham Abbey service on September 20th, 2008.

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Reliving happy memories of the Norwich-Birmingham cross-country services of the 1980s, Class 31/4 No. 31438 rushes through Crownthorpe, between Kimberley and Wymondham, during the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s autumn diesel gala on September 21st, 2008. The Rail blue ‘Ped’ was actually working the 09.15 Dereham-Wymondham Abbey. The MNR’s air-braked blue-grey Mk. 2 set really is special!

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The Class 56 Group’s ‘Oystermonster’ lives up to its name is it erupts into life at Dereham on the Mid-Norfolk Railway on September 20th, 2008. Restoration on Doncaster-built ‘Grid’ No. 56040 has proceeded apace since the Type 5 arrived in Norfolk and it is set to return to original Railfreight grey livery with Oystermouth name ahead of its debut at the MNR’s spring 2009 diesel gala. Thanks to Keith Wright and the guys for giving me the tour!