One of the region’s specialist railway lines is hoping to leave the trials of the past few years on the platform as it goes full steam ahead with a full programme of activities and events for 2023.
The Mid Norfolk Railway (MNR) is planning a year full of events, including a steam and diesel gala together with a number of weekend events.
The programme is intended to once again feature a busy mix of speciality weekends with railway-themed offerings.
This will be the first time since 2019 MNR has been able to run such a programme.
Charlie Robinson, the railway's chairman, said: “We are all excited by the programme, it will finally mean that we have overcome the issues that Covid caused the railway.
“The 2022 season has been disappointing and it could be argued that we at the railway underestimated how the effects of Covid had impacted the railway. This programme will show the railway is back and better than before.
“I am also pleased to say, in many of the departments, we have new faces that are working to make this a success, in 2023 we are planning to add new services, new catering, and new events, plus bringing back popular events we’ve not been able to run over the last few years.”
The season will open on March 4 with the model railway exhibition. Standard running days will be a mix of steam and diesel hauled, or diesel multiple unit services.
Over the following nine months, the railway will host events such as a champagne afternoon tea service for Mother’s Day in March, the new ‘Brecklander Ploughman's Luncheon', and the return of a Gin Train on the evening of May 27 and September 16.
A new Murder Mystery train will run on the evenings of June 10 and 11 and September 9.
Mid-Norfolk will also host a Vintage Bus Day, together with a new Vintage Fair on May 14. This event includes the ‘rail replacement’ service to the county school, which will be open at weekends and features the ever-expanding Miniature Railway of the North Norfolk Model Engineering Club.
A number of themed weekends are being planned, including a two-day 1940s event planned for August.
To find out more and see a full program of events, visit www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk
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