Скачать или смотреть North Norfolk Railway 50th Anniversary Steam Gala | 30-31st August 2025

Please Note: The intro displaying the locos featured buts 22 rather than 18. I got the wrong Hunslet Austerity... whoops! Also I finally used my tripod I bought years ago to make this video seem better, so I hope you like it!

With it being the North Norfolk Railway's 50th Anniversary this entire year, most events had a theme on remembering the past 50 years at the railway. This year's annual steam gala was no different attempting to make it feel like the early days of the railway. This gala followed the week long 'Festival on Rails' event which celebrates steam locomotives from all shapes and sizes.

Visiting Locomotive "Ashington No.5" was to attend, this was the locomotive that hauled the opening service back in 1975 so the locomotive returning was to bring back memories. Unfortunately the locomotive had to pull out near to the event due to its overhaul and test runs just finished a few weeks before hand at the North Tyneside Steam Railway in Newcastle, so the locomotive owners wanted it to have a bit more running at home before leaving. It should be returning next year for a visit.

The two other visiting locomotives were 6880 'Betton Grange' and 4277 'Hercules'. 6880 returning this year once again for three months which was a delight to see as its such a lovely loco. 4277 still here on its two year loan from the Dartmouth Steam Railway, the loco leaves the railway nearer to November/December time.

The home fleet consisted of the usual locos we have seen over the past year. The Austerity Tank No.18, Wissington, 13809 and the WD 2-10-0, though the WD only operated on the Friday of the gala.

New to the home fleet and making its first ever gala appearance in preservation was Hunslet 16" 0-6-0st No.1589 'Newstead'. This is known as 'The Lost Loco' after being found in a Nunnery in Ware in Hertfordshire back in 2016 after the loco was thought to be scrapped. The loco spent most of its overhaul at the Spa Valley Railway in Kent, then just before its overhaul finished it moved to its new home of the North Norfolk where it will be running. The loco did have a full ceremony into service around a month ago but I missed it due to work commitments.

Also this was one of the last chances to see the 7F in service before it bows out at the very beginning of 2026. It had an extension on its boiler certificate around a month or two ago but the owner said it will be on limited running until then. So the railway used it for all three days of the gala for an almost last chance ride.

Visiting Locomotives:
GWR Grange Class - 6880 'Betton Grange' (visiting from the Betton Grange Society)
GWR 4200 - 4277 'Hercules' (visiting from the Dartmouth Steam Railway) (operating on Saturday & Sunday only)

Home Locomotives:
HC 0-6-0ST - 1700 'Wissington'
Hunslet 16" 0-6-0st - 1589 'Newstead'
Hunslet Austerity Tank - 18
LMS 7F - 13809
*WD 2-10-0 - 90775 'The Royal Norfolk Regiment' (running on Friday only)

(*) Not Featured in the video