North Norfolk Railway Festival on Rails Gala | 25th August 2024

Throughout the August Bank Holiday weekend, the North Norfolk Railway would see the Festival on Rails Gala take place. This would be the replacement for their usual annual Spring Steam Gala but this time would see a diesel loco operate one passenger service and the freight set for the three days.

The home steam locomotives are currently on short supply with the loss of 92203 and 564 throughout 2024 and also 76084 at the end of 2023, so with the short amount of locos only 7F 53809 would be from that pool. But two of the home diesel fleet, Class 37 D6732 and Class 31 D5631 would be running on separate days (one diesel per day).

Visiting locomotives would see new build GWR Grange 6880 'Betton Grange' as the star attraction to the gala. Double Austerities Number 18 & 22 would be seen making loads of noise up the steep 1:80 gradients and having one round trip double headed. GWR 42xx 4277 'Hercules' would also be running giving the gala a very Great Western feel, to top that both 4277 and 6880 did a double headed express run from Sheringham to Holt and a stopping run in reverse together. Finally the only visiting diesel loco Class 25 D7659, having an extended stay after the Mixed Traction Gala earlier in June. This would also operate on one of the three days. All of the visiting locomotives during the gala would be visiting over the course of the 2024 season to help bolster up the steam fleet, no visiting locos attended just for the gala this year.

Throughout the second day (25th August) there was a large lineside fire within Kelling Heath which was caused from the express double headed run with 6880 and 4277 which caused a 30 minute sloop in the timetable which was slowly shortened to just a 20 min delay.

Home Locomotives:
LMS 7F - 53809
Class 31 - D5631 (running on the 26th August)
Class 37 - D6732 (running on the 25th August)

Visiting Locomotives:
GWR Grange Class - 6880 'Betton Grange' (visiting from the Betton Grange Society)
GWR 42xx - 4277 'Hercules' (visiting from the Dartmouth Steam Railway)
Hunslet Austerity - 18 (visiting from Locomotive Maintenance Services)
Hunslet Austerity - 22 (visiting from the Appleby & Frodingham Railway)
Class 25 - D7659 (visiting from the Pete Waterman Trust/Peak Rail (running on the 24th August))

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