The Mid-Norfolk Railway has launched an URGENT appeal for donations to secure undercover accommodation that has been offered to the trust. A local farm has dismantled a shed which will provide fully-accessible undercover accommodation for up to four vehicles.
The MNR has also planned a bumper steam season for 2012 with two steam engines operating throughout the season. The owning groups have specified under cover accommodation for these so the MNR must have rail connected undercover accommodation by the beginning of June so the pressure is really on for this important project.
The building on offer is a steel frame building with cladded roof. The MNR will collect and erect the building and will need to purchase additional cladding for the sides and ends as well as doors. Fund raising will also be needed to complete the trackwork to form a siding into the shed.
Part of the MNR’s masterplan is for a 3-road maintenance shed in Dereham yard and a 3-way point is already in stock ready but this require new timbers. The final phase of fundraising provides these timbers to enable the pointwork to be installed as part of this project.
The MNR is a rapidly growing railway with an enthusiastic volunteer workforce. Recent years have seen the record passenger numbers attending such well renowned events such as the Class 37 Golden Jubilee, the relaunch of King Edward II into service during 2011 and 2012 will see the first visits of a Deltic and Class 40 during the March English Electric Event, through the summer with the Stratford Depot weekend and then another major celebration in September sees the Brush Type 4 Class 47 Golden Jubilee.
The MNR also now has a complete collection of Mk2 passenger coaches ranging from the former National Railway Museums prototype Swindon coach, through to early versions and the more modern air-conditioned varieties. Recently arrivals have seen earlier Mk1 vehicles including the prototype booth car 1106 currently undergoing reservation. 2006 saw the launch of our highly regard blue/grey rake of coaches, the first time a railway had deliberately put together a rake of coaches in this livery to match our 1960s and 1970s diesel fleet. Our vehicles do need extensive maintenance and for the last 11 years, all maintenance has been done outside and so this opportunity represents the biggest chance of enhancing our facilities so far.
More information can be found on a special website for the appeal which can be found at
http://www.mnr.org.uk/appeal
The Wymondham-Dereham-North Elmham-County School Line
GKB Express Courier Service, Norwich
