Many of the railway stations and tracks built across Norfolk have long gone but today the memories are brought back by teams of hard-working men and women running heritage lines.

People of all ages and walks of life with a common interest in trains do so much good work by organising various functions and events for us to enjoy.

They are so important as living history lessons for the next generation.

Today we have a ticket to ride on part of the original line from Wymondham to Wells now known and loved as The Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR), the longest heritage railway in East Anglia.

And this week it was announced they want to bring back into use another mile and a half of the track from North Elmham to the old County School station.

(Image: Newsquest) It has launched a new fundraising campaign called Back to School, which deserves our support.

They ran their first trains, between Dereham and Yaxham in December 1995, and restored services southwards to a new station at Wymondham Abbey in 1999.

The line was first opened for passenger services between the two towns in February 1847 with four trains a day, all starting from Norwich. The only intermediate stations were Hardingham and Yaxham with Kimberley and Thuxton not open or subject to “request only.”

Other stations opened along the branch line and by 1882 the service during the week consisted of eight trains. One of these only ran to Dereham, from where it proceeded to Kings Lynn.

By 1920 the time table showed four trains running directly from Wymondham to Wells. Four more ran to Dereham before heading to Kings Lynn and a service to Wells ran from Dereham.

(Image: Supplied)

There were also three Wroxham services from Dereham calling at North Elmham and County School.

In 1964, before withdrawal of services north of Dereham, there were eight trains through the city calling at all stations between Wymondham and Wells

Then the axe dropped in 1969 and continued to drop until…in December of 1995 the Mid-Norfolk Railway ran their first trains between Dereham and Yaxham and restored services south to a new station at Wymondham Abbey in 1999.

The Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust was formed in 1995 and set about preserving and renovating this line. They have done us proud with steam trains returning and stations being restored.

(Image: Newsquest)

Today it offers a host of services and events in the heart of Norfolk. Look up their activities on line and take your pick…they do a brilliant job.

*For the history of the line get yourself a copy of the Middleton Press book on the Wymondham To Wells Featuring the Mid-Norfolk Railway by Richard Adderson and Graham Kenworthy. Graham sadly died during the final days of this volume’s production in January 2020.

(Image: : B D J Walsh/GERS)

(Image: W A Camwell/SLS.)