Search Results

The Mid-Norfolk Railway is proud to announce the completion of a major restoration project as its rare 10-ton Diesel Rail Crane has officially emerged from the Traction & Rolling Stock shed following a meticulous three-year restoration and repaint programme. The project marks a significant achievement for the railway, as this industrial workhorse — once a key component of the rail network — has been brought back to life through the dedication and expertise of the MNR’s restoration team. The restoration, which began in 2022, involved minor mechanical repairs & overhauls, repainting, and the sourcing of period-correct imagery. The effort was led by the MNR’s Traction & Rolling Stock Restoration Manager, supported by a team of passionate and highly skilled volunteers who donated hundreds of hours to the cause. To celebrate the completion of the restoration, the crane will be on public display this weekend at Dereham Station as part of the railway’s popular 1940s Weekend. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the crane up close. This event promises to be a highlight of the summer season, offering a chance to step back in time and experience a living, breathing part of Britain’s railway heritage. For more information about the 1940s Weekend or the restoration project, please visit www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk

We’re excited to announce that the timetables for our 30th Anniversary Running Weekend are now available! Across both days, our Class 47s will be in action alongside ROMIC Group ’s Class 43 HST set. We’ll be confirming the power car numbers very soon - stay tuned! On Sunday, our ever-popular Driver for a Fiver experience returns at Dereham, featuring Class 03063 ‘Paul A. Mobbs’. Don’t miss your chance to get in the cab and take the controls! While you’re at Dereham Station, be sure to visit our tearoom, which will be open all weekend serving a selection of drinks and treats. Plus, our freshly renovated shop will also be open, stocked with a great range of railway gifts, memorabilia and bespoke MNR 30th Anniversary items! In Dereham Marquee, we’re pleased to welcome select trade stands including The Class 37 Locomotive Group & Noorski Noo Gallery – all who will be offering a variety of railway related items for sale.  Full details and timetables can be found here *All rights reserved #30thAnniversary   #midnorfolkrailway   #RunningWeekend   #Class47   #HST   #DriverForAFiver   #midnorfolkrailway30thanniversary    #30thAnniversary   #class43   #HeritageRailway   #railway200   #HeritageRail   #HST125

28th, 29th, 30th, 31st March 2024 Alice on the Wondertrain is an immersive theatrical live train experience, engaging audiences in a fantastical story to meet the array of marvellous characters from Alice in Wonderland as never before. While travelling on the Wondertrain, this unique adaptation will see you join Alice on a journey of self-discovery.   Featuring comedy, original music, dance, multi-sensory elements, and full audience interaction, join us for an extraordinary trip suitable for all ages in Easter 2024 on the Mid-Norfolk Railway.   Created by Twisted Reality Productions - the theatrical team behind MNR's The Polar Express Train Ride.   More information at mnr.org.uk/aliceonthewondertrain

Station Tea Rooms Dereham Station Tea Room Copyright T Fisher Copyright T Fisher Copyright E Rogers Copyright T Fisher 1/6 All meat is supplied by a local butcher Dog Friendly 🐶 Delicious cakes, scones & light meals. Open Wednesday to Sunday (Mar to Oct) Come and visit our vintage 1950s themed tea room at Dereham Station. We are open serving fresh Italian ground coffee, freshly prepared cakes, scones & traybakes. Along side this we have a variety of hot food options, including all day breakfast, sandwiches & toasties, jacket potatoes & more! Feeling something a litttle more grand? Why not enjoy one of our Afternoon Teas in the warm surroundings of our Station Tearoom, all whilst being amongst the bustle of the station and it's classic trains. For full details about Dereham click here & for accessibility details click here . Opening Times: Monday - Closed Tuesday - Closed Wednesday - 10am to 2:30pm Thursday - 10 am to 2 :30pm Friday - 10 am to 2 :30pm Saturday - 9:45am to 5:30pm Sunday - 9:45am to 5:30pm Please note that opening days and times can change without prior notice and at last minute. Dietary Requirements We are able to cater for a variety of dietary requirements including gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and much more. (Subject to availability) Full details are available on the day at Dereham Buffet. County School Tea Room 1/4 All meat is supplied by a local butcher Dog Friendly 🐶 Delicious cakes & scones Come and visit our vintage 1930s themed tea room at County School Station. We are open from 10:30am on select weekends throughout the year, serving cakes, scones & traybakes. For full details about County School click here & for accessability details click here . Opening Times: 2026 Season Please note that opening days and times can change without prior notice and at last minute.

Dereham Station Norfolk Railway Back to Our Stations 1/2 Station Details: Open on: Running Days & Tearoom Days Station Facilities: Toilets Museum Tea Room Gift Shop Ticket Office Station History: Dereham station was opened by the Norfolk Railway in 1847. Three years later an agreement was made to allow the Lynn & Dereham Railway to start to use the Norfolk Railway's station, meaning that they could close their own terminus in the town. In 1857, the line northwards to Well-next-the-Sea was completed – with all the lines becoming part of the Great Eastern Railway in 1862. The station grew and evolved over the decades, with the Great Eastern Railway expanding the original Norfolk Railway 'Tudoresque' buildings as traffic grew, and the platforms being raised and extended to accommodate longer and more modern trains. Eventually, the station boasted a licensed buffet and four platforms with extensive canopies. Platform 1 is on the up line, with platforms 2 and 3 being set back to back (making one long platform face) and platform 4 being a short bay originally connected only to the King's Lynn line. In addition to the passenger facilities, Dereham had extensive goods facilities. Three goods sheds were provided (the surviving shed, one north of Norwich Road and another on the Lynn line), a large cattle yard, a coal yard, sidings for the town's maltings trade, the Hobbies' works, gas works and, during the Second World War, additional War Department sidings were provided on a new site to the east of the line. A triangle was provided for the Lynn line, allowing some trains (including the Royal Train) to avoid having to reverse in the station and a locomotive depot was built inside this triangle – where the town swimming pool now stands. This complex site was controlled by four signal boxes and stables were provided to house the horses used to operate delivery carts and shunt the yards. In 1963, Richard Beeching recommended that the line from Dereham to Fakenham and Wells be closed and, in 1964, the last passenger train ran over this section. He also recommended that the railway from Norwich to Dereham and then to King's Lynn be retained for express trains and freight. However, in 1968, the connection to King's Lynn was cut, as part of the formation was wanted for improvements to the A47, and the remaining passenger services between Dereham and Norwich ended in 1969. Concerns had been made in Parliament about the the local roads being inadequate for local business needs, specifically the large maltings at Great Ryburgh, so tracks through the station remained in regular use as a goods-only line until the 1980s. An interesting bit of trivia is that the newsagents on the station platform continued to trade for a considerable time after the last passenger trains had left, although, sadly, it burnt down soon after closure. The station building suffered a disastrous fire in 1988, and was almost demolished. Although the interior of the station was gutted, and the original roof lost, the Station Master's house survived unscathed, albeit near-derelict. Since purchasing the line, the Mid-Norfolk Railway has carefully restored the structure and replicated the lost interior, adapted slightly to meet today's requirements. We reopened the station to passengers in 1997. Two of the station's signal boxes have been replaced. The original Dereham Central site is occupied by the former Stratford Southern box, which controls the station site and the line southwards. Dereham North is occupied by the former Laundry Lane box from Lowestoft, and controls the level crossing and line northwards. The original Dereham North box also survives, as holiday accommodation near Melton Constable. With the original locomotive depot site being lost, our new maintenance shed has been built in the former goods yard. The surviving goods shed, stables and one of the station's original LNER yard cranes feature in exciting future plans for a heritage attraction at the site. Written by R Cullen

Diesel & Steam trains at The Mid-Norfolk Railway Join us for Diesel & Steam train rides at the Mid-Norfolk Railway! Runs on select days More Information & Book DISCOVER THE HEART OF NORFOLK Train Running Days: Our next train running days will be: Wednesday 27th August - Green Timetable Fri 29th, Sat 30th & Sun 31st August - Maroon Timetable Using traction: Wednesday 27th - Class 142061 Fri 29th, Sat 30th - Steam engine BR Standard 4MT 80078 & Class 142 061 Sun 31st Aug - BR Class 47580 "County of Essex" & Class 142 061 Tearoom Open Days: Dereham Tearoom is next open on: Wed 27th Aug - Sunday 31st Aug County School Tearoom is next open on: To be Confirmed Opening Times: Full opening times can be found here Next Special Event: Our next special event is our: Heritage Open Day (Dereham & Wymondham) Operating on: Saturday 13th September Fares & Details: Full details can be found here EVENTS & DINING Halloween Express 2025 31st September 2025 Book Now & Info Heritage Open Days 13th & 20th September 2025 Information Murder Mystery Fish & Chip Train 6th Sep 2025 Book Now VIEW ALL DINING VIEW ALL EVENTS