Sun, Steam & Sea | North Norfolk Railway Festival on Rails 25/08/2024

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the North Norfolk Railway held their Festival on Rails event, with 6 locos featuring each day. 5 steam locos were in action, bolstered by a different diesel loco each day. I went on the Sunday of the event, primarily to see and ride behind new-build GWR 68XX 6880 Betton Grange. GWR 42XX 4277 Hercules (on long-term loan from the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway) and SDJR 7F 53809 were my other priorities, followed by English Electric Type 3 D6732. Completing the roster were Hunslet Austerities 22 and 3809, however these were of no interest to me and as such do not feature in this video.

I started the day with a noisy run behind the Grange from Sheringham to Holt, travelling back as far as Weybourne with 6880 and 4277 double-headed. I walked about 10 minutes from the station to get a view across the fields towards Weybourne Village and the North Sea. The GWR pair are seen cautiously approaching Weybourne on a non-stop run. As soon as the signal clears, 6880 is opened up, making lots of black smoke in the process.

Moving on to Kelling Bank, 53809 accelerates the Quad-Arts up the 1in83 gradient. This train had been delayed by a line side fire further up the Bank which required the attendance of the Fire Brigade. D6732 is captured next, from Kelling Heath Halt itself, with the demonstration goods train.

I walked to Windpump Crossing, crossed over the line and then walked back along the other side of the cutting in order to watch 6880 pounding up the Bank again with the Mk1 Suburbans.

Finally, the Type 3 is seen again, this time at Weybourne station, accelerating its lightweight train and making a great noise as it does so.