Mid-Norfolk Railway - Funding and Associated Bodies

Funding and Associated Bodies

The Mid-Norfolk Railway is owned and operated by Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust, a registered charity, with finance for the development of the line coming through the commercial operation of the railway and specific funding appeals. The opening of the line was partly funded by a loan from Breckland District Council of £50,000, repayable over 20 years commencing April 2003 and a loan of £25,000, repayable over 18 years commencing June 2001, from South Norfolk District Council. A grant of £50,000 was made by Norfolk County Council, £25,000 from Breckland D.C. and £12,500 from South Norfolk D.C.

In 2001 the railway launched a Bearer Bond issue of up to £300,010, offering annual interest at 4% per annum as well as capital repayment after ten years. The nominal value of the Bonds will be payable on 31 October 2011. The capital projects proposed for this scheme were:

1. Part restoration of the Victorian station buildings, goods shed and stables at Dereham, along with the provision of sidings and maintenance facilities. Dereham was also to be provided with watering, coaling and disposal facilities for steam services. (£150,000)

2. A runround facility was to be provided at Wymondham Abbey. (£20,000)

3. A passing loop was to be provided at Hardingham. (£60,000)

4. Essential preparatory work on track restoration on the Northern Section, towards North Elmham. (£25,000)

5. Additional passenger rolling stock was to be purchased. (£25,000)

The MNR also has several supporting bodies based on the line. The majority are locomotive or rolling stock groups. Private owners have based their stock or locomotives at the line.

The Class 37 Locomotive Group formed in 1984. The group maintains and operates 37003, which arrived at Dereham in February 2009, and are custodians of 37175, which is owned by one of their long-standing members and kept at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway.

The Class 50 Locomotive Association bought 50019 Ramillies in September 1991. Originally on the Spa Valley Railway, it moved to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in May 1999.

The Class 56 Group was formed in 1992. They purchased 56040 Oystermouth in December 2005, the locomotive arriving at Dereham in June 2006. The C56G are also custodians of 56101 which is currently at the railway.

The Stratford 47 Group formed in 2001 to save a Class 47 diesel formerly at Stratford depot in East London. It now owns three locomotives, with 47596 Aldeburgh Festival operational on the Mid-Norfolk Railway.

The Class 73 Locomotive Preservation Company, formed in 2004, manages electro-diesel locomotive 73210 at the Mid-Norfolk and 73136, based at Stewarts Lane Depot.

Norfolk Heritage Steam Railway Ltd, formed 2009, own Hunslet 0-6-0 saddle tank, works number 3193, now being restored at a private site at Yaxham for use on the Mid-Norfolk Railway.

The Southern Preservation Group purchased 1497 'Freshwater' from South West Trains in August 2010, bringing it to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in September 2010 for use with 73210.

In December 2011 the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust announced that they would locate themselves and their project to build two replica LNER Class B17 locomotives on the line. One locomotive will be completed to full main line specifications whilst the other will be for exhibition and display for fund raising purposes.