Category: Editor’s Blog

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Update – July 2020

Dear All

We very much hope that you are keeping safe and well in these difficult times. It was our intention to contact all our supporters last year but difficulties intervened including a number of family bereavements.

Our aims and ambitions for the Orbital project remain the same as ever and we hope that you will find the attached leaflet of interest. Our immediate challenge is to pay off the outstanding debt on the second section of route we are buying at Holt although of course ultimate success will rely not only on securing the land but also obtaining the necessary approvals from the County Council and the ORR. We have, of course, already bought the first section of track bed opposite the North Norfolk Railway station at High Kelling and have paid about half of the purchase price of the second section. £50,000 is outstanding. We have £25,000 towards this and, therefore, need to raise another £33,000 taking into account interest and legal costs.

The leaflet below gives details of how you can donate, either by a one off donation or by taking out a standing order. The standing order allows you to spread your donation over a period. (Please go to our support page for more details)

This letter is, therefore, an appeal for your support in raising the last funds necessary to secure this further vital section of track bed. We shall be very grateful for any help you can give.

The lockdown has served to emphasize the need for people to help with all the challenges which lie ahead so please let us know if you are able to assist in any way. We particularly need help with the fundamental issue of proving that the railway and a central Holt station can be built on the land alongside the by-pass to the satisfaction of the County Council. Relevant surveying, planning and engineering skills will be of great value. This work is essential if we are to confirm that we will definitely be permitted to build the railway into Holt.

It might be worthwhile reminding ourselves what we have achieved to date:

  •   Successful professional feasibility studies for the whole route from Holt to Dereham
  •   Successful professional traffic forecast study for the whole orbital route.
  •   Purchase of track bed and associated land at Holt and at Fakenham
  •   Agreement to purchase a second section of track bed at Holt over a period, with a large part of the purchase price paid.
  •   Restoration of the two bridges at Fakenham
  •   Interpretation panels on the Fakenham track bed providing public informationabout the railway and our plans
  •   Substantial work with Fakenham Academy to provide teaching material about the railway and to engage younger people with our project
  •   Collaboration with Fakenham Area Conservation Team who are undertaking maintenance on the Fakenham land.
  •   A tour of interested parties from local authorities and other groups to view progress at Fakenham, in collaboration with the Mid Norfolk Railway
  •   Protection of the route through Holt
  •   Planning consent to lay demonstration track at Holt
  •   4,570 Followers on the Facebook page

As many of you will know, the M&GN Institute at Melton Constable is one of the last remaining buildings of its kind in the country. We have always been grateful to the Institute for allowing us to house our HQ there. In these challenging times it is more important than ever that those of us who care about the railways to support the club and come forward with active help. Let us know if you would like more details.

This photograph is the M&GN Bridge 1715 which carried the GER line from Wymondham to Wells-next-the-Sea over the Melton Constable line. The main cover photograph is the Fakenham East Railway Station, both taken in May 1982.
Photographs copyright of Gary Mutten.

Some encouraging news – The County Council’s Norfolk Rail Prospectus makes positive reference to a number of potential re-opening schemes. We were particularly encouraged by a reference to Fakenham which states in connection to the Mid-Norfolk’s Wymondham to Dereham line “In the longer-term there is potential for housing and jobs growth at Dereham. Dereham is the fifth largest settlement in the county and the largest settlement not connected by the national rail network (although, the Mid-Norfolk Railway operates privately and owns the infrastructure from Wymondham to Dereham). The next largest settlement not connected by rail is Fakenham, – Feasibility into opening this link to mainstream passenger services in the longer term could be considered. The County Council is currently considering whether it can carry out work in this with that which it is progressing on Kings Lynn to Hunstanton.”

Further on there is a reference to our scheme in particular and it states that the council will endeavour to provide help where it can.

Orbital rail (Wymondham-Dereham-Fakenham-Holt-Sheringham)

Existing private railways operate at either end of this line to Dereham and Holt).The Holt, Melton Constable & Fakenham Railway Co Ltd is pursuing plans to complete the link. This is seen as an independent initiative – as will any other similar initiatives and as such will need to be pursued by independent groups utilising their own funds, although the county council will endeavour to provide help where it can.

We are also keeping a close eye on proposals to utilise former routes for cycling and walking with various routes under consideration. We have pointed out, of course, that if these routes are to be used for this purpose then provision should also be made for the return to the purpose for which they were built – railways.

The Government says that it intends to promote major infrastructure projects in order to help the economy recover. What this means in reality remains to be seen but we shall of course be watching out for any significant opportunities.

Finally

We have to state that there is no guarantee that any of our efforts will be successful but some of us are old enough to have been in at the start of what became the railway preservation movement in East Anglia. We did not achieve our lofty aim of reversing the closures at the start of the 60’s but once this pandemic is over there will be trains running again over lines which would otherwise have been ripped up long ago. We are still pioneers planning for the day when railways will again be seen as a vital contribution to the local economy and the environment.

    Please reply to

    David Bill: Trustee – The Melton Constable Trust

    email: mailto: d.bill@ntlworld.com

    Tel 07779 345437

    Posted on

    Audio: John Bishop, M&GN Fireman

    Melton Constable Railway Station and the Locomotive works on the Midland and Great Northern Railway (M&GN) played a significant role in Norfolk. The busy Melton Constable workshops were nicknamed the Crewe Works of North Norfolk where locomotives were built and repaired. The railway provided work and to attract and accommodate the families, a gasworks, Railway Institute, shops and houses were built.

    John Bishop

    In May of 2017, our reporter Paul Young interviewed John Bishop who worked on the M&GN as a fireman on steam locomotives. He also talks of the railway accident from 5th November 1946 just outside Norwich City Station.

    To listen to the interview please click here:

    After the interview, John showed me the picture he had of the accident and an in-house account covering the accident which reads as follows, author unknown:

    Engine Number 5534 called by the crews “A Knock John”

    Driver Henry Scott, Fireman David Jackson (Tuby) Guard Bob Collins.

    On overtime and hoping to travel home in the guards van, driver and fireman of an earlier working into City Station, Driver Jimmy Greaves and Fireman John Bishop.  John had been up to the engine intending to ride back to Melton on the footplate with Tuby being school pals the natural thing to do, however Henry was having none of that, saying “one of you are enough trouble let alone two!” John returned to the brake van to ride home with Bob Collins the guard.

    As it was this was a very lucky event for John, as in the vent that follows he would of without a doubt have been killed that night.  There are various views leading up to the accident, though what I have pieced together is very credible.

    It had been a recognised procedure over the years and strictly adhered to, that the points out of the good siding being that they were operated by the Shunters and not the Signalman be at all times switched to the stops on the banks of the River Wensum this way no wagon may get out on to the main line accidental.  It was not one of the best nights to be out, a foggy night and not improved by the mist rising off the River Wensum.  The train now made up and ready to leave Norwich City goods yard for Melton Constable with what was known as the last goods.

    The head shunter in anticipation thrown the points over for that train when it was ready to leave considering the conditions at the time, a seemly thing to do. However another member of the yard staff passing and seeing the points in the position they were in and remembering the usual procedure threw them back to direct traffic to the stops.

    Meanwhile, Jimmy Greaves and John Bishop enjoying the home comforts of the warm stove in the guards van, not the slightest idea of what was to follow. The guard having exchanged documnents with the head shunter climbs into the guards van to join his welcome company for the return journey. The head shunter to let the signalman know all was ready to leave as and when he was ready to take them.

    The crew of the engine all prepared for the return journey awaits the signal to go into the off position that they may move off. It was not long before the clattering of the signal as it was switched into the right way position.

    Henry now standing on the raised step by the drivers seat, right hand on the regulator, shoulder leaning on the boiler casing enabling a gradual pressure of steam to the pistons, the damp atmosphere and heavy train behind gave every possibilty of the wheels slipping. Henry increasing pressure as the train was taking momentum, Tuby on the other hand leaning out into the darkness looking for the guards signal. A lamp swinging from side to side from the brake indicating that all was well and the whole train following in the manner intended.

    He could not yet see any light from the brake, leaning even further out clinging to the uprights of the steps up onto the engine attempting to draw the guards attention by swinging his own lamp the front lamp from his cycle he had brought with him and still nothing. Above the noise of the engine beat he called out to Henry to give him another blow on the whistle.

    Henry reaching up for the whistle cord suddenly found himself being thrown again the boiler and towards the drivers window as the engine struck the buffer stops and started to downward career towards the river and lurching on to its side. His body thrust against the the seat his legs coming up off the step he had been standing on suddenly forced towards the fire hole door by Tuby’s body as he was flung from his previous position gripping the hand rails. Leaning out as he was saved him from the fire irons consisting of a bent dart, straight dart and slack shovel.  One of these alone would certainly have caused some serious injury these tools with other loose equipment bedded themselves into the space beside the boiler, exactly where John Bishop would have been sitting had Henry allowed him on the engine.

    Accident scene – Stuart Mcpherson

    The engine had now come to a halt the water from the river getting into the ash pan and up into the firebox causing the cab to become an inferno of steam and belching flame. The train wagons loaded heavily still pushing from behind forcing the tender up into the air while two wagons ended up under the tender. In the meantime the tender plate rupturing the floor boards of the cab momentarily making it impossible for Tuby to get up the steam and belching flame making it a very uncomely position. The whistle had now drooped open issuing its ear splitting howl, accompanied by escaping steam from the safety valve all adding to the confusion surrounding the engine crew.

    Henry having gone out of the cab leaving Tuby alone watching as the water from the tender filler hole cover now flung back pours over the coal bringing with it small pieces of coal and other items off the tender expecting at any moment to have one of the large lumps of coal to land upon him adding to the already discomfort. Seeing the ring of light below the side of the cab now above him with a final effort makes it out into the night air.

    Tuby finds Henry who is fine though shaken, the barb wire put by the river as part of the war defences makes getting up on the goods yard difficult. He walks back down the train and is accosted by the shunter “Who are you!?” He tells the man, who when advised no serious injury had taken place was overcome with emotion with the thoughts of what he may have been responsible for and disappeared into the night.

    In the brake van John Bishop was thrown against the the brake sheet causing damage to his right arm. Jimmy Greaves had injury to his body and had to go to hospital the next day. The guard I believe was not injured they had a recessed seat and if he was using it that may have helped to save him.

    The staff at the station were in a quandary as how they may get the crews back to Melton, some clown suggest should someone not put the injectors on? With much discussion a taxi was called for and tw very wet dirty engine men and the crew from the brake loaded into this oversized taxi and taken back to Melton. Tuby now had to cycle home with no light this he had lost in the accident his concern was the local Policeman may see him.

    The next thing he know is Mother calling him up the stairs she having no knowledge of the whole incident. A man wants you from the works she said thinking someone was enquiring how he was after the accident he came down. The messenger says can you come on duty the other crew that would be John Bishop and Jimmy Greaves are off sick and can’t take their turn today.

    This is from the horse’s mouth and I am prepared to believe it fact and true.

    Today this would have resulted in serious counselling and compensation. I add railway men played a part in the war effort as many of their counterparts they received no medals for their efforts.