The Poppy Line

On Friday I decided to travel on a heritage steam train from Holt to Sheringham, a distance of about five miles. I drove to Holt station and walked back into the 50's as I heard the sound of the steam train in the distance. This is the North Norfolk Railway, also known as The Poppy Line. The line was closed during the 1960s by Dr Beeching who was responsible for closing many rural railway lines. The line was opened at Holt in 1989 through the dedication of volunteers. It was expanded over the next 20 years with the help of donations and lottery funding. Today it is run almost entirely by volunteers. The line is also known as The Poppy Line as poppies were abundant in the area during the 19th cent.

I stepped inside the ticket office and I was immediately taken back to my youth. No machines in sight, just a very courteous gentlemen selling tickets.

Out on the platform more volunteers awaiting the arrival of the train. Lots of reminders of the past with the gas lights lining the platform.

You hear the sound and see the steam long before the train comes into sight. I was very excited when I saw the train coming down the line.

For those rail enthusiasts out there, today's engine was a No 564 class Y14 0-6-6 built in 1918 at Stratford for the Great Eastern Railway.

The carriages are all different. There were open ones like this one or ones with a corridor on one side with doors leading off to enclosed seating areas.

I chose to sit in an enclosed seating area which I loved. I was surprised at how vividly memories returned of travelling with my family from Manchester to Huntly, Aberdeenshire ( changing trains in Glasgow and Aberdeen) for the Summer holidays. Mum would take all three children up on her own and we would spend the whole summer staying with a variety of relatives and then my Dad would join us for the last two weeks before returning to Manchester by train.

I clearly remember the mirror above the seating.

The signal box

There are pheasants everywhere.

The steam momentarily enveloping the surrounding countryside.

You can just see the guard surveying the scene as we approach Weybourne station.

It wasn't long before we arrived at our destination of Sheringham.

Sheringham first opened in 1887. it has been restored as close as possible to its 1955 appearance when British Rail were responsible for the line. The station houses the booking office, waiting room and buffet

The old luggage office buffet was used to store the many suitcases and trunks that the Victorian tourists arriving in Sheringham required.

Today it is a cafe where I enjoyed a cup of tea and cake.

I then had a look around the town. Being a seaside town it had the usual array of shops selling beach necessities; a number of cafes as well as souvenir shops. 

I liked this notice outside the community cafe. You have to read the small print to appreciate the humour of whoever wrote it.

Having wandered around the town I wandered back to the station to wait for my train. I was told I could walk across the lines to get to the other platform to take a few photos.

I sat on this bench which was surrounded by flowers and shrubs until I heard the sound of the train coming.

On the journey back with my head hanging out of the window, I wanted to savour every moment of this trip back in time.

I didn't bother buying any souvenirs in Sheringham but I did treat myself to some dressed crab for my evening meal. As I am in self catering I haven't bothered going out to dinner in the evenings, I brought food with me and am supplementing it with local delicacies. The crab was delicious.