Railway line reopens for Mid-Norfolk Railway Diesel Gala

The Mid-Norfolk Railway has announced that it will be reopening the line to Wymondham Abbey in time for the Diesel Gala which takes place in Dereham from Saturday to Monday.

The line at Wymondham has been closed while works were carried out to restore a section of the track, including a bridge.

The line to Wymondham Abbey will reopen this weekend (Image: Mid-Norfolk Railway)Chairman James Oakley said: “While everyone has been frustrated with the time it has taken to reach this stage, we are all very excited to be returning to Wymondham for our Diesel Gala event.

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"We cannot thank everyone enough who has donated to the Back on Track appeal, all our volunteers, staff and contractors, who have worked so hard to get us to this stage.”

The Diesel Gala takes place over the bank holiday weekend (Image: Mid-Norfolk Railway)This year's Diesel Gala will see an intensive timetable consisting of the railway's home fleet of diesel locomotives and guest locomotive the 'Cassiopeia' will be running across all three days of the event.

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The weekend will also see the railway's new resident hauling its first passenger and another to be named in memory of its former owner at Thuxton.

Class 37800 “Cassiopeia” will be the guest locomotive at the Diesel Gala (Image: Mid-Norfolk Railway)Advance tickets can be purchased for the Diesel Gala with prices higher if bought on the day.

The Mid-Norfolk Railway is the longest standard-gauge heritage railway in East Anglia and runs through the heart of Norfolk.

The railway's headquarters are in Dereham and it runs south to Wymondham Abbey Halt station.