The Mid-Norfolk Railway has a large collection of heritage rolling stock, mostly relating to the post-war British Railways-era, from the 1950s to 1990s. The line holds several rolling-stock accomplishments: Owners of the first DMU vehicle to enter preservation.56301 Class 100 Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory First Second Generation DMU used on a heritage railway.141108 - 55508 Class 141 Driving Motor Second First complete set of coaches in the blue-grey livery on a heritage line. First complete set of coaches in the InterCity Executive livery on a heritage line. First heritage railway to operate an air-conditioned Mk2 carriage in service.BR 3332 (1218) First operational Mk3 carriage on a heritage line.BR 11050 Mk 3a Open First (later, RFM) built 1975
Maintenance facilities The main restoration depot is at Dereham. The three-road shed, built with a £100,000 European Union (EU) grant, has space to accommodate nine standard length coaches, steam or diesel locomotives.£100,000 EU grant could see Mid Norfolk Railway create up to eight jobs Additional secure storage sidings have been built near Kimberley, relating to a main-line contract.Greater Anglia partners with Mid-Norfolk Railway on new trains introduction With the Mid-Norfolk being connected to the main Breckland secondary main line, the company's maintenance facilities are also employed for the regional Network Rail Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT) during the autumn period.Unusual looking engines carry out autumn tidy on Mid-Norfolk Railway
Locomotives and multiple units
Steam locomotives and shunters Until 2019 there were no steam locomotives based on the line, with the Mid-Norfolk hiring steam locomotives based on other railways for use during the Summer season and most remaining services utilising diesel traction. Sentinel 4wVBT 9596 "George"Sentinel 4wVBT: GeorgeSentinel Works No 9596 George 0-4-0 VBGT and Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 0-4-0ST 7818 "Castle Donington Power Station No. 2"Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Works No 7818 No 2 0-4-0ST are stored in the former yard at Yaxham, independently of the MNR. Great Western Railway 0-6-0 PT '9466' was a regular visitor to the line, but wasn't based at Dereham.
Number Name Description LiveryStatus Notes Picture80078 -BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T BR lined blackOperational Built at Brighton Works in 1954 by British Railways. Privately owned. Current resident steam locomotive.
Diesel locomotives and shunters
Number (Current number held) Name Description LiveryStatus Notes PictureBSC 1 -Hunslet 0-6-0 dieselBSC yellowStoredEnglish Electric Stephenson 0-6-0 diesel-hydraulic shunter BSC 1 was built at Vulcan Foundry, Lancashire for the British Steel Corporation (BSC) in 1965, upon completion she was allocated to Corby. During preservation, it is used for engineering trains only as it is not fitted with train brakes. Operated the first train into North Elmham yard since closure. Arrived at the MNR in January 2017D2063 03063 'Paul A. Mobbs'BR 0-6-0 Class 03British Rail BlueOperational03063 was released from Doncaster Work on 14 July 1959 originally as D2063, under Pre-TOPS, and was allocated to the York North (50A). In the July of 1968 the locomotive was fitted with a dual braking system which allowed it to shunt/haul air fitted stock. In February 1974 it was renumbered 03063 under the then new TOPS system. Over the course of its life it was transferred to various depots including Bradford Hammerton Street & Hull Botanic Gardens where it was then withdrawn in November 1987. Upon withdrawal from BR the locomotive was then sold into preservation. The locomotive was then bequeathed to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in 2023 upon the passing of it owner, the late Paul Mobbs. It was moved to the MNR in November 2023. In May 2024, during the Spring Diesel Gala, the locomotive was named 'Paul A. Mobbs' by the MNRPT Chairman, James Oakley, in memory of the former owner. D2334 -BR 0-6-0 Class 04British Railways Green *Late crestStoredBritish Rail Class 04 diesel-mechanical shunting locomotive D2334 was built by the Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Company in 1961. Outshopped from Darlington Works in 1961, the 04 arrived at Heaton from new on 25 July. Moved on to Percy Main (North Shields ) on 8 June 1963, then to Gateshead on 30 January 1965, and finally to Darlington on 24 February 1968. Withdrawn from service in 1968 after which it was owned by the National Coal Board (Manvers Main Colliery in South Yorkshire, then Wath, followed by Thurcroft and finally Maltby) before being sold for preservation in 1985. Arrived at the MNR in January 2017. D6587 33202'Dennis G. Robinson'BR Bo-Bo Class 33British Rail BlueOperationalBuilt BRCW Works and released into service February 1962. First allocated to Hither Green. Named "The Burma Star" in July 1991, then "METEOR" in November 2002. Preserved February 2009.33202 D6587 "The Burma Star" & "METEOR" & "Dennis G. Robinson" Arrived on the Mid-Norfolk Railway in 2018 to assist with the engineering work at Kimberley.Crompton NewsD6703 37003BR Co-Co Class 37British Rail BlueUndergoing restoration - off siteBuilt by English Electric Vulcan Foundry, as works number EE/VF2866/D582, 37003 was released to Stratford depot (30A) as D6703 on 28 December 1960. In April 1963 the locomotive was named "First East Anglian Regiment", but the name was never unveiled. At Tinsley in 1989 37003 was given the unofficial 'painted-on nameplate "TIGER MOTH", which was carried until she was overhauled at Doncaster in 1992. 37003 was withdrawn from traffic in 1994 and stored at Bescot and Crewe, until purchase by The Class 37 Locomotive Group in 1998. In 2012 the locomotive was named after Dereham Neatherd High School, with full nameplates and the school crest. Nameplates were removed in 2014.D1762
47167
47580
47732'County Of Essex'BR Co-Co Class 47Monastral Blue (Platinum Jubilee variet)OperationalBuilt by Brush at Loughborough as works number 524, D1762 was released to Tinsley in March 1964. It was allocated to Stratford TMD several times during its career. It was named County of Essex on 2 August 1979, the nameplates being removed in 1993. Renamed as "Restormel" in 1995. Stored as No. 47732 in April 2004, it was purchased by The Stratford 47 Group who preserved and brought it back into service; restored as "County of Essex" in 2008. This locomotive is mainline registered and is often operating away from its MNR base.CLASS 47s: Where Are They Now? Repainted with purple highlights for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. In 2024 it was announced that the MNR had purchased both 47580 & 47596 D1933
47255
47596'Aldeburgh Festival'BR Co-Co Class 47BR Two Tone GreenOperationalBuilt by Brush at Loughborough as works number 695, D1933 was released to Bristol Bath Road in March 1966, although it was allocated to Stratford TMD several times during its career. It was named Aldeburgh Festival by Dr. Elizabeth Legg-Schwarzkopf, President of the Friends of Aldeburgh Festival on 8 June 1984, the nameplates being removed in 1993. The locomotive was withdrawn from service in October 2002 after three years in storage. The locomotive was then purchased by The Stratford 47 Group. The locomotive was painted back into its original British Rail Two Tone Green Livery in 2020. In 2024 it was announced that the MNR had purchased both 47580 & 47596 D419 50019'Ramillies'BR Co-Co Class 50British Rail Large logo BlueUndergoing overhaulThe class were built for working passenger services on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) north of Crewe, to Preston, Lancaster, Carlisle and Glasgow Central, with the locomotive being originally allocated the running number D419. The locomotive was named after HMS Ramillies on 18 April 1978. In 1984 Ramillies was repainted in a variation of BR Blue by staff at Plymouth Laira depot. 50019 had visited East Anglia prior to preservation, being stabled at March depot in January 1987. Withdrawn for overhaul in 2013.
Multiple units and railcars
Number Description Formed of LiveryStatus Status Photo -BR Class 10056301BR GreenOn DisplayBuilt in 1957. Used for static display – although proposed for eventual restoration. Trailer car 56301 was the first diesel multiple unit car to enter preservation in 1969, originally being used at the Chasewater Railway, before spending time at the Uranium Fuel Center, Salwick, and then having a period of storage at the King's Lynn Sugar Factory (between 1996 and 1997, while associated with the aborted National Diesel Railcar Museum project).101 695BR Class 10151499 + 51226BR green