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Heritage Railways of East Anglia
From £725
Summary
At the height of the railways’ dominance as our principal form of transport, the eastern counties of Norfolk and Suffolk were criss-crossed with a network of rural branch lines. Gradually and inevitably they were closed down as the rail network was rationalised and many have disappeared forever. Yet today there are a host of heritage lines that keep alive the spirit and atmosphere of these bucolic railways, all set against the big skies and open fields of East Anglia.
And it is at the East Anglian Railway Museum that our tour begins, an excellent introduction to the railways of the Eastern Counties with a cornucopia of railwayana, followed by a short trip on the Mid-Suffolk railway line, which like most of the heritage lines probably carries more passengers now that it did as a working railway. This can certainly be said of the popular ‘Poppy Line’ in North Norfolk, which has an impressive collection of steam and diesel locomotives. A train journey here is combined with a visit to the popular royal residence of Sandringham, perhaps the most famous stately home in Norfolk, which also has some wonderful gardens to explore. An exciting day follows as we take trips on standard-gauge and narrow-gauge railways and visit the Norfolk Broads, where we enjoy a relaxing two-hour cruise. Our East Anglian escape ends in the unique surroundings of Bressingham Steam and Gardens, with its impressive collection of steam-driven machines set in gorgeous gardens and grounds.
Departure Routes
Please note that all timings are approximate and subject to change. Final timings and pick-up points will be confirmed with your joining instructions approximately 10 days prior to departure.
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Your Departure date
Today's Price
£725
Deposit: £125 Single supplement: £120
Your itinerary
Day 1 -
Depart by coach from our departure points and head to our first visit, the East Anglian Railway Museum, at Wakes Colne in Essex. This is a working museum dedicated to preserving the history of railways in the Eastern Counties, with Victorian buildings, restored locomotives and rolling stock and signal boxes, telling a story of a time when the railway was one of the largest employers in the region. There is also a miniature railway and a model railway display. In the afternoon we take a trip on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, Suffolk’s only standard-gauge heritage railway. Affectionately known as the ‘Middy’, the MSLR was a classic case of a railway built too late for the great railway age. A section of the railway at Brockford has been recreated with original station buildings which capture the atmosphere of this quirky line. We continue to our accommodation in Norwich.
| Hotel | Mercure Hotel, Norwich |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Dinner |
Day 2 -
After breakfast today we depart to the smart Victorian seaside resort of Sheringham and board a vintage steam-hauled train for a journey along the North Norfolk Railway to Holt. Also known as the ‘Poppy Line’, this is one of the most popular and successful heritage railways in the country which keeps alive a section of the former Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway. Our steam-hauled journey through typical Norfolk countryside offers glimpses of stunning coastal scenery. After some free time in Holt we depart for the royal residence of Sandringham, the much-loved country retreat which has been the private home of five generations of British monarchs since 1862. The house, set in 24 hectares of stunning gardens, is perhaps the most famous stately home in Norfolk and is at the heart of the 8,000 hectare Sandringham Estate.
| Hotel | Mercure Hotel, Norwich |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
Day 3 -
Two more heritage railways feature today as we travel first to the charming market town of Dereham and take a ride on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, which is one of the longest heritage railways in the UK. Our trip, which may be steam or diesel-hauled, takes us through the heart of the Norfolk countryside to Wymondham, another rural market town. We then drive to the historic market town Aylsham on the other side of Norwich, where we pick up the Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge railway, which runs from Aylsham to Wroxham in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, following the meandering River Bure through lush meadowland and ancient pastures. After some free time in Wroxham we embark on a relaxing two-hour cruise of the Norfolk Broads, including live commentary.
| Hotel | Mercure Hotel, Norwich |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
Day 4 -
After breakfast we travel to the Norfolk/Suffolk border where we find Bressingham Steam and Gardens, Alan Bloom’s famous collection of plants and industrial, mainly steam-powered, engineering. Here we will explore the gardens, woodland and surrounding countryside from the unique vantage point of a steam-hauled narrow-gauge railway. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy the other attractions such as the Gallopers and other fairground attractions, the Steam Museum, the Dad’s Army exhibition and of course the gardens. We then return to our original pick-up points and expect to arrive back in the evening.
| Meals included | Breakfast |
|---|
Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Accommodation
- Services of a professional tour manager
- Comfortable coach travel throughout
- Meals - as per the itinerary
- Train travel
- All visits as outlined in the itinerary
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single supplement | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 June 2023 | BREA230623 | 23 June 2023 (Friday) | 26 June 2023 (Monday) | £725 (ex. flights) |
£125 | £120 | Book your trip | |
| 28 August 2023 | BREA230828 | 28 August 2023 (Monday) | 31 August 2023 (Thursday) | £725 (ex. flights) |
£125 | £120 | Book your trip |
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