The Mid Norfolk Railway has announced a full programme of events for 2023, including a Steam and Diesel Gala and other special event weekends.

The operating season will open on 4th March with a model railway exhibition at Dereham. The first steam day will be on the weekend of 18th and 19th March, which coincides with Mothers Day.

On 14th May a Vintage Bus Day and a new Vintage Fair will be held, including a ‘rail replacement’ service to County School which is the site of the North Norfolk Model Engineering Club’s miniature railway.

Further new services this year are a Champagne Afternoon Tea, service, ‘The Brecklander Ploughman’s Luncheon’ on selected weekends, and a Murder Mystery train on the evenings of 10th and 11th June and 9th September.

Returning this year are The Gin Train will on the evenings of 27th May and 16th September, the popular ‘Breckland Fryer’ fish and chip trains on selected Saturday evenings, and a ‘Heart of Norfolk‘ Afternoon Tea service on selected Sunday afternoons.

The railway will be holding its first steam weekend for several years on the weekend of 23rd to 25th June, when it is planned that it will be combined with the National Armed Forces Day on 24th June. During the weekend, Service personnel, their families, and the UK military veterans community will be able to travel on the railway at a discount by showing appropriate identification.

A 1940s Weekend will be held on the weekend of 5th and 6th August, when re-enactors will set up displays all along the line and visitors will be encouraged to dress accordingly and enter into the spirit of the event.

A Diesel Gala will conclude summer services from 22nd to 24th September, featuring visiting mainline and heritage diesels and locomotives from the railway’s home fleet.

During the Norfolk schools’ autumn half-term break in October, the railway will run a number of services, and it will end the year with the Polar Express during November and December.

When no special events are in progress, standard running days will see a mix of steam or diesel haulage or diesel multiple unit services.

‘Kids Go Free’ group tickets will be available on all standard running days, but not for special events or special trains.

Charlie Robinson the Chairman of the Mid Norfolk Railway said: “We are all excited by the programme, it will finally mean that we have overcome the issues that Covid caused the railway. The 2022 season has been disappointing and it could be argued that we at the railway underestimated how the effects of Covid had impacted the railway. This programme will I am sure show the railway is back and in many ways better than before.

“I am also pleased to say that in many of the departments, we have new faces that are working to make this a success, in 2023 we are planning to add new services, new catering opportunities and new events, plus bringing back some popular events we have just not been able to run over the last few years.”

James Oakley, the Railways Commercial manager said: “In addition to the programme of events for next year’s running season, it is important for the railway that we seek to develop the services for passengers once they come to the railway. Next year, therefore, we are expanding our on-train catering services. This, therefore, means that in addition to what we have previously offered, we are introducing our new ‘Brecklander Ploughman’s Luncheon’ service.

“This will complement the return of our themed event running days, which will also see the launch of several new themed running days”, He added. All on-train meal services must be pre-booked via the MNR Website at www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk. Further details on the 2023 running season will also appear in due course.