The North Norfolk Railway, familiarly known as The Poppy Line, is to welcome a special visitor this month with the arrival of the newly built Great Western Railway Grange Class 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton Grange.

All 80 original Grange Class were scrapped in the 1960s, but over the past 30 years a dedicated team have painstakingly re-created one of the class.

After arriving at the Poppy Line last week, Betton Grange underwent engineering checks culminating in a successful test run yesterday, Thursday, 8th August.

It will now be hauling services between the Victorian resort of Sheringham and the Georgian town of Holt until Sunday, 18th August, followed by regular appearances during a three-month visit to the line.

The last active Grange was withdrawn from service in 1965, and Betton Grange now becomes the 81st member of the class designed by C. B. Collett.

They were introduced in 1936 as mixed traffic 4-6-0s as direct replacements for Churchward 43XX Class 2-6-0s, incorporated wheels, valve motion, and tenders from withdrawn locomotives.

Because the Great Western Railway had a standardisation policy, the group were able to construct Betton Grange using standard parts, including a Swindon No. 1 boiler, wheels, and bogie from other locomotives; the frames, cylinders, cab, and fittings are all completely new.

A replica Collett 3,500 gallon tender is currently being constructed, but in the meantime, Betton Grange is running with a tender borrowed from Manor Class No. 7822 Foxcote Manor,

Early building work including the erection of the frames and overhaul of the boiler was carried out at Llangollen, but the latter stages of construction were carried out at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham.

Betton Grange steamed for the first time in March this year and underwent testing and running-in trials before appearing at several special events before heading to Norfolk.

The Poppy Line is open daily until 19 September, with three contrasting trains in action throughout August. Eight steam locomotives, including Betton Grange, are planned to run on the North Norfolk Railway this year.

Full details about the line, timetables, and booking information can be found at www.nnrailway.co.uk/opening-dates/; a generous discount is offered to passengers booking online in advance.

We are delighted to welcome Betton Grange for the summer giving our visitors the chance to ride behind this truly unique locomotive. This is only the second time a Grange locomotive has made it to Norfolk the only other time was in 1963 when 6807 Birchwood Grange travelled to King scrap merchants in Norwich and was promptly cut up! Betton Grange has received a much warmer welcome and we are privileged to host her first extended visit to a heritage railway.

6880 will see extensive use on our summer and autumn services, the first time in six decades that a Grange will have been seen in day-to-day service and will also headline at our nine-day Festival on Rails Gala from 24 August until 1 September he added.

Graham Hukins, North Norfolk Railway General Manager