Having raised over £10,000, the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway (WWLR) have now received the new boiler for their popular locomotive.

Norfolk Hero has been stripped back to its frame and the railway’s engineers have carried out a thorough service to prepare for the boiler to be fitted.

The 2-6-0 + 0-6-2 Garratt locomotive has been operating on the WWLR since 1987 and this work will give Norfolk Hero a new lease of life.

Originally scheduled to be back in service this summer, the Norfolk Hero project has faced a series of setbacks.

Delays in certification and a change of ownership in the engineering company that built the boiler have made this a challenging project.

The WWLR are now pleased to have the boiler in the depot at Wells-next-the-Sea ready to be fitted.

Opened in 1982, the WWLR was the brainchild of former naval officer Lieutenant-Commander Roy Wallace Francis.

The narrow gauge line follows the route of an old standard gauge line between Wells-next-the-Sea and Walsingham, one of many railways in East Anglia which fell victim to Dr Beeching’s axe.

The four-mile, scenic, coastal route is the longest 10 1/4″ gauge line in the world.

A big project like Norfolk Hero‘s new boiler is a huge financial commitment for a small, family-run business like the WWLR.

They have also had to replace the Perkins diesel engine in another locomotive, Norfolk Harvester, as well as carrying out ongoing track work.

In the current economic climate, they have also seen big increases in the cost of fuel and energy.

Therefore, their GoFundMe fundraiser is still open and they would be grateful for any additional donations to help with the Hero project and the costs of running a heritage railway.

Donors giving more than £150 will be given a footplate ride on one of the WWLR’s steam locomotives as a way of saying ‘thank you’.

The WWLR has secured Not For Profit status, which means that all money made goes directly into running the railway.

To find out more about the railway’s services, locomotives, history and ‘Big Sleeper’ sponsorship project, you can visit their website.

We’d like to say a BIG thank you for all who have contributed to this marvellous milestone at the WWLR! Without your help we would not be this far along to putting a new heart back in one of our most iconic locos.

Nick Champion, WWLR Managing Director

The delays have incurred additional and increased costs though so every little helps. If you could spare anything towards the rebuild of the loco now the boiler is back, we would be most grateful!

Nick Champion, WWLR Managing Director