| To coincide with the AGM of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACORP) a weekend of events was held in Norwich and the local branch lines.
The weekend was kicked off with a special from Liverpool Street behind 87019 'ACORP', the first use of a class 87 on a passenger train on the GEML. The train was top and tailed by 87019 and 87007, the latter working the return journey in the evening. A display of locomotives was put on alongside Norwich station, with a variety of classes, most of which were unusual or first-time visitors to Norwich. In addition to the display at Norwich, 47714 was outstationed at Lowestoft and 47818 at Great Yarmouth to provide a presence alongside the stands at those stations. Linking everything were special trains, advertised to be top and tailed by FM Rail's 33103 and 31452. Arriving at Norwich after the 87s had arrived we discovered that the first run to Yarmouth had been cancelled following an ETS failure on 31452. Anticipation rose with the news that 45112 was being attached to the set in place of the 31, but apparantly the 45 was removed after it had been coupled to the stock as it was outside the safety case that the trains were running under. Instead 47832, freshly repainted in the new FM Rail livery was used instead. Good weather throughout Saturday brought out the crowds. In late July Gavin Morrison and myself were the only people on Haddiscoe Bridge to see the last of the Lowestoft Air Show specials leave in perfect sunshine, on Saturday the same location had a football crowd, the back row of cameramen standing on stepladders to get their shots... |
87019 'ACORP Association of Community Rail Partnerships' passes through Diss at speed with the 1G88 08:28 Liverpool Street to Norwich special. 1000x665 2005_09_154.jpg |
Cotswold Railways 87007 brings up the rear of 1G88 at Diss as the train heads for Norwich. 1000x651 2005_09_155.jpg |
'one' liveried 156407 approaches Whitlingham Junction with a Lowestoft train. 1000x665 2005_09_157.jpg |
FM Rail 33103 'Swordfish' approaches Whitlingham Junction with the first Yarmouth special of the ACORP weekend, 1G02 11:03 Norwich to Yarmouth running around 20 minutes late after having to replace the class 31 on the far end. 1000x674 2005_09_159.jpg |
DRS 37069 sits in the middle road under the roof at Norwich Thorpe, an added attraction for the ACORP weekend. 1000x665 2005_09_162.jpg |
The National Railway Museum's 84001 in the lower dock at Norwich. 1000x665 2005_09_164.jpg |
84001 and DR98959, a Network Rail sandite MPV, Norwich. 1000x665 2005_09_165.jpg |
The familiar outline of DPS Deltic 55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier', Norwich. 1000x665 2005_09_173.jpg |
Making it's final public appearance, 86235 'Crown Point' joined the display at Norwich. 1000x949 2005_09_177.jpg |
EWS provided 67020 to add to the display alongside Thorpe station. 1000x665 2005_09_178.jpg |
A Peak returns to Norwich, 45112 looks like it ought to be heading a freight back to March! 1000x665 2005_09_179.jpg |
Fragonset liveried 31452 'Minotaur' in disgrace! A failure earlier in the morning leading to the cancellation of the first Yarmouth special, replaced by 47832. 1000x665 2005_09_180.jpg |
