Wells Harbour Railway
Encyclopedia
The Wells Harbour Railway is a gauge railway at Wells-next-the-Sea
, Norfolk
, United Kingdom
. It is 1200 yards (1,097.3 m) long, running between Wells Harbour and Pinewoods. Both steam
and diesel locomotive
s are used.
is located at Pinewoods. Over 80,000 passengers were carried in the first two years of operation. In January 1978, a storm washed away over ½ mile (800 m) of track away. The railway was rebuilt and reopened in July that year. In 1980, Francis sold the Wells Harbour Railway and established the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway
on part of the trackbed of the dismantled Wymondham to Wells Line
. The railway was sold again in 1988, the new owners finding that it was in poor condition. In 1998, new carriages were supplied by Alan Keef
of Ross on Wye, Hereford and Worcester
. A new steam-outline diesel locomotive
was supplied by Keef as the new carriages were too heavy for Weasel to pull. The railway was sold after the 2000 season, with the new owners improving the track and Pinewoods station. Another new locomotive was supplied in 2005.
to the May Day
bank holiday, then daily until the end of September, using a published timetable. It then operates at weekends until the end of October. The railway claims to hold the record of being the first railway of its gauge (or any smaller gauge) to operate a scheduled timetable passenger service.
The original carriages used on the line were made by Alan Keef. They were two open carriages and two covered carriages with wooden bodies on steel underframes. In 1994, four new covered carriages were made by Alan Keef. These have steel bodies on steel underframes.
Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea, known locally simply as Wells, is a town, civil parish and seaport situated on the North Norfolk coast in England.The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 2,451 in 1,205 households...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is 1200 yards (1,097.3 m) long, running between Wells Harbour and Pinewoods. Both steam
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
and diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s are used.
History
The Wells Harbour Railway was established in 1976 by Roy Francis. It opened in July of that year. There are two stations, Harbour and Pinewoods. Harbour station is located at the town end of the line, and Pinewood is located at the seaward end of the line, where there is a caravan park and the beach is located. The railway provides an alternative to the long walk between Wells next the Sea and its beach. A bus route once served Pinewoods, but this was withdrawn. The engine shedMotive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
is located at Pinewoods. Over 80,000 passengers were carried in the first two years of operation. In January 1978, a storm washed away over ½ mile (800 m) of track away. The railway was rebuilt and reopened in July that year. In 1980, Francis sold the Wells Harbour Railway and established the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway
Wells and Walsingham Light Railway
The Wells and Walsingham Light Railway is a gauge heritage railway in Norfolk, England running between the coastal town of Wells and Walsingham which is further inland...
on part of the trackbed of the dismantled Wymondham to Wells Line
Wymondham to Wells branch
The Wymondham to Wells branch was a railway built in stages by the Norfolk Railway and Eastern Counties Railway between 1847 and 1857. The railway ran from Wymondham in the south, through Dereham and Fakenham to the coastal town of Wells-next-the-Sea; more specifically, the line ran from Wymondham...
. The railway was sold again in 1988, the new owners finding that it was in poor condition. In 1998, new carriages were supplied by Alan Keef
Alan Keef
Alan Keef Ltd is a British narrow gauge railway engineer which manufactures, overhauls and deals in narrow gauge locomotives, rolling stock and associated equipment....
of Ross on Wye, Hereford and Worcester
Hereford and Worcester
Hereford and Worcester was an English county created on 1 April 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972 from the area of the former administrative county of Herefordshire, most of Worcestershire and the county borough of Worcester.It bordered Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands to the...
. A new steam-outline diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
was supplied by Keef as the new carriages were too heavy for Weasel to pull. The railway was sold after the 2000 season, with the new owners improving the track and Pinewoods station. Another new locomotive was supplied in 2005.
Operation
The Wells Harbour Railway operates at Weekends from EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
to the May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
bank holiday, then daily until the end of September, using a published timetable. It then operates at weekends until the end of October. The railway claims to hold the record of being the first railway of its gauge (or any smaller gauge) to operate a scheduled timetable passenger service.
Rolling stock
Locomotives| Name | Wheel arrangement | Description | Notes | Photograph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Densil | 0-6-0DH 0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels... |
Steam outline diesel locomotive. | Built by Alan Keef Alan Keef Alan Keef Ltd is a British narrow gauge railway engineer which manufactures, overhauls and deals in narrow gauge locomotives, rolling stock and associated equipment.... in 1998. Powered by a one litre 3-cylinder Perkins engine. In regular service. |
|
| Edmund Hannay | 0-4-2ST 0-4-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle... |
Steam locomotive. | Built in 1972 by David King. Reserve engine, used occasionally. | |
| Howard | 0-6-0DH | Steam outline diesel locomotive. | Built by Alan Keef in 2005. In regular service. | |
| Weasel | 4wPM | Petrol mechanical locomotive. | Built by David King in 1980. Powered by an Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars... petrol engine Petrol engine A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels.... , driving all four wheels. Currently undergoing restoration and re-build. |
The original carriages used on the line were made by Alan Keef. They were two open carriages and two covered carriages with wooden bodies on steel underframes. In 1994, four new covered carriages were made by Alan Keef. These have steel bodies on steel underframes.