As is traditional, the final Blog post of the year looks back on the year behind us and all we have achieved, with a comparison with other recent years. This year, eight vehicles have been through the workshops with one of them being a mid-life varnish, five Bronze level overhauls and two Silvers. Five examples were coaches, with two railcars and a single wagon. This is around half what was out-shopped in 2024 (which had a total of 16 vehicles), however 2024’s figures were boosted by revarnishing the Quad-Art set (adding four to the total) and a run on quick wagon repaints, both of which boost total figures without having to expend too much resource.
What rarely adds to the yearly totals however is the steady progression on our larger Silver and Gold overhauls, which have featured more heavily this year. No less than three LNER design vehicles (Gresley Brake Third Open 16631, Thompson Full Brake 70621 and Thompson Brake First Open 1866) have been progressed significantly but remain in progress. It is a similar story for Mark 1 Brake First Open (Kitchen) 14021 which has seen a huge amount of resource directed towards it but won’t be completed for some time.
The following Carriage & Wagon strategic aims have been worked on over 2025:
- Vintage Train Refresh: Three out of five vintage set coaches were successfully refreshed with the remaining two currently in works and due to be completed for the 2026 season.
- Dining Train Completion: Brake First Open 14021’s major rebuild continues, with an additional temporary generator car (CCT 94125) completed, following generator failures on the existing dining train.
- Restoring “B Set” to Full Strength: The progress to major LNER overhauls 1866 & 16631 contributes to this aim.
- Static Coach Improvements: The commencement of LNER 70621 to become a multi-purpose events vehicle.
- Main Service Fleet Maintenance: The Silver overhaul of Mk1 3868 was completed.
- Railcar Fleet Maintenance: Bronze overhauls of powercars 51192 & 51505 were undertaken.
- Wagon Fleet Maintenance: An intermediate overhaul and repaint of plough brakevan 993707 was completed.
Viewing what we have achieved against all of the improvement programmes currently in place at the railway is probably a better way to view progress than simply numbers of vehicles completed. It also shows how the different vehicles are selected and feed into the direction the railway is trying to head toward. The selection is far from random!
January is normally a quiet and cold month with this year being no exception. We started the year with Thompson Brake First Open 1866 (Gold), Gresley Pigeon Van 6843 (Bronze), Mark 1 Brake First Open 14021 (Gold), Mark 1 Tourist Second Open 3868 (Silver) and Ballast Plough Brakevan 993707 inside the shed all being progressed.
February sharply contrasted with January after we returned three vehicles to traffic, with the Pigeon Van’s repairs and revarnishing complete, the brakevan finished, and the entry into passenger service of railcar trailer car 79263 which had received the bulk of its works in 2024 and had just received its finishing touches for half term services.
March was a steady month working towards more completions, with Mark 1 3868 in particular receiving a lot of attention to complete repairs in time for the start of the main running season at Easter. This also involved repainting it for one year only into Midland & Great Northern Railway brown livery, replicating what the early NNR preservations did in 1975. This was done as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations and the coach quickly drew in a marmite effect!
In April the season started properly and we released 3868 into service for the anniversary year. Also completed for the season commencing was the return to service of railcar powercar 51192 which had been out of service for repairs for around six years. Although exterior works were limited, the front end received a bright full yellow end, recreating a rare livery variation carried during the late 1960’s transition era.
In May we started the transformation of Thompson Full Brake 70621 from a rotten wreck into a multi-purpose events vehicle, designed to travel the line wherever required and be used for static exhibitions, temporary storage space or as a large equipment carrier.
In June it was time to say goodbye to Corridor Composite 15997 which had been sold to the Mid Norfolk Railway. Bought by the railway 30 years ago as a future restoration project and to allow expansion, its future place in the fleet had been gradually replaced by the Quad-Art, Suburban and Gresley train projects. At the same time we also welcomed railcar powercar 51505 which joined the fleet and would require remedial attention (more of which below).
July saw a big step in the refresh of the vintage train with the repairs and full repaint of M&GN Picnic Saloon No3 being completed at the C&W outpost at Holt. This was one of the hardest vehicles of the five to bring back into a respectable condition so was a relief to see back out and in service. The second worst member of the set, Great Eastern Brake 853, was immediately put in No3’s place and similar works started.
With the summer season and lots of maintenance in full swing, we didn’t outshop any vehicles in August, however good progress was being made on all of the long running projects including Gresley Brake Third Open 16631 being steadily worked on at the contractor’s in Derbyshire.
In September the salvation of Covered Carriage Truck 94125 and conversion into a generator car had been completed and the vehicle added onto the rear of the dining train. This was a real surprise to everyone as 94125 had actually been considered for disposal until this new role for it suddenly leapt out of nowhere.
October’s highlight was the return to traffic of the new arrival, railcar 51505. Having only arrived in late June, amazingly all the required repairs were able to be completed in time for it to carry passengers again before the end of the diesel running season.
In November, the Vintage Train refresh project marched on with the completion of the Wisbech and Upwell tramcar, which despite having run in the set for almost the longest was in the best shape of the five. Nothing more than a good wash and a revarnish was required to return the shine to this one. As a result, its stay was swift and unproblematic.
As expected with Christmas taking out part of the month, no vehicles were released in December.
So what is 2026 expected to bring? We will continue with our aims and expect the following to be involved:
- Vintage Train Refresh: Completion of the remaining two vehicles (M&GN 6 wheel Third 129 & GER Brake Third 853) for the start of the main season which will also bring an end to this programme.
- Dining Train Completion: Brake First Open 14021’s major rebuild is set to continue for at least another 12 months.
- Restoring “B Set” to Full Strength: The major overhauls of BFO 1866 and BTO 16631 will continue, with a possibility that the overhaul of Tourist Third Open 13548 may commence.
- Static Coach Improvements: The possibility of completing LNER full brake 70621 to start its role as a multi-purpose events vehicle.
- Main Service Fleet Maintenance: Mk1 3868 is expected to be repainted into a more suitable livery and will be followed by ordinary repairs and repaints to Tourist Second Open 4641 and Corridor Second 25189.
- Railcar Fleet Maintenance: Further work to 51505 is expected along with starting the body overhaul of powercar 51228.
- Wagon Fleet Maintenance: Following the completion of GER 853 at Holt, further wagons may receive cosmetic work.
We can finish with a tease… Keep an eye out for one or two new arrivals next year which will fine-tune the existing fleet going forwards…
