North Norfolk Railway to launch £115,000 appeal

The North Norfolk Railway is launching a £115,00 appeal to fund two footbridges to be built at Sheringham and Holt.

At Sheringham, the railway has already made considerable efforts to return the station and its surroundings to its look in the early 1960s when the line was severed. This started a number of years ago with the successful appeal to reinstate the level crossing.

Since then the old Sheringham East signal box has been moved to a position close to its old site, where it can control the crossing again, should the need arise. The latest appeal will enable the NNR to build an exact replica of the footbridge, as at the time of closure, on its original footings at the station. This will both improve the historic image of the station and its immediate surrounds, as well as facilitating access to Platform 2 from the main booking hall.

The structure at Holt will also replicate an original M&GN bridge, in this case at Drayton. It is a less complex structure than the proposed bridge at Sheringham and will be more suited to the rural environment at Holt. The design was used by the M&GN Railway at a number of its smaller stations. Although it will reflect the railway’s heritage, it will again serve a dual purpose by enabling visitors using the car park on the hospital field at to reach the main platform at Holt without the extensive detour round by the buffer stops there.

Leaflets containing more information and details of how to donate are available from: Crossing the Line Appeal, Sheringham Station, Station Approach, Sheringham, NR26 8RA (01263-820800) or donations can be made using the Railway website at www.nnr.co.uk through the online shop donations facility.

Photograph copyright Peter Boggis