One of the largest and most important departments on any railway is that responsible for locomotives and coaching stock. The Chief Mechanical Engineer or CME for short is responsible for all rolling stock that moves on the railway. He has a small paid staff and a host of volunteers, though more would be very welcome. The locomotive fleet is a mixture of steam and diesel, most purpose built for the railway.
STEAM LOCOMOTIVES
No.1 'WROXHAM BROAD' 2-6-4 Tank.
Originally built as a 2-6-2 by Guest Engineering in 1964 with an internal diesel engine and called "Tracey Jo".
It was later rebuilt as a steam engine and converted to a 2-6-4 in 1992 by Winson Engineering and is now called "Wroxham Broad". The loco is painted caledonian sky blue.
No.6 'BLICKLING HALL' 2-6-2 ZB class.
Based on the Indian Railways ZB design.
The locomotive was designed and built specifically for the railway by Winson Engineering and delivered at Easter 1994. It has since been fully rebuilt in 2004 with new drafting, cylinders, smoke deflectors and other modifications.
The loco is painted in Midland Railway Crimson Lake.
No.7 'SPITFIRE' 2-6-2 ZB class.
Based on the Indian Railways ZB design.
The locomotive was designed and built specifically for the railway by Winson Engineering and delivered at Whitsun 1994.
Partially rebuilt in 2005/2006 to improve it's performance.
It is painted Brunswick Green with Great Western fittings.
No 8 'THUNDERER' 2-6-2 tank ZB class.
The chassis is built to the same design as locomotives 6 and 7, the body is based on the Vale of Rheidol Railway. The loco was assembled in the Aylsham Workshop in 1996/7 from components made by Winson Engineering.
It was first steamed on 19th December 1997 as an oil-fired loco. Currently receiving a major overhaul and is to be returned to traffic as a coal fired engine.
No. 9' MARK TIMOTHY' 2-6-4 Tank ZB Class.
Originally built by Winson Engineering as an oil fired loco, it has been totally rebuilt by Alan Keef Limited.
Arriving at the railway during 2003 (Originally numbered as No.10 and renumbered as No.9 in January 2005), this coal fired loco entered full passenger traffic in July 2004 and is the newest loco to the railway. The body is based on that of the 'Leek & Manifold' design.
No3 2nd Air Division USAAF , Bo-Bo Hydraulic driven, with a Bedford diesel engine. Designed and constructed in 1988 by John Edwards of Great Yarmouth and was tested at the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch railway during early 1989.
After completing a major refit in the autumn of 1998, the locomotive was named '2nd Air Division USAAF' on Saturday November 7th 1998 by the President of the 2nd Air Division USAAF Association, Earl Wassom, in the presence of members of the Executive Committee of the Association.
No 3 was named as a tribute to the Division who flew B24 Liberators from 14 airfields in our area during World War II during which over 6,700 young Americans died in the defence of the freedom that we all enjoy today.
No. 3 works hard during the season on passenger duties, as well as permanent way trains, route learning courses and general work. At Christmas the locomotive is often used to haul Santa's Sleigh into Aylsham.
No 4 (awaiting naming) Originally built by Hudson-Hunslet as a two foot gauge, four wheel industrial locomotive. Partially rebuilt and re-gauged, by the apprentices at Eagit Ltd, the loco has now been completed by dedicated members of the friends association; with a Peugeot diesel engine and hydraulic drive.
This loco was formally handed over from the 'Friends of the Bure Valley Railway' association to the Bure Valley Railway on the 31st of October, 2004. It's principal job is Aylsham yard pilot, track work motive power including help to flail the line using the railway's new flail machine.
Originally used on Fisons peat railway on the Somerset Levels. Now converted to a tram engine.
This loco is mainly used within Aylsham Station limits for shunting.
Passenger coaches
All vehicles are fitted with Westinghouse air brakes and electric lighting unless specified otherwise. Built new in 1989/90.
No's 1-19 Tourist Second Open (TSO) Twin bogie coaches with five bays each seating four passengers.
No 20 Brake Second Open: Converted from TSO with guard's compartment, two open compartments with seating for four passengers and a parcels compartment.
No 23 ETHEC (Electric Train Heating Coach) 35 KVA Diesel generator with guards and parcels compartments. Used for winter train heating and providing power for maintenance works.
No 30-35 Special Saloon: Wheelchair accessible coaches with double doors for easy access. Each coach provides space for four wheelchairs with adjacent seating for carers. (30 & 31 Built 1998, 32 - 35 built 2001)
No 123 & 125 Ex Fairbourne coaches, used mainly on our special event days. They are fitted with our standard carriage bogie and braking system.
No.81 & 82 Four wheel passenger brake vans Not braked but through piped.
Maintenance and Goods Wagons
All vehicles are not fitted with Westinghouse air brakes unless specified otherwise.
PW1 Box/tool van, fitted with twin bogies and nicknamed 'Monster' due to its size. Vehicle fitted with Westinghouse air brakes.
PW2 Hopper wagon, fitted with twin bogies and bottom discharge facility. Max load 8 tons of ballast.
PW3 4 wheel open wagon, modelled on GW Ashwagon No.23114
PW4 Well wagon, fitted with twin bogies and drop down doors on one side only. Can carry 8 tons of ballast or hoggin. Built at Yarmouth in 1991. Nicknamed "The War Wagon" because of its rugged construction.
PW5 4 wheel flat wagon, usually used to carry weed killing equipment.
PW6 Flail, fitted with twin bogies and Weighing in at over three and a half tons, "The flail" wagon comprises a 54 horsepower international tractor engine driving a Twose hydraulic flail head mounted on a four metre arm which can cut vegetation besides the track.
The unit also has an electronic sprayer system capable of delivering 1,000 litres of weedkiller from an onboard tank to both the embankment and track bed as the vehicle moves.
Explore the Bure Valley
The Bure Valley cycle and footpath runs alongside the railway is a great way to explore the fascinating villages and beautiful countryside.
