The North Norfolk Railway welcomed hundreds of passengers on Saturday 9 September, many of whom took the chance to travel in a driving coach from a 1958 railcar which entered service following a 9½ return to service father and son team Paul & Chris Moxon of Beeston Regis. The vehicle last carried passengers over 36 years ago.
M56182 is Class 104 driving coach built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company as part of the British Railways’ modernisation plan that saw the construction of many diesel trains to take over from steam. The meticulous restoration has seen the vehicle restored to close to its original condition complete with varnished woodwork in the passengers saloons and salvaged seats of the original style including the comfortable first class saloons. The vehicle’s frames have been overhauled, the wheels refurbished and rusty bodywork cut out and replaced prior to repainting in its original green livery with distinctive painted “whiskers” that were a modern touch at the time.
The wiring and instruments required for the driver’s desk have been repaired and renewed meaning the coach can once again be used as a driving car when coupled to a compatible motorcoach to make a two-car train that can be operated from either end – one of the time saving innovations that made this type of vehicle attractive to British Railways’ management in the 1950s.
Class 104s were the mainstay of Norwich – Cromer – Sheringham services in the late 1970s and M56182 is set to see regular use from Sheringham’s original station as the vehicle is due to run as part of the North Norfolk Railway’s Autumn services which run most days until the end of October.
Graham Hukins, the railway’s Commercial Manager, said: “The coach is in pristine condition oozes period atmosphere. Our Autumn timetable features the railcar running alongside one of our historic steam trains allowing passengers an authentic experience of rail travel from the time when steam was just starting to give way to diesel motive power.”
Co-owner and restorer, Chris Moxon, commented “We are delighted to return M56182 to action and very pleased that the vehicle has proved popular passengers – particularly the first class saloon which affords an excellent driver’s-eye view of the line ahead!”
The railway hosts the annual Steam Back to the Forties weekend on 16 and 17 September after which steam and heritage diesel trains operate at weekends, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until 29 October – please see www.nnrailway.co.uk for further details of standard services, special events and dining trains.
