A restored driving coach from a 1950s railcar has been shortlisted for a prestigious heritage award.
The driving coach has been shortlisted for a Heritage Association award following a near decade-long restoration of the 1958 M56182 railcar at the North Norfolk Railway.
Each year, the national awards showcase a wide variety of preservation and restoration projects with entries from railways throughout the UK.
The driving coach has been shortlisted for the 'diesel and electric locomotive' category, with the winners being announced at the awards in Brighton on February 10.
The restoration project has been a labour of love for father and son team Paul and Chris Moxon, from Beeston Regis, who have been working on the railcar in their spare time over the past nine-and-half years.
The Class 104 driving coach was re-introduced to service at the north Norfolk Poppy Line between Holt and Sheringham in September last year - 36 years after it had last carried passengers.
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Graham Hukins, the North Norfolk Railway’s commercial manager, said: “We are delighted that the efforts of the restoration team have been officially recognised with this prestigious nomination.
“The project has certainly been a painstaking process with years of hard work finally culminating in a truly beautiful coach that we are thrilled to have as part of our home fleet at the North Norfolk Railway."
Built in 1958 at the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, the coach was 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.
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The North Norfolk Railway reopens for February half-term from February 17 to 25.
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