6880 Betton Grange locomotive to visit North Norfolk Railway

The 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ will visit the North Norfolk Railway for three months from August.

Visitors will be able to travel behind the engine as it follows the scenic five-and-a-half-mile-long Poppy Line between Sheringham and Holt. 

A Michael Root painting commissioned by The Belton Grange Society shows the locomotive working hard (Image: Michael Root/ Betton Grange Society)Not seen for almost 60 years after all the original engines were scrapped in the 1960s, the locomotive has been developed over the past 30 years by a team known as the Betton Grange Society.

Graham Hukins, North Norfolk Railway general manager, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming ‘Betton Grange’ in the summer and giving our visitors the chance to ride behind this truly unique locomotive.

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"The project to build a new Grange locomotive has taken three decades so we are privileged to host her first extended visit to a heritage railway."

The engine is currently in its final construction stages at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham and will undergo testing before appearing at a small selection of special events and coming to Norfolk.

A steam train on the North Norfolk Railway line (Image: Ian Burt)Speaking for the locomotive owners, Paul Appleton, director, added: “The Betton Grange Society is looking forward to taking their new locomotive to the North Norfolk Railway for an extended stay this summer and hope it will bring pleasure to thousands of passengers during its ‘holiday’ there.

"Although not a native of Norfolk, the powerful tender engine should be perfect for tackling the climb from Weybourne past Kelling Heath to Holt.”

It comes after the heritage railway announced that a 1956 Austerity engine would be joining The Poppy Line fleet.

The 'Black Prince' - a British Railways BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 - has been withdrawn from the line after coming to the end of its 10-year boiler ticket.