For ten pence extra my son and I had bought a return ticket from Norwich after staying with friends there. We were keen to make our return as soon as possible as we’d enjoyed Norfolk so much (Bure Valley Railway and Miniature World at Wroxham were just two highlights: north Norfolk’s coast, countryside and built heritage are delightful). We’d been lucky with the weather and so we were on our return trip.
After a week back home we left Chippenham for our return to Norwich. From London Paddington we whizzed over to Liverpool Street on the Elizabeth Line. Then Greater Anglia service to Norwich which took one hour 45 minutes on a very comfortable train. Short walk to our accommodation which was a lovely little hotel (The Maid’s Head) a stone’s throw from Norwich Cathedral. Did a short walking tour of the city late that evening, enjoying the exteriors of most of the historic sites.
Next morning we caught a train to Sheringham on the north Norfolk Coast. We had several rides on the North Norfolk Railway between Sheringham and Holt, alternating between steam locomotive and heritage diesel. Both stations are delightfully preserved (1940s/1950s era).
We caught the mainline train back to Norwich (the mainline is almost adjacent to the heritage line station and there’s a section of rail linking the two to enable guest locos to be brought in via the mainline). Then we travelled by train to Great Yarmouth and caught a different route back via one of England’s least used stations – Berney Arms where there’s no road access.
Then Norwich to London. We arrived at the height of the rush hour. City folk were drinking and dining at pubs and restaurants near Liverpool Street. I stood listening to a Christian preacher. We found an Italian food emporium and ate pasta ahead of our long evening. The GWR Night Riviera was scheduled to leave Paddington at 23.45h.
Excitement at London Paddington! A charter train was due in at Platform One. It was a steam hauled train set that had taken passengers to Bath and back for the day.
We had access to the Lounge on Platform One from 9pm where drinks and light refreshments were freely available. We were allowed to access our compartment at 10.30pm, a good hour before departure.
I awoke at about 4am and opened the blind. We were stationary at Totnes station and remained there for about two hours. Later I found out a tree had come down across the railway line ahead of us (there had been a storm during the early hours). Those passengers needing to get to connections for the Isles of Scilly were put in taxis (four taxis were required).
Eventually we were on our way. Once the sun had risen the journey was magical – across the Tamar and into the gently rolling countryside of Cornwall. Truro Cathedral looked majestic. St Michael’s Mount and the Bay were stunning. We’d arrived at our destination with onward connections by train or bus to St Ives and beyond.
Journey’s end (not sure who these people are but they look happy).
It really was a wonderful trip. Summer sunshine and the lighter evenings helped (I wouldn’t relish it in winter). We met fellow train buffs, hikers and sightseers all of whom added to the enjoyment.