This is a truly delightful, diminutive 15” railway, running merrily through the heart of the gently undulating, quintessentially English, rural Norfolk countryside, links the lovely old market town of Aylsham with Wroxham, the so-called ‘Capital of the Broads’, with its enviable location on the county’s famous network of waterways.

Alighting our Norwich to Sheringham train at Hoveton & Wroxham mainline station, just adjacent to the Bure Valley’s eastern terminus, the OTRBOT team were thoroughly impressed, by the way in which this minimum gauge heritage railway indeed benefits greatly from superb transport links and fully promotes its fantastic reciprocal relationship not only with the national rail network but also with its ‘boat train’ facility offering its visitors a seamless transition to cruises on the Broads themselves!

Equally impressed were we, from the moment we set foot in Wroxham Station, by the exceedingly welcoming, friendly attitude of the railway’s staff. The ‘Station Mistress’ here could not have been more pleasant and affable, whilst also ensuring that this immaculate station was maintained to the highest of standards and run with the utmost pride (we even spied her dusting the signs there!)

The same exemplary values were obviously applied to the railway’s rolling stock consisting of five steam and three diesel engines, as the most appealing of steam locomotive, named after the local stately home ‘Blickling Hall’, pulled up to Wroxham’s spotless platform, resplendently gleaming and pulling stunningly appointed, really quite ‘luxurious’ little carriages.

It is also impressive that certain carriages convert easily to accommodate wheelchairs and that most are heated too – an important consideration for a railway running all year round!

A marvellous spectacle ensued as the engine then progressed to a hand-operated turntable, under the watchful eye of the Wroxham’s beautifully restored, lofty signal box.

With the locomotive turned and re-coupled at the Aylsham end of the carriages, we were graciously ushered on board by a most jovial guard and sank into our sumptuously cushioned seat ready to embark on what would unfold into a surprisingly varied, enchanting 9 mile trip through the gentle country side of the valley.

Our gorgeous sliding windows within polished wooden panels afforded us a wonderfully serene vista! Lush meadow-land punctuated by charming country properties (some of them really rather lavish!), small rural villages boasting little railway ‘halts’, glimpses of the fledging River Bure en route to the sea at Great Yarmouth and an impressive ferrovial repertoire of 17 bridges and, surprisingly, Norfolk’s only operational railway tunnel, which carries these petite tracks under the Aylsham Bypass.

We were totally enthralled by the sheer authenticity of this ride, wonderfully as our carriage bobbed along the surprisingly undulating rails, we felt every slight wobble, bump or turn. Indeed, although a relative ‘newcomer’ to the heritage railway scene, celebrating its 21st birthday this year (the Bure Valley’s 15” gauge rails carried their first passengers in July 1990), this route poignantly echoes a true railway legacy.

The Bure Valley Railway of today was built within the trackbed of the Wroxham to Aylsham branch of the ‘East Norfolk Railway’. Opened back in 1880, its passenger services ceased in 1952 with the line continuing to continuing to operate for freight for a further 30 years before closing completely in 1982.

The presence of much narrower rails within a standard gauge bed has led to the creation of the extremely popular ‘Bure Valley Walk and Cycle Route’ occupying the remaining, now spare, width area for the entire length of the line. We were absolutely delighted to see hoards of walkers and cyclists relishing the opportunity to follow the line, obviously relishing every moment of the fresh air, exercise and the fabulous intermittent sight and sound of passing trains!

The culmination of the nine mile railway, line and cycle route -Aylsham Station with its fantastic array of visitor facilities, is a real vibrant hive of activity in the centre of this historic town! Although now a terminus built as recently as 1989, the traditional railway design of the collection of station buildings hints at the station of yesteryear when the line continued far beyond what is now a road bridge behind its buffers!

With four long platforms, adorned by brilliant, cheerful floral displays, bustling engine shed, cosy café and excellently stocked gift shop (boasting a wide range of model railway items) all protectively canopy –covered along with its traditional signal box and turn-table situated in its extensive sidings, Aylsham station exudes a nostalgically olde-worlde, homely feel.

Its presence and indeed the opening of the entire ‘Bure Valley’ line has significantly brought about a real ‘renaissance’ to this once vibrant railway town. Indeed, when the ‘ENR’ station first opened on this site in the 1880’s it was one of two to serve the town – a bit of an extravagance for a settlement of relatively modest proportions, but as the other station (Aylsham North) served the Midland and Great Northern Railway, such was the rivalry of railway companies in those days!

As we settled down on plush upholstery for our return journey to Wroxham, warm August air blowing into our snug carriage from breezy meadows, riding along at a wonderfully steady pace, we contentedly reflected upon how enjoyable our visit to Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge steam railway had been.

In our opinion, the commendable attitude displayed by the Bure Valley staff and their jolly group of assisting volunteers is what really makes this railway ‘tick’! This cheerful place resounds with a remarkably warm ambience and effortlessly succeeds in combining the pristine perfection of faultless organisation with a superbly authentic ‘ferrovial’ flavour.