Stewardship
Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway
John Hobden

Brief HistoryThe North Norfolk Railway re-create a scene from the last day of the M&GN using preserved class 4MT 43106

The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway (‘M&GN’) - sometimes known as the Muddle and Go Nowhere - came into being as a result of the two companies named in its title wishing to gain access to the East Coast resorts, particularly Great Yarmouth. The M&GN itself was formed in 1893 and merged several smaller lines into its system.  These were the Spalding and Bourne Railway, The Midlands and Eastern Railway, The Eastern and Midlands Railway (confusing)  and the Yarmouth and North Norfolk. Eventually stretching from East of Saxby on the Midland and Peterborough GNR through to Lowestoft via the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Line there were branches to Norwich and Cromer. Besides tourists and coal, there was substantial agricultural and fruit traffic. From 1893 the locomotives and stock of the earlier railways was gradually superseded by that supplied by the parent companies so that Johnson and Stirling locos could be seen side by side with carriages from both parents. This mixture makes the railway an interesting subject for modellers. The title M&GN survived the grouping and, while the LNER took over overall control of operations in 1936, the name was still in use when the line was declared uneconomic and the majority closed in 1959.

 

Photo: The North Norfolk Railway re-create a scene from the last day of the M&GN using preserved class 4MT 43106

 

O gauge model M&GN 0-6-0 tank loco

 

Part is still open from Cromer Beach to Sheringham and a further section is preserved as the North Norfolk Railway.  There is a preservation society at www.mandgn.org and a study group at www.mgncircle.org.uk  The M&GN Circle has a large collection of photos, drawings and archives and is the first port of call for any students of the M&GN

Information can be also be found in the HMRS archives, with 43 drawings and 71 photographs available.

 

 

 

 

Photo: O gauge model M&GN 0-6-0 tank loco built at Melton Constable using parts from ex Cornwall Mineral Railway Sharp Stewart locos with Midland Railway fittings

 

 

Reference

 

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