Smash hit music maker Pete Waterman made an emotional speech to celebrate the long-awaited link up of the Bittern Line rail link to Norwich with the Poppy Line railway in Sheringham, Norfolk. Thousands of rail enthusiasts and supporters lined the streets to witness history in the making and cheer the steam locomotive Oliver Cromwell, carrying the first passengers over the new tramway-style crossing for the first time in 50 years. 70013 Oliver Cromwell is a British Railways standard class 7 preserved steam locomotive. The locomotive is notable as one of the four steam locomotives which worked the last steam railtour on British Rail in 1968 before the introduction of a steam ban

Pete Waterman has worked along side superstars like Kylie Minogue Donna Summer, Geri Halliwell, and Westlife and of course more recently writing and producing the 2010 Eurovision Song entry for the United Kingdom. Mr Waterman underlined his life-long passion for steam trains by saying "This is better than the Eurovision Song Contest, I'm enjoying every minute of it, I have to dash now because I have a train to catch" much to the delight and laughter of onlookers and Poppyline officials. North Norfolk Railway spokesman, Colin Borg said "This means so much for Norfolk people and everyone involved, it was an enormous team effort working around the clock to achieve what we see today" Mr Borg praised Pete Waterman for his part in the railway preservation movement.

The original crossing over Station Road was initially closed as part of Dr Beeching's railway reform in the 1960s so it was an emotional event for people who remembered the demise of steam and fought for decades for the crossing to be reinstated. The drama unfolded amongst people wearing fashions from the Golden Age of steam complete with 1940's hats, makeshift pin striped stockings from war years and bygone memorabilia.Sheringham stepped back in time to mark this giant step forward for North Norfolk Railway.


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Nostalgic 1940's weekend hosted by North Norfolk Railway full report

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