M&GN Horse Dray Restoration

Restoration on an original Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway horse dray, originally from Norwich City station and thought to be least 80 years old has begun.

The dray was donated to the M&GN Joint Railway Society by the Norfolk Museums Service after an evaluation of their collection. For many years it has been kept out in the open at the Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum near Dereham, where the condition of the woodwork has deteriorated. Now in the Society's collection, the dray has been taken to a workshop near Aylsham where restoration is already underway.

The restoration is being undertaken by a traditional wheel wright, using the same time honoured methods that would have been used to repair the dray throughout its working life. When restored, the dray will be on display at Holt as part of the ever expanding goods yard complex.