Suburbans Get HLF Go-Ahead

Press release from the North Norfolk Railway:

The North Norfolk Railway has received £99,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards its project 'The Railways and the Suburbs', which focuses on the impact which the railways had on the development of the London suburbs.

It will include an exhibition to enable visitors to learn about how the railways influenced the growth of the suburbs, and about the technologies involved in the design of locomotives and carriages specifically for suburban commuting.

North Norfolk Railway already operates a substantial education programme involving local schools. This project will add significantly to its existing geography, history and science elements, and will also give volunteers the chance to experience the two extremes of preservation: hands-on restoration and the management of a major scheme.

The project includes the restoration of two carriages introduced for suburban travel. These will complement vehicles already on the railway and allow visitors to travel on three generations of suburban trains dating from the '20s to the '60s.

North Norfolk Railway chairman Clive Morris said: "We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and are confident that the project will further the public's understanding of a vital aspect of everyday life for millions."