Puffing Billy visits the North Norfolk Railway

During the May Bank holiday weekend, Beamish Museum-based replica of 1813-built 'Puffing Billy' visited the North Norfolk Railway. The delightful little engine can be seen in steam at Sheringham working alongside its 'modern contemporaries'. With Saturday promising to be the better day weather-wise, I spent a few hours observing technology representative of almost 200 years ago!

[@peter8121]

Hi..Yes, I guess we British are proud of our heritage. Isn’t it brilliant that through these replicas, we’re able to experience cutting edge technology of two centuries ago? Actually, I was amazed to learn that two of these original locomotives survive today as static exhibits! “Puffing Billy” in the Science Museum, London and sister engine, “Wylam Dilly” at the Royal Museum in Edinburgh. Amazing...

[@locosdownunder7750]

Puffing Billy is such a gorgeous engine

[@robertgaudry2826]

Thanks to you, something to look at !

[@121ForQuenoty]

Unique! It is absolutely fantastic to have build a replica of "Puffing Billy"! Great Britain must be the best country in the world to take care of their own history!
Greetings from Norway.

[@Engineer5344]

well i can say one thing, richard trevithick would be proud him and all of the other great grandfather's of steam. i may not be old but to see rich heritage still run as i see in the opening of this video. you just cannot replace it.

[@robmasterman]

What can I say Peter, I know in advance that whatever you upload it's going to be excellent, and this is no exception......Faultless throughout...Great to see Puffing Billy in action, and the 9f's departure at the end was a superb sight.....Thanks as always...Bob

[@AbhinavLHB]

Really great ! Thanks for sharing

[@peter8121]

Thanks Bob, Yes luckily we were graced with a window or two of sunshine during Saturday, which together with ‘Puffing Billy’ presented the opportunity to focus on something a little different. Couldn’t resist the 9F departure though… May thanks Peter

[@The_Smith]

As impressive as something like Mallard is, to me, it pales beside a little hand built engine like this.

[@121ForQuenoty]

Wow! So the original "Puffing Billy" also exsist!? I have heard that the original locomotive was in service from 1813 to 1862(!)

[@johndavies9270]

The original Puffing Billy is owned by the Science Museum in London, and 'his' sister, Wylam Dilly, who doesn't get as much attention is, I believe in a museum in Glasgow. Can someone confirm that?

[@GNRA1GreatNorthern1470]

@@johndavies9270 National museum of scotland in edinburgh

[@ianjeffery6744]

Yes - there are photographs dating from 1862, when the 5-foot gauge plateway was relaid and re-gauged. The Hedley engines must have seemed incredibly antiquated by then!

[@robertgaudry2826]

Interesting

[@peter8121]

I understand the loco didn’t venture beyond the confines of Sheringham station thoughout its stay!.

[@jamiegoddard4]

nice< did it gt from weybourne under it's own power, cos that would just be so awesum.

[@timothypurser8729]

Is it a wood skinned boiler? Because it literally looks like only the wood is holding the water in. That would be ridiculous however.

[@fritz46]

The wood is only a cladding for heat insulation.

[@colindhowell]

The original one wasn't, no. It was strictly a coal-hauler, a slow puller of heavy loads, like all locomotives of that early period (pre-1830).

[@y11971alex]

But Puffing Billy was never used for passenger service, right?

[@ncopictures7182]

Correct

[@peter8121]

It has been, but not on this occasion.