Bure Valley Railway

The flat Norfolk landscape is split by the Bure Valley railway that runs a narrow-gauge steam railway service between Alysham to Wroxham.

I could set my clock by their regular as clockwork service, and more often than not I crossed paths with the train as it passed through Buxton at 10:22 each morning.

There were different engines in service along this railway line, but the one I saw most often was the crimson one. I did manage to photograph the blue one, but didn’t have my camera with me when I saw the black, yellow and green one. I became a bit of a train-spotter during my stay, and these steam engines were just one more familiar sight in the countryside that I came to rely on seeing.

When I fancied a change in scenery, I took the dogs along the path that followed the railway line. This path took me past the local Buxton train station, and then I could cut across the fields and circle back to the Old Mill and head back to the house.

It was very rare that I ran into another human being, let alone another dog walker. Mostly I just saw lots of trees, and I’m happy to say — a lot of blue sky. But even when the sun didn’t shine there was no keeping these dogs inside.

They were just as enthusiastic about taking their daily walk – come rain or shine. And on those occasions when it was pouring down with rain, the railway line was a good place to shelter under until the worst of the rain abated.

The countryside smells so fresh and clean during these rain storms, and it doesn’t matter to me or the dogs that we end up dripping wet. They even seem to relish bath time when they get back to the house, because they know they can curl up in front of the log-burner for a snooze.

Bure Valley Railway Information

If you’re in the neighborhood and want to travel on the railway here’s the information from the Bure Valley Railway website and link to their timetable.

The Bure Valley Railway is Norfolk’s longest fifteen inch gauge line, which runs between the ancient market town of Aylsham and Wroxham, the ‘Capital of the Norfolk Broads’ with country stations serving the villages of Brampton, Buxton and Coltishall. The 18 mile round trip runs through the picturesque Bure valley countryside following the meandering river through meadowland and ancient pasture stopping occasionally at small country villages.

• Click here for the Bure Valley Railway Timetable