Holt, Weybourne and Sheringham held a joint venture - a 1940's Weekend, in conjunction with North Norfolk Railways on the weekend of 16-17 September 2006. Over the years this annual event has attracted more and more visitors and more and more exhibitors. It is widely felt to be one of the best events of its type in the country. People who attended last year were booking accommodation before they left as they enjoyed it so much!

Hear - The singing of American Tan, Air Raids, the Sheringham Salvation Army Band, Nostalgia Unlimited, gramophone music.
Taste - Wartime rations, Tea, together with Spam sandwiches, from the NAAFI.
See - Jitterbug Dancers, Re-enactment Groups, a collection of 1940s vehicles and veteran and vintage bicycles.
Feel - The excitement, fear, hope and bravery of the Blitz.
Smell - The golden age of Steam.
All in all, experience a very British weekend!

The trains ran approximately every half hour along the route giving ample opportunity for railway enthusiasts and on-lookers plenty of opportunity to travel and take as many photos as they liked. Getting off at all three Stations and browsing through the authentic jumble through to viewing the many authentic exhibitors.

North Norfolk News:
Wartime days of soldiers, spivs, Spam and Spitfires will be recalled at the North Norfolk Railway during its popular 1940s weekend. The event, on September 16-17. has attracted a huge following among Forties fans, with many booking accommodation in the area to enjoy wallowing in the atmosphere, combined with rides on the steam preservation railway. Visitors are encouraged to dress in wartime uniform or 1940s style “civvy” costume - and bring their gas masks and ration books.

The Poppy Line also provides the sound of American Tan with their Andrews Sisters-style harmonies, along with realistic air raid effects and period gramophone music. Re-enactment groups will be dressed as soldiers and characters from the era, and there are jitterbug dancers plus a Battle of Britain flypast on Sunday lunchtime. Naafi-style catering serves up wartime rations, tea and Spam sandwiches, and on Saturday night there is an evening of music and dance with a hog roast and beer at Sheringham station.

There are two wartime workhorse locos, both built in 1944, operating on the line during the weekend. An American S160 made in Ohio was shipped over the England as part of the lend-lease deal as the allies built up to D-Day, and currently normally lives on the Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire. It joins the line's own wartimer, a Glasgow-built 2-10-0 engine that also had a trip overseas - working for Greek Railways hauling the express between Athens and Istanbul.