A special rail tour from Derby, Nottingham and Leicester is set to explore parts of the railway in Norfolk and north Suffolk.

This Saturday, July 15 Lowestoft station will play host to rare locomotives as the Branch Line Society brings its ‘Merry Wherry’ tour to the area.

The special charter will be hauled by two rare Class 50 Diesel Locomotives, numbered 50007 and 50008 - and it is expected to be the last Hanson and Hall charter for the foreseeable future, giving visitors to Lowestoft a rare opportunity to view the locomotives and rake of Mark 3 coaches in action.

After arrival in Norwich, the tour will proceed to Lowestoft crossing the River Yare at Reedham and River Waveney at Somerleyton via the lines two historic railway swing bridges before arriving in Lowestoft at around 1.45pm for an extended stop until 2.30pm.

The tour will then briefly return to Norwich before a short visit to Great Yarmouth via Acle, then head to Reedham via Berney Arms before returning to Lowestoft at 4.55pm.

After its second visit to the town, the tour will depart for the Midlands travelling via the Wensum Curve at 5.25pm.

To mark the arrival, Lowestoft station will be hosting another opportunity to view Next Train Gone, an exhibition by acclaimed railway photographer David Pearce - which features more than 90 fascinating images of the region’s railways taken over the past 50 years.

There will also be stalls and a giant railway book and signage sale.

The free to view exhibition will be held inside the station’s restored Parcels Office and open to all between 11am and 6pm.

Tim Miller, a volunteer with the Lowestoft Central Project, said: "We are delighted to be welcoming the Branch Line Society rail tour to Lowestoft on Saturday and will be working to ensure all the travelling guests and those from the area wishing to see this rare excursion receive a very warm welcome to the UK’s most easterly station."