Autumn sees the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) carry on its 40th Anniversary celebrations with not one, but two weekends of intense steam traction to look forward to.
The NYMR will be holding its annual Autumn Steam Gala (27-29 September) with a great selection of locomotives including visiting Class S160 ‘USA’ 2-8-0 No 6046 and the first appearance back in traffic after overhaul of 9F Class 2-10-0 No 92214.
As an extra special treat the NYMR has squeezed another event into its extensive event calendar with the unique appearance of 2 LNER Pacific’s in ‘BR blue’, A1 Pacific No 60163 ‘Tornado’ and A4 Pacific No 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ at its LNER Weekend (4-6 October), along with B1 No 61264. This loco will be making one of its last appearances as one time York based classmate No 61002 ‘Impala’, believed to be the last B1 to travel over the NYMR route prior to closure by British railways in 1965. Former North Eastern Railway Q6 No 63395 is also scheduled to appear, but this depends on completion of firebox repairs at Crewe in time.
Philip Benham, General Manager explains, “We are delighted to be continuing our 40th anniversary celebrations with our popular Autumn Steam Gala event and then the following weekend we hope to be able to bring together locos celebrating the works of four generations of Chief Locomotive Engineer for the North East – Sir Vincent Raven, Sir Nigel Gresley, Edward Thompson and Arthur Peppercorn”.
The home based fleet at both events will be headed up by the 112mph record holding streamlined Pacific ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ 60007, the fastest steam locomotive since World War 11 while at the other end of the scale the 1904 built Lambton, Hetton & South Joicey Colliery 0-6-2t No 29 reflects the 40th anniversary year of the loco’s participation on the opening of NYMR in 1973.
No 6046, will also be making an appearance at both events, Phil Crawshaw Traction &Rolling Stock Engineer explains that “6046 is privately owned by Grieg Wilson who has recently restored the loco to working order. It is an example of the so-called Liberty Engines built at the behest of the US Department of Defence, for use in the UK and Europe during and immediately after the Second World War.
“Approximately 800 came to the UK in the build-up to D-Day, many working on the LNER before moving to Europe after ‘D Day’. While No 6046 never actually came to the UK, being shipped direct from the US to a then recently liberated France, it is typical of the class. Ironically the tender chassis now attached to 6046 did come to the UK and ended up working on the Great Western Railway. 6046 worked all over France, into Italy and eventually was absorbed into MAV (Hungarian Railway) Stock with the number 411.144.”
Both the Autumn Steam Gala and LNER Weekend will feature the Great Western Saloon coupled up to LHSJC 0-6-2t No 29 (at a special supplement). Demonstration freight trains will run on various days at both events, and it is hoped to include runs along the Esk Valley Line to Battersby. There will be a chance to travel in style through the heart of the North York Moors including historic pre-war teak carriages, or passengers can upgrade to First Class Travel in recently refurbished compartment seats.
Scarborough & District Railway Modellers will be displaying a model railway exhibition featuring OO, O & N Gage layouts in the Learning Centre on Platform 2 throughout both weekends.
Adult day rover tickets start from £23. Book your Autumn Steam Gala tickets online now www.nymr.co.uk. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs a daily service from Whitby to Pickering until 3rd November. For more information please call 01751 472508, book online www.nymr.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @NYMR and Facebook @North Yorkshire Moors Railway