As part of this year's Annual Steam Gala, North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG) will be taking over the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) on Thursday 26 September with a celebration of NELPG locomotives, drivers and cleaners!
Locomotives operating will include K1 Locomotive 62005 which will arrive back at the railway this September making a guest appearance.
62005 was designed by the London and North Eastern Railway, built by the North British Locomotive Company in their Queen’s Park Works, Glasgow as NBL no 26609 and delivered to the fledgling British Railways in June 1949.
A young Nigel Gresley’s first loco design was influenced by the popularity of the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement in North America. The result was the GNR class H2 later LNER original class K1.
This developed into Gresley’s highly successful K2 design that served the three railway eras, GNR, LNER and British Railways.
J27 65894 (NER P3 2392) will be operating, double headed with the Lambton Colliery No. 29.
J27 65894 (NER P3 2392) will be operating, double headed with the Lambton Colliery No. 29.
The P3s were powerful hard working engines which, like the T2 0-8-0s, lasted until the end of steam in the North East of England. Built in 1904 by Kitson of Leeds, Works Number 4263, for Lambton Collieries, No. 29 was the first 0-6-2T to be employed on that system and was later joined by No.5. No. 29 was also overhauled at Philadelphia in 1968, by which time the ‘main line’ running over BR tracks had ceased and it was made redundant with the other remaining steam locomotives on 15 February, 1969. With 65 years in service she must be one of the longest-working steam locomotives in the UK.
Additionally LNER Q6 No. 63395 will be operating. The Q6 was an unglamorous freight workhorse that plied the tracks of the north east of England for 50 years. Remarkably, along with the class J27s, it was one of the very few pre-Grouping steam locomotives to survive right up to the end of steam on British Railways.
Chris Price, General Manager at NYMR, said: “NELPG was formed in 1966 to preserve examples of the last two remaining classes of North Eastern Railway (NER) freight locomotives which were then still operating in the North East of England, before they were finally withdrawn by British Railways. This was successfully achieved and the locomotives were restored by the charity's volunteers before they went to the NYMR where they continue to operate. Like the NYMR, NELPG are a registered charity, with both organisations charitable aims to preserve the golden age of steam for everyone to experience and enjoy. This is a great extension to the Annual Steam Gala, showcasing the stunning engines that have been carefully restored and cared for by the group and is an event, not to be missed."
*Standard Fare Prices for NELPG Gala* Tickets for the NELPG Gala (Pickering to Grosmont returns) Adult/Concession £25.00, Child £12.50 and Family £52.00 (2x Adults & 2x Children)
