Eric Treacy and Team

Thursday the 13th May 2010 is likely to go down in the history books of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway as a very good day.

For it marks the return of one of Britain’s much loved steam engines – 45428, which is named after the former Bishop of Wakefield, Eric Treacy.

This ‘Black 5’ engine returns to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway after an absence of 11 years. This is how long it has taken to complete the £600,000 restoration programme that has given the engine a new lease of life.

The engine will haul its first passenger service on the Moors at 1330hrs from Grosmont to Pickering and back. But before it does, the unsung heroes responsible for Eric’s restoration will take the opportunity to have a group photograph in front of the engine, in time-honoured tradition, to mark their achievement.

Eric Treacy leaving Grosmont Tunnel

The timing of the return of this engine couldn’t be more fitting, as it marks 32 years to the day since the former Bishop of Wakefield died of a heart attack whilst at Appleby station on the Settle & Carlisle line, waiting for a rail tour.

Bishop Eric Treacy made a name for himself as a prolific railway photographer and his work features in numerous books. The Treacy collection of some 2,000 railway images is housed in the National Railway Museum in York.

The return of this locomotive is also fortuitous as it helps to bolster the line-up of engines in operation at the final weekend of the Railway’s Spring Steam Gala. The event, which has run over the past couple of weekends, has been hit by a spate of rotten luck in recent weeks leading to several engines developing mechanical breakdowns. Consequently the Railway’s line up of steam engines has been severely depleted.

Eric Treacy entering Pickering Station

Philip Benham, General Manager of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, said “The return of Eric Treacy into traffic must be a case of divine intervention! It strengthens the line-up of engines we so badly need for a Gala of this kind.

“We have struggled in recent weeks to deliver the experience expected by our passengers because of the shortage of the all-important steam engines. As a result of the hard work of our staff and volunteers at the Grosmont engine sheds, this splendid engine will be pressed into service without further ado and will join another icon, the A4 Pacific engine “Sir Nigel Gresley” which is also making a return this coming weekend following comprehensive repairs.

“Along with a number of other engines, there will be plenty to see and do over the weekend. With fair weather too, we hope to get back on track and give our passengers a great day out, and an exciting

Eric Treacy

summer season ahead for all our visitors.”