34092 City of Wells to replace Union of South Africa Services

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has just been informed that 60009 Union of South Africa will not be able to run along the 18-mile heritage line due to the locomotive needing new piston rings and valve rings which cannot be sourced in time for her visit. The LNER Class A4 steam locomotive was due to operate over the railways 2019 opening event, however despite the charity's best effort this has not been possible.

Due to the hard work of the staff and volunteers the NYMR has managed to secure a replacement engine, 34092 City of Wells, a Bulleid Light Pacific, which will now operate on the published timetabled services.

Chris Price, General Manager at NYMR, said: “Working within the heritage preservation world, situations such as this bring home how fragile these historic locomotives are and the challenges associated with maintaining old equipment. Of course we are disappointed by this but we are also confident that having 34092 City of Wells, travelling across the moors will be a fantastic sight to see.

I would like to thank the East Lancashire Railway for their cooperation and support during this time. Their support has been invaluable and as a gesture of goodwill we have agreed to a visit of 926 Repton to their Autumn Gala which takes place 18 - 20 October 2019”.

Any passengers booked on these services should arrive for their scheduled journey as planned. All seat allocations still apply with passengers being offered free tea and coffee on board as a thank you for their understanding and support.

34092 City of Wells will depart at 9:30, 12:40 & 15:40* from Grosmont Station on 30, 31 March and 2, 3, 4, 6 & 7 April 2019.   

34092 was constructed at Brighton Works in 1949 and later that year it was named Wells which was then changed to City of Wells in 1950. It was initially allocated to Stewarts Lane where it worked out of Victoria to the Kent coast. In November 1964, it was withdrawn from service and sent to Woodham Brothers at Barry for scrap where it arrived in March 1965. It remained there until October 1971 when a group from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway bought it. In 2017 agreement was reached between the owners and the East Lancashire Railway for the railway to buy the locomotive.

For more information about NYMR please visit www.nymr.co.uk.

*15:40 service will operate only on 3, 4, 6 & 7 April

Contributor: BestPix / Alamy Stock Photo.

ENDS

For further information please contact Gough Bailey Wright on 01527 579 555

Louise Iles – PR Account Director: [email protected]

Sam Wright – Account Manager: [email protected]

Paige Dawson – PR Assistant: [email protected]

Notes for editors

Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey aims to raise £2,500,000. Keeping 18 miles of railway with more than thirty bridges through the difficult countryside of the North York Moors in top-notch condition is a continuing challenge. The 180-year old railway already invests around £1 million annually but there’s only so much the fare box can generate and much more is needed for the railway bridges and its 50-100 year old vehicles to remain viable.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a not for profit charitable trust providing memorable experiences for visitors and fulfilment for volunteers and staff through the operation of Britain’s most popular heritage railway between Whitby and Pickering.

• The NYMR cares for operating and developing the railway it owns from Pickering to Grosmont.
• The heritage railway operates over Network Rail from Grosmont to Whitby.
• The charity provides a high quality, safe and authentic evocation of the steam age for the public.
• The NYMR is an Educational Charitable Trust. Providing education for all ages.
• The railway is a fully accredited museum.