We are pleased to announce the conversion of steam locomotive USATC No. 2253 Omaha from coal to oil. This will be the first full-size steam locomotive oil conversion in the UK since the end of steam, and it is a crucial step forward in future-proofing the busiest heritage railway in the country.

No. 2253 was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in America and shipped to Britain in May 1943 to work on the LNER from its base at Neville Hill depot in Leeds. Designed by the United States Army Transportation Corps, No. 2253 was one of 800 “S160-Class” locomotives manufactured in North America and shipped to Great Britain in support of the war effort. Following the end of the Second World War, it was bought by the Polish State Railway and became TR203-288. It was brought back to Britain in 1992 after reportedly having a full overhaul and, in 2013, No. 2253 was sold to Peter Best.

Owner Peter Best was recently awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to steam and heritage railways. Peter said seeing young people on a train hauled by one of his locomotives gives him “huge pleasure and pride".

The NYMR Engineering Department will be assisted in this oil conversion by FMW Solutions, a railroad contractor and consulting firm based in Duluth, Minnesota, USA, which specialises in mechanical and engineering design and alternative fuel technology and research. FMW President Davidson Ward said, “We are honoured to assist on this trans-Atlantic effort, with key firing components being manufactured both at our workshop in Tennessee and by the NYMR at Grosmont. The final installation is anticipated to take place on the NYMR.”

Oil Conversion Time Frame:

• No. 2253 returns to NYMR for 2024 Annual Steam Gala
• No. 2253 will then form part of the NYMR home fleet locomotives
• FMW Solutions is currently underway with designing the oil burning equipment
• NYMR will convert the locomotive from coal-to-oil over the 2024/2025 winter period

Paul Middleton, Director of Mechanical Engineering at the NYMR, said, “The conversion of No. 2253 will help to not only reduce the railways overall sustainability strategy, including reducing particulate emissions, but will also help to bring resilience during hot weather periods.

“In recent years, domestic sources for high-quality steam coal have dried up in the UK and sourcing coal from across the world is extremely expensive. Pre-pandemic we were paying £165 per ton and at its peak it reached £540 per ton. The conversion of No. 2253 to oil is key to ensuring the NYMR is resilient and can operate during the peak summer months.

Coal is part of our history and there is a balance between keeping our stories alive and bringing to life the importance of the railways, especially as next year is a major milestone with the celebration of Rail 200“.

The railway's longer term plan includes the conversion of the locomotive No. 3672 Dame Vera Lynn, the austerity class locomotive. The railway, alongside dedicated volunteers, is proactively fundraising to get this engine back in operation.  http://www.nymr.co.uk/dameveralynn

Image courtesy: Charlotte Graham