The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is pleased to have hit a hat-trick with three steam engines back on track after overhauls. 80136 is the third locomotive to emerge from the ever-busy Motive Power Depot, running for the first time on Tuesday 23rd August 2016.

80136 follows the return to steam of two more locomotives that have been out of action for around eighteen months each. 44806, a “Black Five” locomotive built in 1944, needed a new tender and general overhaul of running gear – she returned on 21 July. Meanwhile 61264, a 1947 “Thompson B1” and one of only two in existence, had been sidelined with cracks in her main driving wheels, necessitating them being removed, sent away for specialist repair and refitted to the loco.

One of the major milestones in restoring a steam locomotive is that moment when the boiler is reunited with the frames; a moment which occurred for 80136 on 21 June 2016. She passed her insurance exam just one month later on 21 July – a very quick turnaround indeed! After finishing touches and a new coat of paint, all that was left was to track down and fix a mysterious leak in one of the main steam pipe joints and she was ready to haul her first passengers.

80136 is a British Railways Standard Class 4 Tank, she was built in Brighton in 1956 and retired in 1965, just nine years later. 80136 has recently moved to the line from the Crewe Heritage Centre and arrived in April 2016 in pieces. Since then, the expert team at the Motive Power Depot in Grosmont have been working hard to get her back to working order.

Motive Power Manager, Paul Middleton and his hard-working team can’t rest on their laurels just yet. Aside from keeping all these temperamental old machines running, there are more locos approaching the end of long layoffs: the two Southern Railway locomotives “Hartland” and “Repton”, and 80135 (another Standard 4 Tank and sister to 80136) are all slated to return during 2017.

When visiting the railway, be sure to take a stroll through the tunnel from Grosmont station to visit the engine sheds and see what the team are up to!

North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the most historic lines in the North of England, taking visitors on picturesque journeys along an 18 mile railway line aboard steam and heritage diesel trains.

The railway passes through stunning scenery, from wooded valleys to beautiful countryside, stopping at charming villages and spectacular seaside locations.

For regular news, updates and competitions, North Yorkshire Moors Railway is also on Facebook facebook.com/northyorkshiremoorsrailway/ and Twitter twitter.com/nymr.

 

ENDS

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

Laura Quigley – PR Account Director: [email protected]

Emma Portman – Account Executive: [email protected]

Sam Wright – Junior Account Executive: [email protected]


Notes for editors

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a non - profitable 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 we own from Pickering to Grosmont.
  • Operating over Network Rail from Grosmont to Whitby.
  • Provides a high quality, safe and authentic evocation of the steam age for the public.
  • Educational Charitable Trust. Providing education for all ages.
  • The NYMR is a fully accredited museum.