Full Steam Ahead for Sir Nigel at the North York Moors Railway

The North York Moors Railway makes an excellent day out when visiting the North of England. Now there is an added incentive to call in at the preserved steam railway set in the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors National Park.

60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, an A4 Pacific class locomotive, has just completed a four year overhaul to return it to its former glory. The refurbishment project has largely been carried out by volunteers at the Pickering based North York Moors Railway (NYMR). Steam enthusiast from around the world helped the Sir Nigel Gresley Preservation Trust, the loco's owners, raise the 750,000 needed to carry out the work. The National Lottery Heritage Fund also contributed 250,000. On its first run back in service large crowds of enthusiasts where in attendance to see the rejuvenated engine, so much so that extra runs had to be hastily added to the timetable as tickets rapidly sold out.

The locomotive, designed by its namesake and built at The Plant Doncaster in 1937, was saved from an ignominious end in 1966 as the era of mainline steam came to a close. Now Sir Nigel Gresley will thrill steam fans once again as it returns to regular service on the beautiful North York Moors line.

Visitors to the region are recommended to pay a call to this venerable old leviathan of the steam age. The North York Moors Railway is based in the magnificent scenery of the North York Moors National Park and links the market town of Pickering with historic Whitby on the coast. The preserved line is over 18 miles long and runs a regular timetable together with numerous special events. The area boasts a wealth of quality bead and breakfast establishments as well good hotels making it an ideal centre for further exploration.

For additional information visit:
http://www.northyorkshiremoorsrailway.com/
http://www.jjxxgg.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/plant150/plantindex.htm

Jonathan Green maintains a number of websites. In particular he writes for http://www.JXG123.co.uk the site for all things Doncastrian.Carmen Blog29660
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