DEPG’S Class 47 finally heads to Yorkshire!

and Electric Preservation Group’s 47077 North Star has finally been collected from Williton on the West Somerset Railway to make its long-planned journey to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR). The locomotive, which was repainted into BR blue livery prior to the start of the coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, was originally due to go on a two-year hire to the NYMR in 2020.

The move has been repeatedly delayed due to the pandemic and restrictions imposed by Highways England on some routes for abnormal loads – which included the movement on locomotives on low loaders. Despite consideration being given to moving the locomotive by rail, it was finally collected by a low loader on January 13 for the journey to Pickering to begin.

The road move was completed in two parts, with it initially moving from Williton to Alleley’s base at Studley, in Warwickshire, before continuing north to Pickering on January 17.

At the time of writing, it is unknown when 47077 will make its NYMR debut.