NORTH EASTERN DUO SHINE IN NYMR ‘1948’ GALA

In-steam pairing of BR unlined black ‘J27’ and ‘Q6’ marks preservation first.

Despite the impromptu 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials theme, a pair of North Eastern Region freight locomotives stole the show at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala on September 28-30.

The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group’s ‘J27’

No. 65894 and recently overhauled ‘Q6’ No. 63395 steamed together in BR unlined black for the first time in preservation, recalling the days when both locomotives were among the last pre-Grouping engines in service at the end of North Eastern Region steam in 1967.

Although not planned as such, with visiting air-smoothed ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34081 92 Squadron lining up alongside the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘28XX’ No. 2857 and resident ‘Black Five’ No. 5428 and ‘B1’ No. 1264, the gala had a distinct Exchange Trials feel, as the quartet were all examples of designs which participated in the trials 70 years ago.

Complementing the 1948 theme was the ‘B1’, which was turned out as classmate and Exchange Trials veteran No. 1251 Oliver Bury. The Thompson 4-6-0 took on this guise for the Great Central Railway’s own 1948-themed Autumn Steam Gala on October 4-7, where it was to be reunited with No. 34081.

In another change of appearance, the ‘Moors’ resident ‘Schools’ No. 926 Repton ran without smoke deflectors for the first two days of the event; the first time the Maunsell ‘V’ class has hauled trains in this guise in preservation. The 4-4-0 shared the Southern limelight with Nene Valley Railway-based 92 Squadron.

The third visitor to the gala was the Talyllyn Railway’s Andrew Barclay 0-4-0WT No. 6 ‘Douglas’. Painted in ‘Royal Air Force blue’ to mark the 100th anniversary of the formation of the RAF, the former RAF Calshot locomotive was not in steam for the event, and instead was placed on a well wagon as part of the NYMR’s demonstration freight train.

Completing the line-up were two resident BR Standards, ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 No. 76079 and ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80136.

GAVIN THOMSON Steaming together in BR unlined black for the first time since the end of North Eastern Region steam in 1967, NELPG’s ‘J27’ No. 65894 and ‘Q6’ No. 63395 pass Moorgates on September 28.

BRADLEY LANGTON ‘B1’ No. 1264 – temporarily disguised as classmate No. 1251 Oliver Bury – rolls out of Grosmont tunnel on September 29. The Thompson 4-6-0 hauled shuttle services between Whitby and Grosmont, top-and-tailed with one of the line’s diesels.