NER loco for Beamish becomes latest new-build

BEAMISH Museum has revived its plan to construct a replica North Eastern Railway Class K 0-4-0T, later known as LNER ‘Y8s’.

Funded by a private benefactor, it will be built in Darlington by North Bay Railway Engineering Services. Due for completion in 2025, the loco is due to be numbered 559 and carry Gateshead works’ version of NER green, named Saxony Green, with black and white lining to the tank sides and cab back sheet, and white lining of the black tyre walls on the wheels. The tank sides bear the initials ‘NER’ whilst the works and number plate is mounted on the cab backsheet.

It will be based at Rewley Road, the museum’s re-created NER railway station, operating over the branch line.

Some of the boiler components have already been cut and delivered to

NBRES, including the blackhead, tubeplate and other misc items.

The barrels for the boiler and firebox flue are being rolled and it is expected that the boiler assembly will be complete by the close of the year.

Meanwhile, the overhaul of the museum’s Sharp Stewart 0-4-4T Dunrobin at the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is set to resume after it was paused in 2020. Discussions have been held between the museum and the SVR regarding a restart of this work and the programme for completion, hopefully with the aim of completing the project within the next two years.