The N2 Overhaul Completion Club launched to raise £100,000

Doncaster, UK – 5 January 2025: The Gresley Society is delighted to announce that the oldest surviving locomotive to the design of Sir Nigel Gresley has moved to the North Norfolk Railway (NNR) to complete its overhaul. The Society’s class N2 GNR No.1744 was withdrawn from service late in 2018for an overhaul that has proved to be considerably more extensive and costly than anticipated. This move is the next step towards its anticipated return to traffic in Spring 2025.

The overhaul began in 2019 but was soon impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown and the war in Ukraine which affected both timescales and costs.Even more significantly, once the locomotive was stripped down, it became evident that far more work was needed than first anticipated. This has meant an extensive programme of both mechanical and boiler workleading to eventual overhaul cost of around £650,000.  

The steam test of the boilersuccessfully completed on Tuesday 8 October 2024at the works of Northern Steam Engineering at Thornabyand the locomotive partially re-assembled for transport to the NNR’s workshops at Weybourne on Thursday 12 December 2024 where the overhaul will now be completed. The NNR has generously agreed to initially fund this work, with the value reimbursed later through operation of the locomotive for a period without charge.

However, The Gresley Society still faces a substantial funding shortfall to meet the final overhaul cost and has launched The N2 Overhaul Completion Club to raise the required £100,000 from 100 members each donating £1,000 in up to eight instalments. Special benefits for those supporting the club include:

• Certificate signed by John Cameron (President) and Philip Benham (Chairman)
• Exclusive opportunity to visit No. 1744 under overhaul at the NNR
• Opportunity to buy a ticket (seat already reserved) on one of the first trains hauled by No. 1744
• Exclusive Limited Edition print (100) of No. 1744 in GNR livery by Matthew Cousins (GRA) 
• One year’s free membership of The Gresley Society Trust

The Club was launched to Gresley Society Members in late November 2024 and has already raised £17,750 from existing members. Details of how to join The N2 Overhaul Completion Club can be found on Gresley.org.

Philip Benham MBE, Chairman of The Gresley Society, commented: 

“This is really good news for the future of No 1744, Sir Nigel Gresley’s oldest surviving locomotive. The Society was created to preserve a working Gresley locomotive, and we owe it to our founders, and for the benefit and education of today’s generation, to maintain that vision. The move to the North Norfolk Railway is one more step towards No. 1744’s return to traffic in Spring 2025 resplendent in its distinctive Great Northern Railway livery.

“I wish to thank Northern Steam Engineering, who have shown great flexibility in agreeing how their work programme on the class N2 could be brought to an orderly close, and the North Norfolk Railway for their positive and constructive approach to the funding problem they could see we faced.

“However, The Gresley Society is not yet out of the woods financially and has therefore launched a major £100,000 financial appeal with The N2 Overhaul Completion Club to fund No. 1744’s return to traffic. I’d encourage all LNER lovers who want to see the class N2 paired once again with the Midland & Great Northern Society’s unique set of Quad-Art carriages to get on board with our appeal!”

– ends-

Notes to Editors

• Class N2 No.1744 (LNER No 4744) is the oldest surviving locomotive to the design of Sir Nigel Gresley, and also the oldest one to have steamed in the preservation era, having first emerged from the North British Locomotive works in February 1921. It is also the only remaining Gresley tank engine. As No 69523, it was purchased into preservation by the Gresley Society in 1963. Over the years, the N2 has been based on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and the Great Central Railway, before coming to the locomotive’s present home on the North Norfolk Railway early in 2017.

• The programme of work during the current overhaul has included:

Mechanical New driving wheel and pony truck tyres New crankpin New expansion links  New safety valve bodies  New blast pipe cap Reverser repairs and replacement screw Axle-box and horn repairs Valve and piston examine

Boiler New front boiler ring  New front and firebox tubeplates New firebox wrapper, top corners and back-head patch Manufacture of new superheater tubes and repair header Manufacturer and fitting of new crown and other stays

• The Gresley Society Trust is a charitable trust whose purpose is to study, educate and celebrate the life and works of Sir Nigel Gresley in particular, and the works and achievements of the London &North Eastern Railway in general.

• Enquiries about membership of the Gresley Society, and donations by cheque, payable to The Gresley Society Trust, should be addressed to: Chris Nettleton, Membership Secretary, 96 Greenfield Drive, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0HN. Details of how to donate on line by credit/debit card and PayPal, or by bank transfer can be found on the Society’s website www.gresley.org.

Issued on behalf of the The Gresley Society Trust (www.gresley.org)

For more information, please contact: 

Ian MacCabe (, 07583 988406) or Mark Allatt (; 07710 878979).

Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, has today (19 June 2025) unveiled a plaque at the entrance to Doncaster station to commemorate one of the country’s greatest railway engineers, Sir Nigel Gresley, who was also born on this day in 1876.

The plaque and information board is situated close to an existing display which includes the names of many of the Gresley designed locomotives built in the nearby engineering workshops and highlights the important role Sir Nigel Gresley played in the development of Doncaster as a major railway centre.

Ben Godfrey, the grandson of Sir Nigel Gresley, said: “I am delighted that the work of my grandfather, and his importance to the great railway centre of Doncaster, is being recognised today on the date of his birth. His most famous locomotives were built here, so there is a very special family connection with Doncaster.” 

Sir Nigel Gresley lived in Thorne Road, Doncaster from 1905, following his appointment as Carriage & Wagon Superintendent, and later Locomotive Engineer with the Great Northern Railway. Although he moved to London in 1923, upon becoming Chief Mechanical Engineer of the newly formed London & North Eastern Railway, the extensive workshops at Doncaster remained his responsibility. 

It was here, in the famous ‘Plant’ works, that Gresley’s big ‘Pacific’ locomotives, and many others, were designed and built. These included Flying Scotsman, acknowledged as the world’s most famous steam engine, and later the streamlined A4 Pacifics. It was one of these locomotives, Mallard, driven by Joe Duddington with fireman Tommy Bray, both Doncaster men, that achieved a world speed record for steam of 126mph in 1938 – a record unrivalled to this day. 

Mayor Ros Jones, said: “Doncaster has a proud connection to the railway industry and this is another splendid acknowledgment to a man who gave so much to our city. It will be a lasting reminder and attraction, to those who live in and visit Doncaster, of his ongoing influence.”

Linda Wain, Engineering Director at LNER, said: “We’re delighted to see this plaque unveiled in honour of Sir Nigel Gresley — one of Britain’s most iconic steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LNER. His legacy is deeply woven into the history of Doncaster and the wider railway industry, and it’s especially fitting to mark his contribution in this year of Railway 200, as we celebrate two centuries of rail innovation and achievement.”

Notes to Editors

For more information about the Gresley Society Trust please contact: Philip Benham ( (07506 478097).

Creation of this commemorative display has been a partnership between:

• London North Eastern Railway
• City of Doncaster Council
• Doncaster Civic Trust
• Doncaster & District Family History Society 
• The Great Northern Railway Society
• The Gresley Society Trust

More information about Sir Nigel Gresley

Sir Nigel Gresley was born in Edinburgh on 19th June 1876, although the family home was at Netherseale in Derbyshire and it is here that he grew up. After school at Marlborough, in 1893 he became a ‘premium apprentice’ at Crewe Works on the London & North Western Railway under the autocratic Chief Mechanical Engineer Francis Webb.  

The young Nigel rose rapidly through the railway industry, including a period on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, before being appointed Carriage & Wagon Superintendent on the Great Northern Railway (GNR) in 1905. Thus began an association with this railway its successor, the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), and Doncaster, that would last for the rest of his life.

By 1911 Nigel Gresley had progressed to the top job on the GNR as Locomotive Engineer, becoming Chief Mechanical Engineer of the enlarged LNER following the ‘railway grouping’ in 1923. This meant a change of location to his new office at London’s King’s Cross station, but design and construction for most of Gresley’s locomotives and much of the rolling stock still took place in Doncaster. 

While he is best known for his Pacific locomotives, Gresley’s achievements were far more than that.  In all he was responsible for the design and building of 2150 locomotives, mostly built in Doncaster, and tens of thousands of carriages and wagons. His locomotives were powerful and modern, while carriages brought new standards of comfort for passengers in the Edwardian period and again in the 1920s and 1930s. 

Gresley pioneered the concept of streamlined trains in Britain believing that steam could equal the achievements of the Germans who had introduced fast diesel railcars between major cities. He was proved right with first The Silver Jubilee, introduced in 1935 between London and Newcastle, and then The Coronation and The West Riding linking the England’s capital respectively with Edinburgh and the West Riding. These trains brought together streamlined locomotives of a revolutionary appearance, the A4 Pacifics, with streamlined carriages – including such innovations as a form of air-conditioning and, for The Coronation,an observation car.

Sir Nigel Gresley was knighted for his career achievements in 1936. He died at home unexpectedly on 5^th April 1941 at the age of 64 while still in office with the LNER.

To commemorate the important role Sir Nigel Gresley played in the life of the city, a plaque and information board is to be unveiled at the front of Doncaster station. Gresley Society members and friends are invited to attend the short unveiling ceremony which will take place at 11:30hrs on Thursday 19 June 2025, the 149th anniversary of Sir Nigel’s birth.

We really need your help: The N2 Overhaul Completion Club

Two years ago, we had to appeal to you, our fellow members, for help with the cost of overhauling the N2. Regrettably, again we need your financial support if our Gresley class N2 is to run again.

You will read in the current edition of the Gresley Observer about the issues that we have faced with the overhaul of No. 1744 and the true scale of the financial challenges we now face has become abundantly clear.

Almost every locomotive overhaul will identify additional items of work, as problems often only become apparent during dismantling, but the number that emerged in 2021 were exceptional, hence our earlier appeal. We subsequently discovered that a new fire-box wrapper was required together with associated backhead work – apparently as a result of defective attention many years ago, and thus well outside our ability to obtain financial redress.

Based on the estimate received, when the overhaul commenced, we believed the budget was sufficient, including a contingency for unplanned work that would inevitably arise. However, this and the funds raised from our last appeal are now exhausted.

At a recent meeting with the overhauling contractor, Northern Steam Engineering, we agreed a plan of work which will see the boiler steam tested and then the locomotive moved to the North Norfolk Railway for the completion of the remaining work. We have signed a 25-year operating agreement with the NNR and are working with them to get No. 1744 back into traffic for the start of the 2025 season next Easter.

The stark truth is that we now face a huge financial shortfall. So, we are launching a fresh appeal to raise £100,000 by the end of 2025 to complete the work and meet our financial obligations – The N2 Overhaul Completion Club.

Special benefits for those supporting the club include:

• Certificate signed by our President and Chairman
• Exclusive opportunity to visit No. 1744 under overhaul at the NNR
• Opportunity to buy a ticket (seat already reserved) on one of the first trains hauled by No. 1744
• Exclusive Limited Edition print (100) of No. 1744 in GNR livery by Matthew Cousins (GRA)
• One year’s free membership of The Gresley Society Trust

No 1744 is the oldest Gresley locomotive still in existence and belongs to all of us. She may have missed out on her centenary year, however, with your help at last she will steam again next year, and for many more years to come.

Please help if you can by joining The N2 Overhaul Completion Club and together let’s get our locomotive back on the rails where she belongs – thank you!

More Information and Form

24 11 N2 Appeal letter v5

We really need your help: The N2 Overhaul Completion Club

Two years ago, we had to appeal to you, our fellow members, for help with the cost of overhauling the N2. Regrettably, again we need your financial support if our Gresley class N2 is to run again.

You will read in the current edition of the Gresley Observer about the issues that we have faced with the overhaul of No. 1744 and the true scale of the financial challenges we now face has become abundantly clear.

Almost every locomotive overhaul will identify additional items of work, as problems often only become apparent during dismantling, but the number that emerged in 2021 were exceptional, hence our earlier appeal. We subsequently discovered that a new fire-box wrapper was required together with associated backhead work – apparently as a result of defective attention many years ago, and thus well outside our ability to obtain financial redress.

Based on the estimate received, when the overhaul commenced, we believed the budget was sufficient, including a contingency for unplanned work that would inevitably arise. However, this and the funds raised from our last appeal are now exhausted.

At a recent meeting with the overhauling contractor, Northern Steam Engineering, we agreed a plan of work which will see the boiler steam tested and then the locomotive moved to the North Norfolk Railway for the completion of the remaining work. We have signed a 25-year operating agreement with the NNR and are working with them to get No. 1744 back into traffic for the start of the 2025 season next Easter.

The stark truth is that we now face a huge financial shortfall. So, we are launching a fresh appeal to raise £100,000 by the end of 2025 to complete the work and meet our financial obligations – The N2 Overhaul Completion Club.

Special benefits for those supporting the club include:

• Certificate signed by our President and Chairman
• Exclusive opportunity to visit No. 1744 under overhaul at the NNR
• Opportunity to buy a ticket (seat already reserved) on one of the first trains hauled by No. 1744
• Exclusive Limited Edition print (100) of No. 1744 in GNR livery by Matthew Cousins (GRA)
• One year’s free membership of The Gresley Society Trust

No 1744 is the oldest Gresley locomotive still in existence and belongs to all of us. She may have missed out on her centenary year, however, with your help at last she will steam again next year, and for many more years to come.

Please help if you can by joining The N2 Overhaul Completion Club and together let’s get our locomotive back on the rails where she belongs – thank you!

More Information and Form

24 11 N2 Appeal letter v5

Doncaster, UK – 20 September 2024: The Gresley Society and the North Norfolk Railway have reached an agreement that secures the long-term future of the oldest surviving locomotive to the design of Sir Nigel Gresley, Class N2 No. 1744 (BR No. 69523). It should also see the engine finally running again in 2025 after its prolonged overhaul.  

Owned by the Gresley Society since 1963, the engine came out of traffic in 2018 for a heavy overhaul that was expected to take no more than three years. The Society had budgeted for the work, with what was expected to be more than sufficient funds, including a margin to deal with the unexpected items that inevitably occur with steam engine overhauls.

Unfortunately, the overhaul was to be hit by the double-whammy of Covid-19, and a much greater list work required than could have been envisaged. Not only did this become ever more protracted, but the increased expenditure involved became a major challenge for the Society. As recently as March this year, it was expected that the overhaul would finish in 2024, but it was not to be, with the cost of remaining work putting completion at risk.     

Under the agreement now reached, overhaul contractor, Northern Steam Engineering, will complete the small amount of work outstanding on the boiler, which passed its hydraulic test in June 2024. The boiler and the rest of the locomotive will then be moved to the North Norfolk Railway’s workshops at Weybourne for completion of the overhaul. The Railway has generously agreed to initially fund this work, with the value reimbursed later through operation of the locomotive for a period without charge. This should see No 1744 returning to steam on the North Norfolk Railway in Spring 2025. 

The Gresley Society still faces a substantial funding shortfall to meet both the final overhaul cost, and future overhauls. New fund-raising initiatives will be launched shortly to tackle these twin challenges.

Philip Benham, Gresley Society Chairman, said:

“ This is really good news for the future of No. 1744, Sir Nigel Gresley’s oldest surviving locomotive. The Society was created to preserve a working Gresley locomotive, and we owe it to our founders, and for the benefit and education of today’s generation, to maintain that vision. This agreement should ensure the N2’s future as a working locomotive for many years to come.

“ I especially wish to pay tribute to the North Norfolk Railway for their positive and constructive approach to the funding problem they could see we faced. We look forward to seeing No. 1744 back in steam and performing a useful role for the Railway.  

“ I also wish to thank Northern Steam Engineering, who have shown great flexibility in agreeing how their work programme on the N2 could be brought to an orderly close. As observed before, this has probably been the loco’s most extensive ever overhaul, at least in preservation, and the work looks to be first class.”  

Graham Hukins, North Norfolk Railway General Manager, said:

“ We are pleased to play a key role in returning 1744 to traffic and securing her future on the NNR for 25 years. The locomotive is ideally suited to the line and with Midland & Great Northern Society’s unique set of Quad-Art carriages also resident here, 1744 will often be paired with carriages that were synonymous with the class.

“ 2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of the NNR operating our first passenger train. We intend mark the milestone in style and highlight five decades of progress – the welcome return to traffic of the N2 is an exciting prospect and just one aspect of our year of celebrations.”

Mr Benham added:

“  The Gresley Society is not yet out of the wood financially, and will shortly be launching a major £100,000 financial appeal to sustain the long-term future of the N2 locomotive and the Society, and our other projects.”

 

OVERVIEW

1. Class N2 No. 1744 (LNER No. 4744) is the oldest surviving locomotive to the design of Sir Nigel Gresley, and also the oldest one to have steamed in the preservation era, having first emerged from the North British Locomotive works in February 1921. It is also the only remaining Gresley tank engine. As No 69523, it was purchased into preservation by the Gresley Society in 1963. Over the years, the N2 has been based on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and the Great Central Railway, before coming to the loco’s present home on the North Norfolk Railway early in 2017.
2. The programme of work during the current overhaul has included:

Mechanical New driving wheel and pony truck tyres New crankpin New expansion links New safety valve bodies New blast pipe cap Reverser repairs and replacement screw Axle-box and horn repairs Valve and piston examine

Boiler New front boiler ring New front and firebox tubeplates New firebox wrapper, top corners and back-head patch Manufacture of new superheater tubes and repair header Manufacturer and fitting of new crown and other stays

3. The Gresley Society Trust is a charitable trust whose purpose is to study, educate and celebrate the life and works of Sir Nigel Gresley in particular, and the works and achievements of the London & North Eastern Railway in general.
4. The North Norfolk Railway PLC operates steam and heritage diesel trains along 5½ miles of restored track from Sheringham to Weybourne and Holt. The line is one of the county’s most popular tourist attractions, welcoming around 165,000 passengers per annum. Steam trains run between April and October – see nnrailway.co.uk for timetables, fares and to book. ADVANCE BOOKING RECOMMENDED.
5. The railway stages a number of spectacular special events every year including the annual 1940s Weekend, the Norfolk Lights Express and the season Santa Specials. Other activities include luxury dining aboard The North Norfolkman. This railway is mainly run by a team of dedicated volunteers and is supported by The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society – a registered charity.
6. Enquiries about membership of the Gresley Society, and donations by cheque, payable to The Gresley Society Trust, should be addressed to: Chris Nettleton, Membership Secretary, 96 Greenfield Drive, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0HN. Details of how to donate on line by credit/debit card and PayPal, or by bank transfer can be found on the Society’s website gresley.org.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of the The Gresley Society Trust (www.gresley.org)

 

For more information, please contact:

The Gresley Society – Ian MacCabe (, 07583 988406) or Mark Allatt (; 07710 878979);

North Norfolk Railway – Graham Hukins, General Manager: 07387 260209 

2024 12 01 N2 moves to NNR v1

FUTURE OF OLDEST GRESLEY LOCOMOTIVE AGREED

The Gresley Society and the North Norfolk Railway have reached an agreement that secures the long-term future of the oldest surviving locomotive to the design of Sir Nigel Gresley, Class N2 No 1744 (BR No 69523). It should also see the engine finally running again in 2025 after its prolonged overhaul.  

Owned by the Gresley Society since 1963, the engine came out of traffic in 2018 for a heavy overhaul that was expected to take no more than three years. The Society had budgeted for the work, with what was expected to be more than sufficient funds, including a margin to deal with the unexpected items that inevitably occur with steam engine overhauls.

Unfortunately, the overhaul was to be hit by the double-whammy of Covid-19, and a much greater list work required than could have been envisaged. Not only did this become ever more protracted, but the increased expenditure involved became a major challenge for the Society. As recently as March this year, it was expected that the overhaul would finish in 2024, but it was not to be, with the cost of remaining work putting completion at risk.     

Under the agreement now reached, overhaul contractor, Northern Steam Engineering, will complete the small amount of work outstanding on the boiler, which passed its hydraulic test in June 2024. The boiler and the rest of the locomotive will then be moved to the North Norfolk Railway’s workshops at Weybourne for completion of the overhaul. The Railway has generously agreed to initially fund this work, with the value reimbursed later through operation of the locomotive for a period without charge. This should see No 1744 returning to steam on the North Norfolk Railway in Spring 2025. 

The Gresley Society still faces a substantial funding shortfall to meet both the final overhaul cost, and future overhauls. New fund-raising initiatives will be launched shortly to tackle these twin challenges.

Philip Benham, Gresley Society Chairman, said:

“ This is really good news for the future of No 1744, Sir Nigel Gresley’s oldest surviving locomotive. The Society was created to preserve a working Gresley locomotive, and we owe it to our founders, and for the benefit and education of today’s generation, to maintain that vision. This agreement should ensure the N2’s future as a working locomotive for many years to come.

“ I especially wish to pay tribute to the North Norfolk Railway for their positive and constructive approach to the funding problem they could see we faced. We look forward to seeing No 1744 back in steam and performing a useful role for the Railway.  

“ I also wish to thank Northern Steam Engineering, who have shown great flexibility in agreeing how their work programme on the N2 could be brought to an orderly close. As observed before, this has probably been the loco’s most extensive ever overhaul, at least in preservation, and the work looks to be first class.”  

Graham Hukins, North Norfolk Railway General Manager, said:

“ We are pleased to play a key role in returning 1744 to traffic and securing her future on the NNR for 25 years. The locomotive is ideally suited to the line and with Midland & Great Northern Society’s unique set of Quad-Art carriages also resident here, 1744 will often be paired with carriages that were synonymous with the class.

“ 2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of the NNR operating our first passenger train. We intend mark the milestone in style and highlight five decades of progress – the welcome return to traffic of the N2 is an exciting prospect and just one aspect of our year of celebrations.”

Mr Benham added:

“  The Gresley Society is not yet out of the wood financially, and will shortly be launching a major £100,000 financial appeal to sustain the long-term future of the N2 locomotive and the Society, and our other projects.”

 

OVERVIEW

1. Class N2 No. 1744 (LNER No 4744) is the oldest surviving locomotive to the design of Sir Nigel Gresley, and also the oldest one to have steamed in the preservation era, having first emerged from the North British Locomotive works in February 1921. It is also the only remaining Gresley tank engine. As No 69523, it was purchased into preservation by the Gresley Society in 1963. Over the years, the N2 has been based on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and the Great Central Railway, before coming to the loco’s present home on the North Norfolk Railway early in 2017.

2. The programme of work during the current overhaul has included:

Mechanical New driving wheel and pony truck tyres New crankpin New expansion links      New safety valve bodies New blast pipe cap Reverser repairs and replacement screw Axle-box and horn repairs Valve and piston examine

Boiler New front boiler ring New front and firebox tubeplates New firebox wrapper, top corners and back-head patch Manufacture of new superheater tubes and repair header Manufacturer and fitting of new crown and other stays

3. The Gresley Society Trust is a charitable trust whose purpose is to study, educate and celebrate the life and works of Sir Nigel Gresley in particular, and the works and achievements of the London & North Eastern Railway in general.

4. The North Norfolk Railway PLC operates steam and heritage diesel trains along 5½ miles of restored track from Sheringham to Weybourne and Holt. The line is one of the county’s most popular tourist attractions, welcoming around 165,000 passengers per annum. Steam trains run between April and October – see nnrailway.co.uk for timetables, fares and to book. ADVANCE BOOKING RECOMMENDED.

5. The railway stages a number of spectacular special events every year including the annual 1940s Weekend, the Norfolk Lights Express and the season Santa Specials. Other activities include luxury dining aboard The North Norfolkman. This railway is mainly run by a team of dedicated volunteers and is supported by The Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society – a registered charity.

6. Enquiries about membership of the Gresley Society, and donations by cheque, payable to The Gresley Society Trust, should be addressed to: Chris Nettleton, Membership Secretary, 96 Greenfield Drive, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0HN. Details of how to donate on line by credit/debit card and PayPal, or by bank transfer can be found on the Society’s website gresley.org.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of the The Gresley Society Trust (www.gresley.org)

 

For more information, please contact:

The Gresley Society – Ian MacCabe (, 07583 988406) or Mark Allatt (; 07710 878979);

North Norfolk Railway – Graham Hukins, General Manager: 07387 260209