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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 (ian@gresley.org, 07583 988406) or Mark Allatt (mail@markallatt.com; 07710 878979);
North Norfolk Railway – Graham Hukins, General Manager: 07387 260209 ghukins@nnrailway.co.uk
