A KNIGHT in shining armour has come to the rescue of a heritage railway which was without a steam engine for a celebration of nostalgia.

West Coast Railways are to send a mainline steam locomotive, support coach and a diesel pilot to support the Wensleydale Railway during during Leyburn's 1940s weekend.

The heritage railway had previously said that they would be without a steam engine for the weekend but when West Coast Railways, based in Carnforth, heard of their plight, they offered to help with the loan of a locomotive from their fleet.

The exact model that will be running is subject to availability, however it will operate on Saturday and Sunday ferrying visitors between Leeming Bar and Leyburn. It is planned it will pull the 9:45am, 12:30pm and 3:55pm trains from Leeming Bar.

Interim chair of the Wensleydale Railway Carl Les said: “Heritage railways are a family and help each other. People like to travel by steam on heritage railways and it all the more fitting that they can do so this weekend. During the 1940s the only engines in use would have been steam-powered.”