Moors railway is setting for historic journey

5:32pm Thursday 6th September 2007

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A RESTORED locomotive steamed through the North York Moors today to mark the 40th anniversary of the last day of steam trains in Britain.

The Q6 loco steamed between Grosmont and Goathland, on the North York Moors railway, 40 years after it last carried main line passengers.

The event was organised by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group to coincide with the anniversary. The Q6 last ran on September 9 1967, the day that steam trains were withdrawn from service.

The locomotive was overhauled at the group's premises at Hopetown carriageworks, in Darlington.

The boiler restoration alone cost £100,000 and was part funded by a Heritage Lottery grant. It was carried out on the North York Moors Railway, while the mechanical work was done in Darlington.

The boiler was lifted back onto the engine frame in November 2006 and final reassembly began. Earlier this year, the loco was painted in black British Rail livery.

Now based permanently on the North York Moors track, the train has yet to start its full running in, but it will eventually carry passengers regularly on the heritage route.

The 110-ton Q6 was introduced to the North Eastern Railway in 1901 and 120 of the engines were built at the NER's Darlington works between 1913 and 1918.

The group's loco saw service across the North-East before being transferred to Sunderland South Dock on in 1965. From there, it worked south to Vane Tempest, Seaham, Teesside and South Hetton and north to the Tyne, ending its days where they had begun almost 50 years before.

It was the final Q6 to be overhauled at Darlington in September 1965 and, along with 63387 from Hartlepool, was the last Q6 in service.

Following withdrawal, it was moved into store at Tyne Dock shed pending preservation.