A REVIVED railway run by volunteers is gearing up for a month of steam train operations this summer.

Wensleydale Railway, which has reopened 17 miles of track between Leeming Bar and Redmire for passenger services, has only seen steam locomotives on a visiting charter train last year and at twice yearly Thomas the Tank Engine weekends.

Now, subject to contract and final approval by the railway inspectorate, a 52-year-old former main line steam engine will be based in Wensleydale throughout August and will haul some of the railway's timetabled public transport services.

Wensleydale Railway has been negotiating with the Locomotive Owners Group (Scotland) for the use of the British Railways Standard Class 4 tank engine, 80105, built in Brighton, in 1955, for commuters.

The owners group, who are members of the Scottish Rail Preservation Society, rescued the engine from a scrapyard in Wales in 1973, and it was restored to service in 2000 to run on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway. It is one of 15 survivors from 155 built.

Two others run on the North York Moors Railway and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Steve Deane, mechanical engineering director for Wensleydale Railway, said the loan of 80105 represented a vote of confidence in the company, but he stressed it was not giving up its social, economic and environmental aims of running public transport.

He said it was important for the railway to be used by all types of traffic capable of contributing to the viability of the operation.

Mr Deane said: "We are not changing what we are here to do. Public service trains will still run and the steam engine will be in between them."

Wensleydale Railway plans to use 80105 to haul the first scheduled passenger train of the day from Leeming Bar to Redmire and bring the last train back.

During those times, it will shuttle between Redmire and Leyburn, and the existing diesel multiple units, that have carried passengers since the line was reopened in 2003, will run a feeder service keeping to the regular timetable between Leeming Bar and Leyburn.

On Saturday, May 12, steam will return to Wensleydale when Class K1 62005, built in 1949, marks the 40th anniversary of the Three Dales Tour.