60007 will not steam again until 2012, the NYMR has confirmed

A4 No.60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley standing outside Grosmont shed

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has confirmed that due to various mechanical problems, the resident A4 Pacific No.60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" is not likley to return to steam again until the Spring of 2012. The locomotive was rostered to make an apperance at the Mid Hants Autumn Steam Gala this weekend, however that is no longer possible. A4 No. 4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" AKA 60019 "Bittern" is billed to take the place of "Gresley".

The A4 was also scheduled to take part in a run to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the A4's being constructed. However, Marcus Robertson has put this on hold, with a view to making it a run to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II next year. All of its Christmas mainline runs have been cancelled as a result of these problems. They are now rostered for other locos, 60019 being the new loco. 

We are in contact with the NYMR and hope to see "Sir Nigel" back on the rails in 2012.

Good Luck and Haste ye back!

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

Mainline correspondent