Welcome to the web site of the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust
Ltd, a registered charity, dedicated to the preservation and continued operation
of iconic A4 'Pacific' 4498 / 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley since 1966.
Nº4498 Sir Nigel Gresley was the 100th Gresley Pacific built by the
Great Northern Railway / London and North Eastern Railway. The locomotive was built at Doncaster,
works Nº1863, entering service in 1937 following a naming ceremony at Marylebonestation on
26th November. The locomotive was mainly based at London King's Cross with a spell at Grantham
during World War II. The locomotive was briefly re-numbered as Nº7 before becoming 60007 when
the LNER was merged into British Railways. On 3rd June 1956 Sir Nigel Gresley had the honour
of hauling the Royal Train from King's Cross to York with H.M the Queen on board. The
'Stephenson Locomotive Society Special' on the 23rd May 1959 was the first train in the UK
with a booked or advertised schedule of over 100 m.p.h. and on that trip 60007 set the official
post-war speed record for steam traction of 112 mph. In 1963 the locomotive moved to Scotland and
was used on express services between Aberdeen and Glasgow.
|
Sir Nigel Gresley at Naburn with the Flying Scotsman
Photo © The Gresley Society Collection. |
The 'A4 Preservation Society' was formed in 1964 and saved Sir Nigel
Gresley for posterity in 1966. After an overhaul at Crewe the locomotive returned to steam in
1967 with the organisation becoming 'The A4 Locomotive Society Ltd'. In 1999 the
organisation became the registered charity 'The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust
Ltd' which was simplified to 'The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust Ltd' in 2014.
In preservation the locomotive initially ran in LNER Garter blue as Nº4498. A
number of railtours in 1967 were followed by a period at Philadelphia in County Durham during the
time when privately owned steam locomotives were not permitted on the British mainline network.
This prohibition was lifted in 1972 and in 1977 the locomotive's base moved to Carnforth. On
21st January 1985 Sir Nigel Gresley launched the 'Famous trains' stamps at Marylebone
station and in so doing became the first steam locomotive to work from London since the return of
mainline steam operations. Now carrying BR blue livery as Nº60007 the locomotive spent a time
based at the East Lancashire Railway before moving to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 1995.
Towards the end of 2015 the engine moved to the National Railway Museum at York
for overhaul following the expiry of the boiler certificate.
|
Left: 60007 backing onto the train at Grosmont
to prepare for the 11:20 a.m. departure to Pickering on 20th September 2015,
the last day before being withdrawn for overhaul.
Photo by Geoff Ingleton. |
Above: The driving wheelsets during the last overhaul,
15th October 2003
Photo by Ian Smith. |
60007 continues to be certified for mainline operation and over
the years has been fitted with a range of modern safety and signalling
equipment including the fitting of Air-Braking, On Train Monitoring and
Recording equipment and Train Protection & Warning System. On 5th July 2008
the locomotive hauled a 510ton load up the 1 in 200 / 1 in 178 of Stoke Bank
with a minimum speed at the summit of 69.75 m.p.h., and in so doing achieved an
output power of around 2500 IHP, considered an equal of some of the finest
performances of the A4 class locomotives throughout their lives.
Sir Nigel Gresley is presently undergoing a 10 year
general overhaul at the NRM workshop in York, the work is being carried out by
the SNGLT engineering team. At the conclusion of the overhaul it is the
Trust's intention that the locomotive will once again operate on mainline
railtours and heritage railways throughout the UK.
Sir Nigel Gresley in glorious sunshine on the North Yorks Moors Railway, 9th
May 2009
Photo by Nigel Bentley.
|
The Trust is dedicated to keeping the locomotive running, both on heritage railways
and on the main line. You can read books, watch films or internet clips, enjoy the handsomely turned
out locomotives gleaming quietly in museums, but it is only when a locomotive is in steam and in
action that you can experience it in its full glory! Whether operating on heritage railways or in full
cry on the main line, Sir Nigel Gresley brings delight to many thousands. This is what the Trust
aims to keep alive.
Now enjoying some winter sunshine, Sir Nigel Gresley at Brayford Pool, in
the centre of Lincoln, with the "Lyndum Fayre" on 6th December 2009
Photo by Jonathan King.
|
Sir Nigel Gresley is the only A4 class locomotivewhich is owned by a
charitable Trust and we always welcome new members - so you can become part-owner of an A4! We
publish a magazine 'Chime' for members four times a year, with news of the loco and
plenty of photographs; articles, too, about the loco's past, and other matters of railway
interest. While the locomotive is in traffic we run Members' Day events which feature
exclusive footplate access, including unique visits through the corridor tender while the
locomotive is hauling a train. In addition to our AGM there are other social events from time
to time. Our website features a Members' area with latest news and benefits exclusive to
members, for example we can sometimes offer discounted entry to events featuring 60007 or
discounts on mainline railtours. Whether you wish to get involved a lot or a little, your
support will be very welcome. Click here for membership
details or just help us keep Sir Nigel Gresley in steam by visiting our fund-raising page.
Sir Nigel Gresley at Beningbrough, on the cold and snowy East Coast Main
Line, with "The Tynesider" rail tour on 27th November 2010, exactly 200 miles south of
Edinburgh
Photo by Robin Patrick
|
Photographs
We are always pleased to receive quality photographs of Sir Nigel Gresley at work, especially if
during LNER or BR days, though as the site is now quite filled with photographs from 2008, 2009,
2010 and the "Once In A Blue Moon" event in April 2014, we would prefer not to have any
more from these dates. We also prefer not to have photographs of the engine running backwards nor, if
possible, full of hi-viz clothing.
When submitting may we ask that you include the date and location in the
name of the file please as it is all too easy for these to become separated after a period of time!
Please also state very clearly if they are not your own photos, and in such a case, whether the
photographer has given permission for the photo(s) to be used.
We do receive a number of photos that have no caption provided. Please note
that if there is no caption then the photo won't be used. |
We now have a semi-offical Facebook group for supporters of 60007.
|