Grosmont shed, North Yorkshire Moors Railway and John Cameron's K4 61994 The Great Marquess raises steam before a day on the line between Whitby and Pickering. 20/10/07
Also on shed but not in steam is an example of Maunsell's 1930 design class V 4-4-0 all named after famous public schools. This is 30926 Repton.
61994 stands at the head of 2P03, the 1050 from Grosmont to Pickering. The loco carries a bell on the front just as it did in 1967 when it ran with K1 62005 on a railtour over these very metals . This bell has been borrowed from the Crossing Club.
The loco crew pose on the front of the engine, husband and wife John and Beth Furness will take the train to Pickering and back.
Back at the loco shed and the view to the station is made looking through the 146 yard long tunnel beneath Lease Rigg. The gates are open and Beth has the K4 blowing off ready for the hard climb to Goathland. BR Standard 4MT 80135 waits to run down to the station.
The front of 61994 breaks into the sunshine and the exhaust curls round the tunnel roof.
61994 clears the tunnel and takes the sharp curve past the loco shed. It carries The Fair Maid headboard.
On shed and former Lambton Colliery 0-6-2T No 29 stands below the coaling tower.
A move to Darnholm on the 1 in 49 climb to Goathland and K1 62005 comes round the curve with 1Z41 1100 from Whitby to Goathland.
This is an early morning shot to get the sun on the right side to light up the whole train but as the time is around midday in October it isn't too bad as the sun is still on the front.
BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 75029 is the next train up the bank to Goathland with 2P05 1150 off Grosmont for Pickering. It is working hard tender first on the 1 in 49 climb with six mkI bogies on the drawbar.
This section of the line is on the 1865 deviation built to avoid the Beckhole Incline.
A short walk to the tall over bridge seen in the previous shots and B1 4-6-0 61264 drops down the 1 in 49 grade with 2G04 1120 from Pickering to Grosmont.
61994 is seen again returning from Pickering bound for Whitby and is working 1Z42 1220 off Pickering, the southern terminus of the line. In the distance is the pyramid at RAF Fylingdales Early Warning Radar station. The location here is Moorgates with the actual summit of the line about half a mile to the south of this spot.
A close up shot of K4 61994 as it passes by in perfect sunlight.
At Goathland, 61994 crossed the next southbound working. NELPeG's former NER Q6 0-8-0 63395 climbs purposely up the 1 in 178 grade with the heavy Pullman dining train to Pickering working as 2P07 1250 off Grosmont.
The conditions are absolutely perfect on this day and this location. 63395's train is a real mixed bag including a Gresley teak observation coach, a mkI and mkII Pullman coach, a couple of mkI coaches and on the rear two more Gresley teak coaches, making a heavy eight coach load.
A quick drive to Whitby and the tall A171 road bridge over the River Esk provides a superb location to photograph the railway. 61994 runs in towards Whitby station.
61994 passes the semi derelict but listed 2 road former loco shed at Whitby with 1Z42 1220 from Pickering. On the back is K1 62005 which was attached at Grosmont having worked back from Goathland earlier.
The tall road bridge over the river provides a wonderful viewpoint for Whitby and the famous Abbey. It is in this condition as the Germans bombed it during WW1 using Zeplins and hand held bombs.
On arrival at Whitby the passengers have left the train so it can go into the loop to allow 61994 to run round.
K1 62005 brings the train into the loop at Boghall Sidings. Guard Marg watches the proceedings. K4 61994 is still on the rear.
A general view of the train and railway from the tall bridge over the river. The area of land between the railway and the river was the goods yard and carriage sidings. Still the day is perfect with not a cloud in the sky.
61994 has been uncoupled and runs alongside the train to couple onto the front of 62005.
The train is complete and a chance for photos to be taken is grabbed.
Fraser Birrell and John Cameron stand in front of 61994. The loco carries a replica headboard of the Whitby Moors railtour which ran 40 years ago this weekend using the same two locos over part of the same route. This is why 61994 has a bell on the front.
The ecs reverses slowly back into Whitby station and the locos pass over the foot crossing at Boghall. There is a photo taken on the crossing of the original railtour and an attempt to retake the shot is being made by one photographer.
Running some 40 minutes late, 61994 and 62005 recreate the Whitby Moors Railtour as they blast away from the town with 1Z43 1415 Whitby to Pickering.
