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As with the Severn Valley Railway, the North York Moors Railway is also celebrating a fiftieth in 2015, this time marking the date since the closure of the line on 6th March 1965.  The line is therefore using a number of locomotives that were used on the line pre-closure.  Eastern Region steam in the form of K1 class 62005 (pictured above,) K4 class 61994 The Great Marquess, B1 61264 and A4 class 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley all take staring roles on what promises to be a great weekend (6th – 8th March.  As the 6th March is the exact date of the original closure in 1965 and the line intends to mark the occasion using the K1 and K4 locomotives on a special Pullman service, celebrating the opening of Whitby’s new platform.

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Philip Benham, managing director said “We are very much looking forward to celebrating all the NYMR has been able to achieve over the past 42 years and how over this time our volunteers, staff and partners have helped us prove the potential of this magnificent line.”

Philip recalls that “on the last day of services back in 1965 ‘The Whitby Moors Railtour’ was jointly organised by the Stephenson Locomotive Society and Manchester Railway Society to run from Manchester over to North Yorkshire covering many lines also closing at that time.”

This became the last steam train over the route south from Whitby and was worked by the two visiting locomotives, 62005 and 3442 (now 61994) which luckily both survived into preservation and we are excited to bring them together again for this celebratory weekend.”

Over the weekend, 61994 and 62005 will work together to recreate the last train from 1965 alongside the NYMR home resident 61264. The B1’s were the last regular class of steam engine to operate over the line immediately prior to closure.

Philip adds “The NYMR is grateful to the loco owners, John Cameron, the North East Locomotive Preservation Group, Thompson B1 Locomotive Trust, The Sir Nigel Gresely Preservation Railway Trust and the Daisy Group for making their engines available.”

To see pictures of the commemorative service train, please click here.