Join us for a full day of steam railway photography at the NYMR with J27 No.65894 and goods train

About this event

We are delighted to offer the first of two days of photography at the scenic North Yorkshire Moors Railway featuring P3 (J27) Class No.65894 at the head of a mixed goods train.

Our day will start at 09.00 at Levisham Station, YO18 7NN where we will have our routine but most important safety briefing prior to starting photography at 09.30 hours. Our train will be stabled at Levisham overnight with the J27 proceeding light engine from Grosmont at the start of the day. We will travel by train throughout, which means that places will be limited by brake van capacity. We will visit as many of the multitude of great photo locations as possible during the day before finishing back at Levisham. To maximise opportunity, the J27 will be turned at Pickering during the day.

The P3s became the J27 Class under the LNER and No.65894 is the only survivor from these once numerous locomotives. Built in 1923, this was the very last member of the class to be out-shopped as LNER No.2392; it carries the identity it received on Nationalisation in 1948 and carried throughout its BR career until retirement near the end of main line steam in 1967. With minor variations, 115 engines were constructed in total between 1906 and 1923, proving powerful performers. No.65894 was perhaps most associated with York where it was based for many years, but as the steam era drew to a close in Britain, the loco was one of a number allocated to Sunderland South Dock for hauling heavy mineral trains across the Durham Coalfields. It worked the last diagrammed steam turn from Sunderland Depot on 9th September 1967 and was sent for scrap along with the other five surviving members of the class.

NELPG stepped in to save the locomotive from the cutter’s torch by purchasing 65894 direct from British Railways on 1st December 1967, and restoration began at Tyne Dock where the J27 was stored following withdrawal. Several locations were hosts during the restoration, including the National Coal Board’s Philadelphia Workshops in County Durham, Thornaby Depot and ICI Billingham. By October 1971, the J27 was complete and was duly delivered to the then fledgling North Yorkshire Moors Railway which has been its home base ever since.

Please note that as we will be travelling by train, numbers will be limited to 36 places only. That is the upper limit and we will not be able to accept any further bookings once these spaces have been filled.

We would like to thank the host NYMR and the locomotive’s owners NELPG for facilitating this charter. It is some time since we previously visited this superb line, and we hope you will want to join us for what promises to be an excellent day of steam railway photography.

Event requirements

Equipment

• Spare batteries
• Camera
• Lenses
• Camera protection - rain covers etc

Other things you should bring

• Snacks
• Bottled water

Knowledge

• All levels welcome

Fitness

• Medium

Other essentials

• High vis jacket
• Sturdy outdoor shoes
• Warm clothing
• Wet weather gear